Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

A Year in London: City Living, Lots of Rain, and So, So, So, Much Reading Past Review

By (ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE/LETTERS., Middlebury College) - abroad from 09/23/2013 to 06/13/2014 with

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

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I loved living in London--it's a great city and there's so much to do. I also enjoyed seeing a different education system, though I prefer the liberal arts model. It was also nice to have and opportunity to try new things.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The English program is very different from US programs. There is much less overall work, but the standards seem to be higher.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

UCL's overall paperwork is sloppy and slow. Inside the English department, everything worked smoothly.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

I cooked for myself.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Being there for a year allowed me to really join and participate with groups.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

London's pretty safe. I had one incident where I was randomly hit in the face, but other than that I never felt threatened, at night or anywhere.

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 a very expensive city.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? I spent roughly 80 dollars on food and supplies per week.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Definitely look at public transport-I was able to walk almost everywhere, but if you're taking the bus to get to school, it becomes much more expensive.

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? Direct Enrollment

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?
  • The professors
  • The location
* What could be improved?
  • The paperwork
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Take really good notes if you're sitting exams, because no one wants to spend spring break rereading all of you books.

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:

Chaucer and his Literary Background
Course Department: English
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This course was all Chaucer, which was sometimes challenging, but also provided a lot of depth. I would recommend it for a fall semester but not spring--by the spring term, we were already expected to read Middle English competently. There is a final six-hour exam.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Moderns II
Course Department: English
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments: A good course that covered works written after 1945. The seminars were varied and great, the overall course was a little vague. We looked at novels, films, poetry, and plays. Either semester could be taken as a stand-alone course. It has a final three-hour exam.
Credit Transfer Issues: It is not just English writers and it is not just American writers.
Course Name/Rating:

Shakespeare
Course Department: English
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This course was only Shakespeare, and covered four set plays and other themes. Both semesters could be stand-alone courses. The quality of the lectures felt slightly higher than the other courses. I highly recommend this course. It has a final six-hour exam.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

The Romantic Period
Course Department: English
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This course covered both set authors and some common themes throughout the Romantic period. This made it both very interesting and varied, and very hard to review for. The seminars were good, and both semesters could be stand-alone courses. It has a final three-hour exam.
Credit Transfer Issues: