Edinburgh: Great City Great People Past Review
By Meredith G (Political Science and Government., Tufts University) for
IFSA: Edinburgh - University of Edinburgh
It was the best four months of my life. I gained more independence and made amazing international friends. I would love to go back and live in Scotland long term.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I learned a lot of through my classes, but getting feedback was hard. Also everything is based on one or two grades. Lastly, they will take awhile to get your final grade (like a few months) |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
They were great and made sure no one fell through the cracks. Also their trips were AMAZING! |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
It was safe, fun and a great way to meet local students. |
| * Food: |
The Indian food in Scotland is great, definitely try it. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Going to the highlands was the most epic part of my trip, it was gorgeous and historical. The international student center at the University also ran trips all over the UK that were amazing. Lastly, the University held ceilidhs were incredible: they are traditional scottish dances. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Safety is an issue in Edinburgh, as with most cities, but if students are smart and stay in groups in places of question there will never be a problem. |
| 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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | On an average week I would spent about 60 pounds (100 dollars), but when I travelled (which was alot) that would double or even triple depending on where I went. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Eat in when possible so you can enjoy your meals out, nights out and trips more. |
Language
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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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? | If you are not great at languages, but don't want to go to an Americanized city like London, Scotland is great. It is a challenging school, great night life and amazing people. It is also beautiful and full of daytime activities. Lastly, it is extremely cheap to fly from so it is ideal for those who want to travel. |
