Elke Vallentin
Home country: Germany, Deutsche Sporthochschule Koeln
Program: Study Abroad
Elke Vallentin discovered USC when she visited a friend there. She liked it so much she decided to enrol in the Study Abroad Program.
“I came to visit a friend who took me to USC and I loved that everybody was so friendly and welcoming. All the lecturers were very helpful and everything made me so comfortable,” she said.
Elke is spending two semesters at USC, undertaking courses for credit toward her German Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science.
“I am enjoying sports nutrition and my rehabilitation classes. Sports nutrition has always interested me and I am happy to be able to join this class at USC because this course is not offered to me in Germany,” she said.
She is impressed with the teachers and she is enjoying the academic challenge.
“The lecturers are very motivated and do everything to help students out. Also, the classes are a lot smaller to the ones in Germany and it makes me feel a lot more comfortable.”
“The exam period here is very different. We have two months to prepare for our exams in Germany and we do not have that many assignments. At first I was a little overwhelmed by all the work…but it is good because it makes you keep up with the studies,” Elke said.
Elke enjoys the USC and Sunshine Coast lifestyle.
“I love the beach and the pool at Varsity (student accommodation). We play a lot of beach volleyball and I enjoy going out to the bars in Mooloolaba.”
“One of my favourite experiences at uni was to meet so many new people, mainly Australians but also students from other cultures,” she says.
Elke ‘definitely’ recommends USC to other students from Germany.