Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Rewarding and challenging June 22, 2022

By (History, Middlebury College) - abroad from 01/12/2022 to 06/03/2022 with

IFSA: Edinburgh - University of Edinburgh

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned to cook and travel by myself, I learned to be more resilient with unknown academic climates and expectations, I saw new parts of the world and met interesting people.

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.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

I cooked for myself, so this is reflective of my own abilities.

* 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

IFSA helped me settle in to a city I have come to know and love.

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)

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
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local 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 location
  • The ease of access to social events
  • The assistance and support from IFSA
* What could be improved?
  • Nothing
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I would have downloaded Toogoodtogo sooner (an app that lets you get food for cheap, while also being sustainable for local businesses)

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.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Tradition and Transformation in the Chinese Economy since 1949
Course Department: Economic History
Instructor: Dr. Felix Boecking
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This course was excellent. Well taught, easy to follow along, interesting. All expectations were clearly outlined, never blindsided.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Making and Breaking Medieval Britain
Course Department: History
Instructor: Dr. Beatty
Instruction Language: English
Comments:
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

The Global Economy since 1750
Course Department: Economic History
Instructor: Dr. Paul Kosmetatos
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Old lectures, delivered asynchronously and non-chronologically. Tutorials were overcomplicated for the course level, assignments claimed to not require technical skill, and yet the grading was harsh for any absence thereof. Compared to a higher level economic history class I took, this more entry level course was much less succinct, and manageable.
Credit Transfer Issues: