Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Pleasant Experience - similar to a medium liberal arts school Past Review

By (IPE, Middlebury College) - abroad from 09/23/2013 to 12/13/2013 with

University of East Anglia: Norwich - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
The education was very useful and interesting in the sense that it was presented in a different fashion than usual. Usually, a course about Modern History would aim to envelop a more American-centric focus; however, it was interesting to be in courses where America was not even mentioned once. It was very worthwhile to see this and equally so to respond to various inquiries regarding life in America.

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:

The food was great if you were willing to buy your own food from the supermarket on a consistent basis. However, if you have a lower food budget, your selection will decrease based on the market prices of various foods.

* 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

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)

The delivery services are fairly expensive if converting from dollars to pounds and they are the only real way to get groceries into your kitchen.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? About 50 pounds per week for groceries = 80 dollars
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? If you're buying groceries and are on a tight budget, try to steer away from Tesco Finest because the goods in that category usually cost extra. That being said, if you want a slightly higher quality product, it is worth it.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local 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?
  • The focus on independent Study
  • The examination methods
  • The people were very friendly
* What could be improved?
  • The integration of visiting students into clubs and programs
  • The ease of getting from one place to anothe
  • The social scene
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? That it was in a rather secluded area. Notwithstanding the education is fantastic, yet traveling to London and other major cities can become a hassle in its own right.

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.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Introduction to Modern History
Course Department: History
Instructor: Emma Griffin
Instruction Language: English
Comments: The course was very interesting and had a number of lecturers that provided interesting viewpoints on a variety of topics. That being said, the number of of lecturers made it difficult to have a personal relationship with any instructors other than your seminar leader/advisor. There were no field trips, but there was a fair amount of instruction regarding the role of Britain in international, historical affairs. This was a pleasant change from the usual American-centric biases inherently offered at many institutions in the United States. I participated in class less because the topics that I had covered in high school did not cover the same amount of European history that I had been expected to know for the course. We were assessed based on a series of Essays and our participation within seminars. Still, our essays were all expected to be done with little support, using independent sources from the reading materials, and in exemplary writing.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Social and Political Theory
Course Department: Politics
Instructor: Alan Finlayson
Instruction Language: English
Comments: The course was very difficult and required a significant amount of independent reading to be done. However, the professors all were very qualified and offered interesting, varied explanations regarding the materials presented in the complex course readings. I participated more in class because that was a core evaluating principle in the course. We were assessed based on 3 different, long essays assigned at intervals throughout the semester.
Credit Transfer Issues: The transcript has been in the mail for over a year, so yes.
Course Name/Rating:

Global Politics I
Course Department: Politics
Instructor: Simon Curtis
Instruction Language: English
Comments: The course was a basic rundown of international politics and offered a lot of useful information. The instructor was very proficient and the discussion sections were helpful in guiding students along the class materials. That being said, the assessments were a little rough. The class was only graded based on a single 2000 word essay, which was meant only to demonstrate that you grasped the most basic of concepts of the course. The examination leaves a lot to be desired, but all in all, the class was very satisfactory.
Credit Transfer Issues: