The crucial study and travel experience Past Review
By Xueying C (English Language and Literature, Wellesley College) - abroad from 01/12/2015 to 06/12/2015 with
University College London (UCL): London - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
What made my experience worthwhile was the ability to travel and interact with so many cultures and people. It's very easy to travel from London and while you take courses at UCL. I took flights to other countries during weekends and during the month-long Easter Break during the whole of April. After visiting so many places that are so often spoken about (Rome, Paris, Barcelona, Istanbul, even Marrakech in Morroco) and learning about the history of Europe, I feel more empowered and competent to travel and make decisions for myself. I also learned more about England itself and its politics and culture just by talking with other people. It was nice to compare English and American culture, even joke about it. While I didn't become super close with local students, I became close with other international and study abroad students. I would still recommend UCL to anyone who want to study abroad in London and travel throughout Europe. It still has the best academics and you'll still learn something, but the experience will help you grow more as a person and citizen of the world than a student.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
My courses in the English department were very low key in comparison to my courses at home. I also took economics courses and while I still learned the material, it didn't feel as challenging, which was nice because I also wanted to take a break from my usual stressful academic life at home. There also aren't as many resources so readily available all the time. They were there, but it took some digging out. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
UCL is a large university so I didn't really get to see much of the administration on campus, unless I had an issue. Even then, they were inflexible. The English department wants people to choose their courses the same day they receive the course times and catalog, and they become displeased if you try to switch courses afterward. Schedules for exams are also very inflexible, unless you fall ill or have an emergency. I won a trip to Japan last May, but they wouldn't let me take my exam at a different time. When I entered to competition for the trip, I had no idea when I would take my exams until the school released the schedule at the end of April. Luckily, I was able to postpone my trip for a day, but I don't know what I would have done if I couldn't. They would not have let me taken the exam until the next year. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I liked my student room overall. It was expensive (£150/wk) but it was also 10 minutes away from King's Cross walking and in the heart of London. There wasn't a living room in our flat, but it's a great way to meet other international, mostly first-year students. I also felt very safe in the neighborhood where I was between King's Cross and Holburn. |
| * Food: |
If you choose to cook for yourself, it's not very expensive. There are local grocery stores every few blocks in London. I probably spent between £25 to £40 pounds a week for veggies, some protein, and grains. Eating out can be expensive, but you can still find decent places for £10 or under. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
It's hard to get to know English students and people at UCL since there are so many international students and the English seem to keep to themselves. I think London's culture is more international nowadays, but the international students are very friendly and inviting. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
UK healthcare is free, even for students so seeing the doctor of any kind was never a problem. I would say the healthcare was better in the UK and then U.S. in some areas, especially since UCL's clinic has walk-ins. |
| * Safety: |
I never felt unsafe in London, though I have heard of violence committed in other areas of London where I did not live. I would recommend just being smart about walking about at night, if you're coming home from an event. The lighting is decent along the main streets, so don't go down any darker or less frequented ways. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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) |
I would say around 3. Like I spent around £25-£40 a week on food, but that was mostly my main expense. I would also go out once a week or so for dinner, which would end up around £10, and an event. They often have theatre, dance or performances for £5-£15 for students; it's just a matter of scoping out these deals online. Museums are also free and UCL pubs also have deals on drinks throughout the week. Transportation can also get expensive, but I would also walk a lot more than I used to or take the bus, which is a lot cheaper than the tube. It took me 20-30 minutes to walk to Chinatown or Trafalgar Square from where I lived and it was a nice stroll on a good day. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Around $100 or less. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Look for theatre and ballet deals online. I was able to see Alice in Wonderland the ballet for £8 and musicals for £5 or £10. I also loved eating at Chop Chop noodle (£4/dish), Paolina's Thai Cafe (£7/dish), Sonargaon Buffet on Brick Lane (£7 buffet/person). They were definitely your cheap eats, but still pretty tasty and definitely filling. If you're into dancing, Bar Salsa has rising entrance fees on Friday/Saturday nights that range from free to £8, increasing throughout the night. Heaven, London's premier gay club, also hosts celebrities for a few songs, which you can see for £5. There are also student club nights, which you can get into for free or almost free depending on the club or day you go on. Generally, just keep an eye out online or ask around. |
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
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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? | I wish I knew how I could best go about mingling with local students and more information on how the courses were structured at UCL as well as how to best tackle them. UCL also does not provide very information about how the school year is structured until you get there, which makes planning for travel a bit difficult. |
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 Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
