Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

A Semester In London - Best Experience Ever Past Review

By (Musical Theatre., University of Tulsa) - abroad from 09/01/2014 to 12/13/2014 with

IES Abroad: London - Theater Studies

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
This was one of the best experiences of my life. I definitely want to travel again in the future. I gained a better understanding of British culture and society. I also gained more acceptance of cultural diversity in general. I feel like a much more capable person now, I know that I can live in a big city on my own, I can make friends and thrive in new situations, and I can handle problems on my own when they arise. This experience has made me a more confident person and has given me skills and knowledge that I will use for the rest of my life, in my personal life and work life. I'm so happy I decided to study abroad in London

Review Photos

IES Abroad: London - London Theatre Studies 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.

I learned a lot, but the classes weren't too rigorous. They were created with the idea that we were also there to travel and explore the city. Also, the British teaching system focuses more on personal research and exploration than assigning copious amounts of tasks throughout the semester.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

So incredibly helpful, nice, and fun. The staff at IES are amazing.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

We were basically living in dorms. They were small, but nice, we just the amount of room that was necessary. Sometimes the IES staff would have to help us fix an issue if it became a big problem, though that didn't happen to very many students. However, most of the staff seemed averse to helping us if we had an issue and doing laundry was horribly expensive. Our living situation was not terrible, we had everything we needed, there were certain elements that were just incredibly frustrating.

* Food:

Delicious and varied. Basically, if you can think of a type of food, London probably has it, or some variation of it.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I was taking classes with all Americans. Our professors were all British and many of our classes focused on some aspect of British culture, so that was wonderful, but it was difficult for me to meet British students my age, because I had no classes with any British students. However, there are ways to meet other students, there are students organizations in the city, but I was focused on other things during the semester.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

The system was well explained to us and we could go to the IES staff if we had any major issues.

* Safety:

I felt very safe in our neighborhood and throughout the rest of the city, more so than some other large cities I've been to. However, it is still a large city, so you just have to make smart choices.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $150
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Check the grocery stores for the sales that week. Try to do some group meals and split the cost a couple times a week. Time Out magazine is issued weekly and lists tons of things to do that are free or very cheap. Many places have student discounts and most of the museums are free.

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

  • Americans
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The ability to travel often
  • The subject matter we learned
  • The focus on thinking for ourselves
* What could be improved?
  • More focus on cultural involvement in London
  • Perhaps a different housing situation
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Time goes by very quickly, so make the most of it. Sometimes you need a day or two to do very little and relax, but do as much as you can. If you want to do something, do it. Don't wait for other people to make up their minds and waste your time. Travel, explore, do not just sit in your room in this beautiful city. Experience the city, the country, other countries, be open to new experiences, new people, and just let go for a little bit. You will thank yourself in the end

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.