Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Loved London hated King's College. Past Review

By (None, Middlebury College) - abroad from 01/11/2016 to 06/10/2016 with

Arcadia: London - King's College London

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned independence from traveling on my own. Studying abroad was definitely worthwhile.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The welcoming committee was good, but overall the people in charge of placing us in our classes were terribly unhelpful. Many people were placed into classes that occurred at the same time. They are very poorly organized.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Housing was arranged by King's. I was fortunate to be placed in the best housing. Flatmates were all American except for one. Flatmates were wonderful though and we had British neighbors whom we got along very well with.

* Food:

King's did have a cafeteria with good food, but definitely better to buy from Sainsburys and cook your own food.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I was placed in a mostly American flat but it was easy to meet people in classes and neighbors.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I take allergy shots and that is something that England does not do.

* Safety:

I lived in a very safe area, Southwark. Tube is wonderful. Uber was also helpful late at night.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

I did not enjoy the British academic system.

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?

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

London is really expensive. Go to Sainsburys and Tesco for food. Easy to find cheap transportation out of London but the tube is very expensive, but it's pretty easy to walk.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Varied every week.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Do not buy in bulk. Things will expire. Sainsbury and Tesco are the cheapest grocery stores. Cook with your flatmates.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The friends I made
  • The city
  • Traveling
* What could be improved?
  • Academics
  • Connection with Middlebury
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I new more about the British academic system.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you.
The Nearly Native or Trail Blazer
Craving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.'

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Wordplay in The English Renaissance
Course Department: English
Instructor: Multiple
Instruction Language:
Comments: There was only one assignment graded the entire semester. I personally found the class extremely boring. The lecturers read off from a paper, which simply could have been handed out to us and it would not have made a difference.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Modern Poetry and the Place of Writing
Course Department: English
Instructor:
Instruction Language:
Comments: There was one midterm and a final essay. Lectures were a prepared speech with little engagement of the class. Discussions were more interesting. Final was worth about 60-70 percent of entire grade.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

British National Cinema
Course Department: Film
Instructor: Lawrence Napper
Instruction Language:
Comments: Challenging but engaging course. Very interesting to take with British students and to hear their perspective of the British Empire. Films were for the most part interesting to watch. Teacher was fantastic. Participation, a midterm essay, and a final essay contributed to final grade.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Elements of Ethics
Course Department: Philosophy
Instructor:
Instruction Language:
Comments: Challenging but overall interesting course. Grade determined by a midterm essay and a final exam. Large class size.
Credit Transfer Issues: