Fifty-five students and seven academics from the UK and Brazil have taken part in a two-week exchange programme to study at campuses in each other’s countries.
The Brazilian party were hosted by City University London and the University of Surrey, and enjoyed a mix of lectures and excursions to attractions such as the O2 and Bank of England. Their British counterparts studied at Brazil’s best university, the University of São Paulo.
“This is the first time abroad for some of us and the first time in the UK for most,” said Brazilian student Cesar Wedermann. “I think I speak for everyone in the group when I say that this has been a fantastic experience that has helped us to learn a lot about UK culture and the quality of its higher education.”
The programme was sponsored by Santander bank’s universities division, which works with 900 universities worldwide to increase study abroad and academic exchange.
Luis Juste, Director of Santander Universities UK, said: “The experience of these students is at the core of the Santander Universities spirit: international exchange and transfer of knowledge.”
Santander counts 409 Brazilian and 51 UK universities among its affiliates, and has sponsored Brazilian exchanges with China, the US and the UK over the last two years.
