Hi, I’m Onnoy, a third-year Aeronautics and Astronautics student who completed an exchange year at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). I found the experience incredibly valuable both academically and personally, as living and studying in a completely new environment taught me a great deal about independence.
Life on Campus
I like to think that I experienced the full American college lifestyle. I was assigned to Bousfield Halls, a campus residence, where I shared a room with a local student. The contrast between our sides of the room was almost comedic; he had everything from a mini fridge to a microwave. It definitely took some getting used to, but a key part of the experience was learning to respect each other’s space, especially at night.
One major difference compared to my time living in Glen Eyre at the University of Southampton was how outgoing the students were. During the first week, everyone was new, which made it easy to meet people casually and form friendships just in passing. In the UK, I’ve found that students tend to keep to themselves more, only getting to know others when it feels convenient or necessary. Furthermore, if you decide to stay in a residence hall, please be aware that you will be required to purchase a meal plan, which can add significantly to costs, so be sure to look into this early.
Studying Aerospace EngineeringÂ
Academically, the university offers a range of resources. Facilities such as the Grainger Engineering Library are extremely useful, and every professor holds dedicated office hours where students can ask questions. I found these sessions particularly helpful when I was struggling with assignments. One potential drawback, however, is that lectures are not always recorded, making it especially important to attend classes regularly and make full use of office hours if anything is unclear.
Some key differences to be aware of are that modules are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis through the Banner self-service system. It is therefore important to stay in regular contact with the appropriate staff to ensure you are eligible to enrol in your desired classes. Assignments are typically more extensive than those at the University of Southampton, and each module usually includes multiple midterm assessments in addition to a final exam.
Social Life
My favourite aspect of student life was the sports culture. The University of Illinois has very strong American football and basketball teams, and attending games quickly became a favourite way to spend downtime with friends. Tickets are affordable and easily accessible to students, making it simple to get involved and feel part of the university community. In your classes and in the student halls, it will not be hard to make friends, as everyone wants to get to know each other.Â
Advice
One of the biggest adjustments for me was realising just how large the United States is. Although Chicago serves as the main airport and the nearest major city, it is still a three-hour drive from the Champaign campus. The campus itself is substantially larger than that of the University of Southampton; however, the Grainger College of Engineering is very walkable, making it easy to navigate on a day-to-day basis. As the campus is the focal point of the town, there are only a limited number of shops within walking distance. While travelling with friends who have cars is an option for accessing larger stores, this may not always be possible. So it is worth arriving with essentials such as bedding or travel adapters. For future exchange students, I would strongly advise preparing for the drastic change in weather during the winter months, particularly when packing. Within a matter of weeks, I experienced weather changes from extremely warm and sunny to snow and temperatures as low as -18°C.
I highly recommend UIUC for any student interested in attending, especially for subjects in STEM. If you would like to get in touch with more specific questions, please feel free to do so. My student ID is oh1g23.Â