“Erasmus+ was the springboard that kickstarted my postgraduate study in Ireland” Hannah’s Erasmus+ Experience

Sunset view of Durham Cathedral

Hannah Blaxall undertook an Erasmus+ Study Abroad in the UK and is now undertaking a postgraduate course at Trinity College Dublin.

From 2020 to 2024, I undertook an undergraduate degree in Comparative Literature and English and American Studies at the University of Tübingen in Germany. After my second year in Tübingen, I was afforded the opportunity to spend the 2022/23 academic year at Durham University through the Erasmus+ programme.

What did you study, and why did you choose it?
I heard about Erasmus+ when I was still in school and knew that this was something I wanted to do once I got to university. When it came to the actual application process for the programme several years later, I was so focused on realising this dream that I never actually specified where exactly I wanted to end up – though I did mention Ireland and the UK as my preferred destinations.

What motivated you to do it?
My initial motivation was the new perspective on life it could give you, as well as the freedom attached to packing everything you need into a suitcase and leaving everything you know behind. I knew that if I was going to do it, I wanted to make it the most exciting and impactful experience I could.

The independence associated with it also appealed to me. I actively wanted to push myself out of my comfort zone and test my boundaries away from familiar structures and I knew that the best way to do this was to move to another country.

How did you prepare for your trip?
I think other than the usual tasks, such as finding accommodation, dealing with all sorts of forms and agreements, and picking the modules I wanted to take in Durham, there was a mental aspect to preparing for this whole experience. I wanted to be as ready as possible, but at the same time I didn’t really know what lay ahead.

I wasn’t necessarily scared to make friends, or meet my housemates, but to help with any nerves I had, I told myself that not everything was going to go perfectly and that that was okay.

How did you make friends and network?
Thanks to the many events set up by ESN Durham and the university, I had plenty of opportunities to interact with people and make friends. Because these events began either before or right at the start of the first term, I had already made some great friends even before I was properly settled.

My college had a mentoring evening once a week that allowed me to socialise with other people on Erasmus+ and first-year students. We also had formals of course! These two-course dinners allowed me to spend time with my friends over nice food and be introduced to new faces in my college.

What were the highlights of your Erasmus+ adventure?
Other than matriculation – the formal ceremony welcoming you into the university – my highlights were the many trips I was able to take throughout the year. Along with day trips to Edinburgh and Glasgow, I got the chance to go hiking in the Lake District and visit Alnwick Castle in Northumberland.

I also loved the peaceful café culture in Durham and the many opportunities this offered to socialise with friends over tea and cake or to just relax with a good book. It meant that I always had something fun to do, even if it was cold or wet outside!

Has Erasmus+ changed you? What lessons and skills did you take home?
I think one of the core learnings I take from my Erasmus+ experience is the confidence it’s given me to embark on other unfamiliar journeys and to push myself to explore new avenues that I might not have considered beforehand.

For me, Erasmus+ was the springboard that kickstarted my postgraduate study in Ireland – I highly doubt I would have ended up in Trinity without this valuable year in Durham. Knowing that I had the skills I needed to start fresh in a country I had only previously been a tourist in was extremely comforting!

Tell us what you’re doing now since undertaking your Erasmus+.
Since completing my undergraduate degree, I have moved to Dublin to study at Trinity doing a Master’s in Comparative Literature, which I am enjoying very much!

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