Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

The professors were great, traveling was easy, and I made a lot of good friends. Past Review

By (Psychology, Business, Brandeis University) - abroad from 01/12/2014 to 04/26/2014 with

Boston University: London - London Internship Program

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Yes. Traveling really opened my eyes to other cultures, and i learned a lot about British culture from the classes I took. I also really liked my internship at a local nursery.

Review Photos

Boston University: London - London Internship Program Photo

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.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? around 50 pounds on food a week, plus the average of travel, public transportation, and other living expenses.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? If you're not on a meal plan, don't eat out often. Cook whenever you can.

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

  • Americans
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?
  • Also South Kensington is an expensive area, it is also a really safe one. I really liked living there.
  • Although I was at first worried about not having a mealplan, my friend from BU assured me that I was saving money in comparison to the plans that are typically offered.
  • During the first half of the semester, there were a lot of long weekends that we could use to travel
* What could be improved?
  • A lot of people were unsatisfied with their internships. The EUSA advisors did not give students much time to switch if they did not like their internships, and some were very reluctant to do so anyways. Also, some of the advisors were just plain unhelpful. At least two that we know got fired at the beginning of the semester.
  • The program directors manipulated the terms of our work visa for their own gain. We were allowed no unexcused absences, and getting them excused was an ordeal. One of my roommates was really ill, and vomiting all day, and the program STILL sent someone to check up on her to make sure she was actually sick. Whenever anyone complained about the strict attendance policy, they said our visa terms demanded that we attend all classes and meetings. However, the work visa also maintained that we would get paid for our work, and while I never expected to get paid for the internship component, this was something that was never addressed. The visa also put a maximum of a 20 hour work week, which the program also ignored and made us work closer to double. I did not like how the excuse of visa was used as a strict guideline for some things and not at all on others.
  • I felt unprepared for the program given the limited amount of information we were given beforehand, and the friends that I made had all voiced similar concerns. They should provide more information about living arrangements and student life on the website.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I had met more local friends and worked harder to integrate myself into the culture.

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.