A trip to the British Museum!

The Front of the British Museum - it's very impressive!

On Saturday I went on an excursion with the summer school to the British Museum down in London. It wasn't a guided tour; we were in charge of ourselves, and didn't even have to stay in the museum if we wanted to go elsewhere in London. I wanted to stay at the museum, and did so all day. These photos will demonstrate why; they are a sample from over two hundred that I took!

The original Rosetta Stone

 The British Museum is incredible, if you ever have a chance to visit it, even for a few hours, it is an incredible experience, even for people who aren't usually interested in museums.

A beautiful marble carving of Venus (Aphrodite) the goddess of love, from the ancient Greek and Roman exhibit

Today I finally went punting on the river Cam. It's been on my to-do list since I got here, and now, after two full weeks, I've finally done it! I wasn't at all brave enough to hire one and take it out on my own as some people do, so I went with a group of other tourists with a guide who did all the punting. It was quite a relaxing experience: the boat sits quite high in the water, it rocks gently as you're propelled along by the punter's pole, and the sites along the Backs are incredible. The Backs is the name for the route that the water course takes, which is literally along the backs of some of the colleges. You can see King's college, Queen's college, the university library, St Clare's college, Trinity college, and several others. Our punter gave us a brief history of each of the important buildings we passed, the bridges we went under, a short history of the town itself and of punting. And we only bumped into a few other boats.

A reconstruction of an elaborate golden headdress worn by an ancient Mesopotamian queen - Queen Puabi. She was buried in this headdress

This week I have started a new schedule of classes. In the morning after breakfast I go to my class called Versions of the Tragic, and each lesson we talk about a different tragic play that we've all previously read. I'm not at all well-versed in tragedies, so I took this class to learn more about the genre of tragedy. After this class we have a plenary lecture, which we must all attend. These are a series of lectures given on the theme of triumph and disaster, and we've heard about topics as diverse as Virginia Woolf's 'To the Lighthouse', Shakespeare's 'Antony and Cleopatra', and the psychology of C.S. Lewis. These lectures are given by various members of Cambridge university teaching staff, and it's really interesting to observe the different teaching styles and the different approaches to the topics we've heard. After the plenary lecture we are given an hour and forty-five minutes for lunch, which we buy for ourselves. There is a sandwich shop directly below my room at St Catherine's, so I usually buy a panini from there for lunch. At 2:00pm we go back to class, which for me is Power and Wonder in 'The Tempest'. This class is a bit more in-depth than other classes I've had here because we focus on only one play and are going through it act by act. This is very helpful for me because I am writing an essay for this class.

A famous hunting horn, carved from an elephant's tusk, used during the time of forest law after 1066

Breakfast and dinner are provided for us at college. Breakfast is a large buffet in the dining hall with everything from cereal to croissants with cream cheese: orange juice, grapefruit juice, tea, coffee, cereal, toast, yoghurt, you name it! We can also go into the kitchen where we can have bacon, eggs, sausages, fried tomatoes, hash browns and porridge. 

A Christian wood-panel painting of St Paul

 Dinner is a served sit down three course meal. Each night is different, but it's always delicious! For example, last night we had fruit for entree, kebabs, rice and stir-fried vegetables for mains, and mango sorbet with wafers for dessert.

Chess pieces from a medieval chess set found on a beach in Scotland

A carving of the Aztec god of death and blood-ritual

The weather has been very erratic the entire time I've been here. It was raining when I first arrived, then overcast the following day, then sunny the day after that! And that pattern has happened more or less every week: it will be sunny for an afternoon, then at night it will rain, then the whole next day will be dry but overcast.  All the locals I've talked to have said that it is very unusual for it to rain so much at this time of year, and I've heard that there's even flooding in other parts of the UK.

Fortunately I brought an umbrella :-)

Jemimah 

Jemimah Halbert is participating on our Cambridge Literature Summer School Program in the UK. Jemimah is currently in her 3rd year of a Bachelor of Arts at Edith Cowan University.

Literature at Cambridge: Week one

The rains have let up enough to give us some beautiful summer nights that stretch on and on. I never thought an English summer would remind me of an Australian one so much. Like many others, I arrived from London on Sunday and began the process of registration and finding my way to St Catherine's College.

First impressions of the College? 'Woah'

St Cat's is a beautiful collection of mostly red brick buildings built over the last 300 years. The college itself has a history dating back to the 1300s but many of the original buildings were replaced by the elegant ones you see today. The tea and coffee in my room was a definite plus as well :)

The red shirt clad assistants were extremely helpful and my registration was done in minutes. I had my timetable, ID card and a cool little voucher to a local bookstore. What I was most eager to experience was the classes - and I was not dissapointed.

Dr Fred Parker greeted us all this morning and gave a short intro to the literature course. After 2 classes and a plenary lecture from Fred I've come to expect to laugh alot. His take on (and line delivery of) excerpts from Austen had us entertained throughout the plenary lecture and I learned more about Romeo and Juliet's relationship in 90 minutes of looking at it from Dr Parker's perspective than I ever did in high school. Needless to say I'm very much looking forward to tomorrow's classes.

