Experience filled with different culture, people, and new friends. August 31, 2026

By A student (Computer Science, Wellesley College) - abroad from 01/12/2026 to 05/11/2026 with

IFSA: Edinburgh - University of Edinburgh

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

I have become a more confident person. Anyone can drop me anywhere and I am confident that I will come out of it successful. I also made lifelong friends and memories and visited countries I never dreamed I would ever see. It was definitely worthwhile.

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program	The admin were great and very different from Wellesley Colleges. The orientation program helped me settle in and make a ton of friends. I used the Erasmus network for opportunities and finding new people to talk to. They also helped me with courses and transfer requests.
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	I applied for housing through a system where I had to pick my top 3 options however I was not given any from my choice. The price point was great however the location was far from the main city center and some of my classes.
* Food:	I would cook my own food and had plenty of grocery stores nearby which were great.
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	The Scottish are great. Edinburgh is a big city and the university is located very centrally. There were many social spots on campus like a bar within the library and I joined a couple of clubs. I love to dance so I learned Ceilidh!
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?	I had access to the campus healthcare however my insurance wasn't easily managed.
* Safety:	I have never felt unsafe in the city especially as a young female.
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program?	Yes I visited 13 countries during my time abroad but I would always yearn to go back to Edinburgh. It is the perfect mix of big city with nature, animals, and the people are so friendly.

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)	Scotland was an expensive country but my housing was far away so it was on the cheaper end and Lidl had lower cost groceries so I liked that I had that option.
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week?	$80
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	have a budget from the start and its okay to say no to people if you are in a tough spot/ suggest a different low cost hang out choice.

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?	Clubs Courses I took Friends/People
* What could be improved?	Course weightage More support with housing
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	Budgeting was something I struggled with. It was also the first time I cooked all meals of the day by myself but my flatmates helped me a lot.

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 Networker An active student leader, it was important for you to network abroad as well. Once overseas, you sought out student clubs, volunteered with local organizations, or attended community events. You encouraged your friends join you, and often considered how you could reflect your international experiences in a resume.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	Development Economics
Course Department:	Economics
Instructor:
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	It was an amazing course. There were no field trips and the teacher was very knowledgable. There were two teachers for the class with varying expertise so I appreciated all the perspectives. There was only one final exams and only 2 psets. I wish they tested us more throughout the semester rather than having one exam count for the entire grade.
Credit Transfer Issues:	None