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Bryony Hawkins

Bryony Hawkins with other staff and students who took part in the study abroad programme.

WU Vienna University, Austria.

Bryony with some of her Study Abroad cohort at the awards ceremony on the final day of the programme.

Bryony Hawkins is a current BSc Marketing and Management student. She recalls how studying at the International Summer University (ICU) WU in Vienna/Austria helped build her self-confidence, providing her with the negotiation and networking skills needed to flourish in her final year at the Business School.

What made you decide you wanted to study abroad at The International Summer University and how did you apply?

Initially, I wasn't particularly enthusiastic about the notion of pursuing my studies in another country. I had firmly decided against undertaking a placement year between my second and third years, as I recognized that this would push me far beyond my comfort zone and I would feel overwhelmingly homesick over such an extended period.

I received an email from the Business School about the Study Abroad programme, but to begin with, I disregarded it as something I was too afraid to do. I also expected there would be many applicants, so I didn’t think I had a chance.

It was my friends who encouraged me to apply. Without their support, I would never have taken this opportunity. I knew that the programme was only a few weeks long, so I began to think, "Why not give it a shot?" I liked the fact that it didn't require the same level of commitment as a full placement year, yet it still provided an opportunity for me to immerse myself in fresh experiences by studying in a foreign country, so I submitted my application.

How did you hear about the bursary programme and what was the application process like?

For my application, I had to choose my top three Schools and courses in order of preference. I also had to write a statement discussing the reasons why I wanted to take part in the program.

It was through the application process that I found out about the bursary programme. I will be forever grateful to the Business School for providing this, as I wouldn’t have the finances to go otherwise.

What did you gain from studying in another country?

I met people from all over the world and not only increased my network on LinkedIn, but I also learnt about other cultures. I improved my self-confidence by participating more in class, and by being in another country on my own, I gained independence skills and resilience.

I’m incredibly grateful for all the friends I made along the way, I have everyone’s contacts and hope to keep in touch. It has also given me the confidence to apply for something like this again, should the opportunity arise.

What support did you receive from the Business School and Vienna University of Economics and Business whilst studying on the programme?

The Business School offered me a lot of support. They were amazing at replying to my emails and helping me out, even checking on me throughout my experience to make sure I was okay and settled in. The team at Vienna University were also brilliant. They were all very friendly, easy to talk to and quick with responding to emails. I had issues obtaining a UK Global Health Insurance (GHIC) card, but they provided the confirmation I needed quickly.

You studied Negotiation Management and International Marketing in Vienna; how do you think these courses will benefit your final year at the Business School?

Negotiation Management was completely different to anything I’d studied here at Sussex. This course enabled us to have meaningful and interesting discussions in a comfortable and friendly environment. It helped that everyone was so welcoming and friendly, so I felt more than comfortable to share my ideas.

The course included interactive activities such as roleplays and presentations based on real-life scenarios such as negotiating salaries or negotiating internationally. This course gave me the confidence to speak up and express my opinion and I hope to transfer these skills in the classroom environment in my final year.

The next course I studied was International Marketing. I knew I wanted to study this due to my prior experience, as this course is also offered at Sussex. I have always been interested in marketing and this may turn into a future career for me, so I thought I’d learn as much as I could on the subject.

What did you learn about international negotiation and how will you take these skills forward into your business plan?

I learnt how to have an awareness of diverse cultural differences when negotiating internationally and respect those norms if I’m ever negotiating in a different country. I also learned how to be sensitive and respectful when dealing with a complaint in an employee performance review. 

I now have a new insight and perspective on dealing with others and negotiating salaries. We did interactive exercises with real-life scenarios that helped to not only understand but demonstrate what it would be like in the business world.

Has your study abroad experience made you feel more confident in your ability to launch your own business/brand?

During the course, we worked in teams to introduce a product to an international marketplace of our choice. We developed a distinctive brand for our goods and used credible sources to perform market research and demand analysis. It offered me a fresh perspective on the factors I should take into consideration when building my own brand, which may be a path I go down in the future.

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