On Cambridge; like a town out of a story book, Cambridge is more beautiful than I could've imagined. The crooked little streets with their bookstores and cafes break up the magnificent buildings and with bicycles constantly whizzing by the ambiance is very cool, very European, very Cambridge.

To Do; punting (if the rain allows), my essay, locating the best priced University of Cambridge products in town.

Liz

 Ashleigh Elizabeth South is participating in our Cambridge Literature Summer School in the UK. Ashleigh is completing her second year of a Bachelor of Writing at University of Canberra.

Cambridge Literature Summer School: First Week on the Program!

King's College: Don't walk on the grass!

The last three days have been incredible, and very, very busy!

On Sunday we had registration and orientation - basically signing into our respective colleges and letting the ISS (International Summer School) staff know that we are present and ready to learn! Monday was the first day of classes plus several introductory/welcome/instructional talks, and today (Tuesday) was the first day of just classes.

The Cambridge University Press book shop: I spent a lot of money in here!

I have met so many people from so many places in the last three days. We've been told that there are representatives from 34 countries here, and so far I have met:

A woman from Holland

An older gentleman from the Hague, also in Holland

A woman from India

Three people from Michigan

One woman from Texas

One woman from California

One man from Florida

One woman from New York

One man from Warsaw, Poland

One woman from Serbia

One woman from Brazil

One woman from Argentina

One woman from Guyana, who now lives in Florida

One woman from Sydney

Two men from Melbourne, one of whom studies in Canberra

One woman from Canberra

One man from Canada

One woman from Finland

One woman from the Netherlands

Several people from the UK

One woman from Cape Town, South Africa

One man from Tokyo, Japan who studies in America

One man from Italy (named Luigi!)

And I'm sure I will meet many more :-)

Phone boxes in Market Place it Cambridge. The markets have food (fresh fruit and vegetables and meals), souvenirs, crafts, books, records and cds, bicycle repairs, clothes and much more, and are open all week. On Sundays the market is mostly local arts and crafts merchandise. These particular phone boxes are right outside Great St Mary's church, one of the many churches in the city of Cambridge. The bicycle is the main means of transport for most people living in the city, and I just love the wicker baskets they have on the front!

The classes have been fascinating, but also quite challenging. They are very academic, highly intellectual, there are a lot of very complicated philosophical and psychological concepts explored in every class, in every piece of work we study. The special subject course classes go for an hour and a half, and although we discuss so much in that time, it often feels like we haven't covered a quarter of what we could if we had the time. The plenary lectures so far have also been very interesting, although sometimes they are so full of complex ideas I have trouble following what's being said - it would have helped if I had studied some kind of philosophy. Most of the people I've met have done at least philosophy classes, even just in high school, and they find the lectures a little easier to penetrate.

Other than that, we stay in a few separate colleges, although most of the science and literature ISS students are staying at St Catharine's college. We eat breakfast together and we eat dinner together, but are responsible for getting our own lunch. The last two nights we have gone to the pub closest to St Catharine's called The Eagle, which has been in business since the 15th century. It's amazing to go to a pub that is that old! Having said that, St Catharine's is about six hundred years old, and the university is older still. I love how old everything is here :-)

St Catharine's college where I am staying for the next four weeks. The college symbol is a wheel, which I initially thought was a ship's wheel, but turns out to actually be a torture wheel - St Catharine was killed on a torture wheel. A little bit morbid for a college symbol

Punts on the river Cam for the tourists to go punting - I have not tried this yet!

The next week and a half are going to be very amazing!

~ Jemimah


Jemimah Halbert is participating on our Cambridge Literature Summer School Program in the UK. Jemimah is currently in her 3rd year of a Bachelor of Arts at Edith Cowan University.

Preparation for the Cambridge Literature Summer School

Today (the first day of July) is the horizon of a month of solid work - this trip has been more work than my whole last semester of uni!

My flight leaves on Tuesday at 4:00pm from Perth airport, I arrive at Singapore airport at 9:30pm, then hop on another plane at 11:30pm to Heathrow, and after a total nineteen hours flying I will finally arrive in the UK! From London I will catch a train to the city of Cambridge, where I am staying my first three nights at a B & B. From there I will move to St Catharine's College, where I will spend the rest of my stay in the UK.

I'm feeling moderately prepared, I still have to buy currency and some phone credit for my travel sim card. Today has been mostly dedicated to tying up loose ends, buying last minute items, writing everything I'll need to know in my notebook, working on essays for the classes I'm taking.

I will be attending four different specified classes, two per week, plus attending plenary lectures. A typical day in the first week will look like this:

Monday 9th July:

From 7:45am - Breakfast in my college

8:55-9:10am - Introduction to the Literature Summer School

9:15-10:45am - Special subject courses - for me this is the class Shakespeare and Love

11:15am-12:15pm - Plenary lecture GH0 Triumphs and disasters: Declaring love: the danger of disaster

2:00-3:30pm - Special subject courses - for me this is Adapting Austen

4:00-4:30pm - Information for evaluation-takers - this is for students who are submitting essays to be marked for various classes, which includes me

And that will be a typical day at Cambridge!

