Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

One of the most memorable time in my life Past Review

By (Brandeis University) - abroad from 01/04/2017 to 06/10/2017 with

IFSA: London - University College London

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned how to interact with different people, how to travel alone, how to plan my time and money and how to be independent

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The overall educational experience was great. UCL was a great school, and there were plenty of resources available. The only downside was that since UCL is such a big university, it's sometimes hard to get interaction with professors and peer student.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Everything else was great except that course selection was a big hassle. The way the selection works is very complicated and confusing.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

It's amazing to have a single room with an en-suite bathroom.

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

We were well exposed to local culture and UCL and IFSA-BUTLER had many events for international students to get to know England. The interaction with local students, however, was limited. For a large amount of time I found myself hanging out with other international students.

* 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

I may choose a different school in England but this study abroad destination is definitely a right choice

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 expensive. However, it is not impossible. Some of its groceries and essentials are even cheaper than where I'm from in the US. It has been helpful to write a ledger and keep track of how much I spent.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 300
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Always stay aware of what you are spending your money on. Only buy those you need to buy and don't waste your money on unnecessary stuff.

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
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local 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 friends I made in London
  • The convenience of travelling
  • The quality of lecture in UCL
* What could be improved?
  • More guidance on how to prepare for an exam in England
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Some little tips of living in London so I wouldn't have been clueless and confused for the first few days.

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.