Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

A Semester I am Glad I did but Even More Glad it's Over June 15, 2023

By (Middlebury College) - abroad from 01/27/2023 to 06/09/2023 with

University of Nottingham: Nottingham - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned how to navigate and enjoy copious amounts of time alone. It was worthwhile but it was incredibly difficult mentally and emotionally.

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.

None of my professors were aware that I was a study abroad student, nor were they aware even of the presence of any study abroad students in their class. I reached out for academic support and was not given any.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The University of Nottingham exchange program administration/support basically did not exist. I was thrown into the school without even an initial meeting with an advisor, and none of my professors even knew there were study abroad students in their class until I approached them. The program did not even arrange an opportunity or event to meet any other study abroad exchange students, so I did not meet another exchange students until my third week at the university.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The one highlight of my experience at University of Nottingham was my housing. My dorm room was ideal, a full bed, sink, and mini fridge in the room. It was the best part of my being there.

* Food:

The catered dining plan was amazing, and actually quite delicious.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt integrated within the local culture well enough, made easier by the fact that there was no language barrier.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

The university and the town of Nottingham felt incredibly safe. It is a student town and I never felt unsafe, even when out alone late at night.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

To call the exchange program at the University of Nottingham a program at all is bold. I received no support my entire time I was there.

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)

The catered meal plan covered almost the whole week. I would need to spend around $35/week additional to eat every week.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $150

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
  • Americans
  • International Students

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The housing and catered dining.
* What could be improved?
  • The support recieved from the Univeristy of Nottingham.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? How little support the University of Nottingham would give me.

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 Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

C++ Programming
Course Department: Computer Science
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments: The class was truly one of the worst I have ever taken in my entire academic lifetime, if not the worst. The professor was new to teaching the class, and his "teaching" comprised entirely of reading off slides that the precious professor had left behind. Whenever asked a question, he would frequently reply that he did not know the answer, and to try and look it up online instead. Lab sessions were unhelpful, and when I and several other study abroad students reached out for help and said we were struggling, the professor responded saying we "simply were not trying hard enough". Assessments were through one project split into two parts, which represented 100% of our final grade.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

#Sociology: Identity, Self, and Others
Course Department: Sociology
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments: My favorite class of the semester, the instructor made the content incredibly engaging and interesting. Assessments were through two essays and a group project.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Cognition in the Real World
Course Department: Psychology
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments: An engaging course, taught through various case studies by experts in their field. Truly incredibly interesting, a psychology class I would recommend to anyone. Assessments were an essay and a final exam.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Information Visualization
Course Department: Computer Science
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments: An interesting class, that greatly benefits from self-motivated engagement with the material. Assessments through multiple projects, group and individual, as well as a final exam.
Credit Transfer Issues: