Great Program and Fantastic City Past Review
By Reid (Indiana University - Bloomington) - abroad from 01/05/2017 to 04/15/2017 with
IES Abroad: London - Study London
As with most individuals, I became even more independent during my time. I gained valuable work experience through my internship as well as applicable education from my professors. The staff at IES London cares about their students, which shows through in the overall experience.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The teaching staff is all well educated with industry experience. These individuals are passionate about their work and truly care about students learning the materials, not simply for a grade. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The administrative staff was well prepared to answer any questions. The programs that were setup by the administrators were well organized and quite enjoyable. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The rooms are very small, with accompanying small bathrooms. All the facilities one would need are available, however. Students have access to a shared kitchen, bathrooms, laundry, gym, and social spaces. The building had recently been renovated, so all facilities were in good condition. |
| * Food: |
London has no shortage of amazing foods to choose from. The restaurants in the area are great and you don't have to travel far to experiment with any cuisine. It is also great to take advantage of the various markets around the city, where the street food is amazing. The only downside of food is the small amount of food storage at the housing. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I ended up leaving London with countless local friends as a result of my getting involved in the community. I spent most of my weekends in London, so I was able to learn the city like the back of my hand and build many strong relationships. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I didn't have many healthcare issues, but the insurance setup was clear and easy to understand. Those I knew that required medical attention were able to do so without much difficulty. |
| * Safety: |
I always felt sage in London. There are always lots of people around, which can provide a feeling of safety for those that require it. During my semester in London, there was an attack in the city in Westminster, and the communication from IES was prompt and clear. The safety policies are straight forward and I never felt uncomfortable during my entire program. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
There are tons of opportunities to experience in London and the program offers the perfect balance between school, work, and social activities. |
Finances
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* 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) |
The city of London is without a doubt an expensive one, yet with a frugal mindset, the experience is very doable. I made sure to streamline my food expenditures, and made smart choices about what experiences to pay for. If you are a budget conscious individual, there should be no issue managing spending for the semester. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $100+ |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | It is easy to spend lots of money going out for food. While food storage is limited at the housing location, it is still manageable to purchase and cook most of your meals. It is also important to understand that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity, so if you want to splurge a little bit this is the time to do so. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? | 10+ |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Go in without any expectations and make the experience your own. Everyone will tell you how amazing their time was, and what they did while abroad, but it is crucial to do what you will enjoy. Also, get out of your comfort zone and go make some local friendships, Londoners are great people! |
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 Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
