Throwing the routine out the window in little Norwich was the best choice ever! Past Review

By A student (Art and Design Studies, University of East Anglia) - abroad from 01/03/2013 to 05/31/2013 with

University of East Anglia: Norwich - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

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

Independence, and belief in my own choices. The drive to make the most of any chance you get, and also learning that sometimes you don;t have to say yes to everything. I have access to great new perspective on my course of study, very good staff, and amazing facilities. Being away from a big city gave me the chance to rest between my travels, and get a view of what it is really like to live in the UK, not just the glamourous exciting life in London! I really enjoyed my time at UEA!

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.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program	Great, lots of info regarding involvement on campus etc. and checking in with us throughout our stay.
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	Norfolk Terrace, single room, mature age flat: Room was adequate for my needs, not very big, but a decent amount of storage, and good lighting. There is not much ventilation as the window only opens a tiny bit and has bars of it (so you can't climb out) and the doors are fire doors so they can't stay open, so it got a bit stuffy. But it was nice and cozy during the snowy winer months. Shared kitchen between 14 flatmates got a bit messy at times, but is cleaned twice a week by staff (as are shared bathrooms). The flat was functional, but I wouldn't say comfortable. Being on campus is a blessing as classes and activities were so close.
* Food:	Self catering, so my cooking was pretty good (in my opinion)
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	As is always the case this depends to a large extent on how much effort you put in, but there is a wealth of cubs and events to become part of, and the organised outings for international student were a great way to meet people and see some of the local area.
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?
* Safety:	There was one or two incidents on campus while I was at UEA, but the information provided by staff and security was great regarding them, and otherwise I had not issues, and felt incredibly safe on campus at all hours of the day.
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)	Return bus to town = 4pounds Groceries/week = around 30pounds If you were not travelling out of Norwich keeping to a budget would have been relatively easy, but it was not cheap.
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week?	around 100-150 pounds
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	Cook as much as possible yourself. Get a bike or walk rather than taking the bus everywhere.

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

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Other
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Local Students International Students
* Who did you take classes with? Select all that apply	Local Students International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?	Independence Course choices Climate
* What could be improved?	Technology facilities Housing standards contact with local students
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	It will not be as cold as you expect (coming from Australia). Get out and explore the surrounding ares/countries etc. when abroad! Don't feel hemmed in by a small place, make it your base and see as much as possible!

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 Avid Adventurer The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	Categories and Concepts
Course Department:	Art History and World Art Studies
Instructor:	David Peters-Corbett
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	Challenging, thought provoking lecture series with really thorough tutorials/seminar sessions to follow up on a wide range of topics. Choice of what the two assessments focus on (two essays) with space for independent research and directions. I found this class to be easily my favourite as there is such a range of what you are exposed to, in terms of topics, artists, and staff.
Credit Transfer Issues:	No

Course Name/Rating:	Displaying the Past
Course Department:	Art History and World Art Studies
Instructor:	Christina Riggs
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	Really interesting tutorial series with Christina, included field trip to Cambridge to explore variety of museums there (Cast Museum, Fitzwilliam, and Cambridge University Museum of Anthropology & Archaeology). Variety of assessments - Exam, tutorial presentation and informal review/article of field trip. Christina is really knowledgable and has lots of experience working with/for a variety of museums. This unit has a really strong emphasis on the display of archaeological artefacts through the history of museums.
Credit Transfer Issues:	No

Course Name/Rating:	Great Books
Course Department:	Philosophy
Instructor:	Rupert Read
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	First year level philosophy class was difficult for me to crack in to. Good analysis of four texts thorough extensive lectures, detailed seminars and focused tutorials: Thucydides - History of the Peloponnesian War; Hannah Arendt - On Revolution; Gandhi - Hind Swaraj; Alain Resnais - Hiroshima Mon Amour. Two essays for assessment as well as a whole bunch of ungraded work (class presentation, and interaction). It's really important to keep on top of all the reading and class attendance for this module.
Credit Transfer Issues:	No