Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

A challenging but gratifying exchange program experience. Past Review

By (Middlebury College) - abroad from 09/14/2017 to 01/10/2018 with

University of Nottingham: Nottingham - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned to be more independent. I appreciate this experience because it helped me find my true academic passion which is film and media. I changed my major while I was abroad and have enjoyed my classes since that switch.

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

The administration was slow in responding to our complaints as they were urgent. Our concerns were not prioritized considering the program and contract that Middlebury had with Nottingham University.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

My friends and I were put into temporary housing that was a 30+ minute ride from the main campus where our classes were. The environment of the temporary housing was poor as it did not have any heating systems, nor pillow, nor bed covers and thus the stay was not comfortable at all.

* Food:

For the first month, we were not on any meal plan which resulted in us having to spend extra money in buying food and cooking utensils and we were not compensated for it at the end of the program.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I integrated with the local culture pretty smoothly and did not encounter major issues.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I did not encounter healthcare issues.

* 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)

I spent more than I would during my first month at Nottingham as I did not have a meal plan. Later, Middlebury contacted Nottingham about meal plans and it was resolved. Since then I became more careful about how and where I spent my money.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? I was careful about not spending too much money as I am a student on financial aid. However, I would spend money when going out to eat at restaurants or study in coffee shops.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Fluent
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Fluent

Direct Enrollment/Exchange

* Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? Exchange

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
* 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? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Lecture style
  • The city atmosphere
  • The diversity on campus
* What could be improved?
  • Adminstration
  • Navigating class changes
  • Faster communication
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I would have appreciated if I was told about how things were run at Nottingham such as signing up for classes, dorm/housing application, how to effectively use my student ID, and who to reach out to in case of emergencies.

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 Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Media Identities

Course Department: Culture Film and Media
Instructor: James Mansell
Instruction Language: English
Comments: I enjoyed this class because we discussed topics that were relevant in our contemporary generation. The class had a lecture and a discussion session that was lead by the instructor. We took a field trip to an art gallery that presented contemporary art and it was very enjoyable. I participated more in this class than I would have at my home institution. We had one big paper to write as our final and I enjoyed the process as we were free to choose a topic of our interest.
Credit Transfer Issues: no.