They really know how to work people, fortunately I have three days to recover from jet-lag before I have to start using my brain again :-)

Jemimah

 

Jemimah Halbert is participating on our Cambridge Literature Summer School Program in the UK. Jemimah is currently in her 3rd year of a Bachelor of Arts at Edith Cowan University.

Three days til an English Summer!

I keep swinging between excited and stressed out of my mind. On one hand; I've wanted to study literature in the UK for years and can't wait to explore Cambridge, attend my classes and get myself back to the British Museum. On the other hand; what if my essay isn't as good as I wanted it to be? What if the work load is too much? I have my paperwork sorted but what if I run into a problem at UK Customs? My thoughts run in circles. But let's say everything is fine (which it probably will be).

What am I looking forward to the most?

- Attending dinner at St Catherine's college

- Hoping to catch the Olympic Torch Race as it passes through Cambridge

- Accomplishing my mission of locating a University of Cambridge jumper (perfect souvenir)

- The Shakespeare course I'll attend in my first week

- Making new friends

I'm getting excited just writing this! Three days until I fly out of Sydney and I'm checking the online common room pages constantly for new information. I figure the weather will be about the same as it is in Sydney at the moment and definitely warmer than it has been in Canberra lately. I've experienced an English winter, and English summer will no doubt be an interesting experience. As will the entire trip.

Note To Self: Take a lot of photos

Liz

 Ashleigh Elizabeth South is participating in our Cambridge Literature Summer School in the UK. Ashleigh is completing her second year of a Bachelor of Writing at University of Canberra.

The Literary Joys of Cambridge: Interview with Returned Student Zoe Ambrus

 Zoe Ambrus (above) discovering the magic that England has to offer.

Zoe Ambrus had the trip of a lifetime when she went on our Cambridge International Summer School program in July 2011. Zoe's AIM Overseas experience was so life changing that she transferred universities when she got back to Australia as a result! Zoe shares her awesome experience below...
 

Hi Zoe! Could you please introduce yourself? (what degree and where you're studying) 

 Hello! My name is Zoe Ambrus, and I am currently in the third year of my Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Melbourne. In July 2011 I travelled to the University of Cambridge and completed Term I of the International Summer School. I also received credit for the Cambridge course at my home institution, which was great!
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Why did you choose this AIM Overseas course?

Because it gave me the opportunity to study Shakespeare at one of the best Universities in the world, and AIM Overseas organised practically everything for me!
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Did you have any fears/concerns before doing the program?

 Yes! Travelling to England last July was only the second time I’d ever travelled overseas and the first time I’d ever been on a plane by myself. But it was all fine. Harriet, Jooliet and Rob all prepared everyone really well and gave us heaps of great advice and travel tips : )
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Tell me about a typical day at Cambridge.

 During the week we would go to our classes and lectures. Because I was a student at the International Summer School, I had to choose 3 classes which I would attend every day (history, literature, science or politics). I chose 2 literature (Shakespeare) classes, and 1 history class. As well as attending these 3 classes daily, we were also required to attend a daily plenary lecture (which was compulsory), and a night lecture (which wasn’t). The university organised several guest speakers to visit us – scientists, historians, literary professors, and even Margaret Thatcher’s political advisor!

After our afternoon classes, we were free to explore the city, go shopping, punting, or catch up on our homework and required reading. After the night lectures the students would take advantage of all the activities organised for us by the program (including folk dances and music performances). Many of my friends went to see Shakespeare plays in their spare time, too. The Cambridge Shakespeare festival is held in the summer in the college gardens. If you like Shakespeare, go and watch one!

On the weekends we didn’t have any classes or lectures, but the university organised outings for us which we could attend if we wanted to. I went on their trip to the Globe Theatre and saw the play ‘Alls Well that Ends Well’, and I went to Stratford-Upon-Avon and saw ‘Macbeth’ performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company (and bought lots of souvenirs!). I also went on a London River cruise. The planned trips were great because they organised the tickets and transport for us, and gave us time to explore the various cities we travelled to. I had fun shopping, visiting St. Pauls Cathedral, the London Eye and Buckingham Palace, and sneaking under the velvet rope barrier and getting a photo with the Madame Tussauds wax model of David Beckham (I got told off but it was totally worth it!). Carpe Diem!

How has this program affected you? (Personally and/or professionally) 
After I completed the course, I felt a real sense of accomplishment and I was very proud of myself! After I came back to Australia, I changed universities and decided to major in English. Also, I went to visit a family friend who I hadn’t seen since a few months before I went to England. She told me that it must have been a while since she’d seen me, because ‘you looked like a child the last time I saw you, and now you look like an adult’. Huh! I am now also motivated and inspired to travel overseas again, and I tell everyone that I went to Cambridge! (The looks on their faces are priceless)  ;)

What was the highlight of the program for you?

I woke up every morning in a seven hundred year old college and could see several other colleges (they looked like castles!) from my bedroom window. My teachers were bestselling authors, the guest speakers were world renowned academics. The apple tree which Isaac Newton sat under when the apple hit him and he discovered gravity was right around the corner, and the pub where Pink Floyd performed for the first time was just down the road. DNA was discovered in another pub (there are lots of pubs). I love Shakespeare, so the excursions to Stratford-Upon-Avon and the Globe Theatre were definitely a highlight! Also, the spectacular architecture was so impressive, as was the quality of the teaching, the Universities reputation, the guest lecturers, the food, the shopping, everything was wonderful!

Because I was part of the International Summer School, I made friends with students studying science, politics and history, as well as literature, and I still keep in contact with many of them.  I made a lot of friends from all over the world who I still keep in contact with. While we were in Cambridge, we went to the cinema to see the new Harry Potter film in 3D, and later in the week we travelled to Oxford and saw where the movies were filmed! Ahhhhhh! Exciting!!

Outside 'Gonville and Caius', the college where Zoe stayed

Do you have any funny travel stories you’d like to share? 
Yes! On one of our excursions a couple of friends and I decided to visit St. Paul's Cathedral because we had a bit of spare time. We were paying the admission when my friend noticed the employee’s name tag. “Jesus”, he read aloud. “Is that your name, Jesus?!” The man nodded. “Well you work in the right place, then!” Later, on our way out, my friend wanted to say goodbye to Jesus, but he wasn’t there. “Excuse me”, he asked the lady who was now at the desk. “Where is Jesus? He was right here!” (remember, we were at ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL). The lady looked at him like he was insane. “Jesus is dead”, she gravely told us. We all started laughing. “But wasn’t he resurrected?”. I think ‘Jesus’ was on his lunch break.

 

Zoe in front of St Paul's Cathedral where she met Jesus!

Do you have any tips for future students thinking about doing this course?  
-BRING AN UMBRELLA. English weather is weird.

-When you get to Cambridge University, for the love of God, DO NOT STAND ON THE GRASS!

-DO NOT BUY A TRAVELSIM, they are a TOTAL waste of money. Texting and calling in England is so cheap, so buy a simcard when you get there. I wish someone had told me this before I left!

-You will appreciate the lessons so much more if you do the required reading.

-Bring some of the local currency with you just in case. There was a time when my EFTPOS card wasn’t working, so it was good that I had some extra money that lasted until I got the problem fixed.

-Also, if you see a cool, expensive souvenir you would like to buy, or a tourist attraction you would like to visit with a high admission price (or whatever) just pay the money! You may never visit that place again. You only live once! :D

A selfy with Big Ben in the background

What would you say to somebody who’s thinking of doing the program? 
The people who run and organise the program really look after you, so don’t worry if it’s the first time out of the country on your own! Everything is very well organised – the classes, the assessments, the accommodation and the outings. If we had an excursion planned and the bus was scheduled to leave early in the morning, our resident tutor even organised a packed breakfast for us! Everyone has such a great time, and I met many students who told me that they came back to do the Cambridge course every year. I’m already planning my next AIM Overseas trip, if they will let me do another one...    : D  (You sure can Zoe! We love seeing returned students doing another program!)

This program runs every year in the July uni holidays. To find out more about this program or to apply, please go to our website: www.aimoverseas.com.au or email us on info@aimoverseas.com.au 
Join us on Facebook for more photos, travel tips and updates: www.facebook.com/aimoverseas

Getting to know Cambridge - Acacia tells us about studying Science in one of the world's oldest universities

Acacia Burns [pictured above, looking very much at home at the University of Cambridge] is a recent Science/Law graduate from Griffith Uni. Acacia is one our superstar students: in 2010, she attended our Global Leadership Program in Prague. We were so impressed with Acacia that she was then selected to be the AIM Overseas Campus Coordinator at Griffith Uni, acting as our representative on campus. Then in July this year, Acacia got the study/travel bug again and hopped on a plane to the UK to participate in the Cambridge Science program. Read about her experiences below...

Hi Acacia! Could you please introduce yourself?
My name is Acacia and I have just graduated from a Bachelor of Laws/ Bachelor of Science (Environment) degree at Griffith University in Brisbane. I studied at Cambridge University in July 2011, as part of the Science Summer School course.

Why did you choose this AIM Overseas course?
I choose this course because it was my last chance to study overseas during my undergraduate degree. I wanted to use this opportunity to experience a life that very few people are privy to, and to better understand and appreciate my own university experience here in Australia.

The course theme for 2011 was Impact and Responsibility, so it suited my degree well, and, being an AIM Overseas Campus Coordinator, I knew what lengths the AIM Overseas team go to to ensure their programs are not only unique, but also of the highest academic quality, and provide a good balance between study and fun. Cambridge University has quite restricted public access and there are very few universities in Australia that have exchange partnerships with Cambridge, so making the decision to do this course was easy.

