Choosing VIA University College was one of the best decisions I have ever made.
From the very beginning, the Kastu team was incredibly helpful. This support was especially important to me because I often make decisions emotionally and only begin thinking through all the details afterwards.
Fortunately, the application itself was not the difficult part. Kastu guided me through the process and helped me feel confident that everything was being handled correctly.
The real challenge began after I arrived.
There were suddenly so many possibilities and decisions to make: which additional activities to join, whether to take Danish language classes, and how to organise my life in a completely new environment.
It took time to become comfortable with everything. There was also the difficult feeling of being far away from my family, friends, and the life I had always known.
However, this feeling did not last forever. In an international university community, you can quickly meet people from every corner of the world who are going through exactly the same experience.
One of the first major differences I noticed was the relationship between students and lecturers.
Lecturers introduce themselves by their first names and expect students to address them in the same way. Communication is much more informal, open, and friendly than I was used to.
At first, this felt unusual. Soon, however, I understood how much easier it made asking questions and discussing problems.
Lecturers do not create unnecessary distance. They genuinely want to help you succeed.
Whenever I needed support, I could contact them and trust that they would try to help. This made me feel that I was not simply one student among many, but an individual whose progress actually mattered.
Danish universities also provide access to many programmes, databases, and digital services that are useful during studies. VIA regularly organises courses and activities that attract a great deal of student interest, even when they are not directly related to a particular programme.
These opportunities allow you to explore new interests, gain additional skills, and become more involved in university life.
Now, as I finish my first year, I can confidently say that the experience has been worth it.
Of course, I still miss my family and friends. Homesickness does not disappear simply because the university is good. But the quality of my studies and the experiences I gain make the difficult moments much easier to overcome.
What I value most is the practical approach to education.
While some of my friends at universities back home spend much of their time completing theoretical exercises, I work on advertising campaign budgets for real companies.
This makes studying feel meaningful. I can see how the knowledge gained during classes could be used in an actual professional environment.
The assignments are not only about remembering information for an examination. They teach you how to cooperate with others, make decisions, solve realistic problems, and take responsibility for the result.
Studying abroad also teaches you a great deal about yourself.
You learn how to live independently, organise your time, make new connections, and continue moving forward even when you miss home.
My advice to future students is simple: do not waste too much time being afraid.
You will not be the only person moving abroad, struggling with homesickness, or feeling uncertain during the first weeks. Among thousands of new students, you will find someone who understands exactly what you are experiencing.
Be open, participate in university life, and give yourself enough time to adapt.
The beginning may feel overwhelming, but eventually the unfamiliar place becomes your everyday life, new people become close friends, and the challenges become proof of how much you have grown.
Studying abroad is not always easy, but it can give you practical experience, international friendships, and confidence that will remain with you long after graduation.
