Marina Mitrevski: Uppsala University

Name: Marina Mitrevski
UOW Degree: Bachelor of Commerce – Bachelor of Laws
Host University: Uppsala University (Sweden)
Period of Exchange: Autumn Session 2005

“The first thing that you will notice in Uppsala is the abundance of bikes. Owning a bike is a necessity in Uppsala as the University is not actually a ‘campus’ and is spread all over the town. It’s the fastest way to get around and is the most social activity you could engage in! :) Herds of us would ride to and from class together - after my performance thus far I may be ready for the Tour de France next year… anything is possible I guess…”

Reason you chose your exchange destination? Why Sweden? This was a question that I was asked over and over and over again in Australia and also in Sweden. I guess Sweden always seemed like a mysterious kind of destination - In fact, I didn’t actually know much about Sweden before I left. I only knew that Sweden was one of the most furtherest points from Australia; that Alfred Nobel was Swedish; that there is a Swedish Royal family; that IKEA was Swedish; that their currency was strong; that ABBA and Roxette were also Swedish and most importantly that all Swedish people were blonde and beautiful.
UOW, like many other Australian universities, has a strong relationship with a number of universities across the world. Admittedly, it is hard to pick the ‘right’ University when everyone comes back raving about their time away. So I made sure that I picked the University that would suit ME.

I didn’t know anyone who had ventured there, and I guess I wanted to discover and explore the culture and the country for myself. And YES, it did it impress! This country in the Arctic Circle has plenty to offer those who are brave enough to venture there, and with each day that passed, the experiences just seemed to become more and more amazing.

Can you tell us about your exchange studies? I studied International Commercial Arbitration and Internet Trading Law whilst in Uppsala. Although there were a wide variety of subjects to choose from, I was mostly attracted to these due to the practical nature of the course. In particular, International Commercial Arbitration presented me with an opportunity to be involved in a number of mini arbitrations. International Commercial Arbitration was very rewarding and mentally stimulating course. There was a good mix of both Swedish and International students from all over the globe.

Our lecturers also arranged a few field trips for us – we visited the local courts, went to Manheimer Swartling (the largest law firm in Sweden) and spoke with Senior Associates and also went to the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce. These field trips were a great opportunity for those who had not yet been to Stockholm to discover and explore the city. However, I ended up showing most people around, as I was a Stockholm regular - whilst studying I managed to arrange a 1day/week internship with my employer’s office in Stockholm, Ernst & Young AB! [Note: if you can arrange a casual internship that is close by, take advantage of the opportunity! It’s a great way to experience working within a different culture!]

- Marina Mitrevski

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