Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Finding Home in my Semester Abroad Past Review

By (Colorado College) - abroad from 01/09/2017 to 05/27/2017 with

IFSA: Edinburgh - University of Edinburgh

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained an entire undergraduate thesis topic/project! As well as local friends with whom I've started to feel like part of a community and can see and get to know better when I return. It was so worthwhile!!

Review Photos

IFSA-Butler: Edinburgh - University of Edinburgh Photo IFSA-Butler: Edinburgh - University of Edinburgh Photo IFSA-Butler: Edinburgh - University of Edinburgh Photo IFSA-Butler: Edinburgh - University of Edinburgh Photo

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.

* 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

This was a great program with lots of administrative support and excellent resources, and I loved how invested they were with my well-being and success. Moreover, Edinburgh was an incredible place to live and study, and I want to find a way to move back there long-term!

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? Around $60-$70
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Shop at discount grocery shops and charity shops for clothing!

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

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

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • 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?
  • The IFSA-Scotland office
  • Living location (in terms of centrality to city)
  • Edinburgh itself
* What could be improved?
  • The orientation programme
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? That it's easy to stick in a circle of other international/American exchange students, so make a conscious effort to get out of the bubble! join clubs, go to more local/less student-dominated bars, etc.

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 Nearly Native or Trail Blazer
Craving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.'