The time of my life! Past Review

By (Trinity University) - abroad from 01/02/2016 to 06/11/2016 with

IFSA: London - Queen Mary, University of London

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned a lot about myself - what I'm capable of, what the boundaries of my comfort zone look like, and what I might want to do later in life. I think it was really worthwhile, because I've definitely grown a lot as a person - more than I would have if I had simply stayed home.

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.

The day-to-day course load wasn't exactly as much as I was used to at home, but the evaluations did require the same amount of preparation

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I really liked my flat, and it was a great way to meet local students in an intimate setting that you wouldn't normally get from classes.

* Food:

It was self-catering, so the quality of the food was largely up to me.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

It took me a while to feel integrated into the local culture, but I'm not sure if I ever really felt like a part of the university community as a whole.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

The local healthcare system was pretty easily manageable compared to what I'm used to at home. The staff were helpful and answered my questions, and I was able to get a prescription for medication I needed.

* Safety:

London was a very safe city

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

This program was very helpful when it came to adjusting to a new environment, and it was nice to know that I had such a large support network if I ever needed it. The school was nice, too, and I really liked having an actual campus where I could simply walk to class from my dorm.

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 is a very expensive place, but I think I did manage to save money fairly well, considering the cost of living

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $175
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Try to cook for yourself, since you can get a lot more at the grocery store than you can eating out; if you need to use the Underground a lot, get a student Oyster card and use the discounts on travel cards

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?
  • Being in London
  • Integration with local students
  • Course content
* What could be improved?
  • Activities or suggested activities early on in the program
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? It's very important to make yourself go out and meet people and see things yourself

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 Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!