Study Abroad Experience at UCL February 16, 2024

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I had amazing professors during my time at UCL who were very knowledgable about their respective subject areas. However, I did not experience much interaction between the students and the professor in most of my classes which was unfortunate. The class sizes were also significantly larger when compared to my home university so it was harder to establish a relationship with your professor.

On-site administration of your program

The on-site administration at UCL was helpful in navigating my course choices and answering any questions I had about coursework. At times, it can be hard to find the specific contact person for affiliate students at UCL depending on the specific question you want answered.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

UCL has a ton of housing options and most of their accomodation buildings are a short walk or tube ride away from campus. I stayed at St Pancras which was a relatively newer building equipped with all facilities I needed (laundry, common study spaces, 24/7 help desk). I also had my own room with a private bathroom which was really nice. I really enjoyed living here!

In most cases, you will not be on a dining plan as a junior studying abroad at UCL (most dorms are not catered) so you will need to make your own arrangements for food. Having said that, London has TONS of food options spread across multiple cuisines so there should be something for everyone. There is also several food delivery options around the UCL area if you do not feel like stepping out on any given day.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Since London is a very global city with people from all over, I instantly felt at home when I arrived there. I got the opportunity to meet a lot of fellow international students which was helpful. UCL also usually organises some mixers for affiliate students to get to know each other at the beginning of the program.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I did not personally experience any health issues during my time abroad but UCL offers some resources with the NHS for students to access such as signing up for a general practitioner (GP).

Like any other major city, London has areas which might not be as safe as others. It is recommended to have a good sense of the area you are residing in and to travel with a group, especially if you plan to go out late at night. London is especially known for pickpockets in touristy areas so that is something to be mindful of.

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

London is an expensive city but there is always tons of options to choose from based on your budget.

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• Dorm

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• Local Students
• Americans
• International Students

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• Local Students
• Americans
• International Students

• The people I met
• London as a city

• More ways to interact with the professors
• Better contact resources at UCL for study abroad students
• More opportunities to interact with Wellesley students in UK