Studying abroad in London -- friends, diaspora, and fun Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I did the Study Abroad Plus Programme and took three classes (modules) and found an internship instead of taking four modules. I'll comment on both. I ended up not taking any of the classes/modules I had planned on taking, partly because they're really strict on the number of prerequisites needed. If they say you need three prerequisites for a module, they really are serious that they won't let you take it without them. Honestly, it was kind of a turnoff for me because I have friends who were able to take the level 5 (intermediate) social science courses I wasn't able to and said you didn't need any background knowledge for those courses. In the end, it all ended up being fine. I took three introductory (level 4) classes (two history and one philosophy) and really did quite enjoy them. They were all way less intense than any similar classes I've taken at my home institution, but I still feel like I learned. The layout of the semester is different and more relaxed (i.e. you don't have tons of deadlines to meet all the time), and I personally appreciated the chance to get to experience that kind of learning. Because you don't have as many deadlines it's important to take initiative in your work and stay motivated. It can be challenging at times, but when you find the things in your modules that interest you it's not too hard to stay engaged. Looking back I think it was a blessing in disguise because I got a chance to practice my reading and writing skills in a relatively less stressful environment as compared to my home institution. I found my seminar leaders, who were grad students, to be quite accessible and helpful. They were encouraging in seminar and also scheduled individual times to meet about papers. Because of my positive experiences with them, I push my rating from 3.5 to 4. As far as the internship was concerned, finding one was no doubt kinda stressful, and navigating a new system was a bit challenging. The careers and employability office is helpful overall, but not every visit there is always super helpful. There is no guaranteed internship for you. You'll have to find one yourself. Definitely a great experience, though. I felt really good once I finally got one in the middle of March.

On-site administration of your program

I did the Study Abroad Plus Programme and got to interact with both the 1) study abroad office and 2) careers and employability office. 1) I had good experiences with most of the people in the study abroad office. They weren't always the best at responding to emails in a timely fashion. Module registration was a bit of a pain because they were really strict on you having the required number of prerequisites (which, honestly, didn't always seem necessary). Some of the members of the admin team seemed a bit superficial and abrasive to me, but some were also really nice and helpful. I wouldn't take it as anything personal, though. I think some of it might have just been cultural differences in how we present ourselves and communicate. All of this said, if you need help with anything, go to the study abroad office and you will get the help you need. The people who work in the office regularly are quite chill. 2) The people in careers and employability were nice but they weren't always the most helpful. I guess it depends on your questions and who you see. Two times my experience was kind of blah, but the third time it was great. Still, accessing their services helped me get an idea about what it's like to apply for something in the English system (i.e. differences in CV formatting, interviews, different sectors, etc.), which was no doubt helpful. The tutor for Study Abroad Plus students (who was herself a lecturer in the liberal arts) was absolutely wonderful and encouraging. She even gave me a few names of organizations to reach out to that might interest me. If you do this track, reach out to your tutor!

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I was placed in Wolfson House, which is right on the edge of Guy's Campus, at the edge of central London. It was absolutely awesome. I loved being so close to the South Bank and having easy access to the Tube (London Bridge Station is about a 3-4 minute walk!). All my lectures and seminars were at Strand Campus and it was a nice ~45-55 minute walk. I only took public transport there once or twice; otherwise I walked. I had a small room to myself, which worked out just fine for me. It was a bit annoying having to share a small kitchen with 13 other people at times because I guess everyone has different ideas of a clean kitchen. It was definitely messy quite often, not to mention a bit crowded if there were more than 2-3 people trying to cook at the same time. But it was okay and I was able to manage. I would try to finish up in kitchen quickly and then go back to my room to eat.

There was no meal plan so I cooked my own food. As expected, groceries are a bit pricey, but you can definitely find a way to buy on a budget and still have good meals. I think it's definitely possible to live on 20-25 pounds a week. Growing up in a pretty big family, I never realized how little I really need to eat and how hard it can be to buy groceries and cook for one person. Definitely a valuable experience. The fruits and veggies are great. I didn't eat out much, partially because I didn't want to spend the money. But once in a while it's totally fine. It's great to check out outdoor markets during lunch time (for example, Exmouth Market near Angel, Farmer's Market at Guy's Campus every Tuesday, Borough High Market). Restaurants in the area and/or local farmers will come together in a square or something and set up stalls where you can get a boxed lunch for 4-7 pounds. There is probably every type of cuisine you could possible think of in London. Some places (restaurants and ethnic grocery stores) might take some snooping around to find, but there are definitely options.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I had such a great time with the Sikh Society. Part of the reason I chose to come to London was to explore another part of the Sikh diaspora, and I'm so thankful to have gotten the chance to hang out with such cool people and make such great friends. I did the Study Abroad Plus Programme and got to interact more closely with locals through it. I had a really great time and made some great friends through it.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I got a cold once but I had time to sleep it off and heal on my own, so it wasn't much of an issue. Otherwise, I didn't have an experience with healthcare or any health related issues.

I felt pretty safe when I went out. I never really ventured into unsafe areas; I stayed either with others or in highly populated areas. In these areas I would walk back from places alone at night and never felt unsafe. That said, it's always good to take precautions--walk with someone at night, stay in well lit areas, etc.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

I was able to cut out a big cost by walking from place to place. London is really walkable and I walked the 2-2.5 miles to Strand Campus every day I had class except for one or two days. The bus is cheaper than the tube, so if you don't wanna walk but don't wanna pay for the tube, taking the bus is a decent option. There are lots of bus stops. Food was my biggest expense. I made my own food and ate out rarely. It was a bit challenging in the beginning but once you get a feel for the grocery stores it's definitely possible to spend about 20-25 pounds (~$35-45) per week on groceries, which isn't too bad. I brought spices, a small pot, and a couple dishes from home and didn't need to spend on those things, but you may have to spend a bit more in the beginning to get started.

Select all that apply

• Dorm

Select all that apply

• Local Students
• Americans
• International Students

Select all that apply

• Local Students
• Americans
• International Students

• Being able to do an internship for credit
• Housing in central London, near a KCL campus
• Being able to access pretty much everything any other KCL student has access to

• Better publicity of Study Abroad Plus--what it is, how to go about doing it, etc.
• Better email communication with the Study Abroad Office (faster and more clear responses)
• An easier to navigate course/module browser

The Networker