Study in England
By Bruce Myint

England, with its dreary weather and even drearier food, is not the first place that comes to mind for a trans-Atlantic holiday. But for studying abroad, one could do much worse than spend a year on that pastoral island whose universities rival the best in the world. I spent two years studying there: as a junior at the University of Sussex in Brighton and then as a graduate student at the University of Cambridge. Both experiences were similar: small seminars, quirky but accessible professors, and a unique emphasis on self-directed study. English universities emphasized reflection and analysis. They frowned upon handholding, it seemed, so Americans often needed to adjust to working independently without the constant tests and deadlines that organized work back home. Classes met infrequently– questions and comments about one’s readings often reserved for the regular one-on-one meetings with a faculty supervisor. I found that English higher education provided good practice for graduate studies in the US, which expects a similar autonomy. But although one studies on their own in the UK, there is always a rich social life among students as they talk, dine, and drink together. Having spent many nights at the pub after a long day at the library, sitting in a toasty room talking among friends was a great way to pass time during those rainy Februarys that seemed to last forever.#

Education Update, Inc., P.O. Box 20005, New York, NY 10001. Tel: (212) 481-5519. Fax: (212) 481-3919. Email: ednews1@aol.com.
All material is copyrighted and may not be printed without express consent of the publisher. © 2001.