Reading, England - expensive, but worth every penny Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The type of learning at the University of Reading (as well as most UK universities, so I've been told) quite different than the standard American style. There were three terms, the first two dedicated to lecturing and the third entirely for reviewing and exams. There isn't much homework in the form of smaller assignments, but each class required a fairly lengthy and in-depth essay per term. These essays typically required a high level of specialization in a specific topic, and involved much independent research and learning. Lectures provide the groundwork for the learning, but we were expected to go much further into the material on our own and learn a lot independently. I personally thought this was an excellent way to learn and I did learn a lot, but as a procrastinator it also devastated me because there isn't a whole lot of pacing or guidance from the staff.

On-site administration of your program

Support was always available when I needed it, but wasn't always as helpful as I would have hoped. There were occasionally some logistical issues where they were unable to help me and I had to contact USAC for support instead.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived in Wantage Hall, which is the oldest house of residence at the University of Reading. It was a beautiful brick castle type building with a central courtyard, a huge dining hall (which reminded me of Hogwarts), and a large gatehouse. The hall is a 15 minute walk to the main university campus, and is the closest hall to the downtown area where you frequently go to shop and party (alleviates the walking time, around 25 minutes, as well as the cab fares). A pillow, sheets, and a duvet were provided for a fee of £20. It is also located in a fairly nice area of town, and is quite safe. The one thing I was very disappointed with was that they didn't give me any option about where I wanted to live, other than whether I wanted catered food or to cook for myself (there are catered and non-catered halls). Instead they simply put me in one with no choice in the matter, and I was lucky enough to be stuck with the most expensive hall - which I really couldn't afford at the time.

If you've ever heard about the downside of English food, imagine it produced on a large scale to feed a couple hundred people. The food was sometimes quite good, but for the most part was bland or just okay. They do have accommodation for vegetarians, though I can't imagine how boring that must be. However, apparently Wantage Hall has the best food of all the halls, so I couldn't recommend any others unless you want to cook for yourself.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

There were all kinds of opportunities for social and cultural experiences. I was a member of the Erasmus society, which took students on field trips to places like Oxford, Bath, Edinburgh, and London. There wasn't much organized by my program though, as far as I'm aware.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

The city was fairly safe, at least in the areas I most frequented. There were a few dodgy areas on the outskirts, but I avoided them. There was one occasion that I was mocked and then assaulted by a club bouncer who'd just gotten off work, but this was a very exceptional occurrence. I didn't have much experience with healthcare, besides getting a doctor's note saying I was sick and could have an extension on an assignment. I did note that it was pretty fast however - in contrast to what they say about socialized medicine, I was not waiting in line for 8 hours.

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

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