Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Lancaster is no London but it's still a blast! Past Review

By (Chemistry, Geosciences, Trinity University) - abroad from 08/12/2012 to 12/15/2012 with

Lancaster University: Lancaster - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned a lot about the UK and had the chance to make a lot of friends that I plan on visiting during future travels. The program also gave me a number of opportunities to explore the European continent which was awesome.

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.

The classes were engaging, and matched up quite well with the courses I would've taken had I been at Trinity.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The Townhouses were phenomenal. Really social environment made it easy to make new friends and meet tons of local UK students.

* Food:

This isn't England's strong suit...

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Very much so. The highlight of the Lancaster program was that they treated you as a regular Lancaster University student.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Instead of providing the Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI) health services, it makes a lot more sense for students studying in the UK to enroll in the National Health Services available for UK citizens and students studying at least 3 months. My friends who went through Arcadia used NHS instead of the CISI services, and they had much more positive health care experiences while abroad than I did.

* 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)

England is pretty expensive, but if you make a conscious effort to live frugally it's not too bad.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $125.00 or so
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Don't be tempted to eat out all the time and buy your own beer!

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 program completely integrates you as a member of the University: you live with local students, take classes with local students, and generally spend a semester seeing what university life in England is like
* What could be improved?
  • As I said before, I think the CISI health insurance should be waived for students studying in the UK and the program should push students to enroll in the UK's National Health Care system. It makes things a lot easier if you need to go to the doctor, as I had a hard time finding places that would accept my insurance and I had to pay private fees.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Lancaster is in the middle of no where! It's beautiful, but don't expect a big-city environment.

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.