By Kyle Barker

If there’s one thing that going on exchange has taught me, it’s how much I took for granted at the University of Waikato. Studying abroad has been an incredible experience so far, full of travel, new friendships, and cultural immersion, but it’s also shown me how different universities can be in the way they teach, support, and engage students. Please note, this is just my personal experience, and others studying at Alicante may have quite different perspectives depending on their courses and lecturers, but is reflective of my experience studying in the software engineering department at the University of Alicante.

If I were to summarise how the University of Alicante operates, I would liken it more to high school compared to the freedom and flexibility that we enjoy in most courses at Waikato. Most courses here have attendance requirements of at least 80% in lectures and labs, which keeps you consistent and engaged. Since lectures aren’t recorded, you really have to stay up to date with the material – although there have been times when I would’ve liked to rewatch a lecture to fully understand an explanation or see what was written on the blackboard (yes, they still use blackboards!).

You also spend a lot more time in class here. To credit back to my four Waikato papers, I have to take five courses in Alicante. Last semester at Waikato, my four papers totalled about 12.5 hours of class time per week, whereas here I have around 20 hours per week. Some of this time is dedicated to working on assignments in class, which could easily be done independently, but due to the attendance requirement, you are required to do this in the lab.

The semester runs for 15 weeks with no mid-semester break, and the teaching pace tends to be a bit slower, which has both advantages and disadvantages. The one exception is the A1 Introductory Spanish course – it’s taught at a much faster pace and covers a lot of content in just 10 weeks. It is challenging but also really rewarding to see how much I’ve learned so far in the short space of time.

There’s also a noticeable variation in workload between courses, with some assignments being quite demanding or repetitive. While that can be a challenge, it’s also given me a new appreciation for the way assessments are structured at Waikato, where assignments often focus more on applied learning and critical thinking.

And then, there’s “Spanish time”, lecturers might start anywhere from early, on time, or up to half an hour late! This is very reflective of the relaxed Spanish culture, and I’ve learned to adapt and go with the flow.

Lecturers have varying levels of English and teaching proficiency, and a few assignments are provided only in Spanish, which can make things a bit more challenging at times.

One real benefit of being an exchange student here is the flexibility around exams. Most lecturers are happy to let you move your final exams to December, which means you can return home in time for Christmas.

The campus is also huge and really beautiful. It’s actually a botanic garden, so there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy nature between classes.

Overall, studying at the University of Alicante has been a valuable experience that’s broadened my perspective on education and learning styles. It has given me an immense appreciation of the structure and flexibility we have at Waikato while also helping me develop adaptability, patience, and independence – skills I know will serve me well long after exchange.