Good experience January 14, 2022

By (Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich) - abroad from 09/20/2021 to 12/17/2021 with

Queen Mary University of London Study Abroad programme

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
More independence, more confidence, got to know London and a bit of the British lifestyle and culture

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Very little participation from the other students; mixed media education instead of in-person classes

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Always replied quickly and tried to help as best as they could - however, sometimes you had to ask your way through

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Did not live on campus

* Food:

The Curve and Ground Cafe provide good food at reasonable prices.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

There were some activities offered by staff and lots of societies, so it was fairly easy to get involved in campus life.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I was not registered with the GP but I made use of the test centre on campus - very friendly staff - and once asked for a band aid which I immediately got without fuss.

* Safety:

Cycling might seem daunting but there are lots of cycle lanes and it is quite safe - just watch out for broken glass. Otherwise nothing bad happened to me; I just heard of other people getting spiked at clubs.

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

London is a cool city and Queen Mary is a good university

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)

It's not too hard to be thrifty in London - there are some cheap supermarkets (especially Asda) and also street food stalls at markets where you can get a big portion of food for a good price. However, rent is expensive, and public transport as well.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 200
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? don't eat out too often - if you do, street food stalls often offer very good food at reasonable prices get a bike or walk - the tube is pretty expensive make use of takeaway offers so you don't have to pay the service charge

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

English only

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? C1
How many hours per day did you use the language?
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Read books, listen to podcasts, watch movies/ series in OV

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Hostel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • International Students
  • Other
* 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 city
  • the language
  • the societies and clubs at uni
* What could be improved?
  • bureaucracy - make it easily understandable
  • stop mixed media education, in-person is so much better
  • //
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? That I would not need so many clothes but rather more space in my luggage on the way back home That sometimes you just have to do something instead of overthinking it That London has so many cool street food markets

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 Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.