Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

London is fantastic, the LSE is what you make of it Past Review

By (Economics and Urban Studies, Trinity University) - abroad from 09/19/2011 to 06/15/2012 with

London School of Economics (LSE): London - General Course, Year-Long Study Abroad Programme

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned how to take care of myself in a way I had never done before - managing my finances, cooking, ensuring that I studied sufficiently without the structure that Trinity provides.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The resources at the LSE are great; however, you're only in class for about 10 hours a week so most of your learning happens outside class. The school is as academically rigorous as you make it - the suggested reading seems endless, but the actual workload is very manageable.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

While Mark Hoffman was very helpful, there could definitely have been more social events during orientation.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Construction during exam time in the halls.

* Food:

N/A

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Taking classes with and joining the same clubs as regular LSE students, as well as the highly multicultural student body meant that it's very easy to find a place within the local (student) culture. London has a lot to do and it's very easy to find a place to fit in.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Being abroad for a year, we are eligible for NHS, which was easy to access, free, and efficient for basic medical treatments.

* Safety:

As long as you're careful and responsible, London is not an unsafe city

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 is expensive, but on a year-long student visa, one is eligible for part-time employment during term time.

* Was housing included in your program cost? Yes
* Was food included in your program cost? No
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $75
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Cook with friends, pack your own lunch

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
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local 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?
  • Emphasis on academics
  • Quality of resources
* What could be improved?
  • Integration activities
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? The economics classes are very quantitative, and I probably wouldn't have taken one had I known the extent to which math was needed.

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!