Study Abroad in Edinburgh: A Life-Changing Experience Past Review
By A student (Wellesley College) - abroad from 09/18/2017 to 12/21/2017 with
University of Edinburgh: Edinburgh - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
It was my first real opportunity to live on my own in a city and be responsible for my own meals, shopping, well-being, etc. I gained an extraordinary amount of independence and a real passion for self-guided study. My experience abroad was completely worthwhile.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The academic rigor of my program at the University of Edinburgh was not as intense as the academics at Wellesley College. It was an incredibly enjoyable and valuable experience, however, because the University of Edinburgh classes focus more on self-guided study, which allows greater flexibility for students to learn and research topics which most interest them. So while I did not find it as challenging as Wellesley, and the resources were not quite as easy to use/access (including the Library and individual course instructors), I still found the experience very rewarding and challenging in its own right. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
It's hard to feel completely integrated into a local culture when you are from another country, but I felt very much like I was part of the city and University while I was there. It helped that English is my first language and the UK is an English-speaking country. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I did not have to use the health care system while I was abroad, but I know students who did, and they found it both extremely affordable and easy to use. |
| * Safety: |
I felt very safe throughout my time in the city. Even walking home from the Library at 2 in the morning, I felt totally safe. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
Living in Edinburgh was absolutely incredible. I met amazing people, had wonderful experiences, and completely fell in love with the city. The academic work was fun and interesting but not too strenuous, and given the choice I would absolutely go back. |
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) |
The city itself is pretty affordable, but depending on what you are doing, how often you eat out, and what your social life is like, it can get pretty expensive pretty quickly. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $100-$200 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | You'll spend a lot less money if you make your own meals at home. A lot of my budget went to restaurants and coffee shops and the like. |
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? |
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 felt very prepared for my abroad experience, so nothing immediately comes to mind. |
