Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

The Ups and Downs of Studying Abroad in London September 11, 2024

By (Health: Science, Society, and Policy, Brandeis University) - abroad from 01/11/2024 to 05/31/2024 with

Arcadia: London - Queen Mary University of London

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Going abroad was still an amazing experience and I was able to make so many memories and experience so many new things. It was definitely worthwhile in my opinion even though I had faced a few obstacles while there. I lived on my own for the first time and learned a lot from that experience.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The academics were not nearly as challenging for me at Queen Mary as it is back at Brandeis. There's little to no homework besides large essays and projects but the quality of teaching (in terms of lectures and professor availability) was great. There weren't as many resources for study abroad students as I thought, as I was not offered much help in the beginning when I needed to rearrange my schedule.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Arcadia was fine, but the advisor I was working with gave me and other students a few issues in terms of deadlines and responsiveness. The orientation at the beginning of the semester was decent, but I think it could have been organized a bit better. We didn't even have time to rest after landing in London because the hotel wasn't ready, and there weren't many opportunities to get to know the other people in the program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

My housing at Queen Mary was quite terrible. I had issues with my heating, shower, water temperature, etc. several times during my stay to the point where it was genuinely disrupting my daily life. Even when I called facilities, they either provided fixes that were temporary or no solutions at all. This was one of the worst parts of study abroad honestly for me.

* Food:

I didn't really eat on campus as I didn't have a meal plan.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I didn't really feel that integrated on QMUL's campus because again, there weren't that many appealing opportunities to get to know full-time students. However, I definitely felt integrated into London's culture and felt comfortable.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

n/a

* Safety:

London is like any other big city. As long as you're aware of your surroundings and belongings and use common sense, you'll be fine.

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

I initially chose Queen Mary because of the exciting internship opportunity, but I did not have a good experience with it and had to switch out of my initial internship and into another one that wasn't much better or related to my field. I would've definitely go to London again, but I would go with the other school I got into.

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 expensive. I had to get help from my parents for food and transport costs but I was able to fund travel and other leisure activities myself after saving up for 8 months.

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 eat out everyday, book trips in advance, stay in hostels

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
  • 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? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • location
  • professors
* What could be improved?
  • orientation
  • communication with students
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? How expensive London and travel is, you need to put yourself out there immediately to make friends

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.