Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Life Changing September 01, 2026

By (Brandeis University) - abroad from 01/14/2026 to 06/05/2026 with

Arcadia: London - Queen Mary University of London

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned a lot about myself, the global world, and life skills

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.

My educational experience is on par with, if not harder than, that abroad. The amount of content is about the same, but there are fewer opportunities to improve your overall grade. Resources were good; there were smaller lectures with TAs for students to ask questions and review content.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The administration for the program was helpful and supportive.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I enjoyed my living arrangements. I enjoyed cooking for myself; my flatmates were nice. It was a good location, and everything was clean. I do wish there was AC during the heat wave.

* Food:

Cooking for myself was a needed experience. London is culturally diverse so it was fun to learn about different types of food.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

People were very nice and curious about my experience. It was very easy to get around and learn about different parts of the city.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I did not have any health issues

* Safety:

I felt really safe on campus, even at night.

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

I had so much fun and there was more I wanted to do

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)

2.5, It was easy to survive, but it was difficult to do more than just survive. When I had an internship, it got costly to commute to work.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $400
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Plan and buy any trips as early as possible. Invest in student public transport cards. Find affordable grocery shops. Budget ahead of time.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

0

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Fluent
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Fluent
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? None
How many hours per day did you use the language? 10+
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Talk to natives

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • 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?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The People
  • The Schedule
  • The Freedom
* What could be improved?
  • More options for internship
  • More financial help for internships
  • N/A
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Budget ahead of time; time will fly, so use every day and take part in program-hosted events.

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.