Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Great overall experience, average academics 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?
Navigating other cultures, exploration

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.

Not as intense as Wellesley, but good academic environment. The UK system of education requires independence and motivation— there’s not a lot of assigned work, so you need to be motivated Tom learn. It’s really easy to pass and do alright without putting in much effort.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Admin is slow, which is unsurprising for a large university.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived in a dorm where we cooked for ourselves, which was a good choice.

* Food:

Cooked for myself, but lots of places around to get takeout

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Definitely depends on your own initiative and interest. You can become pretty involved if you make an effort, join orgs, attend events, etc.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Had a virus, went to the doctor. Really easily accessible.

* Safety:

Mostly safe, especially if avoiding tourist-y areas.

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

I liked the location and he fact that I could study both of my majors at the same time. However, the academics and the actual teaching was not as good as Wellesley’s. The lectures were pretty dry for English majors.

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)

Depends on your budget, and whether you eat out, travel, pay for entertainment, etc. London is very expensive, so it’s important to budget carefully.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $40
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Look for student discounts, and stay on top of your expenses

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

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • 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
  • Cooking for myself
* What could be improved?
  • Academics
  • Efficiency of admin
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? It is what you make of it; come with goals so that you’re motivated

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 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.