Global Adventures: Our students’ summer experiences abroad
From volunteering in Japan to internships and summer schools across Europe and Asia, our students took full advantage of the opportunities we offer to go global.
31 December 2025
The short-term global opportunities offered at Newcastle University are an excellent way to include international experience as part of a degree without having to commit to a year abroad. The experiences on offer include summer schools, volunteering and internships, and aim to develop skills in adaptability, problem solving and communications - so there is something for everyone.
This year over 20 students across the School of Mathematics, Statistics and Physics (MSP) took part in the scheme, with students visiting 6 countries including Cyprus, Finland, South Korea and Sri Lanka.
Dylan Giles (BSc Physics with Astrophysics) visited the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur on a research exchange. Dylan said “The global opportunity is a great addition to my CV and shows how I can work well in new environments by stepping out of my comfort zone. I was able to try out new research methods and also improved my time management. I really enjoyed meeting students from different backgrounds and learning about their culture.”
Veatriki Irene Sophocleous (BSc Mathematics) visited Nicosia in Cyprus on the annual MSP teaching field trip. The trip gives students the opportunity to go into Cypriot private schools and teach school students using activities they plan and create themselves.
Veatriki said “It was a wonderful experience. In addition to the teaching, I got to spend time with my classmates exploring Nicosia’s old town and visiting seaside towns.
“After university, I see myself teaching Mathematics to students. My experience in Cyprus gave me valuable insight into what the career involves and increased my confidence. I also developed classroom management, communication and lesson planning skills which are essential to my future career. Since returning from the field trip, I’ve become more motivated and focused on degree, as the experience confirmed my passion for teaching. I’m now approaching my university work with a stronger sense of purpose and connecting everything I learn to how I will use it when teaching my own students.”
Lois Wiszniewski (BSc Mathematics) also visited IIT Kanpur as part of the student exchange research project. Lois said “This was my first time travelling outside of Europe; I enjoyed being immersed into a completely different culture and engaging with the students and professors at IIT Kanpur. The experience gave me valuable insight into the academic culture and a deeper appreciation for the way of life in India.!
“I gained first-hand experience working under the supervision of a professor, which gave me a real taste of what professional research involves and really improved my confidence. More than that, living in India for a month showed me that even though people have completely different ways of life and perspectives, we are, ultimately, all the same and connected by the human experience and our ambitions from life. That deeper understanding will help me connect more effectively with people from all backgrounds in the future. The experience gave me valuable insight into the academic culture and a deeper appreciation for the way of life in India. We also took a trip to see the Taj Mahal, which was incredible!”
Ben Adams (BSc Mathematics with Finance) visited Lappeenranta in Finland to complete a summer school research project.
Ben said “I enjoyed increasing my knowledge of topics that hadn’t been covered on my chosen modules at university. Conducting my own research was rewarding as it gave me the freedom to choose my own papers and analyse them critically – this has influenced my ambition to pursue a Master’s Degree. I also developed both technical and transferable skills, such as numerical methods and independent working that are valuable in industry.
The project directly contributed to my later internship within an insurance company’s Exposure Management team, where I built a Monte Carlo engine to assess the firm’s war exposure under various conflict scenarios. The knowledge and initiative developed during my time in Finland were key to my success in that role and demonstrated my ability to apply academic concepts to real-world problems.”
Thank you to our Global Opportunities partner organisations for their continued support.
To find out more about our short-term international experiences, visit the Global Opportunities website.