Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

London and traveling through Europe Past Review

By (History, Middlebury College) - abroad from 01/07/2015 to 06/05/2015 with

Queen Mary University of London Study Abroad programme

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned that it is very difficult to live abroad, even for somebody like myself who has traveled a lot, and is fairly comfortable in new surroundings. It was a very good experience, and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Review Photos

University of London - Queen Mary: London - Direct Enrollment & Exchange Photo University of London - Queen Mary: London - Direct Enrollment & Exchange Photo University of London - Queen Mary: London - Direct Enrollment & Exchange Photo University of London - Queen Mary: London - Direct Enrollment & Exchange Photo University of London - Queen Mary: London - Direct Enrollment & Exchange Photo

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.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The administrators at QMUL were fairly incompetent. In the lead up to my acceptance, they appeared to be unaware of how rigorous of a school Middlebury is, as they have the same admission standards for Study abroad Students from all schools.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

The food is terrible on campus, which should be expected as it is England. London has many outstanding options, and the Supermarkets are affordable, and there are a few within walking distance of campus. I cooked or went out for my meals.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I had no health issues.

* Safety:

London was very safe. A lot of people I encountered abroad seemed to be in fear the majority of the time, but if you aren't stupid, you should be fine.

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

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)

For me it was very easy, but I had a lot of help from generous and able parents. For a student of average means, London would be extremely expensive.

Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? London has reasonably price supermarkets which helps, Don't buy things in London that you can get at home, as they will probably be twice as expensive in the UK.

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
  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
* 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?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • I easily met British students
  • London is an incredible city, and It was fairly easy to travel around Europe at low cost
  • The amount of time I had off while abroad was fantastic.
* What could be improved?
  • QMUL was horrible at introducing us to other people. They really need to improve the orientation.
  • The amount of time it will take for me to get my grades in about 6 weeks. I thought Middlebury was bad about that, but they are great compared to QMUL.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? How complex the bureaucracies on British Universities are. I knew that Queen Mary was not in a nice neighborhood, but many students were surprised by this, so for some this might be a good piece of information to have. The pre-departure meeting was great, and really helped me get a better understanding of what to expect.

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.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

London and It's Museums
Course Department: History
Instructor: Gregory Salter
Instruction Language: English
Comments: The professor was very bad, but it was an interesting course. He had too many students in the class, and just gave the same grade for both assignments, leading me to believe that he either only read one assignment, or neither.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Unravelling Britain: British History since 1801
Course Department: History
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Very interesting class. I can't comment on how I was assessed because They take about a month and a half to give me my grades.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

The Crusades (1095-1291)
Course Department: History
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Very interesting material. Definitely my most difficult class.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Background to British Politics
Course Department: Politics
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Very interesting class, and not too challenging. I would say this is a must take for any student who wants to learn about British Politics and Modern History while they are in London.
Credit Transfer Issues: