Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

International Study Abroad London: Fantsastic! Past Review

By (Communication Studies, University of North Carolina - Wilmington) for

ISA Study Abroad in London, England

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
My time in London was fantastic. ISA provided me with the cultural and academic guidance I needed to make the most of my trip.

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.

The teaching methods were not drastically different, though long lectures seem to be the norm. I did appreciate occasionally getting out of the classroom while the professor incorporated tours in the lecture. The grading system was very different, but well explained. It did not demand more than I could handle. When I got back to the states the grade conversion did not negatively affect my GPA.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The living situation was great except for a temporary bug problem. I tried to resolve the issue with the manager myself, but realized that asking for help from the program coordinator got things done a lot faster. The people I lived with were great, most of them were in the same program. It was easy to get to class using the Tube (public subway). The surrounding area was great too, lots of grocery store options, close to the tube stop, easy to find, safe, walking distance to a wide variety of quality bars and other great nightlife spots. Our rooms were cleaned by staff on a weekly basis. They did quality work and my belongings were safe.

* Food:

The food was fantastic pretty much everywhere. It is significantly more fresh than what we have in the United States. It does get expensive to eat out every day though so it was nice to be able to walk to the market and cook when we wanted to save a little.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

There were a ton of events arranged by the program. During the first 3 weeks the tours were almost daily. During the second 3 weeks they offered less, but it was perfect for my friends and I because we started to arrange a few events on our own after we discovered additional things we wanted to do.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

I felt very safe, but mainly because I listened to the advice from the program. I didn't go out alone and I used common sense when it came to meeting new people.

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

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)

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Hotel
  • Hostel
* Who did you live with?

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  • Americans
  • International Students

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Literary London
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Comments: This was a great course. We learned a lot about the greats and their works in London literature. We even toured the city to see where some of these writers lived and got their inspiration.
Credit Transfer Issues: I had no problem transferring my credits back for this course. It even counted as an English credit in my University. In order for this to go smoothly you must make sure you check with your department before taking the class to see if you can substitute classes. If you fill out and return all the paperwork they give you, it should work out fine.
Course Name/Rating:

Jack the Ripper's London
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Instructor:
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Comments: This was a fun and fascinating course. We learned a lot about the legend of Jack the Ripper and took a few field walks to the murder sites. The content was much heavier on the history of Victorian London than I had expected though.
Credit Transfer Issues: There was no problem at all getting my credits transferred back. If you fill out and return all the paperwork they give you, it should all go smoothly.