Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

An Journey to Remember Past Review

By (Psychology, Brandeis University) - abroad from 01/06/2018 to 05/18/2018 with

IFSA: Edinburgh - University of Edinburgh

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learnt about the local culture in Scotland, and made amazing friends. I also learnt how to travel by myself, and be more independent. Even though the overall experience was great, it was not really related to the University of Edinburgh itself, as most of my classes were not taking place during the majority of the semester. For this reason, I do not think that it was worth it to pay the full tuition of my American university to the University of Edinburgh. However, I really enjoyed the time I spent there, and found a very supportive, uplifting environment.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

I would choose a program with higher course rigor. The faculty at the University of Edinburgh went on strike for a significant component of my time there, which is why the exams were made easier, and we did not interacted with the Professors as much as we originally planned. We were also not compensated in any way for the loss of time or classes, while we were paying the full tuition of our American institutions. For this reason, I would choose a different program that would help me grow more academically.

Finances

* 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)

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The people
  • The city and its culture
* What could be improved?
  • Organization
  • Preparation for sudden events
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I really wish that I knew that there was a possibility of an event such as all of my classes being cancelled for a month without any compensation. I also wish I knew more about the intensity of the courses, and the amount of support that was offered on campus, as it was much less than my home institution.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you.
The Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.