The gardens at Trinity Hall

Did you have any fears or concerns before doing the program?
I was quite concerned about the pace of lectures and the assessment. I thought that it would be too hard, and was questioning whether I would pass. I soon found out that there was nothing to worry about. The program director, lecturers and other support staff were all very friendly and approachable, and encouraged us to ask questions as much as possible. Every college also has a resident “tutor”, a local student who is on call throughout the program if you have any problems (scholarly or otherwise) and you don’t feel comfortable approaching a lecturer. I thought that the assessment was very fair- not too easy, but not too hard either- and it still gave me time to explore and get to know other students.

Tell me about a typical day at Cambridge.
A typical day at Cambridge would consist of getting up around 7am, walking through the beautiful Clare College gardens to the “Buttery” (the English term for cafeteria) for breakfast just after 8am, morning lectures from 9am to around 12pm, a break for lunch and then afternoon lectures from 1pm to around 3.30-4pm. Dinner was served in the candle lit dinning room in Clare College Old Court at 6.30pm, after which there would usually be an evening lecture scheduled, or some free time to wander around the town or see a Shakespeare play in the college gardens as part of the Summer Shakespeare Festival.


Acacia on Clare Bridge - the oldest bridge in Cambridge - overlooking the Kings College Chapel next door to Clare

How has this program affected you?
Being a part of this program really made me realise how important it is take the opportunities that come your way whenever you can. Studying at Cambridge was a once in a lifetime experience that I never would have had if it weren’t for AIM Overseas. In a professional sense, studying overseas has become a major talking point during job interviews and it has definitely enhanced my employment prospects.

What was the highlight of the program for you?
The incredible history! In a place as old as Cambridge there is a story behind everything you see and I just loved taking time out to stroll through the college grounds (and as you are technically a student while you are there, a simple flash of your student card and the porters will waiver the admission fee) contemplating the enormity of the place just as countless others have before me. From the Bridge of Sighs at St Johns College, the beautiful gardens of Clare College and Trinity Hall, and of course the famous Kings College Chapel that marks the centre of town, there is something to see around every corner.


The Fellows Garden at Clare College

I especially enjoyed the evening lectures about the history of Cambridge architecture, the colleges, and the university traditions of academic dress and graduation, some of which we still see today (the evening lectures are also helpful in finding out where the towns hidden treasures are!). Becoming immersed in such a rich history, it is easy to forget that the modern university of the 21st century is directly descended from places like Cambridge.


The picturesque town and punts on the river Cam

Did you do some extra travel before/after/during the program?
I stopped over in London for a week before the program started. It was a great way for me to catch up with friends, get over the jet lag, and do some sightseeing (of course!).

Do you have any advice for students thinking about doing this course?

(1) If you have the option, do the assessment
It isn’t easy, but having something marked and graded by an academic of Cambridge University (including good and comprehensive feedback) was truly satisfying. I felt more like a student, rather than a tourist, and receiving an academic transcript with Cambridge University on the header was well worth the late night cramming. It allows you to really engage with the subject matter of your course and is also a good excuse to visit the main university library, the grandness of which has to be seen to be believed.

(2) Get to know your resident tutor
The resident tutors are your first point of call in an emergency, or if some other problem arises while you are staying on college, so it’s a good idea to keep their number handy. The same can be said for the college “porters”, who are always on hand if you need help with directions, finding the laundry room, or you simply want to find nice place to eat. Also keep in mind that some of the colleges close there gates at night, so if you’re planning on coming back late (from all that late night study in the library no doubt!) it’s a good idea to check in with the porters first.

(3) Stay open-minded
One of the best things about a program like this is that it attracts a diverse range of students from all over the world with different cultural backgrounds and varying ages. Take this opportunity to get to know people you wouldn't normally talk to. My neighbour at Clare College was 80 years old and had been coming to Cambridge every summer for the last 12 years! Talking to her was like reading a book she was just so full of knowledge. My advice: stay open minded because you never know who you might meet.

(4) Make the most of your stay
Lastly, book a few extra days in Cambridge before or after your trip so that you can really make the most of your stay.

What would you say to somebody who’s thinking of doing the program?
Go for it! How many people can say that they actually studied at one of the most prestigious universities in the world and rubbed shoulders with academic greats? You have everything to gain and nothing to lose, so just do it!


Group shot of Acacia and fellow AIM Overseasers at Cambridge

Thanks Acacia, great advice!

Read another article by Acacia on the Global Leadership Program and the benefits of studying overseas.

This program runs every year in the July uni holidays. To find out more about this program or to apply, please go to our website: www.aimoverseas.com.au or email us on info@aimoverseas.com.au

Join us on Facebook for more photos, travel tips and updates: www.facebook.com/aimoverseas

Pace yourself - Michael Warrender talks about studying History at Cambridge University

Photo courtesy of Laura Galea


Michael Warrender, a 3rd year Bachelor of Arts/International Studies student from the University of Adelaide, talks to us about his experience doing the Cambridge History Summer School program. Read on to find out more...

