IFSA University College London Partnership

I studied abroad with IFSA at UCL during the Fall 2019 semester. Not only did I make friends that I'll have for the rest of my life through IFSA's program, I also experienced academic growth sand development that was so formative that I decided I want to return to London for a masters degree. IFSA organized a trip to the Lake District, where I got to learn more about the vikig history in the UK and went on hikes and climbs. IFSA took care of everything. IFSA staff was also super receptive when I needed help registering for classes and when I had questions about access to medical care. The staff was so fun and kind and I felt supported the whole semester. I'm so grateful for my time at UCL and with IFSA, and my greatest piece of advice for perspective students is to apply!!

Studying abroad through IFSA- University College London (UCL) was one of the best decisions I made. IFSA smoothed out all the logistics of studying abroad, and UCL provided me with an excellent education. I always wanted to study abroad in London because it’s one of the world’s most prominent financial hubs. This has ought to be one of the most seamless and best experiences that I’ve had thus far in my life!

For many years, it was a dream of mine to spend a semester abroad in London. In my junior year of college, I was finally able to make that dream a reality, and I had the best time of my life. Looking through a list of approved programs offered by my school, Colgate University, I found a number of options for studying in London through the Institute for Study Abroad (IFSA). Even from that initial moment of interest, IFSA was very helpful by offering clear, specific information on their programs. I ended up choosing the program at University College London (UCL), and was beyond eager for my semester to start. The advisors at IFSA were extremely eager to help in any way they could. I often reached out to email my program advisor with questions of different kinds - about credits transferring over, about switching from the department that I had initially applied and been accepted to in order to be in the Arts and Sciences department at UCL, questions about housing and visas - you name it, I asked it! My advisor was always so willing to answer my questions and left me feeling really supported. This support was extended along every step of the program, especially when we arrived in London. Immediately, the IFSA staff in London made me, and all students on the program, feel very welcomed. I really appreciated that they made themselves so accessible to us for anything we needed. I went to coffee chats to ask questions and discuss how my program was going so far, went to the IFSA headquarters in London multiple times to express my goals for the semester and how it was coming along, and connected with the staff on the programming that IFSA offered students. There were so many opportunities to connect with the staff and students alike on the program, and one of my favorite events was the trip to The Shard at the end of the semester, the tallest building in the UK, where we all gathered and reminisced on the program while enjoying the beautiful views. I made friends with my flatmates who were also doing the IFSA program at UCL, and we often went out together on day trips or explored the city together. Just as much as I enjoyed my experience with IFSA staff and the support I received, I also really appreciated my time at UCL, London's global university. The students and faculty at UCL were so diverse, which really allowed me to gain different perspectives within the classroom. As part of the Arts and Sciences department, I took classes called Sustainable Energy, and Race, Gender and Feminism. The other two classes I took were in different departments: Understanding Social Policy, and Democracy and Authoritarianism. These classes were really intriguing and I appreciated the multidisciplinary approaches to the classes, as well as the breadth of knowledge I was able to gain from taking these diverse courses. Though in a lot of ways UCL was very different from my home university, I came to really enjoy UCL and its large campus. I still felt very supported by staff - I had an advisor who was very helpful during the course registration period - and by the Professors and teaching assistants who held office hours and made themselves available for any questions I had. It was really beneficial for me to get to know the different students of various backgrounds, hear different perspectives, and broaden my world view, and this really helped transform me into a global citizen. There were always so many events and programming happening on campus, and so many different clubs, societies, and organizations to get involved in. Overall, my time spent studying abroad in London at UCL through IFSA's program is something I will cherish forever and look back on fondly. I was able to immerse myself in a foreign culture, explore new places I once only dreamed about visiting, and learn so many new things, both about the world and myself. I strongly believe that studying abroad has allowed me to grow into a more independent, well-versed, flexible, and open-minded student and person. I find that I am now more comfortable in new situations and places, I am able to adapt more easily to new settings, and I have an expanded world-view based on being in a foreign, highly diverse setting. I highly recommend taking the opportunity to study abroad in London, and especially through one of IFSA's programs. They will provide you with the support you need, help foster a sense of community, and help you really explore what the city, and country, has to offer through various planned trips and activities! All of these things will allow you to make the most out of your time abroad and really immerse yourself in that setting.

I had a blast living in London for the semester. IFSA was extremely helpful with the pre-departure aspect of my time abroad, and mainly helped get us set up in London with our housing and academic plans. For me, this was the perfect level of help since I like to be relatively independent and was happy to be more on my own once I had moved into my dorm. They help tackle the scariest parts of preparing for and arriving to a new country, and then provide occasional trips or get-togethers throughout the semester, as well as being there for any concerns during the program. It can be really difficult to make friends in such a big city, so I'm glad I got to meet so many cool people during IFSA orientation.

Overall it is great academically and i got enough time to travel! The advantages are clear. First, academically the school is intensive and fast in its pace. We have one comprehensive final exam in may. Their grading is tough and exam is challenging in that part of questions is designed to be unseen. Second, the management is great, we can get help 24and 7. The only drawback is probably the flight pick up interval is bit short. So a good flight arrangement is helpful when you first come. Finally, the program is affordable if you choose a residence hall that provides food. Most of personal expenses come from cooking. Traveling in London is convenient and i highly recommend you get an oyster card.

