London living Past Review
By A student (University of Rochester) - abroad from 01/02/2018 to 06/09/2018 with
IES Abroad: London Direct Enrollment - Queen Mary
I learned to file insurance claims! I know that not exciting but it's really important when you are a real adult ;-) I also took my first solo trips and LOVED it! It taught me that I didn't need to wait for anyone to go with me the next time I get a travel itch since I can do everything myself
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. |
This past spring I had the joy of participating in the IES Direct Enrollment program at Queen Mary University of London. IES was very helpful in terms of the arranging everything so I could be settled in my new home! I was able to apply to QMUL via the IES website and IES staff were very communicative with me about what I needed to do to get the appropriate visa. In addition, they sent me a packing list so I could feel more prepared about what I would need. They also set up an IES London facebook page so it would be easy for me to meet other study abroad students in different programs and so I could get reminders for IES meet-ups. So even if you are doing a direct enrollment program and do not take classes with other IES students, you can still get involved in IES activities. IES also took care of making sure I had housing at my new location which also a great bonus! But IES is there to support you! They will send your transcripts to your home institutions so that’s one less thing to worry about. Also the greatest thing about IES is that the provide you with amazing travel insurance!! With my plan I only had to pay $100 deductible and after that, every doctor’s visit was free. This was really amazing and saved me a ton of money since I got a nasty back injury while abroad! And IES was very supportive as they guided me through the insurance claims process! So, if you have a medical issue problem while abroad, IES will definitely help to make sure you get what you need! My only constructive criticism is that I wish I had been told upfront that I would have to do most of the “leg work” at my respective study abroad university. It is up to you to figure out how transfer credits work, enroll in classes, and meet British locals. IES is very helpful getting you too and from your location, making sure you have housing, and ensuring your safety. But the rest is up to you! Of course, this ultimately made me a more independent person and I still had an amazing experience. It’s just something to keep in mind especially for people who want a more structured and guided experience. Also another thing to keep in mind! The British academic system is very different than in the states in terms of number of credit hours per class and the grading (or the marking, if you’re from the UK) system. So be prepared when transferring credits! And my professors were also very helpful when I explained that I was as study abroad student, so they answered all my questions! |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Be prepared to do your own leg work at QMUL. But you can always reach out to your professors and they will help you in the right direction. IES takes care of housing and medical needs |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I got a single room with my own fridge and bathroom in a dorm! Having my own space was awesome! |
| * Food: |
I had to cook my own food! Just buy some basic cooking supplies when you get to London |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Since I was in a direct enrollment program, I lived and studied with QMUL students. So it was super easy to meet new people. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
IES provides amazing travel insurance! See my overall review for more details! Only a 100 USD deductible and the rest is covered! |
| * Safety: |
London is a very safe city as long as you make smart choices. Just watch out for pick pocketing |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I learned to be very independent and from london it is super easy to travel anywhere! |
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) |
London is expensive but there are ways around it! You can cook for yourself and there was a local farmers market near QMUL. Also in terms of supermarkets, asda and tesco are significantly cheaper than coop, sainsburys, and marks and spencers! |
| 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? | Talk to locals about cheaper options and don't be afraid to look for used or budget items at flea markets, farmers markets, etc |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
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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| 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? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I wish I had known that at Queen Mary, it's up to you to reach out to QMUL staff to answer questions about course registration etc. IES will help you to and from your study abroad destination, with housing, and with healthcare. But the rest is up to you! |
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 LinguistYou 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! |
