Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

The Cambridge Experience Past Review

By (ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE/LETTERS., University of Arkansas - Fayetteville) for

University of Cambridge, Pembroke College: Cambridge - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Yes.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I took the supervision option and two classes. The supervision was amazing. I worked one on one with a PhD candidate and turned out a 19 page paper in 8 weeks. I had to keep returning to the same piece of work on the same subject. It taught me a lot about how to write a long paper.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived in a town house with my own lockable room with a it's own sink. Their were shared bathrooms, kitchen, and laundry.

* Food:

It was edible. But I got tired of potatoes and British imitations of ethnic foods.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I went punting and walked to Grantchester for tea. Clotted cream is the best.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

I am a small woman and I never felt uncomfortable in Cambridge.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? I spent about $300 dollars a week, but I was being a bit extravagant with weekend travel and food.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Use the meal plan

Language

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? None

Direct Enrollment/Exchange

* Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? Direct Enrollment

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Other
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Bloomsbury and 20th Century English Culture
Course Department:
Instructor: Peter Jones
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This course was taught partially in the Keynes rooms at King's College. These rooms were decorated by Carrington, a Bloomsbury artist. The library at King's College has an extensive archive of Bloomsbury papers, and we were allowed access to them since the instructor is the librarian. We made a field trip to Monk's House and Charleston, Virginia Woolf and Vanessa Bell's country homes.
Credit Transfer Issues: The course is listed with the literature courses, but is more of a culture class.
Course Name/Rating:

Varieties of English
Course Department:
Instructor: Bert Vaux
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This course was very short but interesting.
Credit Transfer Issues: