Great quality teaching and facilities, not the greatest area of London. Past Review
By Alexander V (International Relations and Global Studies, The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 01/08/2016 to 04/01/2016 with
Queen Mary University of London Study Abroad programme
I gained a lot on insight on the history of East London and London in general. Traveling after the semester is the best part. During the traveling and the program itself the interaction with people from all over the world expands your understanding of the world. It was definitely worthwhile.
Review Photos
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. |
Classes are very enjoyable, the teachers are great, and the general level of the education is high quality. Quite a bit of reading, and essays at the end of the semester are long and challenging. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Study abroad office at QMUL is fantastic and helpful. The only issue is that if you have to change courses you have to run around departments and it can be a hassle. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived off-campus and in an AirBnb. It was much cheaper than staying on campus (and on campus requires you to stay until June and I finished in April). Regardless, rent in London is very expensive. The area of East London that the university is in is not the prettiest or most entertaining either. |
| * Food: |
The food at Queen Mary was great, but sometimes the selection was lacking. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt integrated, but at times making friends was tough. This is partly my fault as I lived off campus. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
All I had to do was get a Tetanus shot before going. There were no issues during the program. |
| * Safety: |
The city is safe, and nothing out of the ordinary ever happened. But East London just doesn't look safe at times, even though it is. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
London is too expensive, and the area of London is not the best location. |
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) |
Rent and food are very expensive in London. Public transport can end up being a substantial cost. Living on campus may have made this easier. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $150 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Look into getting a tube pass; if you have a kitchen, buy groceries and cook yourself. This will be a huge money saver. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Exchange |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
| 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? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | What the area of East London is like. |
