Beyond the bubble

For many students, a Student Exchange Programme (SEP) offers the opportunity to experience life beyond their home university. For Dominic Lim, a Statistics major with minors in Computer Science and Geographical Information Systems, it was a chance to experience student life in another country, meet people from different backgrounds and gain new perspectives.

“I wanted to see what lay beyond the bubble of NUS and Singapore – to experience what it was like to live in another country, study at another university, meet people from different cultures and learn more about myself,” he says.

That opportunity brought him to University College Cork (UCC) in Ireland, where he experienced a different approach to both university life and learning.

Seeing university through a different lens

One of the biggest takeaways from Dominic’s exchange was experiencing a different academic environment. “Experiencing a different style of teaching was eye-opening,” he says. “It helped me better understand how different learning environments shape the way we absorb information.”

Beyond the classroom, studying alongside local and international students also exposed him to different perspectives on education, careers and everyday life. These conversations encouraged him to reflect on assumptions he had previously taken for granted and broadened his understanding of the many paths people can take.

Adjusting to a new environment

Moving to a new university also meant adapting to unfamiliar systems and routines. From learning how to navigate around campus to understanding local culture and building a new social circle, settling into life in Ireland came with its own learning curve.

Keeping an open mind and asking for help made the transition much smoother. These interactions not only helped him adapt to university life but also allowed him to connect with fellow students and the local community. “Looking back, many of the challenges I faced led to some of my best takeaways,” he reflected.

Beyond the classroom

Outside of his studies, Dominic was fortunate to have the opportunities to explore different parts of Europe. Visiting new cities, trying local food and exploring the outdoors complemented his exchange experience by exposing him to different cultures and ways of life.

Dominic believes the greatest value of SEP came from embracing an unfamiliar environment with an open mind. Living and studying in another country challenged him to step beyond the perspectives he had grown up with, while learning alongside people from diverse backgrounds broadened his understanding of the different ways people live, learn and define success. The experience also prompted him to think more deeply about how he hopes to apply the knowledge and skills gained through his studies to create meaningful impact for the communities around him.