Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

A pioneer program with solid foundations and the prospect of future improvement Past Review

By (Economics., Fordham University) - abroad from 08/30/2012 to 12/19/2012 with

Fordham University: London Liberal Arts

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
A better sense of the diversity of social, economic, and political experiences within the English-speaking world.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

City University was a good experience CAPA less so, the course (Britain in the 20th Century) felt watered down

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Bloomsbury (where the housing was in Fall 2012) is a very nice neighborhood

* Food:

A lot of options in London

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Lived with Americans and studied with Americans

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Fortunately never had to use it, but it was comforting knowing we had access to

* Safety:

I felt very safe in central London. Be smart and almost always you'll be safe.

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)

London as a city is quite expensive. Fortunately there are cheaper options at the supermarkets

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? About 40 pounds ($65)
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Buy Sainsbury's Basics, Tesco Everyday Value, or Waitrose Essentials. Also, Britain has "sell-by" dates that are often very conservative. Most stores (including those above and Co-Op Food) will sell these for a reduced rate on this date so they don't have to throw them away. You can get some great deals, including on items that can be frozen to keep them safely.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • 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?
  • Great city to study abroad
  • Good to study at City University with British and non-American international students
* What could be improved?
  • More immersion (living with or at least next to non-Americans)
  • More communication between Fordham and the direct-enroll schools (registering for City University took place just a few days before classes began)
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Pay-as-you-go phones are easy and cheap to buy in London; don't worry about it before travelling. Flights with EasyJet and Ryan Air are a cheap way to get elsewhere in Europe.