UQ Program: Bachelor of Arts
The year I spent in Edinburgh was far and away the best year of my life to date. Any concerns I had about leaving home for the first time were completely unfounded. During my year in Edinburgh I made so many good friends and did so many things I would not have otherwise had the opportunity to do.
Academically, the University of Edinburgh did differ slightly from UQ. As a third year arts student studying history and philosophy, I took three courses each semester, each with only a two hour seminar each week. There were fewer contact hours and fewer pieces of assessment, with much more emphasis on exams. Essays were longer than what I was used to and, due to the very few pieces of assessment, a higher standard was expected. I think it probably worked out to be roughly the same amount of work I did at UQ, but in more concentrated periods.
The city of Edinburgh is an excellent place to live. The university buildings are strewn throughout the city, rather than located on a separate campus in the way that UQ is. The city is the most picturesque place imaginable. It’s small enough to be able to walk everywhere, yet big enough to have everything you would expect a city to contain. I found myself living at the foot of an extinct volcano, around the corner from a palace and a ten minute walk from a castle. The novelty of living in such a beautiful city never wore off.
I would encourage everybody to take advantage of the opportunity offered by UQ Abroad. I had such an overwhelmingly positive experience, and I would love for others to have that as well. I would also encourage anybody studying abroad to get involved with a society or sports club that takes their fancy. Inevitably, the people you meet play a huge role in how enjoyable a year you have, and clubs and societies are excellent places to meet people with similar interests to yourself. Living and studying in Edinburgh was nothing but a pleasurable, exciting, stimulating and dare I say it, life changing experience.