Study Abroad in Scotland: Better Than I Could Have Dreamed Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Compared to courses at Wellesley, I found the curriculum at Edinburgh significantly less intensive. Academic resources were readily available. I had a total of five assignments (no final exams) for my three classes, affording me flexibility to travel, complete work in advance, etc.

On-site administration of your program

I talked to a number of study abroad students who attended other UK institutions and had nightmarish issues with their host university administrators, and students who attended Edinburgh were the only ones who consistently praised U of E administrators for their rapid responses and overall helpfulness. My experience was no exception - I was frequently in contact with the Visiting Student Office during my time in Scotland, and they were immensely helpful - especially when I decided to switch classes in my second week.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I couldn't have been happier with housing - I lived in Warrender Park Road accommodations (a gorgeous, gorgeous street south of the Meadows in a residential area) in a flat I shared with four first year, full-time students, and one other study abroad student. We all got along really well. A cleaning service came through once a week to clean our living area, kitchen, and bathrooms. The six of us shared the two bathrooms, but a friend of mine was housed in a more modern flat with her own bathroom (shower included).

I chose self-catered accommodation so I would learn to cook ;) The rating is for food I bought when I ate out in the city -- there's lots of pub food, which gets repetitive after a while (this is a good city/country for you if you're a fan of fish and chips). But there are plenty of little gems tucked away that offer variety - even affordable variety.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Local culture...debatable. I was thrilled to be housed in a residential area because it meant that I actually interacted with people who lived in the city (even Scottish locals, who can be somewhat scarce in Edinburgh), but I met few Scottish students. That said, Edinburgh does an INCREDIBLE job making sure its students have access to other places in Scotland - it pairs with two bus services for international students (IST and ISC) which plan bus trips every single weekend for the first several months. I was able to go on four of these - to Oban, Glencoe/Glenfinnan, Dunnottar/Aberdeen, and the Isle of Skye. These were invaluable ways to meet other international students and explore my host country. The university also goes out of its way to integrate visiting students into the school and the city, and plans a great orientation event on move-in day called "Taste of Scotland" for visiting students, where you can explore orgs, try haggis (or vegetarian haggis), do a whisky tasting, and dance in a ceilidh. Truly unmissable.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Especially coming from the US, I was blown away by the health care system. Students are advised to find a GP at the beginning of their studies and I, unwisely, did not. But when I caught a really bad fever towards the end of my studies, I made one phone call to the local hospital and had a free appointment two hours later.

It's so safe. Really. I had to walk across the Meadows to get back to my flat from the city, and I remember being concerned about walking through what was essentially a park after dark. But there are always people in the Meadows. Always. Whether it's the troupe of flame-throwers who practice on the field Monday nights, or the nightly 8-9 pm group of runners who run the 1.5 mile loop in a massive pack, or the friendly 3 AM dog-walkers, there's always someone visible, and the Meadows (and much of the rest of the city) is a student-dominated area. I carried my keys between my knuckles on walks back after midnight, but out of habit more than concern.

The title says it all ... it's rare enough to have experiences that can rival your vision for them. Edinburgh surpassed mine. I'm not a city person - Edinburgh was unlike any city I've ever visited, or even heard of. More like a glorified small town - intimate and navigable, but with abundant resources and hidden nooks. Take a 20 minute bus ride in any direction - you'll either end up at the sea, in the Pentlands, or en route to the Highlands. I made some of my best friends and traveled with them through five countries. I am convinced that Edinburgh is the UK's best kept secret. I was warned repeatedly (by people who had never been) that it would rain and snow on every day. It barely ever rained, and days without blue sky were rare. The city is breathtaking, full of turrets and dark stone and bright, street-level shops, and if you feel like you just fell into a Harry Potter book, well, you probably did, because not only were the books written there, but many of the streets will claim to have inspired roads like Diagon Alley or neighborhoods like Hogsmead.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Groceries are much more expensive there. Traveling makes things add up fast though.

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• Dorm

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• Local Students
• Americans
• International Students

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• Local Students
• Americans
• International Students

• Visiting Student Office - host fun events and successfully integrate visitors into the student body
• Edinburgh itself - if I ever get the chance to live there again, I will take it in a heartbeat
• Other students - I ended up becoming close friends with a group of international students (no other Americans) that was the absolute highlight of the experience.

• Honestly? Nothing.