Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Abroad Times July 16, 2024

By (Economics, Brandeis University) - abroad from 01/12/2024 to 06/01/2024 with

IFSA: London - Queen Mary, University of London

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned a lot especially in terms of culture

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.

The courses that I was taking definitely challenged me academically and the professors are very helpful and want you to succeed.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Ifsa was amazing. They provided support throughout the program and provided amazing resources and support for any issue you might think of. Overall if I was to do it again I will pick Ifsa as my program admin

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Housing was nice and comfortable. The housing that I had was spacious. I had a single room in a student apartment complex with a shared bathroom with two other students and kitchen as well.

* Food:

The area that the school is situated in has many restaurants and grouchy stores nearby so I mostly cooked and order in so I can not really comment on the cafeteria food.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

East London is one of the most diverse area of London with many different cultures to see and experience. I joined different clubs on campus and also made local friends to explore more of London.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

The insurance provided by ifsa was amazing and provided different medical doctors who are available for urgent appointments etc. having insurance definitely made healthcare easily accessible. The program has someone that you can email and they help with setting up appointments if you need help. There weren't any vaccines required for this particular program. To be on the safer side, just make sure you have your vaccines to protect yourself.

* Safety:

Overall as a young women I did not feel unsafe especially at night.

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

My program provided many opportunities to take trips to different places and courses that required walking around London to discover

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)

1. London is pretty expensive and all though the public transportation is very reliable it is also expensive

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Each week about 150 for bathroom supplies, food, transport, and other necessities
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Make sure to keep a spreadsheet of how much you are spending each week to see if that will last for the remainder of the program with the b budget you have. Try eating out less maybe once per week and utilize taking the bus more as to the train as that is more expensive.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* 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?
  • Food
  • Trip
  • Resources/support
* What could be improved?
  • I would say to provide student with more information about the transportation cost and ways they can save their money abroad
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew how to save more better and plan better in terms of the trips I took during the semester.

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 Nearly Native or Trail Blazer
Craving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.'