A good learning experience Past Review
By A student (The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 01/06/2016 to 05/21/2016 with
University of Edinburgh: Edinburgh - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
Studying abroad allowed me to gain independence and it gave me the chance to see the world through a new lens. I am very thankful for my experience.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The school system at the University of Edinburgh is very different from the U.S. system, which takes some getting used to. The professors expect a lot more independent learning and reading than they would at American schools and they aren't as willing to help you if you aren't understanding something. Other than writing a paper or two, you won't have any assignments, which is nice, but it also means that your grade is extremely dependent on your final exams. I still haven't gotten my grades back but I have heard that good grades are hard to come by. My classes were alright, but they weren't incredibly interesting and I wasn't very impressed with my professors. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The university puts on a lot of events for visiting students and they are helpful if you need anything. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I began my semester in an apartment that was extremely isolated and far from campus. I requested to move, and although my second apartment was convenient, it was infested with mice. |
| * Food: |
Although Scottish food itself isn't the best, Edinburgh has tons of fun restaurants. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The University of Edinburgh puts exchange students in flats with local students so you get a true feel for local culture. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
As long as you register through the University of Edinburgh, you are eligible to receive free healthcare in Scotland. |
| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
I'm extremely thankful for my semester in Edinburgh- it allowed me to learn about myself, become more independent, and see the world from a different perspective. That being said, I wish I had been on a program that offered more of a community- I would have enjoyed having a group to travel and explore with. I also would have picked a place with better weather- the constant cold and rain were depressing. Finally, it would have been fun to go to a school that offered typical study abroad-type classes- The University of Edinburgh doesn't have many fun electives, and with my program I didn't get to pass/fail my classes. |
Finances
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* 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) |
Scotland uses the pound and Edinburgh is a pretty expensive city. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $200 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Everything in Edinburgh seems to cost about 1.5 what it would in the U.S. (If something in the U.S. would cost $20, it would cost 20 pounds in Edinburgh). |
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? | Direct Enrollment |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? | 0 |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I wish I had gone knowing at least one person- it's harder than you think to meet people. |
