Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

London - A City of Adventure and Exploration Past Review

By (University of Alabama - Tuscaloosa) - abroad from 06/07/2018 to 07/27/2018 with

CISabroad (Center for International Studies): Summer in London - University of Roehampton

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned a lot about myself, which I know is a bit of a cliche, but true. I gained more confidence in my ability to live life on my own. I also learned more about what matters to me just by experiencing the subtle or obvious differences in American and English culture and life.

Review Photos

CISabroad (Center for International Studies): Summer in London - University of Roehampton Photo CISabroad (Center for International Studies): Summer in London - University of Roehampton Photo CISabroad (Center for International Studies): Summer in London - University of Roehampton Photo CISabroad (Center for International Studies): Summer in London - University of Roehampton Photo CISabroad (Center for International Studies): Summer in London - University of Roehampton 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.

Overall, my classes were fantastic! My professors were great, the trips were a lot of fun, and the classwork was not too intensive. The only drawback was that there were no options for classes that would count towards my degree (Biology).

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The on-site staff was amazing! Although there were relatively few issues to begin with, whenever there was a problem it was dealt with efficiently and promptly.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The dorms were a stereotypical freshmen-type of residence: small and old. However, the fire alarms went off almost every night due to dust and an old system, which was very annoying.

* Food:

I'm a very picky eater, but there was always something I could find and enjoy! The restaurants close very early - around 6pm for most of them - so just make sure you plan dinners accordingly!

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

This is one of those things where you feel as integrated as you want to be. If you stayed on campus and in your room the whole time, you were not going to feel integrated with the local culture. But by exploring the city, going on excursions, and talking to the local people, I felt very integrated into their culture.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I did not have any issues or experiences with healthcare while abroad.

* Safety:

I had no concerns about safety the entire trip, even though I was a woman traveling alone for a lot of my excursions.

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

I loved London and the University of Roehampton! I wouldn't want to go anywhere else for my first time abroad by myself.

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)

Honestly, the plane trip and program costs were way more expensive than actually living in London. I spent a lot of money on excursions to various places in London and Europe, but on just basic life necessities I probably spent around $100 per week (including transportation).

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? around $100
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Try to book your excursions in advance - you can usually get good deals the further out you book the event. Group plans are essential for saving money on rooms and such.

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
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • 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 experience
  • The people
  • The classes
* What could be improved?
  • The dorms
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I would have known what excursions I wanted to go own or that I had prioritized the places I wanted to go to - it would have saved me a lot of stress while I was there in planning these things.

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 Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!