I had a wonderful time abroad in London studying at UCL. People warn you about the culture shock and stress during the first weeks, but IFSA was so supportive in helping me adjust that I did not have any emotional dip upon arriving. Their office in London is also gorgeous, and I would highly recommend attending any events they host there. I got to register for classes in my major (Chemistry), and in pretty much every way I was a normal UCL student. I lived in the same accommodations as non-study abroad students, went to the same classes, and had an official student ID. The bonus with IFSA was all of the additional support they offered before, during, and after I was abroad. They are also a great bridge between my home institution and the university I was attending abroad. I did not have to deal with any transcript or credit transfer issues. The IFSA trip we took to Keswick was also one of the best trips I took during my time abroad! It was gorgeous, the bed and breakfast was lovely, and they had lots of activity options for all interests. I had an amazing semester, and I would highly recommend IFSA's program at UCL.

I really enjoyed my experience abroad at UCL last spring. Recently I answered some questions for a prospective abroad student, which gives a good indication of my experiences abroad: What are your recommendations for taking advantage of all that is offered by a new academic institution? I would recommend attending as many events in your area as possible. The anthropology department had set up a system for all abroad students to meet up and get to know each other, along with events within the department with guest speakers, discussions, etc. I found this really helpful to get to know the new department outside of classes. What did a typical day of classes and studying look like? I was fortunate to be put in housing next to UCL, so I had a five minute walk to class, but I know many others would make a long commute across the city to get to class that could take some time in rush hour. Typically I had class in the late morning and early afternoon much like college, got lunch on campus, studied in the library or in other study spaces, then would walk back to my dorm. There's a greater emphasis on work outside of class, without help from the professors, so be prepared for some work to do each night. What opportunities did you have to explore the surrounding area? I took a class that semester "Understanding Cities and Their Spatial Cultures" where we took field trips around the local neighborhood to figure out what made London work, which was fun from an academic perspective. Since I didn't join any clubs or student organizations I had a lot of free time and spent a lot of it just walking around, looking for interesting museums and places to explore. The parks in London are still surprisingly quiet compared to the busier streets, I'd highly recommend checking them out if you need some stress-free time haha. Of course IFSA provides events throughout the semester to explore different parts of London if you'd like to join that as well. How was the process of integrating into the rest of the student body? I'm coming from Brandeis University which has a student body of <4000, to going to UCL which has a student body of >40,000. I never really felt integrated just cause it was such a massive difference in the amount of people attending the school. I tended to stick with the anthropology department because it was smaller and easier to navigate. How did you go about managing you workload and having a different academic calendar? The academic calendar is really different, which in my case wasn't helped by some uncontrollable circumstances. The typical spring semester is classes for 12 weeks from January through March, with a week off in February. This is followed by a four week break, and then a six week finals period from May to early June. You usually find out when your finals are in March. Most people would take the time during the four week break to travel and then stay back for finals. I was fortunate to have all my finals in the first week, so I had time to travel for the rest of the semester. Now I say typical schedule because that's not how it went for me haha. During my semester many professors throughout the UK university system went on strike against the slashing of pensions, which meant for the last five weeks of classes I didn't have 3 of my four classes. So even though I had more free time, I could never really know if the strike would end or not so I never went traveling during that time. It was a bit crazy and I'm sure that won't happen during your time their, but do be aware that you'll have plenty of free time if you so choose it. IFSA staff during that time were super helpful and ran events as well as tutoring if we so choose to attend.

The IFSA-Butler program at University College London was absolutely wonderful. UCL is located in the heart of London and even though I lived in Goldsmid, an off campus dorm, it was quick and easy to get to by taking the tube. The best part about studying abroad is that everyone has different experiences. Even when traveling with other IFSA students we each brought our own unique perspective to where we were and experienced events in unique ways. Many of the IFSA students I met have become some of my closest friends and we still keep in contact. I also really enjoyed that I was able to go to class and live with British and other International students. It was incredible to live with other International students while learning about their cultures and customs. I was able to try authentic french crepes that one of my flatmates grandmas in Britannia made, learn about random British mannerisms from my British flatmate, and learn more about French music from a different French flatmate. I felt completely immersed in other cultures while also showing them some of my Minnesotan experiences. Finally, and most importantly, I learned how to take things as they come. I am a planner and am used to things always going as planned. So, I lost my luggage the first day I arrived in London (thank you IFSA for helping me sort that out!), flights were delayed, trains cancelled, and I became so sick once in Rome that I was unable to fly home because there was a 70% chance that my eardrum would explode and cause permanent damage. I waited for my luggage (about 5 days), I talked to the flight staff, I looked for new trains, and I booked a 26 hour train ride from Rome to London so I wouldn't lose my hearing. Despite all of the setbacks and what my mom has later called 'horror stories,' being in London has been the best time of my life so far. I learned how to deal with uncertainty and that things happen that are not in my control. Instead of freaking out and having a mental breakdown, I learned to assess the situation and figure it out. I am much more confident now than I once was and I am forever grateful for having the ability to go on my absolutely wonderful journey.

IFSA Butler made my entire abroad experience a million times better. The application process was easy and straightforward. I didn't feel overwhelmed or stressed about this process because IFSA staff were responsive via email and phone, and answered any questions I had along the way. Once in London, the staff was so welcoming and supportive. I reached out to them several times when I had concerns about my academics and social life, and they made sure to check in with me every so often to see how I was doing. UCL had really great psychology courses, with professors/lecturers that were specialists in a myriad of topics. My housing accomodations were in a great location and really helped me immerse myself in both London and UCL culture. IFSA also organized several trips outside London, which gave me the opportunity to experience England beyond the city and university. Overall IFSA was incredible. I would recommend their programs to anyone!

This was an amazing experience - one of the best decisions I made in school. Academically, maybe not as great as Penn but still amazing for the cultural exposure

UCL had a great location in the center of London. The classes were challenging and interesting and a lot of the professors were leading researchers in their field. The program, however, was very unorganized and the administration was extremely unhelpful. It kind of felt like you were just thrown into London and left to figure things out on your own. My dorm had a great location but the living conditions weren't great and the food was terrible.

Butler was great