Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

A Truly British Experience! Past Review

By (Anthropology., Wellesley College) - abroad from 01/13/2014 to 06/12/2014 with

University of Cambridge, Pembroke College: Cambridge - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
During my time abroad, I was able to learn a lot about British culture as Cambridge is about as British as it can get! I loved walking through the town of Cambridge-it is quite idyllic. Cambridge also has a very distinctive history and culture that truly adds to the academic experience. Some traditions (such as formal halls) have been at Cambridge for centuries! I felt that I grew both socially and academically during my experience and I definitely think it was a worthwhile experience.

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.

The reason I chose this program was for the rigorous academics and I feel that Cambridge delivered. I definitely felt challenged in all my classes/supervisions, and I had to consider anthropology from a British lens. Although I enjoyed the content of my classes, I felt that some of the lecturers were not very engaging. In general, after the semester was over, I felt that I had a new depth and understanding in Social Anthropology that I did not have before I came to Cambridge.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The administration for this program is great! They respond to any queries very quickly and are always accessible. We get a "tutor" who is someone who we can talk to about class, adjusting, etc. Additionally, we have to check in with our DOS (director of studies) at the beginning and end of every term. Overall, they are quite committed to making our abroad experience smooth.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I was housed in Corpus Christi college, and my room was spacious, with a large desk, and high ceilings. I also had my own sink, which was convenient. The bedder came by once every two weeks to clean up in there (which takes some getting used to). The only reason I gave it a four was because in my particular building in library court, I had to go up a floor to use the bathroom. However, in general, the accommodations were clean and spacious.

* Food:

I mainly ate in the Corpus Christi and Pembroke dining halls during the week and went out to eat on the weekends. I enjoyed the food and the restaurants in the area. Also there is a Sainsburys within walking distance of the college which has a large amount of options for food!

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt pretty well integrated with the student culture at Cambridge, but that was mainly because I joined the rugby team, the board game society, and went to weekly teas hosted by the welfare officers, where I met other Cambridge students. I also tried to sit with British students during hall, and met many new people that way (in Corpus). It is very easy to become friends with students, but they must be approached first! I strongly suggest joining clubs/sports at Cambridge because it really adds to the experience.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I never had any health issues, but the school nurse seemed extremely approachable and accessible.

* Safety:

Cambridge is extremely safe. However, to err on the side of precaution, if you are walking around past midnight, I would walk with a buddy.

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)

England is very expensive but it's not too difficult to live on a student's budget. I didn't spend my money on anything other than food and formal halls. I didn't do a lot of traveling, but that can definitely eat up money. Since I didn't travel very much, I spent a lot of money on May Week, and ended up going to two June Events, a May Ball, and many garden parties.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 100-150
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? To save some money in the beginning, I suggest borrowing a formal hall gown from the IP office. You just have to put in a 10 pound deposit and you get it back at the end of the semester. Formal hall gowns can be kind of expensive. Another way to save money is buying food from Sainsburys instead of eating at the dining hall. I only did that sometimes because my accommodation didn't have a stove. Something that made my time in Cambridge much easier was getting a bank account at Barclays. Just ask one of the administrators of the program to give you a letter and head down to Barclays and open a student account during the first week. Many of the payments you will make during your time abroad will be through electronic transfer, which is best done with a British bank account. It also makes it easy to pay with a debit card and use ATMs.

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
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
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?
  • the academics
  • meeting the other students
* What could be improved?
  • n/a
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Studying is a solitary activity at Cambridge, and since you spend so much of your time studying, it can get quite lonely at first. So I started to reach out to some of my American friends who felt the same way and we would study together. Also, just because England is so similar to the US, doesn't mean that you won't get a bit of culture shock. Cambridge is definitely its own world, and it took a few weeks before I felt adjusted.

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 Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!