My choice to study abroad in London alone was bold, but it became the best decision I’ve ever made. The 5 months I spent there are some of the most meaningful and exciting of my life. Before this, I had never flown internationally or navigated a major city, but the experience gave me the chance to build those skills and grow in confidence. While abroad, I got the opportunity to visit 7 other countries and 14 different English towns. In London, I formed lifelong friendships, explored new places, and immersed myself in diverse cultures.

World Strides was always just a phone call away, whether I needed help with my schedule, my flat, or even finding a doctor. Yet, they also gave us the independence to truly discover the city for ourselves. Some of my favorite memories came from the program’s excursions across England, where I met even more study students and forged lasting bonds.

Although my university wasn’t as central as I had expected, its beautiful campus became a refreshing escape from the bustle of the city. Adjusting to the new class structures was challenging, and a few of my professors were difficult to work with at times, but it was a learning experience. As a young journalist, my time there offered remarkable résumé-building experiences, including sitting in on a Parliament session for a story and learning directly from BBC employees. I also built strong friendships with my flatmates, most of whom were full-time students, and enjoyed having my own room and bathroom while sharing a kitchen.

London challenged me at times, but it remains my favorite place in the world. From its theatre scene and museums to its cuisine, landscapes, and kind people, the city became my second home. Through this experience, I discovered a part of myself I didn’t even know existed and built connections with people who truly became my family. My gratitude for this opportunity is beyond words, and I cannot wait to return to London Town again.

Studying abroad was an exhilarating and eye-opening experience. It brought on many trials, but I am proud of overcoming my hesitations and facing them head-on. I benefitted from international travel by learning to become more independent and self-reliant. I’ve commuted to college every year, so it was my first time living away from home. It challenged me to be more decisive and outgoing. Because of this, I made great relationships and became more self-assured. Even navigating public transportation helped me to be more vigilant and mindful.

Although I saw significant self-improvement, other aspects caused some difficulties. Before going to London, I had frequent contact with ISA to ensure I would have consistent therapy and someone to administer my allergy shots. I was confident and felt at ease knowing there would be support for my mental health and physical health. However, there were complications with my therapy and shots, which hindered me from receiving treatment until the end of the semester. Ultimately, I advise incoming study abroad students to ensure specific measures are in place before traveling to their designated country. Hence, they are guaranteed support for their mental and physical health.

Despite these setbacks, I am thankful for my experience studying abroad and the chance to live in London. The city is full of activities and opportunities, so I encourage students to fully immerse themselves in the culture and meet people from different backgrounds. It broadens your perspective and truly changes your life!

It was a great study abroad experience for anyone whose interested in going to the UK to pursue their education. Nice weather, good Turkish, chicken shops and convenient stores to buy essentials. Exploring the multiple sites that the UK has to offer and meet a lot of great people and made some connections. Using public transportations like the underground tube, double decker busses, riding Lime bikes around the city and walking around the area. Overall, I really enjoy spending time in the country and hope to explore outside of London, besides Brighton and Windsor Castle.

I loved studying abroad in London. It's a city full of history, experiences, and views that I can't wait to go back and see! I took classes that were associated with my degree and ones that were not, which was nice because I was able to have a varied educational experience and understand how their education system compared to the one I was used to. ISA hosted excursions to places such as Windsor Castle that were a lot of fun. They also held orientation and pre-arrival information sessions which made the transition much easier. I would highly recommend this program to anyone looking to study abroad!

My time abroad was absolutely amazing! I was able to meet so many people of different ethnic backgrounds through my entire time in London. I had such a great experience learning the culture and way of life in a new country. ISA supplied great opportunities to tour the different parts of London and neighboring cities, which was great for those students who didn't get out much. Being a student apart of the ISA program, we were offered the chance to make money while abroad by becoming a social media influencer, as well a becoming blogger. All around, I had a beautiful experience which taught me so much about myself and opened me up to new perspectives and understandings. Forever grateful for being an alumni of this program x.

It is cliche to say, but I had the most immersive, life-changing experience when studying abroad with ISA at the University of Westminster in London. For one, the city is a melting pot of various languages, cultures, customs, history, etc. I learned so much just by walking through the streets of London and getting out of my comfort bubble. ISA did awesome helping with any questions I had pre-arrival and while I was in London. There were many different excursions and trips planned within the city and in other surrounding cities in England. However, there was still plenty of time for me to independently explore the city with some friends that I met while doing the program. I love London and am so thankful that I chose ISA to lead me through this experience.

I experienced London through the Summer 1 session with ISA, and my experience couldn't have been more positive! This was my first time overseas, so I was a little nervous before departing but once I arrived and met with ISA's staff and the other students in my program, my worries went right away! ISA did a great job introducing us to the city through excursions, and the marketing class I took was academically enriching. By the end of the trip, London felt like a second home. Thank you again, ISA!

I loved my study abroad experience. I felt at home in Kingston. Living in Kingston is a unique experience, as it's about 45 minutes outside of central London, so it is a much slower pace of living. One of my main objectives in going abroad was figuring out if I could live comfortably in another country, and after this experience, it is safe to say that I definitely can. It was very intimidating going abroad to a country where I didn't know anyone, but it also caused me to step outside my comfort zone and helped me gain confidence when facing unfamiliar situations. London is such a unique, huge city, and you'll find that each area is completely different. When it comes to going abroad to London, it definitely is costly. I applied for scholarships through ISA/Tean and my home university, which helped fund my experience abroad. To anyone going abroad, I suggest researching the scholarships offered through your home and host university and scholarships offered by private companies. Going abroad is an experience I will never take for granted, and I cannot wait to go abroad again. I loved my study abroad experience. I felt at home in Kingston. Living in Kingston is a unique experience, as it's about 45 minutes outside of central London, so it is a much slower pace of living. One of my main objectives in going abroad was figuring out if I could live comfortably in another country, and after this experience, it is safe to say that I definitely can. It was very intimidating going abroad to a country where I didn't know anyone, but it also caused me to step outside my comfort zone and helped me gain confidence when facing unfamiliar situations. London is such a unique, huge city, and you'll find that each area is completely different. When it comes to going abroad to London, it definitely is costly. I applied for scholarships through ISA/Tean and my home university, which helped fund my experience abroad. To anyone going abroad, I suggest researching the scholarships offered through your home and host university and scholarships offered by private companies. Going abroad is an experience I will never take for granted, and I cannot wait to go abroad again.