Study at University of St. Andrews Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The British system is vastly different than the American system, which was an adjustment. Very few class hours per week and very few assignments, but tons of reading. I took two courses in International Relations. One was fantastic! The other one was only so-so. The professor was definitely more interested in his career as a scholar than his career as a professor. Overall, though, a good educational experience to be exposed to.

On-site administration of your program

Interstudy takes a very hands-off approach, especially since there are no staff people based in Scotland. However, staff are always available if you need to get in touch with them. They are friendly and interesting to talk to. Coleman even picked me up from the train station when I arrived at 1am due to a major snowstorm in London that slowed down transportation. Overall: flexible and fantastic!

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived in a flat in ALbany Park that was part of the university housing system. Although I was in an English-speaking country, I marked that my living situation aided my language acquisition because I lived with 5 Scottish women and it really helped me understand the accent and learn about the dialect and culture. Albany was fantastic! Not too many American students live there, so I got to meet Scottish students and international students from all over. Also, it is about 50 yards from St. Andrews' best beach!

We were responsible for our own meals, and the kitchen facilities were satisfactory. I never went hungry. Easiest place to shop is the Tesco Metro across from the Student Union, but there is a Aldi's and a Morrison's which are cheaper a bit farther away. Lots of inexpensive and delicious pubs to get lunch at (St. Andrews has one of the highest concentrations of pubs in the UK).

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Met lots of wonderful people and learned loads about the Scottish culture. There are 13th century cathedral ruins and castle ruins in St. Andrews which are wonderful. Cathedral grounds are free, so I highly recommend them. Also, at the beginning of term, the school offers reduced rates on highland tours. It's a great day trip with lots of beautiful scenery. Also, interstudy sponsors two excursions - one to London and one to Ireland. London trip was fun, but the Ireland trip was fantastic! It's in Killarney and it's absolutely beautiful. Maybe you can take in a rugby match at a local pub - it's well worth the trip!

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

St. Andrews is very safe. It's a small town and crime is mostly limited to petty theft. I never had any problems. I never had any health problems on the trip, except for getting pink eye. Ask a local student to help you navigate the ins and outs of the NHS, if you need to. Also, stop at the pharmacy for minor things; the pharmacists in Britain are allowed to prescribe more medicines than those in the US. They can probably help you out.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

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• Local Students