Past Review

By (English & Psychology, Tufts University) for

Tufts Programs Abroad: Tufts in London

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
This program is amazing, and I highly recommend it! I wasn't very impressed with the academics, but the travel experiences and everything absolutely make up for it. This was the best year of my life and one of the best decisions I have ever made

Personal Information

The term and year this program took place: Full-Year 2007

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The psychology department was very disorganized, especially in comparison to Tufts

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The program director is absolutely amazing in every way. She held our hands through everything. She helped us with almost every single issue imaginable. Her assistant is basically a seat-filler, though. The Tufts Programs Abroad staff is pretty helpful, too.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived in Astor College on Charlotte Street in Fitzrovia. <br /><br /> It was very dorm-like, and I would've preferred more of a flat-like environment. The two kitchens that serve the entire floor are pitiful and miniscule. The building and facilities are reallly old. The location is excellent, though. It's seven minutes from UCL and about five minutes from Oxford Street.

* Food:

Grocery shopping was really convenient because the supermarket was two blocks away

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

London is an amazing city with lots of cultural opportunities. Our program director arranged and subsidized dozens of activities for us, such as seeing West End plays. We had great experiences

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

I didn't experience any health issues. I always felt safe in London, even when I was walking by myself in the middle of the night

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? In the first term, I spent all of the stipend, as well as the entirety of my $3000 checking account. For the remaining two terms, though, I ended up with 300 pounds leftover.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? I spent my American checking account (not the stipend) on travel expenses. Everything in London is VERY expensive, but I still did a lot of shopping because everything is so stylish

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans