Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

For in London there is all that life can afford Past Review

By (Business Administration - Marketing & Communication (Strategic), Berea College) - abroad from 01/06/2015 to 05/23/2015 with

University of Westminster: London - Study Abroad Semester or Year with an Optional Internship

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Life is about who you know, not what you know. The connections I made in the city have proven that time and time again. The relationships we built made my time in London worth every second.

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.

I found the education system in England very different. The classes proved not to be difficult.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

My onsite coordinator was very kind, but he was unavailable for the first few weeks I was in the country.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

My program's housing fell through so I stayed in hotels for the first few weeks of my program. After I moved out of the hotel I moved into a place that was very different from where I had been promised I would stay.

* Food:

England is often ridiculed for its bland, uninspiring food and while this can prove accurate, I find that London has some of the best cuisine in the world. My personal favorite was the selection and quality of Indian food available in the city, but there is such a large selection of quality foods and markets that I felt saturated in food culture!

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

There is not enough time to write about how thankful I am for the Londoners I met during my time abroad. These people really did make my experience what it turned out to be. The connections I formed will last far into my future, and I am so thankful for all of the adventures we had!

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

The NHS in the UK is quite incredible. I had an experience where I needed urgent care and I found it to be very accessible and completely free. Go UK for having an awesome system like this!

* Safety:

CCTV is prevalent everywhere. I feel that the presence of a consistent surveillance system in the city prevents criminal activity. I never felt endangered in the city, and if any crimes where committed (theft, or other petty crimes) local authorities were able to track down the perpetrators using CCTV.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

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 one of the most expensive cities in the world, and the strength of their currency does not make living there any easier.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $250+
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? If you are traveling to London, sign up for a student oyster card, shop at local markets, and always check for places with student discounts.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • International Students
  • Other
* 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? 10+

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The locals that I met
  • The city
  • The students in my program
* What could be improved?
  • My program's logistics
  • My program's communication
  • My program's transparency
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I had known how easy the schooling would be and how important it is to make local connections early on.

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 Urbanite
A 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.