Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

London is everything I dreamed of and more Past Review

By (University of California - Berkeley) - abroad from 07/08/2017 to 07/29/2017 with

University of Westminster: London - Summer School

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained such an appreciation and love for the city of London through exploring the different museums, historical monuments, and arts, as well as living/commuting in the city.

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.

I would not consider the course I took to be rigorous or intense, but it was enjoyable. I liked my professor and felt that there were enough resources to ensure success in the course.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

University of Westminster admin did an amazing job communicating and coordinating with us.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I liked having my own room and felt that the living arrangements had everything we needed. Shared kitchen was a nice, large communal space for a floor of 6 people and 2 bathrooms were enough. Great cleanliness.

* Food:

Mostly left to our own devices for food. London has plenty of great options although prices can be high. For lunch on school days, grab-and-go places like Pret-A-Manger, EAT, etc. were fantastic.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Commuting every day and having a lot of freedom to set our own schedules outside of class gave us the perfect opportunities to integrate with local culture.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I had no health issues during the program.

* Safety:

As a whole London is quite safe, but as with any big city, don't walk alone late at night (especially girls) and avoid deserted areas. Keep an eye on your bag when in a crowd.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

I had an amazing time in London with the University of Westminster. I felt that UW really pushed us to explore London, either through our classes or outside of them. By the end I felt that I had truly gotten to know the city. UW admin and professors are fantastic and really encouraging.

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)

It's not hard to live on a student's budget if you are only going to class and eating the most inexpensive options (e.g. grab-and-go, fast food, or cooking yourself). However, if you wish to eat out at slightly nicer restaurants and see/explore London, costs add up quickly.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $300
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Ordering tickets online for attractions like cathedrals and palaces is usually a couple pounds cheaper than getting them at the door, so plan ahead. Always ask/check if there's a student discount. If you want to see a theatre show, check out the TKTS booth in Leicester Square for 50% off tickets (great seats too!).

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

  • Americans
* 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? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Social program
  • Ample free time and flexibility to explore London
  • Very cool administrators/professors
* What could be improved?
  • More academic rigor
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Roughly how much things cost and how to budget for the 3 weeks. Better understanding of the geography of London (the different areas/neighborhoods and what can be found in each).

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.