Hi Michael! Could you please introduce yourself? I am Michael Warrender a now 3rd year Bachelor of Arts/International studies student at Adelaide University.

Why did you choose this AIM Overseas course? I chose this course largely because it provided me with the opportunity to study at Cambridge University, something which I have always wanted to do. I also selected this course because it seemed academically excellent. The topics on offer were of interest to me.

Did you have any fears/concerns before doing the program? And if so, were you able to overcome these fears?
This trip was so well organised by AIM Overseas that I had no real fears or concerns before doing this program. This is even considering that I had not been overseas for several years and had never left the country on my own before.

Tell me about a typical day at Cambridge.
A typical day at Cambridge involved a smorgasbord breakfast at one’s college. This was followed by the morning plenary lecture, which this year focused on the theme of war and peace. After this came a short break before another lesson, this time of one of the electives. Lunch succeeded the class and there was the opportunity to eat wherever one wanted. The final elective lesson then took place. This was the end of the academic day.

Apart from dinner, which was supplied by the college, students then had the evening to themselves. Occasionally there were evening lectures or social activities. Otherwise, one could explore the city at one’s leisure.

If the choice of completing an essay was taken, some evenings/lunch breaks had to be set aside for research and writing.


What was the highlight of the program for you?
The highlight was definitely the opportunity to study at such a prestigious location. Cambridge is a place where one can easily get lost. For several hours in my case! To be treated like a Cambridge student was excellent.

Also, meeting people from all over the world made this experience worthwhile.

Do you have any insider tips for someone who's going on this course?
If one plans to do the essays, pace oneself. It sounds obvious, but doing a bit each day is far more profitable than losing a whole day that could be spent seeing the sites.

There are so many pubs that it is difficult to recommend. The college bars are great as they are designed for students and are rather cheap.

The food provided by the colleges was not brilliant but not that bad. The only meal one has to worry about each day, therefore, is lunch. There are plenty of places to get some cheap food.

Hire a bike! It makes it so much easier to see the whole of Cambridge.

The weekends are a good time to go to London. It is only a 40-50 minute train trip from Cambridge. However, the station can be crowded.


Photo courtesy of Daniel Shields

How has this program impacted you? I now know that I can participate actively at a different university of a very high standard.

I also have the experience of travelling and studying by myself.

What would you say to somebody who’s thinking of doing the program?
Go for it! It is an excellent experience!

Thanks for sharing your experiences with us, Michael!


Photo courtesy of Daniel Shields


This program runs every year in the July uni holidays. To find out more about this program or to apply, please go to our website: www.aimoverseas.com.au or email us on info@aimoverseas.com.au

Join us on Facebook for more photos, travel tips and updates: www.facebook.com/aimoverseas

More about the Cambridge History Summer School: Shannon Bishop tells us what it's like

Shannon Bishop [front left], a Bachelor of Arts student from the University of Newcastle, participated in our Cambridge History Summer School program in July this year. Shannon recently took some time out to tell us more about what it was like studying this intensive course at this prestigious university.

Hi Shannon! Could you please introduce yourself?
I am currently finishing off my Bachelor of Arts (History and Ancient History) at the University of Newcastle. I'll be proceeding onto my Honours (History) this year.

Why did you choose AIM Overseas' Cambridge History summer school course?
I chose the History Summer School because A: its Cambridge! Who wouldn't want to study there if they had the opportunity? And B: I thought it would be a good experience for me, experiencing a different university in a different country, and it would also stand out on my transcript that I took a course at Cambridge; and, of course, I have a love of history - it was a great opportunity to study at such an old and prestigious University.


The glorious gates of the University of Cambridge

Did you have any fears or concerns before doing the program?
No I didn't have any real fears... well I suppose the only one would be the amount of work that needed to be done. I wanted to get credit for the course, so I chose to complete an essay for evaluation. I found out that if you did the essay for one of your courses in the second week, it wasn't due until the week after (which meant I would be back at home) - so I found it easier to do that, so that I would have time to explore Cambridge, as opposed to being stuck in my room, doing my essay.

The pain of being stuck in your room writing essays must surely be softened when you're surrounded by scenes like this...

Tell me about a typical day at Cambridge.
I was staying at St Catharine's College, which is right smack bang in the middle of Cambridge, a few metres down from the illustrious Kings College and the centre of town. My day would begin with breakfast at around 7.45am; we got a buffet type breakfast, so we were able to fill up, and have some energy for what seemed like long days (although they weren't). I would often meet up with my fellow classmates, as well as students from the science and literature programs, which was always interesting.

Us history students were then off to the first lecture of the day - the plenary lecture. The subject for this year was War and Peace. This encompassed many different eras, from Stuart Britain right up until the Cold War. This lecture was mandatory, so we always had to make sure we arrived at class at least 5 mins early. These lectures went for 1.5 hours, then we had a half hour break, before the first of our special subject lectures started at 11am.

