Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

A dream that passed far too fast Past Review

By (Creative Writing, Columbia College, Missouri) - abroad from 01/05/2015 to 03/20/2015 with

Canterbury Christ Church University: Canterbury - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
My experience was amazing, because I learned so much about myself and what I want in the future. I became so much more confident, because I was travelling alone and living independently. It felt amazing, and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Review Photos

Canterbury Christ Church University: Canterbury - Direct Enrollment & Exchange Photo

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

It was not very academically rigorous throughout the term, but the end of the term featured a lot of work because all of the papers were due at the end.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

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)

The UK in general is very expensive, so several aspects of living there were harder to finance than others.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? about $300
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Find credit cards that give you travel rewards. After purchasing so many train/plane tickets, one of my cards would give me cash back, which meant some later tickets were paid for! Budgets are key: give yourself set amounts for food/shopping/travelling/extras. Even if you don't stick perfectly to it, being aware of your spending is the most important thing.

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

  • 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?
  • Location
  • Culture
  • Local students
* What could be improved?
  • Communication between programs
  • Cost
  • Length of program (too short)
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I had known more about the costs of the program, what to expect. I went into it kind of blindly.

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 Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.