Past Review

By (Psychology, Art History, Wellesley College) for

University College London (UCL): London - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Going into the experience, I knew that academics were important but really I found that the overall experience was the most valuable. I learned a lot from my classes but I learned more from learning about another culture, meeting people, traveling, being away from home, etc.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month
The term and year this program took place: Spring 2010

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The overall structure of the classes was 10-15 lectures with a paper and an exam. the professors were very informative and I enjoyed the lectures but the contact time was a little less that I would have preferred.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The administration at UCL consisted of two parts. That of the university which was fairly large and appropriately bureaucratic. Then the actual departments were in charge of class registration and approval. I found that the art history department was small and fairly personal with the adviser taking an interest in each student's progress. On the other hand, the psychology department was quite large and a bit more overwhelmed. I did not make such personal connections in that department, presumably because it was so large.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived in Langton Close in Camden, about 20 minutes from the main campus. I was happy with the university housing that they provided. It was a bit far from campus but it was not any trouble. The building was clean and secure with friendly staff. <br /><br /> I was able to meet both local and international students and I was satisfied with the location and housing. The flat had eight bedrooms with two bathrooms and one shared kitchen which was cleaned weekly.

* Food:

I found that it is far more economical to plan and prepare your own meals, rather than pay for the housing which includes a dining option. I did not generally eat out very much.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The organized trips that I participated in were fun and I would recommend them.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

London, like any large city, is safe so long as you are smart. I avoided walking alone at night when at all possible and kept my valuables out of site and safe. Most commonly I heard of people falling victim to pickpockets while they were out in the evenings at pubs or clubs so I would advise people to be especially safe in those situations.

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? I planned to spend about $25 each week on food and personal items and for the most part I was able to maintain my budget.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? In general, London is an expensive city. Housing was very expensive and other than that I spent most of my money on food and travel. Most of my unanticipated expenses occurred before I left - obtain a visa, purchasing prescriptions, buying any necessary items, etc.

Language

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

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

A Look Back

* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? UCL is a good school and it is situated in a fabulous city, but do keep in mind that the academics are different from Wellesley and there is a certain level of independent study that is expected with far less structure involved.