Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Scotland- An amazing place to spend your summer and learn Past Review

By (B.S. Marketing, Trinity University) - abroad from 06/14/2014 to 08/09/2014 with

IFSA: Scotland - Study Abroad at the University of Stirling

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was great to learn about other cultures and see how they live. Anyone who has the opportunity should study abroad in a country they are interested in. No matter where you go it will be an amazing experience and a lot of fun

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.

Very fun summer program. Engaging but not overwhelming, which allowed for free time to fully immerse myself in the European culture

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The IFSA- Butler staff in Scotland was excellent. They gave us a good introduction to Scottish culture, helped us get settled at the University flats, and checked in several times over the summer to make sure everything was okay

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

My group and I went into town to make friends with locals, traveled the Scottish highlands, and saw many other cool places.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

I felt safe walking around all of the major cities at night and everyone was very friendly. Good to be with friends as drunk people out late at night can be rowdy

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)

Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Cook your own meals when possible but don't miss out on going out with friends!

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Having a flexible schedule that allowed for traveling
  • School sponsored field trips
* What could be improved?
  • Organization of classes before the program. My whole class was not aware of a book we were supposed to read before the session started so no one was able to. The information on classes felt like it was given right before the program started instead of a few weeks before.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? How accessible it is to travel by train around the U.K. it makes it very easy to see different parts of the country whenever you want

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.