Direct Enrollment at the Courtauld Institute of Art Past Review
By Jennifer H (Art History, Criticism and Conservation., Wellesley College) for
Courtauld Institute of Art: London - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
Yes, I wish I could have stayed for the whole year.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I really liked being one of only ten american undergraduates and I really loved my professors. The institute is a really interesting place and very inspiring if you're passionate about art history. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The program was very strong and intense academically. The work is much more independent. I felt close to one of my professors but not at all to the other who was a t.a. The lectures are amazing and the building itself is just an inspiring place to learn. Also, the museum collection is unbelievable. The program for study abroad students is nice because it's small-there were only ten of us but it's also not super organized. I didn't mind that a lot but I know some people did. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The location of the IES hall (Chelsea) was great but my roommate was from the same state as me and that didn't seem very international. In fact there were a lot of not very bright Americans in the building and that bothered me. I would have preferred to stay in UCL halls with other British students. |
| * Food: |
It would have been nice to be on some sort of meal plan but cooking for myself wasn't the end of the world. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I traveled to Cambridge, Edinburgh, Paris, and Italy and they were all very exciting trips. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I felt very safe. The idea that someone wouldn't feel safe in London is ridiculous. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* 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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | I spent about one hundred to two hundred pounds each week on food and personal expenses. Shopping in london is so good! |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | London is very expensive. It's rough. |
Language
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Direct Enrollment |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | If you're passionate about art history, this is the place for you. |
