Edinburgh College of Art, go there Past Review
By Kendall T (Art History, Criticism and Conservation., SMFA - School of the Museum of Fine Arts) for
University of Edinburgh: Edinburgh - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
This program was definitely worth while. I feel like I grew as a person and as a painter. I got to meet people from countries around the world, and made life long friends. I have a better understanding of what it is like to live outside of the United States, the differences in organization not only of the school system but of the health system, the political structure, and the way society works.
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. |
Overall I had a great experience at ECA. At first it was hard to adjust to the differences between the school. Unlike SMFA, ECA is mostly based on independent study. There was no class schedule. We had to come up with a study plan and work individually in our studios on that project for the whole semester. Each student was assigned a tutor who guided them through their study plan. I found that this system enabled me to better my work because I had an extensive amount of time to work on a single project. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The Administration at ECA was accessible. It was very confusing to figure out where you were supposed to go and who you were supposed to talk to for specific tasks. I found everyone within the painting department to be very helpful. I did not really seek out any other services at the school. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived in iQ student accomidation which is a privately owned student housing facility. They have short term lets for single semesters in studio rooms that have their own bathroom and kitchen. The building was opened September 2010 so it is very new. There are common areas where you are able to spend time with your friends. Most of my friends in Edinburgh I met at iQ, and they all went to different schools throughout the city and were from different countries. |
| * Food: |
I did not have a meal plan, but ECA did have a canteen (cafeteria) that had a wide selection of food. There is also a coffee shop and a bar inside of the school. Mostly I cooked in my apartment. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I did not have any specific social events with ECA, but Edinburgh provides plenty of options for events to go to. I went to a Celidh, a traditional Scottish dance, at Edinburgh University which was very fun. Edinburgh also has a literary pub crawl, an amazing castle, a German Christmas Market,and plenty of bars, clubs, and restaurants with a variety of events. Scotland also has many great places to go outside of Edinburgh like Glasgow and Loch Ness. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I did not have any overall health problems while in Edinburgh. The city itself is very safe. I never felt like I was in danger when I went walking by myself. As with all cities you should not walk on your own at night, but other than that it is a very safe city and everyone is very kind and helpful. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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) |
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Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Exchange |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I would tell a prospective student to this program to not be afraid of the differences between the school systems. I was so worried about it when I went there and it kept me from getting a lot of work done for the first month or so. It is fairly easy to adjust to living in Britain, but make sure you look the opposite way when you cross the street! Also there is never a bad time to eat cake and drink tea. I believe it is not necessary to take the bus anywhere in Edinburgh. It is small enough that you can walk everywhere, and if you walk you will take in more of the city. The architecture and landscape is beautiful wherever you go in Edinburgh. There is a bus service that goes from Edinburgh to the airport, which is extremely useful.I would also advise to get to know all of the professors within your department early on. I did not get to know many of them until the end of the semester, and I feel like I could have learned a lot from them. Also, take advantage of the cheap flights to travel throughout Europe. Ryan Air has flights for as low as 30 Pounds. |
