Exercising My Independence Past Review

By (Cognitive and Linguistic Sciences, Wellesley College) - abroad from 01/12/2015 to 05/22/2015 with

University of Edinburgh: Edinburgh - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
The most worthwhile thing for me was the experience of living on my own in a city, in a flat rather than a dorm. That was a valuable lesson in independence, and I definitely think it was worthwhile. I also appreciated this program because it was so different from my home college. It was good to experience a different kind of university life.

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.

The wide variety of courses offered was great, especially coming from a small school with a small Linguistics department. The topics covered in my classes were very interesting. However, the format of the classes didn't really work for me. The emphasis on self study and the limited contact hours made it hard for me to stay motivated. If you're someone who likes a lot of structure and guidance in the classroom I wouldn't recommend Edinburgh for you. Also I think it's important to take into account the fact that for the vast majority of classes the grade is determined mostly by one paper and one final exam. In two out of three of my classes my final grade was 50% paper 50% exam, which was a bit daunting.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

I just did the direct exchange, so there wasn't really much administration at all. I didn't expect there to be, so it was fine for me, but after the first week or so of orientation you really don't get any kind of special help or treatment. You're just expected to absorb into the student body. Like I said, I expected this, and the amount of general resources on campus made it pretty easy.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I really liked where I was staying. I was in Fountainbridge, which was very ideally placed in the city. The flat was nice, we had a very functional kitchen and a tv as well as two bathrooms for 6 of us. The only drawback for me was having 5 roommates; that was a bit much for me to handle. Overall, good.

* Food:

I was in a self catered flat, so the university didn't actually provide me with any food. I really enjoyed cooking for myself, however, and there are Tesco Metro's and Sainsbury's Local's all over the city so shopping was very convenient. In terms of eating out, to be completely honest Edinburgh is not a fantastic city if you're a foodie. But if you're willing to explore a bit and you're into cooking for yourself I think it's quite nice.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Because Edinburgh is such a huge university town, I immediately felt accepted into the student culture there. The residents of the city are used to students coming from all over, so that wasn't difficult. However, if you're looking for a very authentic Scottish experience you probably won't find it here. The majority of students at the University are from outside of Scotland, and as the city is the capital it has a more cosmopolitan feel to it.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I went to the doctor once to address knee pain, and the fact that I didn't have to pay is enough for me to rate this 5 stars. I also heard good things from other people about getting dental work done.

* Safety:

I spent a huge amount of time walking around Edinburgh, often at night or in the early morning, and I never felt unsafe. The only issue I ever heard about with crime was bike theft, otherwise there were no problems.

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)

The UK is an expensive place to live for an American. The exchange rate is killer and very easy to forget about once you start thinking in pounds. Edinburgh is definitely cheaper than a place like London, though.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? I spent maybe $40-50 on food a week, not sure how much on other expenses. There wasn't much I needed to buy other than food because walking was so easy, and food was relatively cheap. If you go out a lot it can get expensive quickly, though.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? I completely failed to do this, but it would probably help to make a budget and plan your expenses. Also, I wish I had been more mindful of the exchange rate. Shop at Lidl, that's the cheapest grocery store. Farmfoods is also cheap and sells a lot of bulk and frozen food. Tesco is cheaper than Sainsbury's, Marks and Spencer's is the most expensive and fancy grocery store. Poundland and Poundsaver are also great for almost anything.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

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

  • 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?
  • Living on my own
  • The opportunity to travel
  • More time and control of my schedule
* What could be improved?
  • Support on the ground, especially for students coming Spring semester
  • More sense of community among exchange students
  • More of a cultural component, maybe a homestay
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Edinburgh is a great place to go if you want to travel during the semester because it's pretty easy to get a lot of places, but if you want cheap trips you need to plan ahead. I didn't get to go as many places as I wanted because I didn't plan well.

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 Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!