BADA - You WILL Grow January 30, 2026
By A student (Theater Arts, Brandeis University) - abroad from 09/13/2025 to 12/20/2025 with
Sarah Lawrence College: London - London Theatre Program
Very worthwile!
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Time at BADA is very well spent. It consists of 8 weeks of classes, a 1 week break, and 5 weeks of rehearsals. It was very intense, but that was exactly what I was looking for as someone from a liberal arts college. The program gave me greater confidence in myself as an actor and traveler, and I've already seen the difference with the roles I'm getting at my home university. BADA also sets you up with a community across the world for life--and networking is very important in this industry. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The Stay Club locations a really hard to live in, especially when you're tuckered out after a 9 hour class day. Laundry took 5.5 hours each time, they put pairs in rooms meant for one person and a temperary guest, the beds are solid wood, the rooms have no ventilation, and everything is crafted to prioritize aesthetic over safety and comfort. The program definitely made it worth it, but try finding other accomodations if you're allowed. |
| * Food: |
There was no meal plan, so we were provided with no food. I did improve my cooking skills while there though and there were a plethera of grocery stores and fast food/cafes/restaurants super nearby to BADA and our accommodations in Kentish Town. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I didn't get to know loads of people beyond those at my program, but I did have restaurants I was a regular at, got very comfortable navigating with a map and the Tube system, and tried a lot of new foods and some new experiences. This program doesn't give you loads of time to explore freely, and I often didn't have the energy after classes or even during my break week to go far out, but I did get to know our little corner of London pretty well. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Things are covered there!! I got injured during the program and, though I didn't have the most express experience, everything was covered. I couldn't possibly ask for more than that, being from the US, though with how intense the program was, I did wish I could move things along a bit quicker. |
| * Safety: |
I went in being really scared. Honestly thought I'd surely be mugged in the first week from what my parents were telling me. Didn't get mugged once! I did keep my passport and wallet in a little pouch around my neck and under my top layer, as my traveler parents advised. Everyone in the program got close with folks, so know there will be people to walk to school or other places with. In the Fall (and I'm sure at the start of the Spring semester) you do walk home from school at night. I was paranoid about something happening to me, but I (as a queer man) was not bothered. I do have friends who were catcalled though. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
The growth I immediately underwent even before leaving the program solidifies that it was the right choice. I truly feel I have lifelong connections and that doing theatre in the UK is no longer nothing more than a fanciful dream. I also feel so much more comfortable as an autonomous adult and traveler--feeling like I can do so much more and go so much farther (geographically) after college than I was previously certain of. |
Finances
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* 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) |
Barebones, it was $40-60 on groceries and $14 to do my laundry. I spent more than this, but it was because I'd saved up for over a year for this. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $40-60 on groceries (going to Aldi), $30 a week on eating out, $14 doing laundry, $20-50 a week seeing an additional show. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | - Food goes bad SO quick because of the extensive rules on preservatives. Buy canned and dry goods every one or two weeks and if you want fresh fruit and veggies, you may want to go a couple times a week because you should each it within a couple days. - I got some cheap tupperware on sale and it was a MUST for packing luches and sometimes breakfasts and dinners for school - DO NOT EAT OUT AT EVERY MEAL. It's way too expensive and this program requires you have lasting energy, not just what sugar will give you. - I got a shopping trolley at the start of the program, which was super helpful for carting groceries and laundry (especially as I was already disabled and later sustained an injury) - Bring your own bags to the program (I brought a pair of tote bags, though I often used 3-4 for my groceries) You don't have room to store all the bags you'll acrew if you don't and it'll save you a bit of money - Don't buy more than you'll realistically use in your three months there - Check that your luggage is the right weight and dimensions for your flights there and back AS WELL AS for cheap European airlines, if you think you'll travel for your break - Buy your plane tickets well in advance and buy your return tickets with any family or friends who are coming to see your final performance |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| 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? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | N/A |
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 Academic or LinguistYou went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you! |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Stage Combat |
| Course Department: | Theater |
| Instructor: | Philip d'Orléans |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | This particular instructor had us write extremely comprehensive step-by-step guides to all the moves we only got to do once in class. This took me 8-16 hours a week, which was very hard to cram into the 40 hour class week. The program also was not prepared to meet students' accommodations, so this was a huge barrier for me. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
