While many WashU students eagerly await their study abroad or recount stories of their international experiences, it doesn’t occur to many that our own campus serves as a study abroad destination for many global students. 

Anabelle Seeley, a third-year Political Science major at the University of Edinburgh, was placed at WashU for her study abroad this year. While years abroad aren’t a regular occurrence at every UK university, it’s common practice at Edinburgh for students to leave for their third year before returning for their fourth year. Student Life met with Seeley to discuss her home, WashU, and the similarities and differences between American college and British “uni.” 

Many of Seeley’s friends are scattered across North America this year, attending schools such as the University of Virginia and McGill University. Coincidentally, both Seeley and her best friend from Edinburgh were both placed into WashU. The two are the only study abroad students from the University of Edinburgh to study at WashU this year, although others have studied in the past. 

“It’s made it easier with the transition, to have her here,” Seeley said. “I’ve never really felt homesick since I’ve been here, because I’ve got one of the closest people to me here.”

The social and academic climates are very different at WashU than in Scotland. The smaller class sizes function differently than the lectures she’s taken back at Edinburgh.

Students at the University of Edinburgh take three classes a semester with two assignments each: a midterm and final. These large classes are optional to attend, and many students don’t show. The University of Edinburgh’s structure results in a very different work mentality.

“You can do no work, and then, ‘Oh, my God, my final exam is in a week,’ and then for a week, you work really hard. Whereas here it’s quite constant little things, you hand in an assignment and get a 100, whereas in Edinburgh it’s like, ‘Oh yes, I did well. I got a 70.’”

Another difference is the variety of classes students are able to take at WashU. In any given class at WashU, you’ll find a range of students across all fields of study. Most UK students must narrow their scope, having chosen three subjects to continue in their high school A-levels and eventually narrowing their focus to just one subject when they apply to university.

“Everyone chooses what they’re going to do forever when they apply at 17, which is crazy,” Seeley explained.

Seeley is required by her program to only take Political Science classes at WashU in order to mimic the British system. In her Political Science studies in the UK, Seeley describes having taken classes with a much broader focus.

“At Edinburgh, so far, they’ve taught us how to write a paper on comparative politics and data,” she said. “Here, I’m learning about actual points in history and current affairs, which is good.”

Residentially, Edinburgh runs very similarly. Seeley, like all first-year students, lived in an on-campus dorm during her first year. 

“It was like boarding school, but with no rules. It was so much fun, I loved it.” 

Afterwards, she moved off campus to an apartment with her friends. She loved exploring the city and Scotland’s countryside. “There’s so much beautiful nature around … and in the city, there’s amazing food spots. There’s really, really good Asian food in Edinburgh.” 

Here she’s had the chance to explore St. Louis as well, visiting the Gateway Arch and spending time on the Delmar Loop. Learning to use the Metro has also been an adjustment. Seeley also wonders, “Who decided that [electric scootering] was a normal thing?” but she’s considering joining the trend.

Overall, this has been a year of change, adjustments, and surprises. While St. Louis, Missouri was not where Annabelle expected to find herself while abroad, she’s quickly making it her home. Her advice to any WashU students considering a study abroad is: “Just for one semester, just do it.”