I returned home definitely humbled, more mindful, and a little bit braver. Past Review

By A student (Studio Art and Theater Design, Middlebury College) - abroad from 09/23/2014 to 12/06/2013 with

Arts University Bournemouth: Bournemouth & Poole - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

Talk with your fellow classmates about their art work and art-making process. The university made the point of reminding us that we are all rising professionals, and as such our opinions, thoughts, and dreams truly matter and will one day be a powerful force in moving the art world forward in our society. I learned just as much if not more from talking with my classmates as I did from my instructors and tutors. The pace of learning here was much more relaxed than I was used to. At Middlebury College, I was used to going to attending classes and having a really full schedule. At AUB I really got to experience the beauty of silence, daydreaming, walking, and sketching in a café – things I have wanted to do but had not found the free time to do so at my home college. For me, this was one of the most valuable experiences because it helped me learn how to listen to the ebb and flow of my creative process you could say. I was more in tune with how I was feeling, and it gave me the space to allow thoughts to form. Along the same vein, I had a lot more time to research a variety of topics that I wanted to explore. I actually got to READ rather than skim, which was so refreshing. I came to recognize the value of reading in feeding my creativity. Even if I did not directly use what I learned, it still expanded my mind and made me think of new questions to be explored in my art-making. However, I do admit that it was very hard for me to get out of my head and into the physical realm of working with materials. I have this tendency of staying in the safe zone of ideas rather than being faced with the blankness of a white canvas/wall/paper. Having my own project to work on really forced me to look at the weaknesses I need to face in order to become a better artist. I learned that I need to experiment more and be more willing to take risks. Seeing my fellow classmates take risks and try new things really encouraged and inspired me. I have a lot of growing to do in this area, but the first step towards improving is seeing where you need to improve first. I am thankful to this program for that.

Review Photos

Arts University Bournemouth: Bournemouth & Poole - Direct Enrollment & Exchange Photo

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program?	None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.	I was enrolled in the year 2 Fine Arts program at AUB. As a disclaimer, my art background comes from an American point of view, so my response to my experiences there will be influenced by that. Somebody coming from a different art education background will definitely have had a different response to the style of teaching at AUB. My own experience was overall very good. There was much more independent study than I was used to. All students could go to a tutor in their department at all times, but the main instructors were usually only available on the assigned "tutorial" days on which they would talk with students individually about their progress and project.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program	I did not have any trouble with the administration at AUB. The international department was phenomenal and they helped me every step of the way. They were always so patient with all my questions - they even gave me good-bye chocolates the day before I left.
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	I lived in one of the two residential buildings on campus (the majority of students live off campus). My single room was small but cozy, consisting of a small bathroom (with a shower, sink, and toilet), a desk, a wardrobe, and a small bedside table. Heating was fine, because all the rooms had their own radiator that you could adjust as needed. The only complaints I have: The kitchens were small and there were no tables where we could sit and have meals together as a hall. In addition, there were no common areas or living rooms aside from the hallways. Besides this, the residential halls were satisfactory.
* Food:	I did not often eat in the cafeteria because it was too over my budget. I cooked my own food. But the times I did eat some food on campus, I enjoyed it. The next door Bournemouth University (literally a 5 minute walk from the residential buildings) has a couple nice cafeterias and restaurants on their campus that a lot of AUB students go to. There's Pizza, coffee, and a student-run pub.
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	I did not feel like the local culture was too different from what I had already experienced back home. People are very friendly in Bournemouth. There is always something to do, with many wonderful pubs and restaurants. For art students, there are a multitude of opportunities to become involved with the community - and this is in fact greatly encouraged as students progress in their studies.
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?	I only interacted with the healthcare providers on campus once. There is actually a local doctor's office (aka the village surgery) that many students go to.
* Safety:	I felt like Bournemouth was extremely safe. During the orientation, a local police officer came and gave us advice on how to remain safe.
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)
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week?	$30-40 per week
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	Food: buys things that will last. I ate oatmeal for breakfast and used water instead of milk. This lasts for a looooong time. Also, beans, lentils, rice, and pasta are cheap and have a long shelf life. I spent most of my weekly food budget for buying fresh vegetables and fruit. Frozen fruits and vegetables are also really great options for staying healthy while on a tight budget. I recommend that you check out the shops like the pound store for cereals and dried soups. Lidl is also very cheap. Make meals with friends and share the expenses! Campus: there is a cafeteria that serves pre-packaged sandwiches, as well as some snack foods and beverages. Expensive, but there if you need a quick bite. Also, every week usually there is an art supply sale on campus. Check your student email. Travel: The bus might not seem too expensive at first, but taking it every week will add up. There is a close town called Winton that literally takes just 20 minutes to walk to. I went there to buy all my food and supplies. So I highly recommend walking to save money and get in that daily cardio! Clothing: It's expensive here! I'd recommend going easy in the clothing department, but it is up to your discretion. I didn't buy any clothing until my last week abroad, and it definitely helped me save money. Also, make sure you pack a very warm coat if you go in the fall. I made the mistake of thinking the winters would be mild in England (which it was) but it was still a lot colder than I expected.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component?	Yes

