London is worth everything Past Review

By (Wellesley College) - abroad from 09/18/2017 to 12/15/2017 with

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

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned to be far more independent than before -- I was living on my own with other UCL students as flatmates, cooking for myself, figuring out everything... And meeting so many new people from all over the world really helped me develop a global perspective. Some of my classes were really interesting and helped pique new interests in areas I never even thought to look into before.

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.

Classes had a lot less work than my home institution and met fewer times per week. Lecturers were not as engaging as my professors back at Wellesley. I had some classes that changed locations every week... like drastically from building to building and it was kind of a hassle to find a new room every week.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Orientation was very disorganized and I felt like if I had a question about something, I didn't know who to ask. Class registration was very confusing and I felt like we were given poor instructions.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived off-campus, and I loved the flat that I rented. Many of my friends lived in the dorms though, which weren't fantastic and often very dirty... And they complained about the showers a lot because you have to keep pressing the button to keep it on

* Food:

Bought and cooked for myself. Tesco, Sainsbury's, and Waitrose are fantastic and everywhere.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

LOVE London, the Brits like to poke fun at Americans but overall it's so easy to just fall in and adapt to the city's culture

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

UCL did not provide healthcare services to students there for one term. The NHS is helpful in some respects though. I had a bad cold for 6 weeks and relied on local pharmacies... I did have international health insurance but I would have had to find the doctors myself and I started getting better by then when I realized this anyways

* Safety:

I felt safe, despite the numerous terrorist attacks during the year. Petty thefts never struck me or my friends, but I did hear of a few cell phone robberies. Just always be watchful regardless.

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

Though UCL took a little bit to get used to, adapting was just part of the London experience. London is an incredible city.

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. Expensive. The pound is a brutal currency. Prepare yourself.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? A lot...
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Budgeting is important. It's so easy to spend money in London, from food to transportation (the Tube adds up so quickly!) But if you are able to meticulously plan, then you're fine.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Direct Enrollment/Exchange

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

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* 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
  • Americans
  • International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Location
* What could be improved?
  • Organization
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I had a better guide in navigating through class registration and important aspects of living in London

Reasons For Studying Abroad

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The Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.