Exchange Experiences
International Office
York – University of York
2013-2014
Report 1
preparation
exchange/placement application process
The exchange/placement application process took mainly a long time. It was not hard to
fill in all the forms. The arrangements of the guest university took after placement also a
long time. Giving the information only twee weeks before departure.
counselling/support at home university
The contact with the international office at home was always good and quick. They were
there to support me and to help me when I needed it.
academic preparation
I had expected a high level of study, because England has this prestige level around it.
However the academic level was disappointing. Only one teacher made it word my time.
An academic preparation was not needed at all.
language preparation
I was afraid that I would have problems with the language level in England. This was not
at all true and people keep repeating that my level is very high and above expectation. It
would be nice that they said that too back in the Netherlands. A preparation was not
needed, at home they let me feel like it was.
finances
Everything was so much more expensive as expected. England has higher prices in
almost all of the products compared to home. Furthermore the rent was unbelievable
high.
study/placement abroad period
study programme/work plan (concerning content and organisational issues)
The study programme was far below expectations. I had to attend second year courses as
a fourth year student and only by persuation I did not have to do any first year courses.
There was a big difference in the level of both courses, but I think that the one course I
did appreciate was mainly good because of its teacher. The work plan did not work at all.
No work was done in the first term. In the second term however we had to do a massive
groupproject and an extremely hard exam. There was no balance between these periods.
academic quality of education/placement activities
The education level was below expectations.
counselling/support at host institution/organisation
They were very friendly, but did mostly not know how to handle your requests. They just
seemed not to be informed themselves.
transfer of credits
Or people here do think that my work is really good, or the grading criteria are in my
advantages.
student life
welcome/orientation programme
Exchange Experiences
International Office
York – University of York
The information about a possible information day was given very late. However it did give
all the information needed.
accommodation
The accommodation was sufficient, however much to expensive for what you got. This is
mainly because of the cleaning service which are included - but they are certainly not
sufficient, so not worth the money. Strong recommendation to not live on campus
because of the high expenses. The housing system does not work as at home, so the
chances to get a house off campus are really high and would mostly be more
recommendable as living on campus, which can be very boring.
leisure/culture
Amazing. Did not have any problems at all with the people here. Their mentality is
sometimes strange; extremely friendly and helpful except when you need it. Did have a
great time.
suggestions/tips
conclusions
would you recommend this host organisation/destination to others? please explain
Yes, but for the experience and not for the academic level! I had an amazing time
because of the people, the country and the possibilites to travel.
do you have any additional advice or comments?
Inform visiting students about the difference in getting accommodation in York. It is very
easy to get a cheap accommodation in a student house in town and this is much cheaper
as living on campus. You have to be very lucky to find a nice home at campus, which is
mostly to expensive for what you get.
Report 2
preparation
exchange/placement application process
The application process seems very complex at first, which can be scary, but it is not too
bad in the end. Make sure you start in time, especially in collecting signatures from you
host institution for this might take some time.
counselling/support at home university
Th University Utrecht organised an information meeting during which the expierence of
going abroad and studying in a different country were broadly oultined. Personally I found
this very usefull and for more personal questions related to my exchange I mostly called
the international office. This was easier than stepping by the desk at the Studiepunt,
since it is only open for a few hours a week.
academic preparation
Other than preparign myself for studying in another language, I did not prepare myself in
an academic way. In choosing my modules/subject at my host instution I chose to study
two subjects which were closely related to the knowledge I laready required during my
studies in Utrecht. I figured that in this way it would be easier to adapt.
language preparation
Exchange Experiences
International Office
York – University of York
Since studying abroad often means that you will be speaking, writing and reading
everything in English I decided to get in touch with my English teacher from high school.
She helped me in preparing my writing skills by reading some of my Dutch essays which I
had translated into English. For me this was one the biggest anxieties in academic aspect
of my exchange.
finances
To finance my stay in England I saved up some money myself, but my parents helped me
a lot. England is a very expensive country and I decided that this half year was also about
seeing some of the surroundings in York and having fun. Fortunately I could apply for a
Erasmus grant an I could get a refund from DUO for not using my public
transportationcard for six months.
study/placement abroad period
study programme/work plan (concerning content and organisational issues)
During my Erasmus exchange I followed to second year modules of my own choice.
Before my arrival I had to inform the university about my four preferences out of all the
available modules in history. I was lucky and got both my first and second choice, both of
them where taught for two times 10 weeks).
academic quality of education/placement activities
My two modules were called exploration modules, set up by the department to give
second year history students the opportunity to work with primary source material.
Therefore, each module was set up by a two hours seminar each week. The seminar
contained approximately 20 students and was, in my experience, quite similar to the ones
at University Utrecht. For each seminar we had to read +/- 100 pages and in the
seminars everyone was expected to have an active role and a formed opinion. My
knowledge was assessed by one essay at the end of the first term (so after 10 weeks of
seminars), one essay on a primary source of my own choice halfway through the second
term, and a 24 hour closed exam at the end of week 6 of the second term.
counselling/support at host institution/organisation
During my stay I have had one group meeting and two individual meetings with my
academic supervisor. Since I had no big troubles concerning my academic skills, there
was never much to talk about. My two lecturers for my seminar were very helpful if I had
any questions and also the staff from the Centre of Global Programs (The International
Office) were always there if I had any questions.
transfer of credits
Since I’m still abroad whilst writing this report, my grades have not yet been approved by
the University Utrecht and my credits have not yet been transferred.
student life
welcome/orientation programme
In the first week of my stay, the University of York hosted a meeting with all the new
visiting students to introduce to us the main societies for international students,
administration queries and other general information about the University of other
general information about the University of York.There was a tour of the library, which is
gigantic, aswel. Besides this formal meeting, there was not much organised for new
students by the University, this might be caused by the fact that I arrived in the second
semester, so in the middle of the year.
accommodation
The University guaranteed students who applied before a certain deadline, the availability
Exchange Experiences
International Office
York – University of York
of accommodation on campus. However, due to construction and demolishing projects
during my stay, there was a shortage of rooms available on campus and I was asked,
only a month before my arrival (a few days before the Christmas break would start) to
find something in the private sector by myself. Fortunately, I was able to apply really
early after they had opened the applications for accommodation on campus and became
one of the lucky few to have a room there. On the downside, they only had a catered
room available (including breakfasts and dinner during the week) and so the rent was
extremely high (£630 a month).
leisure/culture
The International Student Association (ISA) organised several daytrips to sites and
towns in the area. I joined them on an overnight trip to the Lake District. Although the
trip was very nice the organisation was very bad (I have heard the same thing about
other trips organised by them); we stayed in a hostel in the middle of nowhere and
there were no arrangements made for dinner. We ended up calling cabs ourselves to
get to the nearest town.
The Erasmus society however was a lot better organised, one trip to Dublin, a pub
night every Tuesday and several parties, movie nights and other activities.
York itself is an amazing city, quite little and close to campus. There is an overwhelming
offer of nightlife (a pub for every day of the year and several big clubs with students
deals), but during the day it is a real English medieval town with the biggest medieval
Cathedral above the Alps and most of the city walls still intact.
suggestions/tips
The University of York has a lot of societies you can join during your stay (several sports,
drama, music, but also a Skydive society and a Pokémonsoc…). It might be worth it to
look into the list of YUSU (York Universiry Student’s Union), to save you some time
decided whether you want to join any of them, also to prevent you from discovering them
too late.
conclusions
would you recommend this host organisation/destination to others? please explain
I would definitely recommend the University of York to other students for their Erasmus
exchange. The University is welcoming to international and visiting students, the staff is
very helpful and lecturers have a lot of time available for individual students, if you have
any problems or concerns during your academic activities. Furthermore, York is a great
city and its inhabitants are very polite and friendly. It is also one of the safest cities in the
UK.
do you have any additional advice or comments?
If you choose not to live on campus (it’s cheaper to find something in the private
sector), contact the Erasmus society. They can help you find a room, as there are
(almost) always English students looking for (international) students to be in their
room during their own exchange.
Exchange Experiences
York – University of York
International Office
2012-2013
Report 1
preparation
exchange/placement application process
I wanted to go on exchange since I was fifteen, so I kept a close eye on information
meetings etc. I went to my first information meeting in first year, organised by the English
department. They told us about Erasmus and Harting. At the beginning of second year I
went to two study abroad presentations, one from Humanties and one general
presentation. There were some students who already went abroad to share their
experiences, and a clear outline was given to us about the application process. At first this
was quite overwhelming, but I managed to do everything on time. Once my request was
approved by the international office, the application at York began, which went a lot less
smooth. Their contact person from the admissions office was on holiday most of the time I
needed her, and their application system was taken offline for maintencance right before
the deadline. I finished my application long before the deadline, but I kept getting error
messages when I wanted to submit it. They were a bit unhelpful with this, but once their
system was back online these problems were solved and I submitted my application. they
did extend the deadline for all applicants, so I was on time. The accommodation services
were also quite late: I got a room early in december, and I left in Januari. They assured
me that there were enough rooms for all applicants, so I wasn't too worried abouth that.
counselling/support at home university
The study abroad office and studiepunt were there for me to answer questions, and they
were usually quick and helpful.Other than that, I did not receive much councelling.
academic preparation
I did not do any academic preparation.
language preparation
I study English, so I did not need to take a test or do some extra courses. For the
application at York I needed a language certificate, stating that I had the requiered level
of english, which I got from the Erasmus coordinator from my department.
finances
I applied for an Erasmus grant, an "uitwonende beurs" and "OV vergoeding". I also saved
some money, and my parents contributed as well. The UK is quite expensive,
unfortunately, so I rely on my own and my parents' contribution.
study/placement abroad period
study programme/work plan (concerning content and organisational issues)
It was difficult to find information about the modules that York offered, about their
content and even when they were taught. When I applied for studying abroad (in my
second year), I had no choice but to randomly choose some modules. When I officially
applied at York, they sent me a list of modules, but still no description of the content. I
asked for it, but they could not sent me this. I basically chose my modules because of
their name. I went for "High Medieval Literature" and "Medieval Romance and Popular
Fiction" during the spring term (3rd year modules), and "Joyce's Ulysses"and "the Bible
and Literature" during the summer term (2nd year modules). I was told by Anita Auer that
York has a good medieval department, which I'm quiet interested in. I chose the summer
term modules because I wanted to take a module on the Bible, but I couldn’t fit it in in
Utrecht, and I chose Ulysses because I found the idea of a whole module devoted to one
Exchange Experiences
York – University of York
International Office
book quite interesting, and Ulysses is a book I would never read for fun.
academic quality of education/placement activities
I found the standard of teaching and support in York very good. Teachers were incredibly
knowledgable in their field, and they had regular office hours. They encouraged us to
come round to their office hours to discuss essay topics and to give you feedback. During
the seminars the students did most of the talking, and teacher only helped us to go in the
right direction. They asked questions and they encouraged us to some up with our own
ideas. The seminars were really intense (two hours, no breaks). The lectures in
preparation of the seminars were short and formal, which is different from what I'm used
to in Utrecht. The seminars in Utrecht are less interactive: the teacher still does a lot of
talking. There were also many public lectures on campus for students to attend. I had to
do more preparation for the lectures and seminars as well, which was an adjustment, but
I managed pretty well. Students in York take studying more serious than students in the
Netherlands. The content of the modules was also really challenging in a good way: I had
to do a lot more reading than in Utrecht, and more secondary reading as well. This really
helped me to learn about different perspectives on the topic.
counselling/support at host institution/organisation
There is definitely more counselling and guidance from teacher and staff in York, and they
advertise this more. Teachers have regular office hours, and these are clearly displayed.
teachers in York tend to keep a closer eye on their students than in Utrecht. There are
essay feedback sessions, and most students discuss their essay topic with the teacher
beforehand. There are many people who can help you with problems: there is a welfare
office, a student union, the English departmental office and a study abroad office. There
are language courses, but also courses to help improve your academic skills, like essay
writing, presenting or even your maths skills.
transfer of credits
York has a different system of credits, but when you divide them by half you get ECTS.
All the modules I have taken are approved y the examencommisie. In total I will get 30
ECTS here in York.
student life
welcome/orientation programme
I arrived in in York in January, and there wasn't a big introduction week like there was in
October. For us, there was an information meeting, a lunch and an information market on
the first day of term. The meeting consisted of several talks, from the study abroad office
to the Erasmus society, and we were given advice and information about the university
and city, health and safety measures etc. This was very useful, but it did not give us
much opportunity to get to know each other, there were no bonding activities other than
the lunch break. A larger introduction, for instance two days instead of one, would have
been more fun.
accommodation
Student accommodation at York Uni is divided into several colleges on campus. I lived on
campus, in Halifax college. Halifax is 5 minutes from the main campus, which some
people see as a disadvantage, but it is not completely cut off from all the action. I shared
a house with 9 other housemates, and we shared the bathroom and the kitchen. My
housemates were all lovely people, and it is great to share a house with both foreign
students and British students. The rooms in Halifax were recently refurbished and of a
decent size (I could fit a double airbed on the floor), and the college was generally a quiet
and friendly place. However, the room was very expensive. Most students move to
cheaper, off-campus accomodation (privately owned) after their first year. I had a great
Exchange Experiences
York – University of York
International Office
time living on a campus: It makes you feel part of the university, and I felt really at
home. In Utrecht we don't really have a campus community like this, so it is great to
have experiences something like this. The campus is like a village, with its own shops,
bars and restaurants, a student cinema and a sports village. Everything you need is
within grabs!
leisure/culture
There is a lot to do in York, both on the campus and in the city. All the colleges have their
own events, open to everyone, from parties to movie nights, pub quizzes and theatre and
music . there are also several societies you can join. I joined the knitting society, but
there are also sports societies, acting societies, societies from your degree (for instance,
the history society), an outdoor society and many more. For everyone there is something
to their liking. For Erasmus students, there is the Erasmus society, which is where I met
most of my friends. They organise food nights, films, quizzes, city and hiking trips and
weekly pub nights. There are also many public lectures you can go to, to learn more
about your area of study. York is a lovely, medieval city, with a small city centre. The city
is not small, but it is not very large either, which I think adds to its charm. Everything is
withing walking distance, but there is a lot to see and do. York is packed with history,
which is great for people with an interest in medieval studies. Many museums are free or
offer a student discount, and most of the tickets you buy are valid for a year, so you can
return whenever you like. Apart from all the high street shops you can find many qaint
little shops and cafés. There is always something going on at Parliament Square: there
was a viking festival once, a food festival, markets with local products and concerts.
There are also some great cities, museums, national parks and stately homes in the area
around York. Leeds is great for shopping, and Harrogate and Knaresborogh are beautiful
spa towns. The Yorkshire Dales and Moors are only an hour away, and make for a great
hiking trip (stunning landscapes!), and the sea is quite close as well. There is a good
railway connection from York, so manchester, liverpool, London and even Edinburgh are
only a two hour train ride away. You can do something in York everyday!
suggestions/tips
Buy a rail card to get 1/3 off on train ticktes, and get a Yorkcard (available at the library).
This gives you free entry in some of York's museums.
Though some museums may appear a bit pricy, most of the tickets are valid for a year,
so you can return any time. I didn't really like the Jorvik viking experience, but I highly
recommend the Railway Museum (free) and the Castle Museum. York has many little
shops, and is great for people who like to knit, embroider, sew or do any kind of craft.
I really recommend joining a society at the university. It is an easy way to engage with
university life and to make new friends. At the Erasmus Society there were usually
foreign people, and at the knitting society I got to meet some British people and learn
some new skills.
The UK can be quite expensive: I bought a bicycle at a second hand sale on campus,
which saves on bus fares and I can cycle to Aldi (there's no regular bus service to Aldi).
But my main recommendation is to throw yourself into your new environment: don't sit in
your room, and go to all the events and parties, even if you don't feel like it.
conclusions
would you recommend this host organisation/destination to others? please explain
I would definitely recommend York to others. The quality of the teaching is really good. It
is different than what I'm used to in Utrecht, but it is not so different that it is impossible
to adjust. The students and teachers are friendly and open to new students, and the staff
is very helpful. I learned a new way of approaching my field of studies, and I learned
many new skills. York is a beautiful city. There is something to do every day, and it offers
Exchange Experiences
York – University of York
International Office
a variety of entertainment. The campus is great, close to the city centre, and lively.
do you have any additional advice or comments?
Report 2
preparation
exchange/placement application process
As part of my master program, I was searching for an university abroad that offered
education concerning Medieval Studies. Since there are not a lot of universities with a
faculty specialised in Medieval Studies and I wanted to go to an English-speaking
university, my attention was drawn to York. York University has a notable Centre for
Medieval Studies, and since it is an British university, I decided to try to get admitted. The
application process went pretty smootly, as long as I focused on all the deadlines. The only
deadline that was a bit hard to meet was the very first one, concerning application in
Osiris. It is important to make sure you have all the correct forms with the right signatures
updated before this deadline!
Once University of Utrecht had informed me that I could go to York, the application
process at York University started. Since everything is digitalized nowadays, this did not
cause a lot of problems. Again, it was very important to keep in mind all the different
deadlines, since York University also needed specific information at certain times in order
to complete my application. But since I applied as an Erasmus exchange student, this
process did not cause any problems at all.
counselling/support at home university
The International Office really helped me out a couple of times, when I had questions
concerning important forms and the proper signatures. There are some forms that need
to be signed and uploaded in Osiris before departure, and this all went well because of
the excellent support given by the International Office (through email).
academic preparation
Since the master program Medieval Studies is a two year research program, I had had
enough academic preparation and experience to be able to complete the courses I was
attenting in York to my satisfaction. My historical and interdisciplinary knowledge were
absolutely sufficient. I did not make any extra preparations before I went to York, since I
already finished a complete study year Medieval Studies.
language preparation
The master program I am following is English, so I was used to speaking English and
English education. I was still pretty nervous going to a British university, since being
educated by an native English speaker is something completely different from education
given by a Dutch teacher who is talking English. However, as it turned out, I did not have
much trouble speaking English (since that was my main concern). Staying in England is a
great opportunity to improve your English. I did not prepare myself in a specific or extra
way concerning language.
finances
Since my husband has a fulltime job, I did not worry about money. England is quite
expensive though, so I was very happy with the money I received from Erasmus. Without
this money it would have been a bit of a struggle to get by.
study/placement abroad period
Exchange Experiences
York – University of York
International Office
study programme/work plan (concerning content and organisational issues)
Unfortunately, the courses that I had an eye for and that persuaded me to enrol for York
were not given during the Autumn semester. The sources that I had to chose out of were
very interesting, however. I eventually picked two courses that came closest to my main
field of interest.
academic quality of education/placement activities
The quality of education was good. One of the courses I attented was a bit less
challenging, since it was not my discipline (Archaeology), but it was very nice and
informative. The teachers were very skilled and the seminars were well-organised and
clear. I learned a lot and it was a great experience to receive education at an
international university.
counselling/support at host institution/organisation
The Centre for Medieval Studies was well-organised and the staff helped me with all my
questions. There were some Erasmus forms that needed signatures and stamps and they
took care of it for me. Everything (student number, account, etc) was taken care of
before my arrival and I was treated like one of the other new postgraduates that would
stay for the whole year.
transfer of credits
I cannot tell anything about this yet, since I did not receive any grades yet. That might
be one of the only flaws in the system of York University: the time it takes them to get
essays graded. I've handed in my essays during the first week of January, but I still have
not heard anything and it might still take some time before I get informed about my
grades.
student life
welcome/orientation programme
Exchange students were treated like all the other (new) international students. There was
a special welcome/orientation program for international students, during which we were
informed everything we needed to know about York University, York, English culture, etc.
Next to this program, there was a orientation program for new postgraduates, during
which staff told us everything we needed to know about the master programs,
procedures, grades, etc.
accommodation
I arranged my own accomodation via acquaintances. I did not live on campus, which
sometimes was a shame, but which gave me the opportunity to see more of England and
meet people besides other students. Furthermore, it helped me to avoid being infected
with the 'freshers flu'.
leisure/culture
This was one of the nicest aspects of my stay in York. Yorkshire is amazingly beautiful
and since we had a car, we could explore the country during weekends. Furthermore,
York is a beautiful and old city, which never gets boring. Walking through the city on my
way to King's Manor (Centre for Medieval Studies) was amazing and I enjoyed every
minute being in town.
suggestions/tips
Go and explore the city and surrounding countyside! That is the ultimate way to get to
know the native people and culture.
conclusions
Exchange Experiences
York – University of York
International Office
would you recommend this host organisation/destination to others? please explain
I would definitely recommend York University to other students. It was an amazing
experience. Yorkshire people are the nicest people, York University got it all figured out
and focuses very much on student life etc. And, York is a great city to live in or close to
for a couple of months. Lots to explore and lots to learn!
do you have any additional advice or comments?
Report 3
preparation
exchange/placement application process
I started my application process in autumn 2011. The reason for choosing York was
because a study abroad position in the United Kingdom related very well to my future
career plans. I liked the specialization in countries as China and India the University of
York has.
counselling/support at home university
The university of Utrecht was really supportive for my exchange. I was able to contact
them as much as I wanted. I also had some meetings with some people to approve my
plans to go abroad. I had to make sure I had a financial plan, study plan and motivation
letter why I wanted to study in York for one term.
academic preparation
Since September 2010 I have been studying History at the department Humanities of the
University of Utrecht. I was able to study in York because I already studied history for
two years at the University in Utrecht.
language preparation
I have taken a language course in my home country. The International Baccalaureate
(IB). This is an international educational foundation. Furthermore I joined a 4 day
language course at the York University.
finances
Before I left the Netherlands I made a financial plan to make sure that I had enough
money during my stay in England. My parents supported me during my stay, I used
some saved money to spend in York and the Erasmus scholarship was given to me.
study/placement abroad period
study programme/work plan (concerning content and organisational issues)
I followed two courses during my stay abroad. The first course was about the
Decolonisation after 1945 given by Dr. Emily Manktelow. Thus course focused on the end
of the British, French, Dutch, Belgian, and Portuguese empires but situates decolonization
within the longer-term context of late colonial rule, changing European attitudes and
colonial policies, and the rise of nationalism. Its emphasis was on political issues in the
lectures and discussion groups. The 20-credit module consisted of 16-weekly lectures. I
had to write one procedural essay of 2000 words and in the end the final essay of 2000
words.
The second course was called ‘The Roots of Modernity in England’ between 1885 and
1713. It was about how one juggles the relationship between continuity and change
within this period. The most consistent focus in this module was on political
Exchange Experiences
York – University of York
International Office
developments. It was also a 20 credit module consists of 16 weekly lectures and eight
one hour discussion groups. Students had to write a procedural essay of 2000 words and
a final essay of another 2000 words.
academic quality of education/placement activities
During these two courses I learned how to write essays. My essay skills are really
improved after this term in York. The teachers gave a lot of feed back during the first
procedural essays.
counselling/support at host institution/organisation
As I mentioned above the teachers were really motivating and supporting during the
essay writing. They were able to explain me what they expected from me as a student at
the York University. Furthermore I learned how to join a discussion during the seminars.
transfer of credits
Both courses were 20 credits each.
student life
welcome/orientation programme
Before the courses started at the University in York they organised a ‘fresher’s week’ in
week 0. The University organised a week full of activities. Tours around the campus and
leisure activities were introduced for the first years students and the international
students.
accommodation
During my stay at the University in York I stayed at the campus, the so-called ‘Halifax
college’. I shared my accommodation with 9 other people.
leisure/culture
Beside my study I also played hockey during my stay. I played in the University ladies
team. This was for me a great opportunity to get to know other people. I was the only
international in the hockey team so I really got the know the ‘English culture’ well.
suggestions/tips
As an international student I think it is very important to get in contact with native
speakers. A lot of events are organised for international students but often you only get
to know international students. Therefore I will recommend to everybody to gain a
society. Like I did with the hockey.
conclusions
would you recommend this host organisation/destination to others? please explain
The University of York appealed me because it is one of the best universities of the United
Kingdom where the level of education is outstanding. York is one of the most beautiful
medieval cities in England. I could recommend this University to every international
student who wants to study in England.
do you have any additional advice or comments?
No
Report 4
preparation
exchange/placement application process
Exchange Experiences
York – University of York
International Office
The preparation for going abroad was at times quite hectic. First, it is tense
applying for a certain university given the fact that it is not guaranteed one is
actually placed there. When all that was final, the rest of the preparations were
not that much. It must be noted, that it proved that the advice to start early was
valid. Ultimately, it isn't actually that stressful, but simly because so much seems
at stake it takes a toll on you.
One major headache, however, was finding a place to live. The host institution
didn't guarantee a residence given the fact that I'm a postgraduate student. In
the end, I did get a residence on the campus. However, the period in which I was
looking for a residence in the public sector was very stressful because most
places were rented for an one-year minimum. The University is aware of this
problem and is working on it, I was assured.
counselling/support at home university
This was fine. We got a general introduction to problems many people encounter.
Further, if one has a question one can simply email the depertmant and they will
answer in a sufficient amount of time.
academic preparation
I wrote my Master Thesis abroad, so my academic preparation was simply finding
a supervisor and doing prep work for my research. This is part of my programme
and didn't pose any problems.
language preparation
The language of my Master is already English. Therefore, I was not required to
undertake extra preparation for this.
finances
I requested an Erasmus grant which I got and I saved beforehand. This was
sufficient.
study/placement abroad period
study programme/work plan (concerning content and organisational issues)
I wrote my MA Thesis under supervision of one of the employees of the host
institution and this worked out fine. I met with her once a week (sometimes once
in two weeks) to discuss my progress.
academic quality of education/placement activities
The academic quality at York is outstanding. Especially my supervisor proved to
be one of the most gifted scholars I have ever had the opportunity to work with.
The other scholars were also very well qualified and very professional and
talented in their conduct.
counselling/support at host institution/organisation
Outstanding. Especially the Department of Medieval Studies is very accomodating
and will help students with anything.
transfer of credits
This was not necessary because I conducted research.
student life
welcome/orientation programme
Exchange Experiences
York – University of York
International Office
Two weeks before term started, there was a whole welcome week for the
international students which was great. During this week I've met the people with
whom I would have the most social contact during my stay. In the second week
the department of Medieval Studies had an orientation programme of their own
through which the new students could get to know each other. Both were very
well organised and were very welcome additions to my study abroad.
accommodation
Accomodation was on campus, an ensuite room. All this was fine, though a bit
expensive. The University was very professional in cleaning the dormitories and
kitchens.
leisure/culture
On the University Campus many different activities were organized for the
students, which were often cheap and fun. In the city itself there were plenty of
opportunities to to partake in cultural events, or go out at night. York has a very
rich history which can be experienced through several well organised musea or
activities.
suggestions/tips
For postgraduate students it might be worthwile to look into the accomodation
problem.
conclusions
would you recommend this host organisation/destination to others? please
explain
Yes! York is a great city and the University is very professional and has a high
academic standard. It's a great place to be.
do you have any additional advice or comments?