Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

It was a nice break from the Presbyterian life, but I'm ready to go back now. Past Review

By (Business Administration, Management and Operations., Presbyterian College) - abroad from 01/28/2012 to 06/06/2012 with

University of South Wales: Cardiff - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was worthwhile. I gained great friends and a story to talk about forever.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The hardest part was the lack of amount of assignments. We had 3000 word essays that would be 50% of our grade. If you messed that up, the whole grade was messed up. That was tough.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

They were helpful in the classroom but no where to be found outside of the classroom and were impossible to get in touch with.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Our rooms were big and we had no roommate. I liked the space to myself. My flat mates were awesome and welcoming as well.

* Food:

We had no food plan so we had to take a bus to the city to get food. Some times the buses weren't running, but once I got the hang out it, I found good food places.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Everyone was so welcoming!

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

Campus police went after everything. Sometimes that was annoying. Other times, it made me feel safe.

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)

There wasn't much to spend money on, so it was easy to keep my money.

* Was housing included in your program cost? Yes
* Was food included in your program cost? No
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 30 pounds on food.. $50. then $50 on just living. The bus ticket to get to my classes was unexpected and was $50 a month.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Limit yourself every week. If you go over, spend less the next week. Save money for going out and bus tickets.

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?
  • Meeting a new lifestyle and way of living
  • The people I met
  • Being thrown into a different environment entirely.
* What could be improved?
  • The weather
  • Being able to get in touch with teachers easier
  • Extra expenses need to be known (bus, taxi)
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? That I would have a 30 minute bus ride to class every day and no classes on the campus in which I was living. That was weird.