Exciting! Past Review
By A student (Biology, General., SUNY Purchase) - abroad from 01/27/2012 to 06/08/2012 with
Swansea University: Swansea - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
Yes! Definitely worthwhile. You learn to balance responsibility with fun. I'm more confident with myself in traveling to different and new places even in non-English speaking countries. It's fun learning what you can accomplish on your own. You'll be proud of yourself.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I'm a senior but since I was studying abroad, I wasn't allowed to take upper level classes. I could also only take limited amount of credits. Classes had high student densities. Professors mostly used powerpoints (which is avaiable online as a PDF file and audio) and some provided extra information via handouts. I only had 8 hours of school contact so I had a large amount of time outside class. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived in the student village since it was cheaper. About 30-40 minutes (2mi) walk from school but school bus is available 4x every hour during weekdays. What's best was you could text (I forgot the number) to let you know when the next bus is coming so no worries about missing one. I was in the designated quiet area so there was a lot of space to share with my three flatmates. My room had a closet, drawer, chairs, desk, shelf, bed and pillow with covers and comforter. You get two keys: one for the flat and one for your room. There's a convenient store in the village (food, school supplies, toiletries, etc) as well as eateries. Right outside the village is a bus stop that can take you to other places besides the university. There's also a bar opposite to the bus stop. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
There were tons of school and club events to intermingle with other people. Also just roam around, visit and shop in the city centre, check out museums, the beach, the park, and nearby towns like Mumbles. Check out Cardiff and the Gower Peninsula. South Wales is beautiful. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
It was mentioned and I got an international insurance from SUNY Albany. I don't have any experience and any idea about a school nurse or health office. The thing is, Swansea University is both an undergraduate and graduate school. It had a medicine program and right in campus is a hospital so if there was any emergency, you don't have to travel far. I just don't know how much that'd cost. Be safe and make sure you have insurance. |
| * Safety: |
I had a very safe experience. People are friendly here but students do get a bit crazy when they go partying. Anyways, there's a lot of security in the university and the police station is near the city centre. I was careless once and lost my wallet but I reported it to the police station and an hour later, they rang and informed me that someone had found it. Happy day! |
| 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) |
You're studying abroad so you definitely are going to spend money on traveling and shopping. Be smart and in the beginning, check out the cheap and charity stores in the city centre. Pay attention to sales and student discounts as well. Buy food in bulk to save money and time. |
| * Was housing included in your program cost? | Yes |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | No |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | It depends on what I'm doing but on average, perhaps $60-70. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | If you plan on traveling around, get student discounts by purchasing a student coach card, etc. Research, prepare and book transportation and hostels weeks in advance because they're cheaper then. Always compare prices. Sometimes, bus is cheaper than train, or vice versa. For flights, try ryanair or easyjet. Book hostels from hostelword.com. Be smart with your money! especially now that the dollar is weak. For food, buy things in bulk because you save more that way and also, you don't have to keep going back to the store. Again, pay attention to sales and student discounts. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
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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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? | 0 |
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? | It's easy to travel around the UK and Europe. Don't be scared! |
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 Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
