Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Humanizing, Expansive, Expanding, Rich September 17, 2026

By (Brandeis University) - abroad from 07/12/2026 to 08/08/2026 with

SUNY Purchase: Role of the Artist in Peacebuilding in Northern Ireland

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
This trip has given me a better idea of what I care about and what I want to do career-wise. Getting to meet the artists that we have and hearing their stories, along with those of random people on the street and in bars, seeing how their art is such a valuable lens to look at issues that are otherwise invisible, has made me feel more convicted in pursuing a career that is more social-justice oriented. Seeing how Marta’s research and filmmaking highlighted gentrification in areas where I had walked many times and simply admired the graffiti, and seeing Jim Donaghy’s compilation of protest music be a great marker of public sentiment over the course of The Troubles and which issues were at the forefront of Northern Irish public consciousness at different points and examining why that was, was so insightful and added a dimension to my understanding and experience of Belfast that I wouldn’t have otherwise gotten.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

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

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? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Hostel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
* 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?
  • the artists we got to talk to
  • how well curated the places we got to visit were and how they were timed/selected to fit what we were talking about in class
  • final showcase
* What could be improved?
  • the first month was packed with material while the last couple of weeks were more free so we had time to do our final projects; i wish the material was spaced out a little more and that we started our final projects a little earlier
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I packed cooler clothes

Reasons For Studying Abroad

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The Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.