Orientation and First Weeks
The exchange student orientation started off with all the students in a lecture theatre where different people from the university talked about opportunities and services available to visiting students. After that we were split into smaller groups for a campus tour. We were also given a time to meet with the academic coordinator for our department with the other exchange students from our department. As part of the welcome activities there were also tours of the Roman Baths with other exchange students. During the first weeks there were lots of opportunities to meet other exchange students both formally through university organized events and informally through things organized by new exchange students.
Accommodation and Living
I did not try to look into third party housing so I do not know how easy it would be to find, but student accommodation was easy to get. For exchange students there are two options for student accommodation, which are both located in the city. Staying with other exchange students made it easy to make friends since everyone was in the same situation. I stayed in Pulteney Court which is located very close to the city centre. The flats in Pulteney Court have two to four rooms and shared bathrooms. Most kitchens in the block I was staying in are shared between two flats, but each flat gets their own fridge.
Learning and Adaptation
For all of my classes, there was one two hour lecture every week. I found that while some lectures were more interactive than others, most of them were less interactive than what I am used to in upper level sociology and international studies classes at SFU. For the spring semester there was a two week Easter break, after which lectures continued for a couple of weeks before the assessment period began. I had one class that had two papers, but most just had one term paper that made up the entire course mark. The grading system is also different in England, with 40% being the passing grade and an A being marks 70% or higher. I found that class sizes were either similar or a bit larger than those for upper division courses I am used to at SFU. It is also important to remember that in England they call courses modules.
Accomplishments and Challenges
I was able to take courses in Bath on interesting topics that are not offered at SFU. In this way, I was able to expand my perspective on these topics. I also found it interesting to learn more about a different social context. As someone who has a terrible sense of direction I was concerned about my ability to navigate unfamiliar cities, but through this experience I have gotten much better. For those with similar concerns, Bath is a fairly small city and is easy to navigate by foot. Overall, through the experience of living in a different country I have gained more independence and confidence.
Social and Extracurricular Activities
The University of Bath has lots of different societies for a very wide range of interests. I would recommend joining at least one as they provide a great opportunity to meet people with similar interests. I joined the school's mountaineering society, which involves rock climbing, walking (the area has hills but no real mountains), and orienteering. By living in student accommodation with other exchange students it is really easy to meet new people. I would recommend going out as much as possible with other exchange students in the first couple of weeks. Within Bath there are plenty of pubs and a few clubs.
