An opportunity of a lifetime: CAFRE student Maeve Owens reflects on her time at Michigan State University

Date published: 4 June 2026

The very successful CAFRE / MSU Student Exchange Programme has been running for over 30 years and nearly 100 CAFRE students have studied at MSU. When Maeve came home, Deirdre Cooper, CAFRE / MSU Student Exchange Coordinator caught up with her to see how it all went. Here is what she had to say:

Q1: What inspired you to study abroad?

When I was at school, my sister, Grace, spent a year studying in the United States through the Study USA programme, and she absolutely loved it. Hearing her stories inspired me to have a similar experience. So, when I discovered that CAFRE offered an exchange programme with Michigan State University, I knew straight away that I wanted to be part of it. It was one of the main reasons I applied to CAFRE in the first place, and I’m so glad I did.

Q2: How did you find the teaching style at MSU?

At CAFRE, we usually focus on assignments and final exams, whereas MSU uses a greater level of continuous assessment, which I really enjoyed. I also had the opportunity to take modules that I wouldn’t typically study at home. Because of my experience working with the Lough Neagh Fishermen’s Cooperative Society in Toome, I chose a Fisheries and Wildlife module. Although it was quite scientific, I learned a great deal about water quality and biodiversity, which will be very useful in the future. At the end of the semester, MSU held a graduation ceremony for all international students and presented us with certificates. It was a fantastic experience, and the celebration afterwards was great fun.

Q3: What was your first impression of the local culture?
Americans are incredibly friendly and welcoming and they really go out of their way to help you. They’re also absolutely obsessed with sport! There are eight sports stadiums on campus. The football stadium alone holds 75,000 people, which is nearly as big as Croke Park. When the MSU American Football Team had a home game, the whole campus turned into a massive party called tailgating. Families and friends would park up everywhere and have picnics out of the back of their Jeeps. It was so much fun and lasted all weekend. 

Q4: How did living and studying abroad change your perspective on life?
The whole experience honestly exceeded my expectations, it’s the best thing I’ve ever done. I met so many people from all around the world, and it really broadened my outlook. I’ve become much more independent, confident, and resilient. When things didn’t go to plan, like cancelled or delayed flights, I learned to think outside the box and sort problems out on my own.

Q5: What was the biggest challenge you faced, and how did you overcome it?
One of the hardest moments was celebrating my 21st birthday at MSU without my twin sister and family, which made me feel quite homesick. However, my new friends at MSU made sure I still had a brilliant birthday, which I really appreciated.

Q6: What was the best thing about MSU?
There are so many things I loved about MSU. The campus is huge. It’s beautifully landscaped and spreads across five square miles. There are over 50,000 students on campus, that is five times more than the population of Magherafelt. It felt like its own little city, with buses, banks, and even a police station!

I also made friends from all over the world. On my first day, I met a group of German students who I immediately clicked with, and we shared a lot of adventures together. We travelled to some amazing places including The Great Lakes, Chicago and the Horseshoe Bend in Arizona, finishing our time at MSU with a two-week trip to Puerto Rico. I just know we will be friends for life.

Q7: What advice would you give to someone considering studying abroad?
Just go for it! It’s a truly life-changing experience. I couldn’t have done it without the CAFRE bursary, which covered the total costs for flights, accommodation, and food. I’m so grateful for the opportunity. It’s genuinely the best thing I’ve ever done.

For those considering a career in the agri-food sector, further information on courses available at CAFRE can be found at: www.cafre.ac.uk

This year CAFRE are proud to be sending our 100^th student on the MSU Exchange Programme. To celebrate we are hosting a reunion Garden Party at Greenmount Campus on Saturday 13June (during Open Farm Weekend) at 3pm. We welcome all past and current CAFRE students who have taken part in the exchange programme, along with their families, to join us for afternoon tea and the chance to reconnect with the programme. 

For more information and to book your place, visit the events section of the CAFRE website.