Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

A moment to remember at London April 09, 2024

By (Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Howard University) - abroad from 09/16/2023 to 12/15/2023 with

IES Abroad: London Direct Enrollment - Queen Mary

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned more about myself and how I am perceived by other people. I had more time to explore, cook, talk, and reflect because I was not in class for long periods of time during the week.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I really enjoyed Queen Mary because of its campus festivities. The fact that the university is a campus allowed me to meet students and know what buildings are a part of the school and which ones are not. I appreciated that every lecture was recorded which made it helpful on days I wanted to watch the lecture again. I loved that the library was 24hrs and that I did not have to pay for any textbooks or reading materials.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

I appreciated the pre-departure videos and documents which highlighted the step by step to successfully enter the country. It was beneficial because it limited the anxiety of traveling. However, we had to book our flight on the last day of classes which was cutting close in terms of preparation.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I really liked the housing but they placed us away from the majority of the students that stay on campus.

* 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

The administrators were very nice and I liked the IES building as it had so many resources that were available for use.

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)

Going without a meal plan was challenging for me as I had to spend time cooking meals or relying on restaurants and fast-food joints, which gradually became an expensive option. Also, I did not realize how expensive the rate conversion from dollars to pounds was either.

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? Try to meal prep the best that you can and make use of the leftovers!

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
  • Americans
  • 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?
  • Transparency
  • They called to check in on us and how we were doing
  • Flexibility
* What could be improved?
  • If flights were included in the financial aid
  • A designated meal plan
  • A list of activities to do in London
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew that I did not have to book my flight at the recommended date which was a day after the last day of classes. Most of my friends were able to stay in the same flat for a couple of days after because it was open until late December. Also, I wish I knew that flights had to be booked out of pocket so that I could better be prepared to purchase a $900+ plane ticket. Lastly, I wish that there were more free excursions we could take with the program.

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 Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.