Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Great Experience if You Go in Without Expectations Past Review

By (English and Film, Middlebury College) - abroad from 01/06/2014 to 06/06/2014 with

University of East Anglia: Norwich - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Living in Norwich did not feel like the radical departure I expected study abroad to be, and it did not feel adventurous, but once I accepted this fact I came to really love the coziness of the city. UEA may be made of duly concrete buildings, but I liked the hub of campus and the surrounding broad is gorgeous which more than made up for the less appealing buildings and dorms. I gained so much independence with the open schedule of UEA and the self-guided learning model. I was disappointed that students were not as concerned with academics as I am used to at Middlebury, but I think the change in mentality was worthwhile for the semester. Sometimes I found it hard to make local friends but if you are willing to reach out to students, most are very welcoming. I enjoyed meeting other students studying abroad at UEA from different countries. UEA offers a very standard abroad experience, but this does not need to equate a negative experience. I really value the friends I made and the growth I experienced at UEA and I was very impressed by the caliber of academics from a school I had previously never heard of.

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.

Class material and professors were quite strong, but students did not always seem engaged and were often hesitant to participate. The workload was much easier to manage than what I was used to, but the material I was learning did not feel as if it were of a lesser caliber.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

As a student abroad, you do not qualify for the free health care and you cannot use insurance upfront to pay. The uni health center would not provide me with adequate paperwork to submit a claim to my insurance.

* Safety:

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)

I spent too much without realizing it early on in the program which left me with a shoestring budget once i returned from travels during Easter break. Bettr to budget early on in your studies abroad.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Food was covered by my home college, I spent very little some weeks, much more in others when i was traveling.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Think ahead!

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

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • 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?
  • Academics
  • Independence
  • Schedule
* What could be improved?
  • Study Abroad Office
  • Transportation
  • Ways to Meet Students at Beginning of Stay
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? The UEA campus is not right in the city of Norwich so you will often have to bus in to town if the weather is not nice and this fee adds up. Allot funds for cab rides/bus rides for nights out. Norwich can feel quite small, but travel to London is not difficult by train or bus-utilize this! Also, living in the ziggurats is good for centrality but living with first years can be more shocking than you expect- many do not care about their courses and they definitely have a partier mentality. Its not worth paying for another dorm option, but know that you may need to search for friends outside of your flat (though my flatmates were lovely and very welcoming!) Clubbing is the most common night activity and it can become a bit of a grind but there are decent options in the city.