A Unique Experience: Living as an English Student Past Review
By Brenden R (Management, Politics & Law, Bryant University) for
API (Academic Programs International): Leeds - University of Leeds
I wish I could give it five more stars, it was amazing and I feel like England is my adopted country. I would go back in a heartbeat.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
It took some adjusting to get used to their grading system, as it is pretty different from ours. The workload was acceptable- I was taking classes that I was interested in and was definitely learning without being overwhelmed with 4 first level classes, although I might have benefitted from one or two second level classes. I would recommend that most students stick to around 4 first level classes. I also really enjoyed the way they have their courses set up. Most classes only meet twice a week and I did not have nearly as many contact hours as I do in the US, as their system is much more independent. It was very refreshing. I also liked the way they break up the classes into lectures and seminars each week. It definitely broadened my knowledge to be in a situation where I could converse, debate, and get feedback from other students. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I cannot say enough good things about our coordinator. She took care of everything we needed, and was there for anything else we could possibly want. She was passionate and friendly and her knowledge and experience definitely helped make my experience as great as it was. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
pretty average food. some good pubs around where we were housed in Headingly, a nearby grocery store- literally a 3-4 minute walk. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
living with almost entirely english students was a completely different experience from most of what I have heard from kids who went abroad. It was amazing, and I was able to make a ton of friends who I am still very close with, and was able to travel around the country to their homes over the break and live with their families for a few days, getting a very unique insight to life for an average english student. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
just be careful walking past/through woodhouse moor at night. you can avoid it and walk on the other side of the road, but some muggings go on there once in a while if drunk kids are being dumb and walking through the park late at night. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
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Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | students who are intereted in getting completely integrated into their study abroad country would best fit the Leeds program. Be open minded and make as many friends from the UK as you can, it will completely make your experience. I now have lifelong friends in a foreign country. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
European Politics |
| Course Department: | Polis 1300 |
| Instructor: | |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | very good introduction and analysis of the institutions and systems in different European countries |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | not so far- the grades come through later because of the late exams in Leeds (mid January) |
