Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

There's Always More to Do in London January 15, 2022

By (Brandeis University) - abroad from 09/18/2022 to 12/18/2022 with

IFSA: London - King's College London

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I believe it was worthwhile to study abroad. I learned to be independent and get out of my comfort zone by living in and exploring a big city such as London.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

While the courses were not as rigorous as the ones I have taken at my home university, I felt they were sufficiently challenging and allowed me to explore a variety of interesting topics.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

I felt that the orientation was lackluster, but throughout the semester IFSA provided programming for students which I appreciated.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Housing was satisfactory and provided me with the basics to live while abroad.

* Food:

King's College London does not have dining halls, so most meals were eaten out or cooked in the residence hall kitchen.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I enjoyed living with local British students because it allowed me to integrate in London and British culture more effectively than if I were surrounded by other American students.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Resources for dealing with COVID-19 were provided and made accessible to students. I was provided food while I was in isolation after testing positive and a number of physical and mental health resources were brought to my attention should I have needed them.

* Safety:

I felt safe walking the streets of London, even late at night. However, I was robbed in a crowded area so always be aware of your surroundings and avoid getting too close to strangers. I recommend traveling in groups whenever you can.

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

I would choose the same program because it gave me a chance to meet British students and other international students. I enjoyed getting the chance to live in student housing and experience a British curriculum; it made me feel truly integrated as an abroad student.

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 an expensive city, however museums were free.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? I probably spent around $100 per week on groceries and eating out during the average week.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? I recommend cooking as much as you can at home and take advantage of the free museums throughout London.

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
  • 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?
  • The People
  • Cultural Experiences
  • Exploring the U.K.
* What could be improved?
  • Orientation
  • Quality of Housing
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I had planned more what I was going to do. Although a day-to-day approach brought fun memories and helped me explore a lot of London, I wish I had done more research into sights to visit before I arrived.

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!