Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

University College London Overall Review Past Review

By (The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 09/24/2012 to 12/14/2012 with

University College London (UCL): London - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained a broader perspective on what people are like and how they behave regardless of nationality or culture, a lot of great friends with whom I will keep up and visit in the future, a better grasp on writing essays and managing my academic time, great knowledge of everything in London, and many happy memories.

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.

Three stars because of the course work and graded assignments. For each history class I took, the grades came from two essays. Each class session was on a topic within the overall theme, and we were expected to read material on the topic. Our essays were based on the topics of two separate class sessions and discouraged focusing on the other topics.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Not a lot of information given to students and very slow in action. Did not alter the essay requirements until October, when some students had already written their essays.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Rooms and refrigerators are very small, many messes were not cleaned up quick enough, and the showers were never hot enough and some were never hot at all.

* Food:

Great tasting food and a lot of it, though dessert always runs out too soon and the Christmas dinner was awful due to poor management.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Everyone is very friendly and it was easy to make friends despite the fact that I would only be there for a short while.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Did not need healthcare but I'm sure it's better than in the U.S.

* Safety:

The campus and my residential building were in a very safe area of the city, and the building itself was very safe, though a resident could let in anyone they wanted.

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)

I spent, on average, 150 pounds a week on food, living supplies, and personal expenses. I did have access to a kitchen and fridge and was able to save money by cooking my own food and going to the union bars.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 150 pounds
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Buy from the union, cook your own food, and save up for going out because it's in UCL student culture to go out multiple times a week and it's not fun when you have to stay home or can't buy that much.

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

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • 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?
  • Social opportunities
  • Cultural understanding
  • Academic involvement
* What could be improved?
  • Coursework
  • University administration
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? That all of the courses I took would be counted only as one course at my home university.

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 Networker
An active student leader, it was important for you to network abroad as well. Once overseas, you sought out student clubs, volunteered with local organizations, or attended community events. You encouraged your friends join you, and often considered how you could reflect your international experiences in a resume.