England is Amazing. The English School System - Not So Much. Past Review

By Catherine B (Sociology, Tufts University) for

Tufts Programs Abroad: Tufts in London

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

With a majority of students coming from outside the UK, it was impossible not to leave SOAS with an incredibly global perspective. Since my time at SOAS I can't wait until I can get to Sub-Saharan Africa. It's clearly where I need to be heading with my life.

Review Photos

Tufts Programs Abroad: Tufts in London Photo

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 workload was fairly heavy in some classes and fairly light in others. Students are given almost no direction in terms of what outside reading they should do-- learning is incredibly self-directed. This can be upsetting if you feel lost and require guidance, but it can also be great since you are given the freedom to explore the topics that interest you the most. You can also skim over the topics that don't interest you at all, which is not something you can do very much in American universities.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program	Jaki and Simon are incredible. They are there for you 100% when you need them, and 100% when you don't think you do. Friendly and inviting, always willing to help with any issue you may have. Everything is confidential, so you can really talk to them about anything. Jaki will be sorely missed.
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	I loved King's Cross. It is gritty and amazing. Dinwiddy House is sort of nasty, but each student gets their own single with their own bathroom, so I really can't complain too much. A lot of your living experience depends on the flatmates you get. Mine were not too exciting, so it was a bit boring. I made plenty of friends in other flats though.
* Food:	Plenty of pubs, great to try out English food. There are also plenty of supermarkets in the area, so it is easy to eat well without breaking the bank.
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	Good times traveling around the country, great times in pubs, amazing times just exploring and discovering new things. London is amazing. Can't wait to go back.
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?
* Safety:	I had some major health problems that landed me in the hospital, which was pretty stressful. My program directors helped a ton, talked to my parents every day, and even came with me to doctors appointments. The NHS is slow and a bit difficult to navigate. I ended up just having to pay privately and petition for coverage from my insurance company when I returned to the US.
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)
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	Don't spend all your money on clubs and shopping. I got a monthly phone plan that was 15 pounds a month for 300 minutes and unlimited texts. I found this was much less expensive than doing pay-as-you-go and topping up every few days.

Language

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program?	None

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Dorm
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	International Students
* Who did you take classes with? Select all that apply	International Students

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	Introduction to Global Forced Migration Studies
Course Department:
Instructor:	David Rampton
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	Extremely challenging but incredibly rewarding. If you are interested in migration in any capacity, this class will teach you the ins and outs of the subject. David Rampton can be a little bit dry, but he is clearly a genius. This is one of those classes at SOAS that you simply won't find anywhere else.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	HIV/AIDS and Development
Course Department:
Instructor:	Tony Kahane
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	Again, the teacher was a bit dry, but he clearly loved what he was teaching. The readings were fascinating and a joy to do. An incredible class to take if you have any interest in HIV/AIDS.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Development Conditions and Experience
Course Department:
Instructor:
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	A first year course taught by a medley of teachers from the Development department. The syllabus is scattered and rarely builds on the topics you have learned before. The grading is incredibly subjective and you are given little opportunity to engage your teachers (or graders) in a dialogue. Lectures were boring, and many of the lecturers didn't even show up to class. A year-long class, so make sure you know what you're getting yourself into.
Credit Transfer Issues: