Lasting Friends You'll Have Forever at the University of Leicester Past Review

By (Medical Laboratory Science, Illinois State University) for

University of Leicester: Leicester - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned how to use public transportation in any country. How to budget very well and book hotels/hostels. Be early for any train or plane. I learned that I am a homebody and I love the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA! Overall it was a great experience, and it will leave a lasting impression that I will never forget. Everyone should experience this once in their life. For me I wouldn't do it again, but I would never take back the experience.

Review Photos

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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.

Each course had fewer class periods than at ISU. There were only 1-3 assignments in each course including exams and papers. The grading scale was fair. They grade a little differently, but with the way the grading scale is set up it averages out. There is usually a lecture and a seminar for each course. The seminar is the class split up into smaller groups to discuss information from the lecture in more detail.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The study abroad advisers were nice even though I only spoke with them at the beginning of the term. Classes were fine. Lectures were about the same size as ISU. Some teachers were not very good at telling you what was required of you as an international student. I had to ask what course work I was required to do for my grade.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

We lived in a student village called Oadby, comprised of several big Victorian houses. I felt pretty safe in this area. The house was a block away from the dining center where we ate breakfast and dinner. We had to take a 25 min bus to campus. Buses come every 10 minutes in the student village at 3 different locations. We had to buy bedding and pillows, along with towels and any bowls, plates, and utensils we needed. My house was full of international students, all females. Mostly American and South Korean.

* Food:

If you pay for catered housing you eat at the hall in which you live. You are served only breakfast and dinner at designated times. Cafeteria is not open all day long. There are usually 3 choices for dinner, one being a vegetarian option. There will always be a potato of some sort, a vegetable and desert. For breakfast, there is a hot breakfast (eggs, ham, beans, potatoes) or cereal, toast, and fruit. Food is really blan! You will miss American food the most! You can buy your own food town the street at ASDA.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

We all went on a university sponsored trip to Amsterdam! That was fun. It went really well. Amsterdam itself was a little sketchy, but the trip was organized well. The university sets up themed nights every night of the week, and that stays consistent throughout the semester. They are a lot of fun!

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

The first day of orientation the campus police give a presentation. The advisers also talk about going to the doctor and getting prescriptions while you are there. I had no problem with safety or health. Some people got colds.

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? At the time spent at the university I spent about $100 a week on food, cabs, and going out. While traveling I spent about $700 a week including transportation, food, souvenirs, and place to sleep (hostel/hotel).
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? The group I went with did do an excessive amount of traveling. I spent about $8000 overall including passport and airfare on this study abroad experience. $3000 was spent on getting to England and the time spent there on everything including food, transportation, and fun. For the Spring semester there is a 5 week spring break and you have to prepare for either coming home, traveling, or staying at the university. A plane ticket home and back will be at most $1000. Traveling, as I did, cost me around $4000. And if you chose to stay at the university you have to move all of your stuff to a different location and pay about $175 a week.

Language

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? None
If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition?

Direct Enrollment/Exchange

* Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? Exchange

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

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  • Other
* Who did you live with?

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  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

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  • International Students

A Look Back

* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Become great friends with the other students from ISU, it really makes the biggest difference in your abroad experience. If you are trying to get your gen eds done this is the best program. Get all of your assignments done prior to traveling and everything will be great. Don't be embarrassed to be annoying to professors. They grade and assess things differently, and as an American student you need to know these things.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Italian Art and Architecture 1500-1700

Course Department: HA 2210
Instructor: Dr. Freinburg
Instruction Language: english
Comments: Unless you are a art history major this course will not make any sense to you at all!
Credit Transfer Issues: no