Sunderland: If you can afford any other program, I recommend you avoid it Past Review
By Taylor P (English Studies, Illinois State University) for
University of Sunderland: Sunderland - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I definitely do not regret the choice to study abroad, just the choice of program. Getting to live in a different country for a semester was fantastic.
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. |
My workload for the term consisted entirely of 5 papers. Students' grades were in no way tied to their doing the assigned reading, so almost none did any of it. Teachers spent most of class time having students do in class the reading that they were supposed to have done before class. One professor would spend the better part of every 3 hour class period reading portions of the assigned material TO us. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Despite written advertisements about accessibility and being there to help, administration/staff seemed openly resentful of any questions or problems that were brought to them. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
A stove, microwave, toaster, refrigerator and electric teakettle were provided in Clanny house, everything else must be provided by the student. There are no options for a rental program and a lack of opportunities for buying things second-hand, so most students from America purchase cookware/dishes/utensils/everything else new, and dispose of it at the end of the semester. |
| * Food: |
I ended up mostly cooking for myself because most culinary offerings in this area are sub-par. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I had many memorable trips during my term, but none arranged by my program. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
|
| * Safety: |
I had no health problems. |
| 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) |
|
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | If students want to participate in any University clubs it is very expensive to join. |
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? | Exchange |
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 did you like most about the program? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