My chosen morning special subject was Revolutions in Latin America - something that wasn't studied at my uni, but interested me (it was made all the more interesting with the lecturer always taking his sandals off and walking around the room barefoot!). In week two I studied Making and breaking the Soviet Union.

We would then break for lunch at 12.30pm for an hour and a half. During this time, I met up with some friends that I had made (from various parts of the world), and we would go off into town to find some lunch.

After lunch we would start our afternoon lectures - this was always hard, starting at 2pm after a long lunch, after what had already seemed like a long day. I was taking Disasters in the Roman World, which I had thought was going to be very interesting, though it ended up being my least favourite lecture series! In week 2 I studied Heroes and Villains: the Victorians and History.


Shannon and friends take a happy snap on campus

With classes completed by 3pm, we had time from then until dinner to do what we pleased, with most afternoons spent walking around Cambridge, and looking at the different colleges, and trying to get a head start on the essay.

Dinner was always a fun catch up for the day. The first time I walked into the dining hall, I thought I was on the set of a movie - it reminded me of Harry Potter! Dinner was a three course menu and often quite interesting! We would use the time at dinner to catch up with our fellow college mates, and discuss the day and how we were feeling about our classes, and talked about our lives outside of Cambridge.

After dinner there were a bunch of lecture series running - sometimes they were particular to which summer school you were studying, and some were joint ones between all of the summer schools (these were optional - if you didn't want to go, you went into town/pub/worked on essay). With these lectures finishing around 9pm, I'm glad it was daylight savings so that there was still light as we walked back to the college from the teaching sites.

What was the highlight of the program for you?
There were a couple of highlights for me. Meeting new people from around the world was excellent and I still talk to most of them now via Facebook, which is great!


Shannon and her new-found Cambridge friends from all around the world: luckily there's Facebook to keep in touch!

Another highlight were two evening lectures - one given by the official historian of MI5, and one given by Dr James Grimes on understanding codes and the Enigma Machine. Dr James Grimes is best described as the doppelganger of Mr. Bean - not in looks but in actions. The fact he was cracking jokes every few minutes made the hour go very fast, and no one wanted his lectures to end!

Another highlight at this lecture was that we were able to get up close and personal with an Enigma machine which had been captured by an American GI in France during WW2 - Dr Grimes showed us how it worked - it still worked after all this time!

Do you have any funny travel stories you’d like to share?
On the second last day at Cambridge, after dinner, I was headed back to my room for the night as there were no evening lectures. I got to my room, popped my bag down, and headed off to see a neighbour. After a few minutes, I returned to my room - well, I tried to, anyway... I put the key in the door lock, and the key just kept turning around and around... I thought to myself, "Hang on, that's not right," and I gave it another go - but the same thing happened again!

So I trotted off down three flights of stairs to the porters office to see if he could get me into my room. Both of us trotted back up, and he decided he would try his master key - but oh no, that didn't work either! So back down to the porters office we went so he could log a job with the locksmith at the college.

He told me that he would have to put me in another room for the night, as the locksmith wouldn't be coming tonight (it was only 8pm - I didn't understand why they didn't have a locksmith on call 24/7!). He gave me my key and said for me to come back down in the morning after breakfast and they'd send the locksmith up to get me back in. Mind you, all this time I had nothing with me except the clothes on my back and I was glad it was summer as I just had a t-shirt and shorts on.

So what was I to do for the rest of the evening with no iPod or kindle or laptop? I found the TV room, and watched TV for awhile, went to the computer room and played on Facebook, then toddled off to find my new room for the night - luckily it was next door to one of my new friends!

Finally, the next morning arrived, and I rushed off to breakfast - relaying this story to my breakfast pals - then raced up to my room, to find the locksmith there (yay!) using a crowbar to open the door! Finally, I was able to get in, get changed and grab my stuff for class! He was going to fix the lock so it would be ready by the time I returned in the afternoon. Oh well, it all made for a fun story anyway!

Do you have some tips for someone who's going on this course?
I guess just do some reading on the subjects you are taking before you go, it helps to have a bit of a background knowledge so that you don't feel like you're lost and confused in class.

The Anchor is the best pub we found to go to - good food and service at a good price, plus it was right near the teaching site so we didn't have to go to far and have to race back for afternoon class.

When packing: you need to pack for all seasons. Since it was summer, the weather wasn't especially cold and a light jacket sufficed. Also, pack an umbrella or rain coat (or both). I was lucky and it only rained on one day!

Also - if you show your International School student card (mine was green, I think it depends on what college you are staying at) you can walk through Clare College and its gardens - it's beautiful!

How has this program impacted you?
Personally, I think it has instilled an awesome sense of pride in me - I know that I have gone to Cambridge, studied and passed with a decent mark - and it makes me proud to say I went there! Professionally - well we'll see, but I am sure it will have a good impact!

What would you say to somebody who’s thinking of doing the program? Do it!

