Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

I Wish The Semester Was Longer January 02, 2024

By (Business, Brandeis University) - abroad from 09/12/2023 to 12/16/2023 with

Arcadia: London - Queen Mary University of London

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
This was an amazing experience that gave me greater insight into the differences and similarities of people and cultures in a wide variety of countries. It was fun to talk to people in different countries and hear their views on America and Americans. I was not expecting people to be as friendly as they were and as eager to talk with Americans. It was a fun experience that I will remember forever.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Professors and courses were very interesting.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Program Admin team was great. They always were communicating information and checking in to make sure we did not have any problems. There was never a case where I emailed them that I did not receive a quick and timely response.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Dorm was nice. Enjoyed having a single. Location was convenient to Subway/Underground station which made travel easy.

* Food:

I did not get a meal plan and I only ate minimal meals at The Curve at QMUL, but the few meals I had were decent to good. Mostly I ate around the city or bought groceries, both of which affordable options can be found easily.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

London was a great location as a foreign student. Everyone I came across was very friendly and helpful. The location of QMUL made it easy to participate in cultural events around London.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Notifications and emails related to health were always sent out by the program.

* Safety:

The program and the US State Department constantly sent out alerts about any potential threats and issues. Overall, did not experience any problems while in London or visiting other locations around Europe.

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

I love history and visiting new locations. London was a great hub city with an amazing history and culture. With my schedule, I was able to spend several days a week take in the sites around London, and then use weekends to travel around Europe. The cost to fly from any of London's airports to major cities around Europe was so low that I was able to visit different places almost every weekend.

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)

You can definitely live on a student budget and survive in London. Plus it is great that many of the attractions and museums in London are free of charge. Food wise, you can survive on minimal cost and then utilize any extra budget you have to travel and see all around the UK and other destinations around Europe.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $100
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Don't go to Five Guys - great burgers, but it's a real budget buster.

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

  • Americans
* 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 location
  • the history and culture of the UK and Europe
  • experiencing new foods
* What could be improved?
  • offer more excursions as part of the program that visit outside of the UK
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? That I never once used cash during my entire stay abroad, and in most cases, businesses and transportation services did not want or even accept cash. Make sure to have a few credit cards handy to use for your trip that do not charge international transaction fees. Debit cards generally charge international fees where many credit cards do not. Visa and Mastercard are the most common and easiest to use. Not as many places take American Express, and almost nowhere in Europe takes Discover. Also, get your fix of Chik-fila in before you travel aboard.

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 Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.