Fashion design down under

What made you decide to go on an exchange semester, and why did you choose RMIT?

“I wanted a change of scenery. Studying in Borås feels amazing, but I wanted to challenge the views and opinions I’d developed at the Swedish School of Textiles. I liked that I was able to choose my course selection at RMIT to deepen my specific interests. Moreover, I hadn’t been to Australia before, and it seemed like a fun country to get to know.”

Were you nervous about going on exchange so far from home?

“Yes, very much so.”

What have been the main differences between studying at RMIT and studying in Borås?

“Having four courses running simultaneously was difficult to adjust to. Also, the size of the study programme at RMIT was about eight times larger than in Borås, which felt strange at first.  

My four selected courses were Fashion Design Object & Space, Bio Design, Garment Design Industry Techniques, and Fashion Communication.”

How has the student life in Melbourne been?

“Student life in Melbourne has been pretty amazing. Since all four courses start slowly, you have a decent amount of time to meet people and enjoy some free time. Melbourne has great food, parks, bars and clubs.“

What were some of the challenges and highlights of your exchange semester?

“Finding an apartment from across the globe was quite the struggle. Unfortunately, the accommodation market in Melbourne is expensive. Another challenge was finishing four courses at the end of the semester, which was stressful.

At the same time, getting to meet new people was amazing. I was lucky to meet truly great people who made the most of our short time together. Also, getting to exchange ideas with a wider variety of fashion students was really interesting.”

How has your exchange experience influenced your view of fashion design and your future studies or career?

"Realising how many people strive for the same goal as yourself is a bit scary, but it also motivates me to keep pushing. It’s also interesting to see how much your environment influences your work and interests. I don’t want to compare schools, but it’s interesting that you can often tell which designs come from which school.

The exchange experience made me aware of how important it is to connect with people and to throw yourself into new experiences."

What advice would you give to other students thinking about going on an exchange?

“If the life situation allows it, I would advise everyone to do an exchange semester. You will benefit from it one way or another.”

Text: Gustav Kibe
Photo: Private profile picture and city view from Adobe Stock

Published 2026-07-09