A semester-long experience that will last a lifetime. Past Review
By A student (Public relations, The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 02/08/2016 to 06/11/2016 with
University of Sheffield: Sheffield - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
Being away from home in a new environment definitely taught me to be more independent, patient, outgoing, and open-minded.Though I've always had a love for traveling and the different things each culture and country has to offer, living in a different country with international students was definitely an eye-opener and opportunity to embrace my culture as well as others, making me a little more open minded and patient. Together we would have to overcome the language barrier and also break and/or explain stereotypes we didn't necessarily realize we held. Being away from home, also meant I was put in situations where I had to make 'adult-decisions' all on my own.
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. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The University of Sheffield did an excellent job about informing international student about all the resources we may need and where to find them. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I loved my accommodation! I was able to learn about different cultures since I lived with other international students. |
| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Everyone I met from locals to international students and English students were very welcoming. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I only had to use the health center at my University once, but it was very easy to make an appointment. The wait wasn't long either. |
| * Safety: |
While living in Sheffield, I felt very safe. City center was approximately a 15 minute walk from campus, and my apartment from campus was about a 20 minute walk. I would usually walk with other students but also didn't mind walking alone. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I absolutely loved everything about my program, the place, the courses, the people. Sheffield itself is a pretty big city but it also has a small town feel. There was always something for us to do-- from the nightlife, shopping, or outdoor adventures like hikes at the Peaks District, which is only a short bus ride away. Also, almost everyone I met from the locals, English students, and international students, were really welcoming and friendly. Whether I needed a study partner or someone to grab lunch with, there was always someone there for me. |
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) |
I found it fairly easy to budget. I didn't really eat out while in Sheffield. Instead I would cook a lot at home and would have also have pot-luck style dinners with the other international students. You do have to be mindful of how many tourist attractions you'll be visiting, going out, traveling etc. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $50-100 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | At the very beginning the expenses may seem a little overwhelming like buying pans, utensils etc., public transportation passes, bedding. I suggest that you ask your flatmates if they want to split the cost on certain things. For example, me and a guy from Atlanta, Georgia ended up splitting the cost for our kitchen equipment. Also, as far as spending money goes I suggest to always carry a little bit of cash with you in case for emergencies or to treat yourself. Try to carry an amount you're comfortable with- for example £10, is enough for a cab ride or a quick meal if you need/want to buy something, but that way you're not tempted to spend £20 on one thing. Try to be aware of the conversion rate because £20 may not seem like a lot but it's actually like $30. |
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? | Exchange |
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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| 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? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I felt like I was pretty prepared before leaving, if anything though I wish there had been a stronger emphasis/encouragement to join clubs at my university. I was under the impression it would be a little hard to join half0way through the year, but it actually wasn't. So to anyone considering joining a club/organization, I strongly encourage it. |
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 UrbaniteA 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. |
