“During my vacation, I went for around a month to do an English course at San Diego State University in San Diego, California. I discovered the institution on the internet and I liked what former students had to say. The cost of the program was another important factor in my choice, and I’d always wanted to visit California.

The experience was short but very good. I stayed with a family and it went very smoothly. The house belonged to a couple, whose daughter had already left to study abroad. The woman was retired and the man worked in sales, and they were easygoing. In the same house, there was a student from Taiwan and another one from Saudi Arabia, who had been there for a few months. For the price I paid, around US$600 a month, I was entitled to breakfast and dinner, but only if I was home by 6:30 pm, which was rare. I remember that I dined at home only a few times. I usually preferred to come home later to make the most of the day. The house was very close to the campus, around five minutes by bus.

I had classes from 9:30 am until 3:20 pm, with an hour break for lunch. I really enjoyed the classes, because in the morning I studied grammar, listening or writing and in the afternoon it was just conversation, with very dynamic classes. So, the classes went by quickly and didn’t become tiring.

The university was very good and well structured. The campus was quite far from downtown San Diego, but I found everything I needed close by. There was a very good leisure area, including a gym and swimming pool, which was sometimes very good because during the summer the weather is hot and dry, with no clouds in the sky. It was hot enough to visit the beaches of San Diego, which are very clean and beautiful, with fine white sand. I recommend La Jolla Beach for swimming, as it is quieter and the surroundings are very beautiful. For sports or meeting up with people, Pacific Beach is the most popular and it has restaurants, bars and nightclubs.

The city is really beautiful and it has many attractions to enjoy. Downtown has the best restaurants and nightclubs, which are crowded on weekend nights, and there are many parks throughout the city. San Diego is known for being the headquarters of the United States Navy and it is bordered by the Pacific Ocean. It’s in southern California, just a 25-minute drive from the Mexican border. I didn’t cross the border. People say it’s a bit dangerous, and if you decide to go to Mexico, never forget your passport or you might not be able to return to the United States.”

Destination: San Diego, United States

“My exchange program in Barcelona was a watershed in my academic life. At first, I was a little apprehensive about everything I would find there: college, professors, housing, friends, travel… However, thanks to the help of the International Affairs Office and the support of the Autonomous University of Barcelona, ​​my experience was very rewarding. I chose the subjects with the support of the International Affairs Office and my EESP coordinator, making sure I made good choices.

I decided to stay in the University Village and that made all the difference to my experience. I was able to stay close to other exchange students and Spaniards. There was comprehensive student accommodation infrastructure.

There were frequent activities organized for the exchange group, including city tours, picnics, sports, meetings, parties, courses and trips through Europe. That brought us all together a lot and I made friends with students from Mexico, Spain, Chile, the Czech Republic, Poland, the United States, Slovenia, Italia, Portugal, France, England and China. The excellent public transport system made it very easy for us to get around the city. The course was very enriching and the professors were fantastic, providing the necessary support so that everyone could keep up with the subjects without a problem. The language, Catalan, was not a problem, since practically everyone also speaks Spanish and when you choose your subjects, they tell you the language they will be taught in (Spanish, Catalan or English). 

My experience was unique and I will take with me memories, friends and lessons learned for the rest of my life. If I could, I would start all over again!”

Destination: Barcelona, Spain

“Without a doubt, doing an exchange program to study at a university abroad was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had and I think everyone should do this! My semester at Tilburg University in the Netherlands was one of the best times in my life. I made friends from all parts of the world, learned about different cultures, challenged myself by leaving my comfort zone here in Brazil, studied at a renowned international university, studied economics in English and discovered a different type of education system. I was also able to travel all over Europe and have some great experiences. Being away from home, friends and family was another strong point of my adventure, as it definitely made me more mature and value the little things in my everyday life.

My exchange program was even more special because of the wide range of subjects to choose from at Tilburg, including some subjects that are not taught in many places in Brazil. The professors were excellent as well.

Finally, the university and coordinators who run the exchange program (and hold parties!) were well organized, and I found Dutch society very civilized, making my semester away from home even more pleasant. I gained many good memories and great friends during this semester and I returned to Brazil with a new and richer world view.”

Destination: Tilburg, Netherlands

“The University of British Columbia gave me experiences that went beyond the academic realm. As British Columbia is an extremely multicultural place, I had the opportunity to become close friends with amazing people from all over the world, who were also foreigners in Canada. The campus is beautiful. I was able to study subjects at different schools, including the psychology and politics schools, even though I was an economics student!”

Destination: University of British Columbia, Canada

“I decided to do the exchange program because I was interested in some of the subjects taught at Boston University, which are very different from the ones I had already taken here at FGV. During the six-week Summer Term, I was able to enjoy everything the university had to offer, including the classes, library and various activities. I chose Boston University mainly because of the subjects offered and the professors who teach the courses. The fact that the university is located in Boston also contributed to my choice, as it’s a very interesting city. The experience was great. The courses were very good and gave me a lot of extra knowledge. I chose to do two courses during this period: Behavioral Economics and Life-Cycle Economics. I really liked the university. The campus has a great location and everything is very close, making everyday activities easy. The classrooms were very close to the dorms. It took me around five minutes to get to classes and the library.

The school’s infrastructure is very good. There is a lot of space to study and there are great places to eat too, all within the campus. International students are well supported. Boston has many international students and the faculty was very supportive of us all. The city is one of the oldest in the country, so there are many places to visit. I had the opportunity to walk around the city on weekends, visiting historical sites. The city is also very safe and it has great public transportation, so you can reach almost every neighborhood in Boston. The most interesting thing for me is that the college runs courses that are normally taught in semesters, but during the summer break. The course is very intense and the content is rich. I think this makes it easier for more people to do the exchange program.”

Destination: Boston, United States (Summer Course)