Bachelor of Laws (Honours) student and New Colombo Scholarship recipient Ahmed Baroudi explains how taking a chance on Study Abroad has enriched his life and provided amazing opportunity. He shares his experience below:
Opportunity favours those who seek it. In my first year, I remember picking up a study abroad pamphlet, only to toss it in the bin moments later – convinced that studying overseas was out of my reach.
Fast forward four years, and after spending 14 months studying in Germany and Indonesia, I now find myself on the other side – handing out those same pamphlets to others.
My journey began with a casual message in a group chat: “Yo, I’m applying for exchange in Berlin—who’s in?”. Nine months later, I was sitting in a European law class at the Berlin School of Economics and Law alongside my friend (thanks Luca).
At first, my motivation for going on exchange was fairly standard – personal growth and the professional advantage of standing out in a competitive law cohort. But what I gained was so much more.
Exchange isn’t just about academics; it’s about how the unfamiliar forces you to adapt, challenge yourself and ultimately, grow into a more capable version of yourself.
Life, at its core, is a collection of experiences. Studying abroad has enriched mine in ways I never expected, opening doors I wouldn’t have even known existed.
Exchange isn’t just about academics; it’s about how the unfamiliar forces you to adapt, challenge yourself and ultimately, grow into a more capable version of yourself
Through the New Colombo Plan (NCP) Scholarship, I’ve been able to engage in countless opportunities across the region. Some of these include competing in an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) competition on misinformation, attending a CAUSINDY (originally the Conference of Australian and Indonesian Youth) event at the Australian Embassy in Jakarta, and currently preparing for an International Model United Nations competition in Yogyakarta.
Being the only exchange student in the law faculty at Universitas Islam Indonesia (UII) was an experience of its own, especially when my language skills were non-existent at the start. But what I lacked in Bahasa, I made up for in connections.
I built strong friendships with my lecturers and faculty heads, who took me under their wing in ways I never expected. UII has a formal academic environment—every class begins and ends with a prayer, and there are strict guidelines on clothing and appearance. Yet, outside the classroom, the professors are incredibly laid-back. I’ve gone on road trips with them, shared late-night coffee chats about everything from legal theory to the tax benefits of me marrying an Indonesian.
The balance between structure and casualness created an academic experience that was as enriching as it was unexpected.
Beyond academics, I’ve been fortunate to build some of the deepest friendships in an incredibly short time – connections that span the globe with people I never would have had the chance to meet otherwise.
Looking back, it’s wild to think how different my path would have been if I had stuck to my first-year assumption that studying abroad wasn’t for me.
Don’t be the person who wonders what if? Take the pamphlet, take the risk and take the adventure.
Want to know more about studying abroad?
Whether you are considering a Semester Exchange or a Summer/Winter program overseas, please join one of our Study Abroad Information Sessions. There are plenty of available dates, including online and in-person options. You can also visit our Studying Overseas webpage.
Find out more about the New Colombo Plan Scholarship and how it could help you achieve your Study Abroad goals.