London - Central spot for European adventures April 24, 2023

By (Economics, Middlebury College) - abroad from 09/19/2022 to 01/06/2023 with

IFSA: London - King's College London

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Yes it was worthwhile. I gained valuable skills of living on a stricter budget and learning about different European cultures.

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.

Great institution with lots of resources available for students.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

London has great food. King's has some decent options on their main campus at a good price. No meal plan from my experience.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I got a GP early on. Urgent care was free.

* Safety:

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

IFSA is costly. I recommend applying directly to the school.

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)

If you try hard, you can live on a small food budget. It is very difficult in London.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Approximately $200 a week
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Cook when you can. It is fun to explore nice restaurants that the city has to offer, but that becomes pricey quick.

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?
  • Travel
  • Food
  • Friends
* What could be improved?
  • Cost
  • Awareness of Difficulty
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? The difficulty of the university. I know many peers who had a more culturally immersive experience which involved unique classes about their host city. King's is a legit university with no "study abroad classes". I enjoyed the academic rigor that the university had to offer, however I wish I would have known that going in.

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 Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Development Economics

Course Department: Economics
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments:
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Causes of War

Course Department: War Studies
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments:
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Introduction to Film Studies: Forms

Course Department: Film Studies
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments:
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Experimental Economics

Course Department: Economics
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Favorite econ class at Kings. Ian was friendly and engaging.
Credit Transfer Issues: