Past Review
By Samantha K (Sociology., Wellesley College) for
University of Edinburgh: Edinburgh - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I LOVED my experience. I had the perfect combination of an urban co-ed environment in a wonderful city, with great classes that I wouldn't otherwise have been able to take at Wellesley. I lived with great girls and made wonderful friends all over the globe. I have an affinity for Scotland and hope to go back for graduate studies--and if not, to visit frequently. I had never been overseas before and I have learned so much from living on my own in another country and traveling the world by myself. It's been fantastic and I wish I could do it again!
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
All lecturers and tutors I had were wonderful. It was a bit difficult to get used to the difference in evaluation as well as grading system--as mentioned above. It was refreshing to have different teaching styles: large lectures with small tutorials, versus Wellesley's intimate class setting. In general, I had a wonderful academic experience and was able to take courses I wouldn't have been able to take at Wellesley. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Our student flat had a manager and RAs that dealt with any living problems. These mostly consisted of fixing broken appliances or flat-related things. Aside from that we did not deal with them. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived in self-catered student housing (with a kitchen, 4 singles, a shower and sink room, and a toilet and sink room). It was not the nicest I've seen but it became home. My building was called Sciennes 2 and it was in a great location. <br /><br /> There were some flaws with the flat, such as a hole in my wall, but it was great and I lived with great girls. |
| * Food: |
I cooked great food for myself and I really loved some of the restaurants in the area. There were 3 close major supermarkets and smaller newsagents around the area too. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I was very active in a couple of societies (clubs), which allowed me to have separate groups of friends. I was also very close with my flatmates and we went out together a lot too. Generally, everyone was really friendly and easy to get along with. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
|
| * Safety: |
I felt very safe in Edinburgh (even walking through the park at night--which I don't recommend). The areas that students live in a generally nice. I would just recommend using common sense and have city smarts. The health service was pretty good but it is a big university and doesn't have as personal care as I was used to. |
| 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) |
|
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | I spent maybe £80 on groceries each week, then in addition to that whatever I spent on going out for drinks and dinners. When I first arrived I spent more on household items like towels, hangars, and kitchen things. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Weekend traveling became expensive as well as drinking and going out. |
Language
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Direct Enrollment |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I absolutely LOVED my experience and hope to go back for graduate school! |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Scottish Studies 1A: Conceptualising Scotland |
| Course Department: | Scottish Ethnology; School of Literatures, Languages, and Cultures |
| Instructor: | Dr. Gary West |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | This course provided a complete overview of Scotland's politics, history, Celtic holidays while aiming to "deconstruct competing images of the nation." The main lecturer, Gary West, was fantastic! We had various lectures by other experts in their fields who were also good. Garr, in fact, is a professional bagpiper and has his own radio show. After this course I came to really understand the nation I had been living in the cultural attitudes of the natives. It was wonderful! |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | No, but don't wait till the last minute to do your essay! |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Visualising Scotland |
| Course Department: | Scottish Ethnology; School of Literatures, Languages, and Cultures |
| Instructor: | Dr. Neill Martin |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | As a Cinema and Media Studies minor, this course provided a fantastic overview of Scottish culture and history through the nation's visual art. The course covered paintings, postcards, photography, and film in the context of Scotland's history. The aim was to see how the nation represented itself to itself, versus how it represented itself to others (stereotypes, etc.). The Lecture, Neill, was amazing and shared his expertise with a great sense of humor and sarcastic wit. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
