UC London: The Best Decision I've Ever Made Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

While the workload was slightly lighter than my home university's, it still required quite a bit of effort. There was still a large amount of reading to do. There were exams, in-class discussions, journals, essays, presentations, lectures, etc. There was also a lot of class time spent outside the classroom, with walking trips all around the city, which was an incredibly difference from my home education.

On-site administration of your program

There weren't any particular weaknesses about the program. Whatever support or services we required, they were met almost instantly and sufficiently. Any questions we had were answered, and any problems we had regarding academics, health, or housing were resolved with no hesitation or judgment. The staff there were incredibly friendly and understanding.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Our flat by itself was very comfortable. However, the building in general had its flaws. The 5-floor building has no elevator, so bringing luggage or groceries up the stairs was a bit of a pain. The entire building only had 2 washer/dryer machines, which frequently broke. And they were located in the basement, so the whole "no elevator" situation was made harder if you had laundry to do and you lived on the 5th floor. It gave you quite the workout, though. The flat, in contrast, was perfect. Each one comes with a proper living room, television, phone line, dishware, cookware and bakware, utensils, etc. The individual rooms have beds, desks, drawers, closets, hangers, lamps, towels, pillows, blankets, etc. Everything you'd need to live comfortably. In regards to nightlife, grocery stores, etc: It was always a 5-10 minute walk to anywhere you needed to go. The location could not have been more perfect. When it comes to groceries and toiletries, everything you need can be found at any location around you.

The grocery stores, in regards to items, are quite different from America's but in a good way. While a lot of the popular American food brands are unavailable in the U.K., their food is still great, and you can cook up whatever you want with what they have. Food quantity is a bit small in comparison to U.S. standards, so you may find yourself having to make frequent trips to the grocery store, perhaps every weekend. There are several restaurants I could recommend. Noodle Oodle, Wagamama, Hummingbird Bakery has the best whoopie pies. My advice would be to wander around, find what you like, or ask locals.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The coach tour of London our first day was pretty great, we went everywhere there was too see. Obviously, our classes take care of the rest. British Museums takes you to every museum in London, London Theatre takes you to the best plays/musicals in the city, and London History takes you on walking trips in every town, shop, street, what have you.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Prior to starting the program, you do have to be medically cleared by both a physician and a psychiatrist. Nothing unusual, just a quick background history of past medical issues, allergies, etc. While I never went to the doctor's office, I know plenty of people who did and their health issues were met fairly quickly. The health insurance situation was, I believe, where you paid up front for your appointment, and the program reimbursed you later. Rather simple. It did take a while to learn how to "walk" in London, considering they drive on the left side of the road. There were quite a few close calls where some of us almost got hit, because we'd always forget which way to look, but you eventually get used to how the roads work.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

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• Apartment

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• Americans

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• Americans