Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Bath is a dream! Past Review

By (Wellesley College) - abroad from 01/29/2018 to 05/17/2018 with

Advanced Studies England: Bath - ASE Study Centre

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained close friends with whom I have/will stay in contact and incredible memories of the best experiences.England has to offer.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The courses I took (English and History) required a lot of reading were less demanding than my home college. A number of courses focused on quantity over depth. The only exception would be the tutorial program; I felt that the instructor excepted as much of me as my professors at Wellesley and focused on in-depth analysis. Grading was easier but seemed fair.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

I cannot imagine having a better experience with the administration; the staff were all extremely supportive and took a keen in interest in me outside of just my academics.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived in a beautiful flat overlooking the River Avon with three other women. My room was enormous and the kitchen and dining room were perfect for both daily meals and hosting events.

* Food:

The program often provided food when we went on study trips or had events. The menus were always based around classic English dishes that were both satisfying and delicious.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The program is for American students so there were obvious impediments to engaging with locals but the program made every attempt to integrate us into Bath culture through event publicity. I especially enjoyed the trivia nights and club scene.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

The staff were extremely helpful with organizing doctor's appointments and putting us in contact with other healthcare professionals.

* Safety:

I walked alone in Bath at all hours of the day and night with no problems whatsoever. I would always recommending walking with a group of friends at night but when necessary, I was fine walking back to my flat alone.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

I cannot imagine having a better study abroad experience! ASE was truly a gem and Bath is easily the best city I have ever visited/lived in. I would return in a heartbeat and will do everything in my power to live in Bath again at some point in the future.

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)

We got a weekly stipend of £40 for food which was more than enough for grocery shopping. However, if you want to visit cafes or pubs frequently, you will likely need to supplement the stipend with your own money.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? not including the £40 stipend, about £30 (but I spent every afternoon at cafes so my number may not be representative)
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Save before you come and choose a program that organizes free study trips (like ASE does!) so you can see an area's highlights without having to spend money on transportation and admission to sights.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • 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?
  • Bath (location)
  • Other students
  • Staff
* What could be improved?
  • Less reading
  • More focus on quality over quantity in courses
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Honestly, that live in the US can't measure up.

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.