3rd Year Abroad: Laura and Peru, an Intimate Choice

All students in their third year of bachelor's degree (the “3A”) at Sciences Po's College must leave for a year abroad. They can choose to spend their entire year at one of our 478 partner universities or do a mixed year including an internship semester. This international openness is at the heart of Sciences Po's values and offers undergraduate students an unforgettable experience of discovery, sharing and learning.

This summer, we got in touch with several students on their return from 3A and ask them to tell us about this extraordinary year. Meet Laura Bernard who traveled to Peru, her "most intimate choice", after much hesitation… and does not regret a thing.

who are you and why did you chose Sciences Po?

My name is Laura and I studied on the Paris campus.

I made the choice to join Sciences Po during a period of great uncertainty about what I wanted for my future. The institution offered broad courses, a solid multidisciplinary base and a specialisation deadline that seemed far enough. It was a way for me to put off a career choice while still studying. Being able to study in Paris was also very appealing to me.

How did you choose your destination and host university?
How was your experience?

A little randomly to be honest, I was still hesitating up to the last moment.

On my wish list were Peru, Colombia, Spain and Scotland. And every week, a new country would appear or disappear. I am extremely happy that I ultimately went for the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (PUCP) in Lima, Peru, because it was my most intimate choice and a life-changing experience.

My year was diverse, I had a lot of new experiences. At this point in my journey, I can feel I have grown and I consider this year as one of the most important of my life. To the point that my next step in life is to find a way to return to this continent where I discovered so many magnificent cultures and landscapes while masking unforgettable friendships.

Of course, I also experienced difficulties, especially during the political protests of December 2022. I discovered the prevailing racism in Peru and the problem of a centralised capital that is turning a deaf ear to its other regions. While traveling, I had to walk between the blockades organised by the protesters. Choked by the rains triggered by the typhoon "El niño" and the need to resume activities to survive, "el paro" (general strike) ran out of steam in February 2023. But in the face of the serious issues still present, I believe that the movement will resume in the coming months, weeks or even days.

What did this year bring to your personal and professional journey?

My first goal was to apply for a gap year to stay a little longer in Peru, in the Cusco region. In the end, I'll return to Paris at the end of September for an internship that I am very interested in but I do not give up on the idea of returning to South America, perhaps to another country, to live there for a few more years.

What piece of advice would you give to the students getting ready for their third year abroad?

I think we should start by not putting too much pressure on our choice of university. Each experience is unique and regardless of the outcome, each year outside our home university brings its share of learning.

In my case, I can only encourage people to leave the Europe / United States zone, to be exposed to the difference that other cultures bring. It's not so much a matter of "culture clash", and I don't really like that expression, it would be more an "inequality clash". Everything seems more difficult here, everything surprises you, everything remains engraved in your memory. Take 3A as an opportunity to step off a set path and take a step back from your journey. An opportunity, perhaps, to even change path.

Can you sum up your experience in a word?

Adjusting.