CIEE College Study Abroad in London, England

CIEE London was a really great experience! I made phenomenal friends and studied in a beautiful school right on Russell Square. The class was about the NHS in the UK and had some great information; my teacher was also lovely and made it clear she cared about learning with us rather than simply teaching us. We were given plenty of time to travel on our own (I personally went to Paris for a weekend) and the work load wasn't taxing. I wish they would have given me information on the class schedule and housing sooner, but, overall, I had an AMAZING time. I never felt unsafe as a female traveler, even when alone, and there was always something fun to do.

I had a great time studying abroad in london. The range of restaurants and ethnicities really made me feel like I’m abroad. The traveling around london was very easy with the underground and the architecture and sights to see were endless. The only thing I’d say was bad was the amount of coursework which limited my time to have fun and travel. Also the location of the housing was quite far from the CIEE building and I would recommend housing that is walkable from the CIEE building. Finally I think it was overall a very interesting experience which left me with many different perspectives and insights.

I had a wonderful semester abroad. The CIEE staff was welcoming and flexible, even when I had to join late because I got Covid. The academics were good, though different from school in the U.S. and took some adjustment. I attended University College London, and the biggest difference was that there was very little work throughout the semester—just reading mainly—and one final that was 100% of the grade. It was a little intimidating at first but I got used to it. The schedule was flexible as well, which made European travel attainable. I would highly recommend this program and CIEE as an organization.

CIEE's Summer in London program exceeded all of my expectations. It was the most amazing experience. The program was the perfect mix of academics and free time. I met some of the most wonderful people who have become lifelong friends and created memories that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. The staff is so incredibly supportive and it's clear they want you to succeed. I never felt out of place in asking for help, which is extremely important being in a new country and experiencing completely new things. Overall, this program is one that I will recommend for a very long time.

I would absolutely take this opportunity again, the staff have been nothing but welcoming and kind. I knew I could go to them with anything, especially Olwyn. The academic course was challenging, but it’s enough time to be manageable with traveling on the weekends and still engaging in a healthy social life balance. I have met amazing people here in my program and I hope that the friendships I have made last a long time. I’ve loved getting to meet new people and have made life long, irreplaceable memories here in London! I hope to return in the future.

I've always dreamed of living abroad. My university had canceled all of its study-abroad programs due to COVID, so the only way for me to study abroad would be through an external program. I am extremely grateful to the CIEE for giving me this opportunity. The staff was extremely helpful and accessible. The courses that I took really stood out to me. I was able to take several courses on art and photography, and in these courses, my instructors made a point to expose us to the many museums and galleries London has to offer. I was able to have incredible cultural exposure just by going to class every day. The CIEE also made a point to organize many fun events to show us around London and expose us to different cities in the UK.

I had a bit of a difficult transition to London. My arrival was delayed due to COVID, and that made the new adjustment a challenge. I did not click with my roommates the way they all had and I felt very isolated for the first month or two. I found it incredibly difficult to make friends. The CIEE staff encouraged me to go to their events with students from other programs and helped me get in touch with mental health professionals, but I feel that many of the issues I was having were enhanced by the housing situation. The apartment they put us in was very nice, but I had no space for myself and was constantly forced to deal with the difficult roommate situation. The lack of individual rooms also became a problem when we contracted COVID and had to be moved in order to isolate.

Luckily, London is a great city to meet new people. Through the experiences that I had in London, I have become considerably more confident and independent. I learned to get out of my comfort zone and dive into new things and in doing so, I have made so many great friends. After the initially difficult adjustment, I am happy to say that my time in London has been amazing and I'm so grateful for these experiences. Through rail travel and cheap flights, it's a great place to be in to explore Europe. There is so much to do in London that you could never leave and still have an amazing time.

CIEE London is a great learning experience. Since I participated in the Open Campus program, I had the option to move between cities every 6 weeks but I decided to stay in London to get a feel for the city and do some in depth exploring. CIEE offers plenty of opportunities to adventure around the city you are studying in and with the weekend long excursions you learn even more about your host country! We went to Liverpool, York, and Cardiff (Wales!) while I was here and these trips were the things that I looked forward to the most. The staff is very helpful and friendly, which made the transition into living in another country quite inviting and welcoming. I highly recommend this program to anyone looking to study abroad but also be around Americans at the same time.

Studying abroad in London opened my eyes to the world. It helped me engage with people I would have never expected to have the opportunity to meet. This experience was one that helped me learn more about myself as an individual but also pay close attention to how I am similar to those around me and those who are not around me. It taught me more about hardships that others face and the limitations I unintentionally put on myself.
Studying in London allowed me to broaden my horizon, I would have never in a million years vision myself walking the street of the United Kingdom and for a month I did just that and more. I visited Northern Ireland, and woke up one morning in Paris as a dream come true! Trust yourself enough to accept the risk of growth. Sometimes we hate the feeling of being uncomfortable but it’s a sign of growth!