111 reviews
3.94 / 5 based on 111 reviews

Useful |
3
Packersfan24
Housing
Type of housing: With a family
Arranged by: Host university
If returning, I would choose: Apartment/House
Why?
Living in a host family is really interesting as a first experience abroad. You generally have lots of facilities, and you can speak the foreign language very often. However, you are not completely independent, and you often have to go out in order to meet people of your age out of the courses. I am very confident that living in a flat or sharing a house with other students from different nationalities is a great experience too, especially if you already know the country a little. And, of course, you are more independent.
Read more >
Personal comments
I stayed in a host family, near the Reading University campus. The location of the house was perfect. The family, 2 people of about 60 years, was really kind to me, and I could use all the facilities, like the kitchen, the washing machine, the iron, etc. Moreover, I stayed there with a German girl, who was also studying at the university. Therefore, I could practise my German with her. She was also very kind. The main problem was the fact that such an accomodation was quite expensive. However, I have to admit that the cost of life in United Kingdom is high for a foreigner in any case.
Read more >

Useful |
0
Packersfan24
Student life
Describe host city:
Student life dominates the city
Read more >
Travel, Activities: Takes place mostly within the university/student environment
Nightlife: Takes place both within and outside of the university/student environment
Personal social experience
Personal comments
Well, for a Belgian, going to Britain without enjoying pub crawls would have been a nonsense, and there are enough pubs in Reading in order to make this a reality.
I like to dance in nightclubs, and I have to admit that the best nightclub I have ever spent the night in was just near Reading, in Calcot exactly, just outside the motorway. Its name is the "Utopia", where the atmosphere is always fantastic!
Read more >

Useful |
0
Packersfan24
Academic
My academic experiences
Interaction with teachers
Interaction with international students
Interaction with local students
Personal comments
Maybe forecast the supply of more books in the library, as there are so many students at this university, and the best books are quite often unavailable during the assessment period.
Read more >
My opinion of the university assessment
Exams throughout the course
Essays and/or projects at the end of course
Essays and/or projects throughout the course

Useful |
0
Packersfan24
Languages
Language of instruction: English
Was learning English a key decision factor?
Yes, I wanted to improve my English
How much did you improve your English?
My level before: At ease in most situations
My level after: At ease in most situations
Language difficulties
Administrative / Institutional
Personal comments
Having already good knowledge in English before I went to Reading, the Erasmus stay allowed me to improve, on one hand my oral English thanks to speaking to my host family and local people, and on the other hand my vocabulary of business English during the courses.
Read more >

Useful |
1
Packersfan24
Overall
I wish I had known...
I wish I had known more about cooking, as I have noticed that it is really important during such a stay abroad, and I am definitely a bad cooker.
Read more >
In my opinion:
Everybody loved it, you will too!
Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important
Personal recommendation
I think Reading represents well what a university in UK can be. The academic methods for the lectures, the exercises, the essays and exams are typically English. Personally, I like this kind of programme, where you have to read more and do more research before writing essays than in Belgium. It is more original, more interesting, and not so difficult. You can easily get used to it.
Read more >
During my experience abroad, I ...
(1) Never – (4) A lot
Became familiar with another culture
Met people from other countries
Experienced a change in life
Advanced my studies & career
Final comments
I believe the best way to enjoy the life at Reading university is to join English student clubs. Personally, I joined the photography club, the athletics club and the "chess and bridge" club. In such clubs, you can meet local and foreign students and make them become your friends. During the time I spent in these clubs, I had great fun and very nice moments. It is also a way to discover how English students live and enjoy life during their spare times.
Finally, if you would like to enjoy short trips in England, Scotland or Ireland, you can do it for a 3-day or a 1-week experience in groups of about 20 people sharing a minibus. For Scotland, the company is called "Haggis", for England, I don't remember, sorry, and for Ireland, it is "Blarney buses". With Blarney, I had a great experience in Ireland. I recommend it to everyone.
Read more >

Useful |
0
Packersfan24
Expenses
Main source of funding:
Family
Other sources of funding:
Personal savings
Work opportunities:
I didn't explore any work options
Personal spending habits
I wanted to phone to my family and my friends in Belgium, so, the telephone expenses were quite high.
I have already mentioned that the cost of accomodation was high.
I went out more than in Belgium, as the nightlife in Reading was wonderful and I enjoyed it very much by meeting lots of students and local people.
Read more >
Overall, Nightlife, Telephone, Housing:
was more expensive than at home.
Food, Travel:
was the same price as at home.
Accessibility of student needs
Second-hand household items
Personal comments
I definitely think that United Kingdom is a very expensive country. Everything has a high price, and I think that the most inconvenient thing is that the cost of transportation is so high.
The best cost-saving tip I can give is to get or buy a student card that allows you to benefit from lots of discounts concerning, for instance, transportation, travel, student activites, sport, etc.
Read more >