Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Memorable Past Review

By (Wellesley College) - abroad from 09/23/2019 to 12/13/2019 with

IES Abroad: London Direct Enrollment - SOAS, University of London

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned a lot about myself and what I could handle, and it was definitely worthwhile and am so glad I came.

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.

School was fine and had good resources, classes weren't as challenging as I had hoped.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

First contact person was great and responded to our many questions promptly and was very helpful. After this contact person the study abroad office was far less helpful.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

My room was fine, bathroom was okay and housing office was typically helpful with concerns. There were some damages to our apartment that took months to address, if at all.

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I had a wonderful time exploring the city and surrounding area with the people I met both in my program and not.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I didn't have any personal experience with the health care process but heard it was great.

* Safety:

Very safe, but if you are a woman or woman-presenting take care at night.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

I would definitely stay within London but would try to attend another university if possible.

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)

Items are definitely more expensive here than in the US, but if you are careful you can do just fine on $100 a week. Groceries were very affordable if you knew where to look.

Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Create a budget and stick with it! But don't keep yourself from having experiences if you are financially able, you only study abroad once.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* 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?
  • People (local and otherwise)
  • Location/proximity to goings-on in the city
* What could be improved?
  • Better study abroad office at abroad institution
  • More living options/help with finding an apartment in London
  • Crash course on living in a major city/London
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? That I'll make a lot of connections and to make sure I go out and experience the city as much as possible.

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.