More Than Just Academics: A Life-Changing Study Abroad Semester February 21, 2025

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

There was a limited variety of courses offered but these courses were fairly academically rigorous.

On-site administration of your program

Everyone at the Arcadia London Center is incredibly lovely. Polly and Phillip were always incredibly caring and truly looked out for us. I did deduct a bit from the rating because they are not very helpful in an emergency. I called the emergency line once and was told that they could not help me even though I was less than 5 minutes away. Therefore, I would not seek them out in an emergency and expect them to be very helpful. However, they were always very wonderful at all other times!

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I absolutely adored my apartment. I was placed in an apartment where I had my own room and then shared 1 kitchen and 2 bathrooms with 4 other girls. It was very nice to have my own space and have all the furniture provided. There was never a problem with the shared spaces. It was always very clean and warm. The only downside is that you might have trouble finding an open washer!

N/A - there was no meal plan. There are accessible grocery stores though and spacious kitchens!

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I think that it might have been possible to integrate into the local culture if you tried very hard. However, the area that we live in makes it difficult. The London Center itself does not feel like it is very integrated into the local culture and I walked away with most of my new friends being American. This isn't necessarily a negative, but it is the truth!

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I did not have any specific health issues during the program but I had a roommate who had to go to the A&E during the first week. She had a great experience and was treated very kindly! There is a hospital right down the road from PEH which eased a lot of my fears.

A lot of people I spoke with got their phones stolen. Make sure you hold onto your phone and other belongings! Other than that, I had a great experience in London. As long as you are aware of your surroundings and aren't being reckless, you will feel very safe.

This was the most amazing thing I've ever been able to do in my life. I learned so much about myself and the world around me. Being in London allowed me to travel all around Europe, much of which was solo-traveling. I became more confident and equipped to handle whatever came my way. I also made so many friends, tried so many new experiences, and grew in so many ways. I would absolutely recommend studying abroad in London, especially at Arcadia. I was given the right amount of freedom to truly explore London. I adored this program and wish I could go back and do it again!

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

I spent way more money than I thought that I would. London is a very expensive city. However, I also did a great deal of travel so that has to be factored in to why my expenses were so high.

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• Dorm

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• Americans

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• Americans

• Being in London
• The people
• Housing

• More emergency services for students
• More communication before arrival
• Some of the classes

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