Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

My time abroad was an incredible experience; I wouldn't trade it for anything. Past Review

By (Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology., The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 09/17/2014 to 12/20/2013 with

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

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned how to be sufficient in a strange city, made incredible new friends and got to experience a completely new part of the world. I will always treasure it.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

My classes were challenging and exciting. Besides that, I had access to resources such as the British Museum and National Gallery which were absolutely incredible!

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The exchange advisors provided by UCL were a bit handsoff, but they were always available when needed.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I loved living in Netherhall, a Catholic dormitory about 15 min. from the University. The guys were really friendly and living in a dorm gave me the opportunity to get to know the country through the English perspective.

* Food:

British food can be a bit bland, but there are definite gems in London if you're willing to look. In particular, seek out cuisine which speaks to London's deeply multicultural identity

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt incredibly welcome by virtually everyone I met. I can't speak highly enough of the friendliness and kindness I experienced in London.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Healthcare was easily obtainable through UCL's clinic.

* Safety:

The city is fairly safe, but London is still a city. All the guidelines for traveling or wandering around a city stateside apply in England.

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)

London is an extremely expensive city. I would recommend eating out only very rarely to cut down on costs.

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? Save money for the things you absolutely want to do. London is very expensive so I didn't get to travel around as much as I would have liked, but I definitely had to enough to see the parts of Europe that I wanted to.

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
  • Other
* 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?
  • Meeting new people
  • seeing and exploring London
  • Learning with great faculty and great resources
* What could be improved?
  • A little more activities/support for foreign students would be appreciated
  • I wish the program had been longer
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I had saved more money and made more of an effort to travel on my own. Funds could be tight so travel was limited.

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 Linguist
You 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:

ARCL2007
Course Department: Archeaology
Instructor: Sophy Downes
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Great course! I learned so much from Sophy and she was incredibly understanding that - as a science student - I didn't have as much expertise with archaeology as some of the other students. We spent about a third of our time in the British Museum, an absolutely extraordinary resource and place to visit!
Credit Transfer Issues: None whatsoever!