Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

University of Edinburgh Access to the Outdoors and Culture July 07, 2022

By (Global Security Studies, Middlebury College) - abroad from 01/17/2022 to 05/27/2022 with

University of Edinburgh: Edinburgh - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
More knowledge for/appreciation of traditional Scottish culture. Better understanding of UK society including emphasis on social class and general political viewpoints.

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.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Flatmates were excellent but accommodations were spartan and had old fixtures/appliances which needed repair repeatedly throughout the semester

* Food:

Food not provided by university. The city itself had good options for grocery stores and restaurants.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Plenty of opportunities to meet with and befriend local students and get involved with traditional actives.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

covid isolation and care were done well. University provided a generously sized box of food and dry goods to students who tested positive so they wouldn't have to leave isolation. UK government provided free at home test kits.

* 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)

Needed $600/month for general expenses and extracurricular experiences. Would have been possible to get by on $100/week but to make the most of your time there you really need $500/month or more.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $150
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Sign up for a Young Scots card as soon as you arrive. It's free. This gives you free bus travel anywhere in the city and greater Edinburgh area and saves you a lot of money.

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

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local 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?
  • Access to the outdoors
  • ease of travel to other locations in Europe
  • local flatmates
* What could be improved?
  • dorm facilities
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Even if you don't like your flatmates there are plenty of other ways to meet local students and make new friends.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you.
The Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Business Chinese
Course Department: Chinese
Instructor: Prof. Rui Zhang
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Class met once a week in person and then had one online asynchronous lecture. Workload was very manageable. Could have done with more class time to get additional hours for language practice. Assessed through a class presentation and an end of term exam. Weekly homework which was ungraded but would receive corrections and feedback.
Credit Transfer Issues: Unknown. Have yet to transfer credits.
Course Name/Rating:

Traditional Music
Course Department: Music Studies
Instructor: Prof. Lori Watson
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Assessed through 3 shorter "folio tasks" which we got to choose from a variety of options, as well as a longer paper. Met once a week in person. Professor made good use of practical examples and encouraged students to bring in their own instruments for demonstrations and jam sessions. One lecture by a guest professor.
Credit Transfer Issues: Unknown. Yet to ask for transfer.
Course Name/Rating:

War and Justice
Course Department: Political Science
Instructor: Prof. Kieran Oberman
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Good mix of readings. One in person lecture and one in person tutorial group (discussion section) a week. Assessed through tutorial participation and through 2 large essays.
Credit Transfer Issues: Unknown. Yet to try credit transfer.