Thanks Shannon, we hope you're not missing Cambridge too much!


What are you waiting for? Cambridge beckons...

This program runs every year in the July uni holidays. To find out more about this program or to apply, please go to our website: www.aimoverseas.com.au or email us on info@aimoverseas.com.au

Join us on Facebook for more photos, travel tips and updates: www.facebook.com/aimoverseas

Let's talk about Cambridge! - Laura Galea tells us about studying the Cambridge Literature Summer School program

Laura Galea [pictured above], currently studying a Bachelor of Arts at Victoria University, embarked on the trip of a lifetime earlier this year when she participated in our our Cambridge Literature Summer School program. Laura's AIM Overseas experience was so life-changing that she came back and transferred degrees as a result. Read on to find out more...

Why did you choose to study our Cambridge Literature Summer School program? I love the written word! Cambridge is a place where writers are kings, knowledge is currency, and inspiration is the air that we breathe in. Did I mention that I also love travelling?

Did you have any fears or concerns before doing the program?
My main concern was preparing myself academically; this meant doing all the preliminary reading and getting my hands on all the books that were needed to write ‘that’ essay. Other than that, I had only feelings of excitement and wonderment! I had so many questions: ‘How big were the classes going to be?' 'What kind of food would I be eating?' (and the most important question of all) 'Will there be enough time to party?!’


Tell me about a typical day at Cambridge.
I would wake up at 7am. Get ready, go to the dining hall (yes, it is as fancy as it sounds!) and eat breakfast. Class started at 9am and finished at 3:30pm. These classes included reading and discussing the classics and the greats of both English and Greek literature. I studied the Trouble with Keats, Making Sense of Poetry, and Homer’s The Odyssey and The Iliad.
Dinner was then served at 6:30pm. Cambridge are wonderful at doing all they can to distract you. There were poetry readings, Shakespeare plays, even the Alberni string quartet!
It was summertime. And you’re studying with people from all over the world – so I’m not going to lie to you and say there were no outings to the pub. Plus, we were in England!



Like a dream...

What was the highlight of the program for you?
The whole experience feels like a dream now, and sometimes I go back and read the emails that I sent out to family and friends and still get flutterbies. One of the many, many, many highlights was studying literature at a place where writing lives and has lived for hundreds and hundreds of years! Many of the writers that are taught at Cambridge (at some point or another) went to school and studied there, or taught there themselves. There is great pleasure in that. And knowing I was a part of that, even for just a little while, still makes me smile.


It's mind-boggling to think of how many of the world's literary greats have walked through these gates...

Do you have any funny travel stories you’d like to share?
Plenty! Most of them involve the Boston kids, copious amounts of bottles of Pimms, and going for (correction: trying to) punt.

There was a funny incident that actually happened before I arrived at Cambridge. I decided to plan a few days in London beforehand, to shop, shop, shop (what else?!) But as I got off the plane, I realised my phone had not been properly unlocked, and the new overseas sim that I had bought could not be activated, and therefore made me unreachable. This is a serious problem when you have your parents eagerly waiting by the phone to hear that you have arrived safely at your destination. Once I reached my hotel, the man behind the desk told me that there was a problem and that I had been moved to another hotel. It started pouring down rain, (of course!) and I had to walk to the next hotel which was twenty minutes away. By the time I reached the hotel, I looked like a drowned rat and the lady behind the desk asked, “Are you Laura Galea?”
“Yes.” I replied.
“Your mother called!”

Do you have some tips for someone who's going on this course?
1. Organise your sim card BEFORE you leave the country!
2. There are so many beautiful restaurants, cafes, and bars in Cambridge. Try not to limit yourself to eating in the dining hall. It’s such a gorgeous city!
3. Buy a bottle of Pimms, call your friends and go punting.


The real reason why our students love studying in the UK so much... PIMMS!

How has this program impacted you (either personally and/or professionally)? Before I left for Cambridge, I was in my second year studying a Bachelor of Education at Victoria University. Since coming back, I have transferred into a Bachelor of Arts – majoring in Literary Studies. I have changed my course around so that I can focus wholly on Literature, and hopefully do an Honours year after that. Teaching is very much still an option, but I’d like to explore this one first.

What would you say to somebody who’s thinking of doing the program?

Don’t worry about money. Your university is there to help you. There are numerous scholarships you can look into, OS-HELP loans, etc.

Don’t worry about the workload. It is crazy and intense! But how often can you say you have travelled to the other side of the world to study at one of the most prestigious universities in the world?!

Don’t worry about being nervous. This is going to be one of the most AMAZING experiences of your life!!!!

Are you on the plane yet?


Cambridge awaits!


Laura even sent us in the office some little pressies before she left - thanks Laura! (Current/future AIM Overseas students take note: we really really really love candy!)

This program runs every year in the July uni holidays. To find out more about this program or to apply, please go to our website: www.aimoverseas.com.au or email us on info@aimoverseas.com.au

Join us on Facebook for more photos, travel tips and updates: www.facebook.com/aimoverseas