Past Review

By (Health and Medical Administrative Services., Providence College) for

Arcadia: Glasgow - University of Glasgow

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was extremely worthwile! I learned that I am more independent than I ever thought before. The thought of traveling alone isn't as scary now as it was before. I'm so glad I studied abroad for the semester and it makes me want to travel more when I'm older.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The grading system took some adjusting because I was only assessed 2 or 3 times. One of my finals was worth 75% of my grade. It really makes you feel pressured to do well on every assessment because there is no room to make up if you don't do well. The courses I took were all lectures.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Arcadia was a great program because I really felt comfortable and well-prepared to study abroad for the semester. The orientation provided helpful resources and information for the semester in Glasgow.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived in a flat with around 20 other students--mostly Americans, students native of the host country and other international students. <br /><br /> Luckily I got my first choice for housing--student apartments. I lived less than a 2 minute walk from the library, gym, and main gate. I felt very safe where I lived and the proximity was great. I needed to buy some stuff to settle in but we were given bedding and a light.

* Food:

There are multiple grocery stores in the area so it's pretty easy to buy food and cook it in the flat kitchens that are equipt with everything.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I did lots of traveling on weekends and spring break and was able to see some amazing cities.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

Glasgow is a very safe city! I would just say the usual advice--don't walk around at night by yourself and make sure when you go out with friends that you stay together.

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)

Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Be prepared to spend a lot of money. It's an opportunity that will never come up again, so don't hold back because it is a once in a lifetime experience.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
  • Local Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students

A Look Back

* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Glasgow is a great city to study abroad in! It's not as exciting as a lot of other cities, but it's really fun to live there. People are very nice and it's cheaper compared to other cities in the UK.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

History of Art 1

Course Department: Art History 1
Instructor: Multiple Instructors
Instruction Language: English
Comments: The Art History 1 course was challenging but not impossible. The course covered a vast time period (1600-1950) so there was a lot of material that was covered. It required a lot of independent study, memorizing and learning the movements and the social context of each one.
Credit Transfer Issues: It fulfilled my Fine Arts core
Course Name/Rating:

Finance 1

Course Department: Accounting and Finance
Instructor: Mike Keeley
Instruction Language: English
Comments: The introductory finance course was difficult and required a lot of independent study. It was more difficult than I expected and the final exam was 75% of the grade which is a bit overwhelming to grasp.
Credit Transfer Issues: It fulfilled my Finance requirement.
Course Name/Rating:

Bagpiping

Course Department: National Piping Center
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments: The course was awesome! We had one-on-one lessons every week in addition to lectures where we learned the history and progression of the bagpipe in various European cultures. We also got to go see a couple of piping competitions which was great to see.
Credit Transfer Issues: Unfortunately it didn't count as my Fine Arts core