Mediocre Leicester Past Review

By (Early Childhood Edcation, Illinois State University) - abroad from 09/28/2013 to 12/13/2013 with

University of Leicester: Leicester - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I am glad that I got to experience Leicester, but I would not chose this school again. It was very far from London and if you wanted to travel to any other country, you had to fly. I wish I would have chosen somewhere in mainland Europe.

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.

The individual teachers were very involved and willing to help with any needs i had. However, the school itself was extremely disorganized and rarely met the deadlines that they put forth.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Very unorganized. I rarely saw them. I got all of my answers from other students who were in the program or studying there.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Very small and not clean when I first arrived. The hall was messy and not well taken care of.

* Food:

The food was good. I am a vegetarian and they always had a meal for me. They even had gluten free and vegan meals.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The majority of Leicester's residents were Indian so we were able to get a feel for that culture as well. We even went into town to celebrate Diwali, the Indian new year and had delicious Indian food.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

There was a clinic that was near by that was very easily accessible. The only issue was that it was very expensive. One of our roommates got pink eye and it cost her nearly $100 for medication.

* Safety:

I always felt safe in Leicester. The dorms are tucked away on a small street and the bus drops you off right in front of them so you never have to walk far at night.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

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)

It was very easy. If you were a catered student, you were allowed 2 meals a day so all I had to buy was a snack everyday and there was a cheap grocery store 5 minutes from my dorm that sold things in bulk.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $70
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Open up a bank account when you get to your host country. That way when you take money out of the ATM they won't charge you any outrages foreign exchange rates.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • N/A
* 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?
  • London
  • Traveling club that I joined (ISA)
  • Playing on the tennis team
* What could be improved?
  • organization
  • communication
  • residential life
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I would have focused more on traveling and a little less on school.

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.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Environment and Development

Course Department: Geography
Instructor: Margaret Byron
Instruction Language: English
Comments: The course was very chalenging but full of extremely interesting and insightful information. Margaret was tough at first but then really got to know her students and we got along great.
Credit Transfer Issues: No.