A great experience, beautiful campus with some tiny glitches Past Review
By A student (McGill University) - abroad from 01/08/2018 to 05/08/2018 with
University of Birmingham: Birmingham - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I learned how to budget money, live on my own, cook for myself, travel smarter. It was an amazing experience.
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 found the U.K. education system to be quite basic. I had only an hour of lecture material for 15 weeks for a 10 credit course. Back in Canada, we have at least 3 hours a week for a similar course. The grading was very different. A pass is 40% and an A is only 70%. The courses are quite basic and don't dive into the details. I left there not knowing much more than when I started. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
We got a couple of emails from the study abroad team but when we needed something urgent they were unreachable. When I arrived in the U.K., I wasn't even registered in any modules. Any time I had a question, I didn't even know who to ask. The orientation day at the beginning of the semester was however helpful. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My living arrangements were nice, although I couldn't choose my flat mates. My room location was right near the main door so noise was an issue, and the university tried to help reduce it. |
| * Food: |
I was on the meal plan, and they had lots of options for those for different diets. I could always grab a salad or a sandwich when I was hungry. I just wish campus food outlets were open on the weekend. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I love the British culture and found it quite easy to integrate. My accent was the one that charmed them and theirs charmed me. Great place to live and lovely people. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I thankfully didn't need healthcare while in the U.K., but I had friends who did. My friend said it was so expensive to see a doctor there that she instead flew back home to Canada for the weekend (our health care is free for Canadians). |
| * Safety: |
The university felt very safe, Birmingham was safe as well. Some parts are a bid dodgy at night but I never felt extremely unsafe. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
Although, my review seems negative, I had the best time in England. Birmingham isn't the nicest city but the shopping and cool bars/cafes are plentiful. I was able to travel to almost anywhere in Europe. |
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) |
I budgeted my money wisely but the exchange rate made purchases more pricey for me. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 20 pounds |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Exchange |
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? | Birmingham is better than people make it out to be! |
