Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Falling in love with London! Past Review

By (Art History, Criticism and Conservation, Trinity University) - abroad from 09/06/2018 to 12/08/2018 with

IES Abroad: London Direct Enrollment - Courtauld Institute of Art

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Because I had such a rocky start with feeling really homesick and isolated as the only student in my direct enrollment program, I appreciated my growth by the end even more. By going on the IES field trips, I quickly made amazing friends who I am still in touch with. I became an expert in navigating the Tube--which in itself felt like a huge accomplishment for someone who had never used mass transit routinely before or lived in a large city.

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.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

Food was all up to students to make/cook/buy for themselves.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

It was more difficult than I expected to join clubs at my host school because I was only studying for one semester there. Most clubs really got started in the spring, or required a year-long commitment, like choir.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I had tonsillitis during my stay, and IES Abroad was extremely helpful in making me a doctor's appointment and making sure I was recovering well. There were no special vaccines I needed to study in London.

* Safety:

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

IES Abroad had exceptional staff at their London Centre. They were immensely helpful and supportive when I told them I wanted to meet more people. They proposed helpful steps like signing up for field trips, IES yoga club, and IES running club. Attending the Courtauld Institute of Art opened my eyes to the British style of teaching--mostly self-guided and up to the students to learn most of the material; that way you benefit from the professors' expertise in lectures.

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 very expensive. Transportation was pricey even with the student card for the underground. Food (eating out) was my biggest expense.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? About $200 each week.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Cook your own food as much as you can! Lunches and coffee add up faster than you think. Also get a reusable cup because cafes give 25-50p off drinks when you bring your own cup. Also ride the underground rather than taking cabs or ubers.

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
  • International Students
* 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?
  • Strengthened self-reliance
  • The friends I made
  • Seeing castles and monuments I'd only dreamed about from photos
* What could be improved?
  • Including direct enroll students in the CORE program--we need that support too since we're floating around in different schools.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I'd known about the Oxford Tube, which is very cheap and runs several times a day. I wanted to visit but didn't get a chance. I also wish I'd applied for the student railcard sooner--30% off all rail travel in the UK.

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!