At Stellenbosch we had to write an application including why we wanted to go on exchange. Once I was in contact with the University of Bath, I found applying very easy. The communication was good between the international relations office and me. I found the emails straightforward and the instructions were clear.

I looked at the student accommodation on the website and where it was located in the city. The units I could study were also clearly highlighted to explain what we could take and how many credits it would be towards my degree.

So far, I've made a good effort to always come to campus and attend the lectures. I've really enjoyed it. The facilities here are great and the classes are interactive. The lecturers include the class in the discussion, and they make you concentrate.

There are lots of meetings that you can have with your lecturers which I haven't utilised yet. But that will be very helpful in the future, especially when exam time comes. You can book an appointment face to face to ask questions so it’s not all over email.

The city of Bath is amazing. I like how it's been kept as a UNESCO World Heritage site. There are a lot of old buildings. That’s not something that you always see in South Africa because our cities are a bit newer and have less history behind them. I love the Roman Baths and the Bath Abbey. The architecture is beautiful.

My mum came with me when I arrived because she also hadn't been to Bath and she wanted to have a look around. We went to the Thai restaurant on the balcony in the city. The bar, Flan O’Briens, is also really cool.

I live in the Aquila Court student accommodation. It's very central, you can literally just cross the river and then you're in the centre of town. I like that all the international students are together because everyone's in the same boat as you and going through the same thing. Everyone's there to make friends and meet people.

I've made really good friends in my flat. All of us who haven't experienced Bath before go out together, do hikes and spend time in the city.

I used to play rugby but I wasn't going to play here because I had an injury a few years ago. But when I got here, they were still keen for me to get on board. I was introduced to the student coaching council and they gave me opportunities to coach with them and still get involved with the club.

Although I couldn't play anymore, they still made an effort to include me and make sure I was part of the society. The community is a close group and they're really friendly, so it’s been great to be a part of it.

While I’m here, I would like to experience a bit more of Bristol because it's quite close, but I haven't done that yet. Maybe in the holidays I'll go there. I’d also like to see a bit more of the countryside and do a few more hikes in the surrounding smaller towns.

I took subjects that would complement what I'm doing in back in Stellenbosch, so in terms of academic goals, I'm trying to get the best marks possible. I’m going to all lectures and seminars to further my understanding of my subject.

If you’re thinking about going on exchange, you should definitely do it. I've made so many friends so far. It’s also cool to get to be a part of another university and experience the campus and the vibe of a new place.

Plan your finances before you go. In our accommodation we were left a lot of second-hand equipment, like pots, pans and plates, so keep in mind that you don't need to go out and buy everything.

I would say save up a little bit of money to enjoy your stay here because there's so many things to do and so many things to see. You want to make sure you have enough money to be able to do it all.