Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

A very liberating and culturally immersive time abroad. May 26, 2023

By (Environmental Studies, Middlebury College) - abroad from 01/12/2023 to 05/21/2023 with

University of Edinburgh: Edinburgh - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained important life skills that have made me more independent, such as meal planning and making lots of new friends in a new place.

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?

* Food:

Cooked for self.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

I'd rather have gone to New Zealand.

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)

Besides Tesco, there aren't many good budget meal options.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 80
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Cook!

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

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 10+

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The people I was surrounded by.
  • The academic resources.
  • The social opportunities.
* What could be improved?
  • Too much free time.
  • More orientation opportunities for study abroad students.
  • More clarity about assignment expectations.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Having lots of free time and not many assessments leaves a lot of room for slacking and falling behind academically.

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:

Oceanography
Course Department: School of Geosciences
Instructor: Simon Jung
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This course pushed me very hard in areas that I didn't know that I could be good at- notably chemistry and biology. The professors were very knowledgeable and we had three lectures per week, with a total of four labs plus a final exam. I worked more for this class than for any other.
Credit Transfer Issues: I haven't received my transcript yet.
Course Name/Rating:

Ethnography: Theory and Practice
Course Department: School of Social Sciences
Instructor: Cormac Cleary
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This course was as challenging as I chose to make it. We were given lots of freedom to design an ethnographic project of our own and to carry it out over the course of seven weeks. The research process was difficult and we were graded through a midterm and final report.
Credit Transfer Issues: N/A
Course Name/Rating:

Religion and the Climate Crisis
Course Department: School of Divinity
Instructor: Claire Wanless
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This course wasn't particularly challenging, however we were graded on two essays and a presentation. The essays were harshly graded, and I did best on the presentation. The professor was knowledgeable, and allowed me to participate.
Credit Transfer Issues: N/A