University of Roehampton

As someone who has always wanted to go away for college, I made a promise to myself I would one day study abroad. This year I made my dream a reality. I had the privilege to study at the University of Roehampton in London during this summer semester! This is one of my biggest accomplishments/blessings, and I am so happy that I am able to fulfill not just a goal of mine, but my dream to study in one of the greatest cities of the world!

Studying at the University of Roehampton was the best 6 weeks ever. I made friends with people from all over the world and got to enjoy not only London but also the areas surrounding the university. The school is 20 minutes away from Putney Bridge station that can bring you straight to the city center. My tutors were interactive with the content taught which helped me enjoy the courses. I love learning and studying so being able to do so during the summer in my favorite country ever, made this the best summer ever.

I had the most mazing experience at the University of Roehampton! It really grew me as a person and was such a great opportunity to travel and learn at the same time. The whole experience was a 10 out of 10!

Roehampton was amazing! Since it is in the heart of a cute, cozy greater london community and only a short tube ride to many of london’s most popular locations, I got to do everything I wanted to and more. My class was interesting and my tutors were kind and funny. The staff were very supportive and available for questions. And most of all, I loved London culture and the friends I met along the way!

Studying at the Univeristy of Roehampton for a semester was an unforgettable experience! I built lasting friendships there and there were new adventures everyday. I will forever cherish my time at Roehampton!

This was an eye-opening experience for me, and I learned more about myself this semester than I ever have before. The University of Roehampton gave me the freedom I needed to grow as a dancer and global citizen.

My time at Roehampton was definitely one of the best years of my life, and much needed after almost two years of lockdown. I am so thankful for the people I met and the memories we made. Adjusting to a new culture and speaking a different language was challenging at times, but it made me more confident, and I really learned to step out of the comfort zone. The possibilities in London are never-ending, and it was so incredible to be able to explore such a vibrant and exciting city while living and studying at the most beautiful parkland campus.

I had a good time at Roehampton. Initially, there were some bumps in the road with arrival (rooming, food, courses), but the Study Abroad team was very helpful in navigating it all. My classes have allowed me to progress significantly with my degree, which is the whole reason I chose to study abroad! I appreciated the constant communication and what was offered to us through Roehampton for exploring London.

My time at Roehampton was fun but went by way too quickly! There have been so many exciting events like Freshers Week or the field trip at Kew Gardens that I know I will miss it when I come back to the United States.

Traveling half way around the world to study at Roehampton has been one of the best experiences of my life. It has pushed me out of my comfort zone. Growing up I never lived in a city and never visited one, so experiencing London as both a foreign land and a city was a big culture shock for me. I have had to learn how to adapt to my surroundings and how to be more independent while studying here. As my time here comes to an end I am sad to go, but also excited to see my family again after so long. When I get back home, if anyone asks me if they should study abroad too, I will not hesitate to tell them yes. This experience is one of a kind, and one that I think more students should take advantage of.

Studying abroad at Roehampton has been the best time of my education experience. The university is very close to many famous sites in London and I have crossed so many things off my bucket list. The school has everything you need and makes it easy to make friends by organizing events and allowing you to participate in many clubs. My time here has been amazing and I’ve met some great friends, I would definitely recommend Roehampton.

Study abroad has allowed me to travel, fully immerse myself in a new culture, live independently and meet new people while in the safety of a university program. While elements such as creating a new routine, being away from family and friends and living independently was sometimes challenging, it was incredibly rewarding and my friends and the university was very supportive. I have ticked so many things of my bucket list and feel like I have grown as a person.

I loved experiencing the city of London and getting to venture out on my own in such a new place and culture. I've discovered so much about myself during my study abroad experience, and I would highly recommend it to other students.

The University of Roehampton is an inclusive campus that encompasses beautiful grounds, a new, quite resourceful library, and wonderful students- both international and local who are friendly and helpful. The professors were easy to reach out to and very accommodating, as were the module tutors (TA's). I was very impressed with the Roehampton Abroad team, the pre and post orientations gave a lot of information, and when I had an issue with my flat, they immediately moved me to another and even gave me the choice of rooms within my college. The transportation system in London is great (although expensive) and there are almost always several ways to get to your destination. One of the things I liked best about the University of Roehampton is the Social Programme, I definitely would not have made a separate trip out to some places such as York or Oxford and the Cotswolds. Overall I made a bunch of new friends and would 110% do it all over again if I could. Full disclosure however, this was my own experience and you may have another but I am very happy with how studying abroad was for me.

