Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Expanded my academic knowledge and my social skills. May 12, 2021

By (University of Copenhagen) - abroad from 01/15/2020 to 06/01/2020 with

Queen Mary University of London Study Abroad programme

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
How great university life can be. How shit my courses at home were. How easily I can make nice friends and grow as a person. Very worthwhile.

Review Photos

Queen Mary University of London Study Abroad programme Photo Queen Mary University of London Study Abroad programme Photo Queen Mary University of London Study Abroad programme Photo Queen Mary University of London Study Abroad programme Photo Queen Mary University of London Study Abroad programme Photo

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Really good courses with excellent professors, good curriculum that was both interesting and relevant. Good adjustments due to coronavirus.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

People were very nice and helpful but it was very stressful to get my modules since they were basically only secured one day before I had to go on exchange. Also, I had many IT problems for weeks which made me unable to access course literature - eventually, after more than seven visits to IT and other departments, it was discovered that the problem stemmed from my name having Danish letters (Å, Ø) in it.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I found my own living quarters since all of the campus accommodation was shown as booked on the website. After I arrived I talked to them again and they said that they actually did have spare rooms - but by then I had already signed another contract. The accommodation staff (private, not university-owned) were also quite rude to several of my friends.

* Food:

There are not that many food options on campus but there are many places nearby where you can eat.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

London is perhaps my favourite city in the world and it has so many great opportunities for exploration and fun. However, most of the British students didn't seem very interested in making friends with an exchange student. I did get some British friends but most of my friends were other exchange students or international students.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Didn't have any health issues. University handled coronavirus well.

* Safety:

Didn't have any issues related to safety.

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

It was excellent. Downsides are the initial loneliness, especially as I lived alone and was the only exchange student in all of my courses.

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 extremely expensive, especially when it comes to accommodation. The Underground is pretty cheap and many things (like the British Museum) are free.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 2800 kr
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Really try to get campus accommodation.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

All of my courses were in a foreign language.

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Fluent
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Fluent
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? High School English
How many hours per day did you use the language? 10+
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Video games, literature, movies, make foreign friends

Direct Enrollment/Exchange

* Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? Exchange

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The courses
  • The many societies
  • The locations and int. students
* What could be improved?
  • Module selection
  • Accommodation communication
  • Initiatives for exchange students
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? That coronavirus would cut the stay short

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!

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

HST5381 - NARRATIVES OF THE RAJ: THE HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA, 1757-1947
Course Department: School of History
Instructor: Kim Wagner
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Really good course, challenging in the way that it deconstructed and investigated different historical narratives in a very nice way.
Credit Transfer Issues: No
Course Name/Rating:

HST5386 - FROM THE TSARS TO THE BOLSHEVIKS: RUSSIA 1801-1921
Course Department: School of History
Instructor: Jamie Freeman
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Really good and interesting course, explored parts of history that might otherwise not be fully understood like the importance of the abolition of serfdom etc. No field trips etc. I participated a lot, also because some students didn't seem that interested in the course. Assessment was a single written exam because of coronavirus.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

HST5380 - AMERICA IN THE AGE OF CAPITAL: FROM THE GILDED AGE TO THE GREAT DEPRESSION
Course Department: School of History
Instructor: Noam Maggor
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Really interesting course with a constant look towards the global; ex how the Civil War affected cotton production in India & worker strikes in the UK. Nuanced and very good course, did not revert to judging history by today's moral standards. I participated actively, more than at home. There was one assignment and one written exam.
Credit Transfer Issues: No
Course Name/Rating:

HST6322 - THE BRITISH EMPIRE IN POLITICAL THOUGHT FROM THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY TO THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Course Department: School of History
Instructor: Georgios Varouxakis
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This was the best course I've had during all of my time at university. Brilliant professor who seemingly knew almost anything there was to know about the period and about political theory in general, always willing to diverge a bit from the topic to engage in interesting discussion and very respectful toward students. I would have liked to go on a field trip or something but, again, coronavirus would have prevented this anyway. The exam was written exam where one could choose between, I think, three topics. I can only recommend this course to the highest degree.
Credit Transfer Issues: No