Edinburgh is an amazing city, you won't be disappointed in going there! Past Review

By (Wellesley College) - abroad from 01/16/2017 to 05/16/2017 with

University of Edinburgh: Edinburgh - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Beyond gaining many new wonderful friends and experiences, one of the biggest things I gained through this program was confidence in my ability to live alone, integrate successfully into new situations and cultures, and make the most out of opportunities, all of which this program challenged me to do.

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.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Somewhat helpful, but with so many students, it was often hard to get a meeting or know what to do without having to go through lots of administrative processing first

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I did not stay in University housing, but rather in a private flat with other full-time students, so I likely had a different experience than most exchange and abroad students

* Food:

I bought and cooked my own food

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Direct enrollment is great, and I think I was able to integrate especially since I was living in a private flat

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

I always felt super safe in Edinburgh

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Through direct enrollment, you're able to better integrate into the student and city culture at Edinburgh, both of which are amazing. Scotland (and the U.K. in general) is an amazing place with tons of things to do both, both outdoors and culturally, and the University has hundreds of different clubs (called Societies) which allow you to make friends and stay busy within the University. I would do this program over again in an instant, and I wish I could have stayed longer.

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 U.K in general is not cheap, but it is possible to stay on a budget if you try

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
  • Americans
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International 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 friends I made and people I met
  • The city of Edinburgh itself, as well as Scotland and the U.K. more generally
  • The travel opportunities available in Europe
* What could be improved?
  • Helping students find private housing, instead of University housing
  • More support for helping students from different academic structures learn how the U.K system works
  • Help for students looking for jobs/ to work
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I had known to go for a year instead of a semester, and I wish I could have challenged myself to travel and explore Scotland and Europe sooner in my experience.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

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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.