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Dorm
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Local Students International Students
* Who did you take classes with? Select all that apply	Local Students International Students
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?	Location and relationship between the students and the city of Bournemouth Professional/'real world" preparation Many university-organized opportunities for visiting galleries and other cities
* What could be improved?	More detailed description of what the course includes (for example, I did not know what a "tutorial" meant) More faculty members and space to balance out the growth in student population.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	1. Buy toilet paper for your room in advance if you live in the dorms! Nothing is provided, haha. It's useful to have for when you first arrive, dead tired and jet-lagged. 2. Perhaps as a result of learning in a different art program, I entered AUB assuming that I would be taught techniques of painting or drawing, etc. But for the fine art second year program, students are encouraged to "examine the context of their work and its relationship to audience." I had no idea what this meant, nor what it meant to "create through process" (which is something my instructor told me over and over again). Now I understand a little more, I think. I had always been used to starting off creating art through a prompt or an idea, and then creating something to fulfill, describe, or accomplish that idea. What they teach here is the flip-flop of that: work with materials and approach them without preconceptions. Instead, let the ideas come from working and experimenting and taking risks. Just get out there and DO, don't just think - don't just stay in your head. At the same time, though, really take a long hard look and ask yourself why you use the materials you use and how they affect how you and others approach the artwork. 3. I encourage other students going here to really take advantage of going to the tutors more! I wish I had done that. Because I was a newbie still learning the ropes, I felt kind of lost as to what materials I wanted to use for my project and where to find/buy them, etc. 4. The studio space is limited. 5. If you want to use one of the student studio exhibit spaces, make sure you book it in advance! They fill up very quickly. 6. Definitely go explore the city of Bournemouth. Go explore the beach. It's a beautiful area.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	Special FX in Fantasy Creature Design and Fabrication
Course Department:	Evening classes
Instructor:	Peter Tindall
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	I loved this class!!! I recommended it to all of my friends, regardless of what course of study they were in. As the title of this course indicates, this class was all about making a fantasy creature. Most of the class consisted of working with clay, but towards the end, we made plaster casts of the clay in order to construct latex masks that could be painted. Pete, the instructor, was funny, engaging, and very sincere. He truly loves what he does and he has a blast while doing it. In addition, he has a lot of experience under his belt so we learned very valuable "tricks of the trade" you might say. For example, I now know how to make realistic wrinkles and skin pores, as well as the tools that allow me to do that. The class as a whole was very relaxed and fun. Take it! (Side note: this was one of three evening courses that I took that term. Each course meets once a week for the duration of the term. I recommend you check out the dates of the courses really well if you want to take some, though, since some evening courses are longer than the actual academic term. Also, these classes are not required by AUB. They are open to all students and community members who would like to learn a new skill and do something fun.)
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Fabric Surface Printing
Course Department:	Evening courses
Instructor:
Instruction Language:
Comments:	I did not really enjoy this class. It was incredibly relaxed and not very well organized, and I did not feel like I learned a lot. In the course, we did printmaking on fabric, experimenting with batik, fabric dyes, painting, and pattern-making. We learned all the techniques in the first four to five classes and the rest of the semester involved the students experimenting with what they had learned. It was not a super bad experience, but I felt that my time in that class could have been used better.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Silversmithing and Wax Carving Workshop
Course Department:	Evening course
Instructor:
Instruction Language:
Comments:	This was a fun, easy course. Not too challenging, and as I mentioned in another review, it was open to the community. Think of it as a workshop more than a class. There were no exams or homework, but we did do several different projects. The instructor was very prepared for each class and was attentive to each student. Almost none of us in the class had worked with metals before, so the clear instructions and demonstrations of the instructor were much appreciated. I am glad I took this class, and I hope to do more work with metals in the future.
Credit Transfer Issues: