Field of study in Wageningen: Bachelor International Development Studies
Study period exchange: 08/01/2024 – 07/06/2024
Country (exchange): United Kingdom
City (exchange): Leicester
University (exchange): University Leicester
Faculty (exchange): Sociology/Criminology
2. Motivation for exchange
Why did you choose to go on study exchange?
For the experience of living abroad and experiencing the independence of living abroad/ alone and building a totally new small life there.
What is the reason you chose for this country?
Like that they speak English so I can understand everything and nice country with nature and also big cities.
What is the reason you chose for this university?
Nice in the middle of England so close to everything. Nice campus and cheaper living compared to other UK accommodations.
3. Accessibility to reach destination
Do you have any advice about reaching your exchange destination?
I went with the ferry but this is expensive. I had friends who went with the train or plane for way less but then you can bring less stuff with you. So what you prefer.
4. University and studying
Could you provide some general information about the followed courses?
I had sufficient possibilities to select suitable courses that were taught in English:
Yes, because it is England.
I had sufficient possibilities to select suitable courses in my field of interest:
Yes, I like sociology and there were enough options for me.
I am satisfied with the level of the courses that I followed:
Yes, not too hard but also not boring and too easy.
I am satisfied, in the end, with the selection of courses I followed:
Yes, they were nice.
What is it like to study there?
You get great support from you personal tutor if something goes wrong or you need help for study related but also personal things. The workload for me as a sociology student was not too high. The material is on blackboard and easy to find.
What is the culture of the university?
I had small classes and really nice teachers, that made it more personal. The campus is cute and there a lot of places you can study or have a break. If you choose the city accommodation its also really close to the campus. My friends were all exchange students from over the world, but it was difficult to connect with the English. Maybe because I went the 2nd semester but I was also fine with just having international friends.
What does the university offer students additionally?
Cheap sport for 60 pounds for 3 months of gym/swimming pool. The food in the canteens was nice and pricing okay I think it was 6.95 pounds for a big pizza and 2.50 for fries. Laundry is 3 pounds for each wash and really easily accessible from the accommodation.
5. Housing-traveling-living
What are the possibilities for housing?
I was really easy to sign up for a room on their site, you could choose a top 3 and they would allocate you one of them to live in. I lived in Nixon court because that it the cheapest option with 95 pounds a week. You have the city (Nixon is in the city accommodations) and the village.
The village is far away from campus, so you always have to go by uber or bus. The bus is free but doesn’t always drive. On school days it does every 15 minutes and its free. However, the village does have really nice houses and big rooms for not much more than Nixon court prices (105 a week).
The city accommodations are all very close to the campus but smaller rooms and some like Freemans are also expensive (135 a week but also a bit bigger than Nixon and sometimes private bathroom).
There are options to share a room for a even lower price but most rooms are private with a shared shower and kitchen.
What is the culture like?
Some things like the night life are very different in England but I feel like the culture is quite close to the Dutch one. I liked it and people were nice and friendly. Also did not notice to much because I was mostly with other internationals.
Could you give some information about public transport infrastructure?
Ubers/bolt is really cheap within the city if you share with friends and don’t do to far. Mostly around 1.5 to 2 pounds each if you share with two friends for like 15 min ride. See above for travel to university. City accommodation is around 8-minute walk to campus. Traveling by train is quite expensive to other cities but if you buy it on time and buy a railcard (gives you a third of the price for every train ride after you buy it for 30 pounds) it is okay. National express and flixbus can be a cheaper option.
6. Expenses
Can you give an indication of your expenses for/during your exchange?
The price levels were in general [higher; lower; equal] in comparison to in the Netherlands:
Equal, maybe a bit higher.
Additional remarks regarding expenses?
No, I tried to live cheap so I could spend my money on traveling.
7. Free time
What are must-sees in the area?
City centre, Leicester Museum, space centre, Bradgate park, Victoria park and Nottingham/ Loughborough close. A lot is walkable but if not you can go but uber or bus (Bradgate park and space centre by bus/uber).
What does not appear in a travel guide, but is definitely worth seeing/doing?
Bradgate park is really cute with deer and nice nature/lunch places. Next to that I travelled a lot around the UK and Ireland with friends I would recommend that if you like travelling a lot is reachable but train.
8. Challenges & best moment abroad
Any challenges? How did you deal with them?
Not really I think the Erasmus application was the hardest so it went smooth technically with accommodation and the courses/ exams and the university really helped with everything. Luckily didn’t have homesickness because I made friends fast because of the introduction talk.
There is not really a ESN so I would strongly recommend going to the welcome talk and making friends there. There are some activities also but “residence life” they can be nice to make friends but harder than at that international welcome talk.
Best memory?
Travelling to trough Scotland with a rented car for 7 people with 7 people, seeing the isle of Skye and loch ness. It was a bit cosy with so many people in a car but so fun!
8. Contact Details
Would you like to ask Evi more questions about her exchange?
Send her a mail: eviurlings@wur.nl