Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Unbelievable. Once in a lifetime. Past Review

By (University of Houston) - abroad from 09/10/2016 to 12/18/2016 with

KEI Abroad in London, England

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
The most worthwhile experience I have ever had. I gained friends, experiences, and knowledge.

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.

Academically, the program was not too demanding but were all interesting with good lecturers. I was able to keep up with my school work and have plenty of time to socialize, explore London, and travel most weekends.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The study abroad advisors at LSBU were great. Very helpful and genuinely interested in our London experience.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The David Bomberg House in Southwark was very nice. There was a good mix of students and it was very community oriented. I was able to always socialize with someone there and make a lot of friends and the staff was so nice. Rooms were great and I got my own private bathroom and room.

* Food:

There are so many great places to eat in London if you look for them. Mercato Metropolitano and Borough Market in Southwark are awesome places with tons of different food varieties and The Ship Pub has great fish and chips, burgers, and beer. All very close to the school.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I did not have any health concerns, but I was able to use the UK NHS anytime I needed.

* Safety:

I felt very safe in London. Being from Texas everyone is allowed to carry a gun on their hip and do. It was nice to know no one around me had weapons on them and most of the city has really nice, safe neighborhoods.

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

It was everything I wanted, needed, and more.

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 a very expensive city. If you are diligent about eating and travel you can be economical, but everything is expensive regardless. It was not easy for my to live frugally, especially with not working also. Prepare to spend a small fortune.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 100-200 pounds/week on food and London activities. More if I planned a trip to Europe for the weekend.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Take out large amounts of cash. Keep most of it hidden in your room, and only carry 20-30 pounds with you at a time. You will only pay a one time small ATM fee and will be able to limit your spending. Hide your money very well though somewhere safe in your room and keep it locked whenever you leave.

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?
  • London
* What could be improved?
  • Not much
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? How much I would need to spend. And how much I should've budgeted for what?

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 Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.