Everyone walked away from the study abroad placement realising that the year had impacted their life forever, and was one of the most important decisions they would make about their life.
Naima Begum
Law LLB with South East Asian Law
Our students at the School of Law have the opportunity to spend a year abroad to broaden their horizons, both academically and socially. From continental Europe to the USA, Asia and Australia, our Law students have travelled across the world and back – gaining invaluable experiences and unforgettable connections that will help them stand out to employers and forge successful legal careers. Read on to hear from our students about their study abroad experiences.
Learning experience
Studying law in a different country introduces you to legal systems that are completely different from the British justice system. Olivia Seiros Silva and Ellie Ridley, who both spent a year in Australia, gained amazing insights into International Human Rights Law for indigenous peoples around the world. Olivia says that she’s now better able to contextualise legal systems within different cultures and ideologies, which also gives her more perspective on the public’s response to certain policies.
Meanwhile, Shirley Kumar and Ben Beresford learned more about Capital Punishment Law at the University of Texas. Taught by experienced capital attorneys and working on real cases, Shirley developed exceptional critical thinking skills as the modules brought the real world into the classroom. Ben worked as a student attorney on real death penalty appeals, drafting court documents and visiting prisoners on death row – an experience that helped him secure a training contract when he returned to Nottingham.
The impact of these modules extended far beyond the classroom. It's an experience that shaped my desire to be a lawyer who fights tirelessly for a fair and just system, especially for those facing the death penalty.
Shirley Kumar
Law LLB with American Law
Student life
New food, cultural scenes, nightlife and a pleasant change from British weather are all excellent reasons to study abroad. During his year at the University of Vienna, Rowan Buxton spent most weekends exploring new drinking spots and nightclubs, as well as the city’s rich cultural heritage of classical music. From its world-famous Christmas markets and magical snowfalls to pedal-boating with the locals in 30°C heat, he says that Vienna truly gives the best of both worlds.
Being in a different part of the world can also completely change what your day-to-day looks like. In Sydney, Ellie spent weekends on coastal walks, playing volleyball, visiting the Opera House and exploring the city. Olivia spent much of her time on the beach in Canberra, surfing and scuba diving with her friends. She also travelled far and wide, exploring not only other places in Australia, but also Fiji, Thailand and Indonesia. Naima Begum also made the most of her time studying at the National University of Singapore to visit nearby countries such as Malaysia, Hong Kong and the Philippines multiple times.
It was by far the best year of my life, and I have made friends for life during this year. I had the most amazing travel opportunities to places I never thought I would see.
Ellie Ridley
Law LLB with Australian Law
Worried about making friends?
The prospect of having to find new friends in a new country can be scary. However, Naima shares that finding your tribe can be surprisingly easy. She says that the experience is similar to being a fresher. Everyone is anxious but excited to make friends as soon as possible, with group chats on WhatsApp and Facebook for everyone and everything; museum goers, hikers, photographers and travellers, as well as nationality and religion-specific groups. Her top tip is to join as many relevant chats as possible and try to find people that you can bond with.
Many universities in Europe also have an Erasmus Student Network (ESN), hosting regular social, sporting and educational events. While studying in Málaga, Atul Sooraj travelled all around Spain, including Seville, Nerja, Ronda and Caminito del Rey on ESN-organised trips. Almira Azadi, who also studied in Málaga, even went on a trip to Morocco and spent a night in the Sahara Desert.
ESN also offers a buddy scheme, which pairs you with a student based at the university you’re visiting for your first few weeks. This helped Rowan discover spots off the beaten track that not many tourists get to see during his time in Vienna.
Remember, it's about stepping outside your comfort zone and embracing new experiences, cultures and perspectives. Studying abroad builds independence and problem-solving skills as you manage finances, navigate a new environment and adapt to a different culture. It's a fantastic way to grow as a person and broaden your world view.
Shirley Kumar
Law LLB with American Law
Please be aware that study abroad, compulsory year abroad, optional placements/internships and integrated year in industry opportunities may change at any time for a number of reasons, including curriculum developments, changes to arrangements with partner universities or placement/industry hosts, travel restrictions or other circumstances outside of the university's control. Every effort will be made to update this information as quickly as possible should a change occur.
Find out more about study abroad opportunities with the School of Law here.