Many things about this experience were amazing. Although it initially took a while, I eventually made many new friends who I will continue to talk to for as long as we can. Part of that was I think the size of the school was larger than I was used to. The other part was the fact that I didn't interact with people in my classes very often because we didn't meet often. I saw some incredible sights while in London - from the Globe, to the Tower of London, and many more. I didn't have enough funds to leave England, but I thoroughly enjoyed seeing as much of London as I could. Definitely make friends as soon as you can and start traveling! Actually traveling can help you bond with others, so do that to help make friends if you can afford it. One thing that I found jarring and difficult to get used to was the lectures themselves. I am used to spending far much more time in lectures than out of them, so it felt like I had too much time on my hands and not enough work. I also felt like it was more of my responsibility to teach myself every lesson, rather than the lecturer, which I found annoying. I'm paying you to teach me, not the other way around! Otherwise why am I spending all this money?? The number of assignments was also intimidating. I took three classes, and between them all, I only had six papers. For one class, there was only one assignment, meaning it was essentially a pass/fail class. I am pretty good at writing papers as an English major, but I still found this a bit nerve-wracking. The study abroad team was really helpful, before and during my time there. Before, they sent out a lot of information weekly and it helped prepare me. They hosted events during the semester which were nice. When it comes to communicating with them they are 60/40 quick in getting back to you in a reasonable amount of time. They are all really friendly, and excited that you're there, and want to help you do well. Take advantage of them. On the whole, an amazing experience. Truly, once in a lifetime.

The University of Roehampton really made my study abroad experience what it was. The campus is located close enough to central London that can pop in whenever you want to, but it is far enough away that the community still feels quiet and intimate. Plenty to do in nearby towns such as Putney and Hammersmith as well if you want a more low-key and closer night out. For a decently large campus, the class sizes remain fairly small and the professors take the time to really get to know you. When you stop in to drop-in hours they don't just want to talk about the coursework, they want to hear about how you are enjoying your time abroad, and they'll even suggest a good pub or two! There is plenty of other support available around campus: both the Chaplaincy Team and the Study Abroad Team are regularly available if you have any problems...and they always have tea! The flats are set up with shared kitchens where it is easy to get to know your flatmates (although this unfortunately also means shared kitchens and bathrooms can get messy). Your room is small, but has everything you need, and it will start to feel homey pretty quickly. Academics are challenging, but not overly so, and most professors understand that students have come from all different types of educational systems. The library is beautiful and a very helpful resource for schoolwork (plus it has a cafe inside). Overall, I've found the campus beautiful and welcoming, and it was this atmosphere that first reassured me that I'd made the right choice to study abroad.

Overall, studying at the University of Roehampton has been a wonderful experience. The campus in a great location, with easy access to central London and some of the smaller boroughs further out. Traveling, to other parts of England and even to other countries, is a breeze. The campus itself is beautiful, with much more greenery than I expected and quite a bit of wildlife (resident campus bunnies and chickens, plus a short walk to Richmond Park). The classes I took were informative and very enjoyable; however, they are much longer than I was used to. My classes at Roehampton met once a week for 3 hours, whereas at home, my classes meet 3 times a week for 1 hour; this was definitely an adjustment, but it left me time to explore London and do some outside of the classroom learning. It seems like there's always something to do at Roehampton, whether it be employment fairs or karaoke at the Union Bar, and there is a slew of societies on campus, so you're sure to find something that piques your interest. Additionally, it was great to meet so many awesome people from all over the world and to work closely with some truly great professors. If you're looking for a fun and educational study abroad programme, I would definitely advise looking into Roehampton (especially if you're studying creative writing!).

The campus is in such a good location in London, super safe and easy access to central. The support and resources the campus has made me feel welcome on campus. This is definitely home away from home. I made some amazing friends and there is a sense of community when you come onto campus.

I was hesitant about studying abroad because I have severe social anxiety. However, the experience has opened my eyes and helped me become a better person. I wish there were more university organized opportunities for cultural immersion, and I wish everything was cheaper. I also wish I could've had someone help me when I needed it. However, it was amazing. I chose to study abroad in England so I could study Shakespeare and I got what I wanted. I was able to have a special lecture at the Globe which was amazing. Overall, classes and living were worth the price and time. Hearing situations that happened close to where I live that put my life at risk were difficult to process, and constantly being woken up by the fire alarm was not fun. Regardless, I loved this. I wish I could do it again. The only advice I would give would be to save up a lot more money than you think you need and to be prepared to be alone.

Wishing I completed my entire degree here! Although I've only been here for a semester, it has been the best 5 months of my life by far. The subjects were extremely interesting, the support from the study abroad office was consistent and always helpful and the community life in college was exceptional! I've learnt so much from being immersed in another culture through this university and made incredible friends for life. Would do it again if I had the chance!