SumDU is known for its international programs that allow students to expand their horizons and gain valuable experience abroad. Anton ZHURAVKA (BiEM student) shared his experience of participating in the academic mobility program, thanks to which he studied at the University of Liverpool.

Choosing the major and university

Anton is studying “International Economic Relations”. He explains his choice as follows:

I chose this specialty because I was interested in economic geography at school. It was interesting to find out why some countries are already highly developed, while others are just developing. I also liked analyzing specialization of countries: what goods they export and import.

As for the university choice, the decisive factors were the convenient geographical location and wide opportunities for student exchanges:

SumDU offers many academic mobility programs. This is especially important for my specialty, because international economic relations involve studying different countries and their markets.

Internship in Liverpool

Anton studied at the University of Liverpool, one of the leading universities in the UK. He found out about the opportunity via the university’s social media:

I followed the SumDU profile on Instagram, where information about academic mobility is published. The application process was not too complicated, but it required preparation: I had to write a CV, a motivation letter, and get a grade transcript.

His impressions of the new country were unforgettable:

The first thing that struck me in Liverpool was the architecture. It was completely different from Ukrainian architecture. When we were riding the bus from the airport to the campus, I started taking pictures of the city because every building attracted attention.

Differences in education

According to Anton, the British education system has its own peculiarities:

The first thing I noticed was the internal culture of the university. The campus is like a small city inside Liverpool. Buildings of various institutes, laboratories, libraries, a sports complex, cafes, various dormitories – all this creates a special atmosphere. And this campus atmosphere encourages you to attend classes and learn more.

Another feature is a large number of international students:

Most students are from India and Asian countries. But I also met students from Australia, Taiwan, Germany, France, and Italy. We traveled to the UK and other countries together.

Unforgettable moments and advice for future participants of mobility programs

The most vivid memory for Anton was traveling and paragliding in Switzerland:

We visited Manchester, Oxford, London, York, Edinburgh, as well as national parks in England and Wales. But the most impressive moment was paragliding in Interlaken, Switzerland.

For students who want to try academic mobility, Anton advises:

I strongly advise you to try it! This is a unique and valuable experience that teaches independence in everyday life, helps you develop academically and personally. Of course, you should pay attention to the level of English language proficiency, without this knowledge it would have been very difficult for me. Be prepared for changes: a new lifestyle can be difficult, but it is definitely worth it!

Academic mobility opens up new perspectives. Anton ZHURAVKA’s story is another proof that international experience is invaluable for personal and professional development.