I got to be British for six months, and it was brilliant. Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I liked my classes in London. I gave four stars because I didn't think it was very rigorous or intense, which is fine. I'm an English major and I think my US classes tended to be more analytical and demanding.

On-site administration of your program

Everyone from the Arcadia London staff is wonderful, and the King's staff was very friendly and willing to help.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived in the Stamford Street apartments, and I gave five stars for the location. Some people complained about the accommodations, namely the bathroom (there was no shower curtain, just a drain in the floor for the shower), but honestly I thought it was fine. It's student accommodations. The location is very close to campus, and it was in a safe location. It's also right by Waterloo Underground station and there are many bus stops nearby. It is central enough to reach most things on foot (20 minute walks). I can't speak for Great Dover Street or Julian Markam Houses.

London food is delicious, as there are tons of great restaurants. There isn't any meal plan at King's, although there is a cafeteria, but I didn't use that. To save money, be sure to cook cheap meals (I made lots of pasta and rice/beans).

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I found it pretty easy to adapt. There is basically no language barrier, beyond just different slang. The British never treated me differently for being American. I never felt like a spectacle.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I never used the healthcare. I just liked that the school basically took care of healthcare for us, the staff (either at King's or the Arcadia campus) are helpful in explaining things, and should I have needed to use the healthcare, it would have been free. London is so clean, you can drink the tap water.

As a woman, I've never felt safer. The Tube/Underground makes it very easy to get around the city. There's really no getting lost, and it is very easy to get home safely, quickly, and reliably. Please not that the Tube closes at midnight. If you're staying out past midnight, either take a night bus (London buses are very reliable, they're just less intuitive than the Tube. Just look up your route before you go out if you plan on taking the bus) or catch a cab. Most of London is safe, but in general, the further you get from the center, the less nice it is. Elephant and Castle isn't the best at night, which is where Julian Markam House is, although I have a female friend who stayed there and noting concerning ever happened. Apparently East London and Camden areas aren't the greatest at night.

I love London. That city stole my heart. The program at King's was also quite good, and I would say that the Arcadia staff especially helped with the transition.

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

London is expensive, so you have to know how to budget. Cooking cheap dishes during the week is your best way to save money. Home-cooked meals tended to cost me 3-4 Pounds per serving. Also, see if it is possible to walk to where you want to go, or look up a bus route, as buses tend to cost half as much as tube rides. Most of my spending came in May after my essays were turned in, since I started eating out more.

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• Dorm

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• Local Students
• Americans
• International Students

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• Local Students
• Americans
• International Students

• Location
• The amount of time King's gave off for exams
• The Arcadia London staff

• It would have been nice to take classes in multiple subjects (due to scheduling, I cpulnd't take film studies with my english classes)
• I'd have liked to be in the same housing as another Arcadia Glenside student who was also studying at King's.

The Outright Urbanite