Scotland: The Best 5 Months of My Life Past Review
By Carly S (PSYCHOLOGY., Barnard College) for
University of Edinburgh: Edinburgh - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I learned a lot more about what type of a place I want to live in and what is important to me.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The work load was certainly manageable, but they do expect a lot more of you in terms of getting things done on your own. I personally preferred it. It works well for students who are self-motivated and don't need small assignments throughout the semester so the professors can check up on you. I much prefer the UK educational system. The grading system was interesting as well because a grade of a 70 is superb and rarely attained, so when you receive a 65 rather than failing you actually did very well. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
There was no program and all administration problems at the school were easily handled. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My flat was a 5 minute walk from campus and had a very central location. It was right near the Tesco, the jazz bar, a 10 minute walk from Princes street and I could see the Royal Mile from the window. I barely needed to buy any items because I lived with two English students.The one annoying part was that I was on the top floor of a walk up flat, and the laundry machines were outside in the parking lot. |
| * Food: |
I was in a self catered flat so i provided my own meals. I highly recommend living in a self-catered flat. Robertson's Close was in an excellent location in terms of food. However, it is hard to find dinner late in the evening and the closest Tesco closes at 11 pm. If you are going to have a late dinner you will find to find a chippie such as Zara's which is on Cowgate right across the street from Robertson's Close. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
It's easy enough to find a pub to go to in Edinburgh. Everywhere you look there are several pubs, restaurants, and even a few clubs. I personally enjoyed seeing the cultural aspect in the local pubs where less students go. My favorite pub is the Queens Arms on Frederick's street. My flatmates were very welcoming and always invited us to go out with them to a party and meet their friends. During the day we went for several afternoon tea times, a few trips into the Highlands (which i recommend for everyone coming to Scotland), a trip to Glasgow, and one to St. Andrews. The International Student Center plans trips every weekend to places throughout Scotland. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
It was incredibly easy to see the doctor whenever you needed and prescriptions were free. I have 1 incident of crime in Edinburgh, and it involved two policemen talking to a young boy for underage drinking. There is very little crime here and it is a very safe place to walk around at all hours. If you feel uncomfortable you can hop in a cab. There were no health issues in Scotland while I was here, and I didn't need any vaccines to come here. |
| 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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | One aspect of the UK that is difficult is the exchange rate. The pound is currently worth so much more than the US dollar. You find yourself constantly doing the conversion in your head whenever you buy food. In comparison to other European cities i visited, Edinburgh was fairly inexpensive despite the use of the Pound. It is possible to stay on a budget if you plan ahead with your meals and cook for yourself. There are also many student discounts and cheap places for lunch and even dinner. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Try not to buy a lot when you first get here, although it is tempting with the royal mile so close. Try to start cooking for yourself early and plan ahead with your meals. If you do go out for lunch or dinner, find places with student discounts. There are tons of places that have these especially in the Old Town. Use the Pound Saver or Poundland when you first get here to buy things you need such as soap, towels, etc. The Pound Saver has pretty much anything you would ever need except for food. Also, don't spend money on bottle water, the tap water is clean and drinkable. |
Language
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
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?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | A self motivated student would benefit most. If you need to take English classes, they can be hard to get into for study abroad students. If you like the idea of being in a small city then this is perfect. |
