Kia ora, my name is Ayla Montgomerie, and I have just completed my second year studying a Bachelor of Climate Change, majoring in Environmental Planning, and minoring in Education and Society. I am excited to attend Cardiff University in Wales for the Spring Trimester in 2026.

A bit about me, I am a kiwi who was born and grew up in Tauranga, then moved to Cambridge in 2018, where I completed high school, and now commute to uni. Living at home has allowed me to save up a lot of money; however, I have missed out on many of the common university experiences that I could’ve gained through halls and flatting. The idea of a global exchange appealed to me because of the chance to experience a completely new life compared to the one I’ve been living for years. I was also inspired to explore the world more after a one-month holiday last year to the UK and Italy, and if I chose a university in the UK for an exchange, I would be closer to my aunt and uncle, who moved from New Zealand to England in 2015.

So why Cardiff? I was drawn to Cardiff University for multiple reasons. The University offers papers aligning with Environmental Planning, and has strong sustainable action goals and initiatives. The city itself is known to have highly sustainable transport options, developed urban planning, and the university is actively implementing climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies, which I would love to explore in relation to my degree. Cardiff also has a similar culture to New Zealand, with English and Welsh being spoken and used, just like English and Māori.

Overall, I hope that Cardiff will provide opportunities for learning and growth, both educationally and personally, as I adjust to living in a large city. I look most forward to meeting new people and gaining new life experiences through halls, classes, travel, and immersion in a new culture!