Journeys Abroad: LUMC Students Share Their Exchange Experiences 

In this fifth edition of the LUMC Global interview series, 5 (bio)medical students of LUMC share their stories about their time abroad. They share their experiences and tell us about their challenges and how these shaped their academic journey! 

Lotte’s and Delilah’s Swedish Adventures 

Lotte (20, Master’s Biomedical sciences ): “During the first semester of the second year, we went on an exchange to the Karolinska Institute (KI) in Sweden.” Lotte explains how the exchange was integrated into their curriculum, allowing them to take equivalent courses without any delay in their study, Delilah (21, biomedical graduate/upcoming premaster medicine student) explains that knowing about the exchange opportunity in the second year of the program was a plus for her in her decision to study in Leiden. During her exchange, she enjoyed the fact that Karolinska has different expertise areas compared to LUMC. In particular, she learned a lot about the microbiome, which is something she might not have learned as much about if she had stayed back home.  

Christophe’s Time in London, UK 

Christophe (22, biomedical graduate/upcoming premaster medicine student) shares his experience in London offering us a distinct perspective than that of Stockholm. Christophe recounts his time at Hammersmith Hospital as part of his organ transplantation half minor at Erasmus University in collaboration with LUMC. He found the paperwork to enter the UK to be challenging. Moreover, there were also some unforeseen expenses that Erasmus eventually covered for them. Despite the stress, Christophe reflects positively on the experience. He states he was lucky to have an amazing transplant surgeon as his supervisor during his time in London, who really showed him all the exciting aspects of transplantation medicine. He states: 

“It was all worth it. The internship was fantastic.”  

He advises students that are considering spending time abroad to be open minded since there might appear hurdles that you did not expect beforehand. Eventually it will be worth it! 

Puck’s time in Indonesia 

Puck, a 21-year-old biomedical student, recently completed her bachelor’s in biomedical sciences at LUMC. During her studies, she participated in the LUMC half-minor “Infections in Health and Disease,” which included a five-week internship in Indonesia. For her, this was an incredible experience that provided insight into conducting research in a different country. She shared, “I got to know a lot of wonderful people and was able to experience Indonesian culture firsthand.” 

The opportunity to study abroad was one of the factors that drew Puck to Leiden University.  

“Within my study program, there are multiple possibilities to study abroad, which I think helps with your studies and makes for fantastic experiences,” she said. 

Adapting to a new cultural environment was initially challenging for Puck. The cultural differences between Indonesia and the Netherlands were significant, and she experienced culture shock. “I definitely experienced some culture shock at first. Fortunately, we were with a group of ten Dutch students, so we could help each other,” she explained. One unexpected challenge was the attention from locals, who were not accustomed to seeing many Dutch people. Puck and her peers often found themselves being photographed and treated like local celebrities. “This was something I did not expect, but I got used to it over time,” she recalled. 

Puck’s international experience was not only a cultural revelation but also an opportunity for personal and professional growth. She realized how different research practices can be around the world and built a small network of students from the other side of the globe. “My international experience also contributed to my growth by making me more independent and confident in my abilities,” she notes. Her time in Indonesia left a lasting impact on her, both personally and academically.  

Florian’s time in Scotland (22, Medical student)  

Florian (22, medical student) is currently preparing for his clinical rotations in the Medicines Master program. He finished his bachelor’s degree in January 2024. In his third year of the bachelor, he went to Edinburgh, Scotland as part of the Minor program, which consisted of a full semester abroad. He was in Scotland from September until December, taking two elective courses in biomedical sciences. Florian attended classes on endocrine physiology and pharmacology and on neural circuits in learning and memory. He states: 

“Since these are biomedical courses, they have a different focus than medicine. Yet you have enough background knowledge to ease your way into the course.”  

When asked how he adapted to a new cultural environment during his international experience, and about the challenges he faced, he explains: 

“Adapting to the Scottish culture was fairly easy in my experience. For one, it is closely related to the Dutch culture and language-wise there are no problems. Also, I spent a lot of time with other international students, so it did not completely dive into the Scottish culture.”  

The main challenge was adjusting to the different educational system, which relied heavily on essays and presentations, unlike the system at Leiden. Since his fellow students had written tons of essays before, academic essay writing is not something they taught in the courses. For him, this international experience was mostly about broadening his knowledge and getting a taste of everything that is out there. 

Academic and Personal Growth  

International experiences can contribute to your skills as a researcher. Christophe believes the international environment helped him adapt to diverse research settings. “We had a lot of lab work in Sweden, which was slightly different from the lab work we do in Leiden,” he explains. Lotte agrees, highlighting the diversity in teaching methods. She advocates that through different methods you learn to adapt to different educational environments and stressful situations:  

“It’s not just about the knowledge, but also the life skills you gain.” 

Challenges and Support  

The conversation shifts to the challenges they faced and the support they received. The students received support from both Leiden University and the International Office at the LUMC as well as, in the case of Sweden, the local International Office. Sometimes, the students felt insecure about the administrative preparations they had to undertake and could not find the right information where they would expect it.  

During her time abroad, Puck and her fellow students received guidance from researchers and PhD students who accompanied them to Indonesia. These mentors, with their prior experience in the country, provided valuable advice on what to do, buy, and bring. Their support was crucial! Florian mentions that as an exchange student, you are expected to prepare a lot of things yourself. The support you will receive from LUMC and Leiden University is adequate but limited. The LUMC did contact the department of biomedical sciences at Edinburgh University and ensured course registration was handled, which was helpful despite being close to the departure date. This process was easier than that of other exchange students who had to register themselves. LUMC also provided a solid overview of necessary preparations, such as housing and grants, but completing these tasks was up to the students. Luckily, in the end, everyone succeeded in overcoming these challenges, which are also a part of such an international experience.  

Financial Hurdles  

When asked about the financial aspect, Christophe shares the unexpected costs in London, while Lotte and Delilah discuss outdated information they received about living expenses in Sweden. Despite these hurdles, the Erasmus + grant provided some serious relief. Besides this grant, there were other options such as the LUMC Lustra grant. However, in the end all these grants do not cover such a trip in its entirety. They stress that international experiences can be life-changing but that they are not for free. Making sure you have the means to cover all expenses is therefore an important part of the preparation for an adventure abroad.  

Concluding Thoughts 

The students agree that their international experiences were invaluable. In their eyes, if the international opportunities were removed from our program, it would lose a significant pillar of what makes it stand out compared to other similar programs. These stories of adaptation, growth, and overcoming challenges paint a vivid picture of the impact of studying abroad, not just on academic progress, but on shaping adaptable individuals ready to face global challenges.