Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

The Perfect City for a Varied Semester Abroad Experience: Edinburgh Past Review

By (ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE/LETTERS., Wellesley College) - abroad from 09/10/2012 to 12/21/2012 with

University of Edinburgh: Edinburgh - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
My experience abroad was incredibly worthwhile, and has inspired me to want to live abroad in the coming years. I learned so much just from being on my own in a foreign city. I gained a lot of insight from being in the middle of the city and getting to experience all of the culture.

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

* 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?

When I had a health issue, I wasn't able to go to the university health center and instead had to go the emergency room of the hospital, where I received minimal care.

* Safety:

I felt incredibly safe in the city of Edinburgh, at all times.

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? It varied greatly, depending on how much cooking vs eating out I did.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? In general, I found the UK to be very expensive.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
* 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?
  • I really liked being integrated into the university by living in a flat and in classes with full-time students.
* What could be improved?
  • It would have been nice to have known what would have been available in my university flat, and what I would have to buy when I got there.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? To bring some clothes in my carry-on; my luggage was delayed 48 hours!