Leaving your comfort zone – developing new skills

Helena Tomme from Belgium spent a semester abroad at the FHNW School of Applied Psychology in Olten, where she gained valuable experience and enjoyed exciting adventures.

• Degree: Bachelor of Science in Applied Psychology
• University: VIVES University of Applied Sciences, Kortrijk Campus in Belgium
• Semester abroad at the FHNW School of Applied Psychology (February to June 2025)

Helena, why did you decide to spend a semester abroad at the FHNW School of Applied Psychology?

The programme offered exactly what I was looking for: a good combination of psychology and economics. It provides a broad view of the human side of the business world. I also found the FHNW to be a modern, internationally oriented university, which really appealed to me.

The teaching methods are also very varied: lectures, group work, workshops, practical examples, etc. That's very important to me personally.

How does everyday student life at FHNW differ from that at your university in Belgium?

Overall, student life at FHNW is quite similar to that in Belgium. I had roughly the same number of lessons per week. The number of assignments, the difficulty level of the exams and the exam period were also comparable. I was very happy about this, as it meant I could stick to my usual study methods. :)

Is there a particular highlight you would like to share?
I could fill many pages with highlights from this time, but I'll settle for the ‘welcome days’  on campus in Olten. These were very valuable: over two days, we got to know all the international students studying on campus. This took a lot of the stress off me (and many others) and was the perfect icebreaker for the rest of the semester.

Was there anything you found difficult?
Swiss German! I had underestimated how different this language is from High German. I already had a basic knowledge of High German when I arrived in Switzerland, but that didn't necessarily make it any easier to understand Swiss German.

Nevertheless, everyone is always happy when you try to speak German – and people quickly switch to standard German or English so that they can communicate well. That's really very nice!

What did you do in your free time?
I was mainly active in my free time: I joined running groups in Olten, went hiking with friends or explored the surrounding area on foot. Every now and then we also went out, sat by the Aare river or visited the swimming pool. We visited many cities in Switzerland – Olten is really ideally located for that!

In your opinion, what are the advantages of spending time abroad during your studies?
It is incredibly wonderful to realise in retrospect how many adventures, experiences and memories one can accumulate in such a short time. You not only learn a lot about yourself, but also about others, the country and your own studies. I am very grateful that I was able to call Switzerland my home during this time.

You develop so many new skills, not only linguistic but also social skills. You learn to leave your comfort zone and adapt to a completely new environment. This makes you more flexible, more communicative and broadens your view of the world. All of these are, of course, valuable qualities for your future career. It is an experience that I will carry with me throughout my life in many ways. :)

Do you have any advice for students who are interested in spending an exchange semester at FHNW?
Don't think too much – just jump into the adventure! It's all just learning.

A stay abroad offers a unique opportunity to deepen your specialist knowledge in a different university environment during your studies and to expand your linguistic and intercultural skills. All information can be found on the website.