Best time of my life!!!! Past Review

By Emily C (International Affairs, University of Maine at Orono) - abroad from 09/17/2012 to 05/17/2013 with

University of Sunderland: Sunderland - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

I became extremely independent and able to be in large groups of people comfortably. You learn conversational skills, and skills for meeting new people (you're going to a place where you know NO ONE so you have to try!)

Review Photos

University of Sunderland: Sunderland - Direct Enrollment & Exchange Photo

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.	I am an International Affairs and Psychology double major, and while I loved my IA classes, the psychology classes were not to my liking at all. In was not impressed with the Psych staff they provided at all. I took History and Politic classes for my IA degree, and I found every professor to be warm and willing to help. Stuart Howard (Local and Regional History) was the most enthusiastic professor I think I've ever had- loved him!
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program	Emma Pearce is amazing- go to her with any problems and she will help as best she can!
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	If you are international, you will most likely be put in Clanny House. Although it is the farthest away, it is where all the other international people are housed, as well as a mix of British. International students I knew who didn't live there regretted it
* Food:	There are plenty of nice, cheap places to eat. Only problem is you have to go to Newcastle for sushi :(
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	Make sure you join a club or get to know people in your classes. It is not difficult if you make an effort! You will meet tons of other international students living in Clanny House, but not as many British
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?	England has free health care, so that bit is very easy. Perscriptions are ridiculously cheap compared to the US. Make sure to register with a doctor when you get there so you don't end up having to wait in the ER for 2 hours for something simple!
* Safety:	Never felt unsafe once, and I walked around at night all the time.
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)	It is easy to spend money on going out- most students at the beginning go out 3, 4 even 5 nights a week. The only advice I can give is budget, budget, budget and STICK to your budget. It's the only way you'll be positive about how much your spending. Keep receipts, do online banking, something! Cuz it gets away from you fast and then you're broke..
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	Budget- and make sure you have more than you need every week, because you are going to want to travel, go to the cinema, eat out, and GO OUT TO BARS. Occasional night trips to Newcastle were also pricey. Best tip I can give anyone though, is DO NOT BUY A METRO PASS JUST TO GET TO ST. PETERS CAMPUS ACROSS THE RIVER. It will not get you to Newcastle and you will pay outrageous amounts of money even though there

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component?	No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Dorm
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Local Students International Students
* Who did you take classes with? Select all that apply	Local Students International Students
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?	People Culture Ability to get anywhere in Europe cheap!
* What could be improved?	Living Conditions School outings for Intl. students
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	Sunderland is a small city, but you can get the very rural feeling but going just outside the city. I wish I'd known beforehand because I would have planned many more local trips!

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 Avid Adventurer The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	English Society and Culture
Course Department:	History
Instructor:
Instruction Language:
Comments:	All about medieval England. Very interesting lectures, even if they were a bit early
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Logal and Regional History
Course Department:	History
Instructor:	Stuart Howard
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:
Credit Transfer Issues:	It doesn't count directly for my IA degree because it doesn't translate into a UMaine class, which was dissapointing

Course Name/Rating:	British Politics since 1945
Course Department:	Politics
Instructor:	Simon Henig/Pat Tierney
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	Simon is a bit dry but extremely knowledgeable- wrote an influential book for their most recent PM election.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Beginners German
Course Department:	Language
Instructor:	Liz (?)
Instruction Language:	English/German
Comments:	I took it to refresh my German, would be vigorous for someone who had never taken it but the professor is so nice and helpful.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Biological/Cognitive Psychology
Course Department:	Psychology
Instructor:
Instruction Language:
Comments:	It's a one year course, one sem. bio one sem. cognitive. Honestly, if I hadn't of been one of the only psych courses I needed left for my major I would have transfered out immediately. The biological instructor looked like she hated her job every lecture she gave, and I only ever missed 1. The cognitive professor was fairly young and extremely smart, but she should not have been teaching as she had no skill in that area at all.
Credit Transfer Issues: