Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

The most exciting 4 months of my life! Past Review

By (Business, Brandeis University) - abroad from 01/05/2015 to 06/06/2015 with

Arcadia: London - Queen Mary University of London

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was worth every minute of preparation and every cent plus more. I still can't believe I was lucky enough to be able to experience it. I have never felt more excited than I did everyday that I was abroad.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Not as rigorous as Brandeis University.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Overall great with orientation program and checking in while at school.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Living arrangements felt a bit cramped. Also frustrating that everyone paid the same amount but others received superior housing in the program.

* Food:

I enjoyed being able to provide food for myself and not have to be on a meal plan.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I was able to live with British students from other areas of the UK which was great. I liked being integrated with them and learning from them.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I likely did not experience trouble with this, but I knew there was a hospital right down the street which was very reassuring. This was even more relevant for my family back at home who were concerned about this detail.

* Safety:

I felt extremely safe in London, especially on my campus. I was still able to have a small enclosed campus to return to at night which was very reassuring. Safety did not feel like an issue unless I was traveling to other places in Europe.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

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)

Living in London on a student budget is very difficult since it is one of the most expensive cities in the world. It was hard but manageable. I did not eat out too often and did not participate in too much night life. Basic travel in London is quite expensive, though. I saved my money for travel to other cities in Europe.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Probably about $200 a week. This includes food, travel around London, and a few fun things a week.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Prioritize what you want to focus on while you are there. I decided to use my life savings for travel so I could see as many places in Europe as possible. Other people decided to focus their funds toward going out to eat and participating in night life regularly. Prioritizing what you want to get out of study abroad is very important.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

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

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • 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?
  • Enclosed campus
  • London is the best city in the world (I'm bias)
  • Integrated with students from all over the world, especially UK students
* What could be improved?
  • Housing should be more equalized for study abroad kids who all pay the same amount
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I went to Europe knowing more about the cheap travel options. It took me a while to get the hang of finding the cheap flights etc. but now I feel like a pro at it. I could have saved a bit of money in the beginning.

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 Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.