Program Reviews

London was a unique experience for me personally, academically, and professionally. I gained confidence in my ability to acclimate to new environments and take positive risks. We created an abundance of memories that will last a lifetime, and I'm very grateful I had the opportunity. The internship experience was crucial to integrating with British culture and people. The coursework was a perfect balance of academia and experiential learning. The field trips we took added to our understanding of what we were learning to an even deeper level. Thank you for facilitating these experiences, FIE.

FIE was a very enriching program where I was exposed to a global, collaborative atmosphere that encouraged both academic and personal growth. I found my courses engaging, with instructors who truly valued student input and fostered open discussions. I especially appreciated the frequent opportunities for feedback, which helped me reflect and improve throughout the semester. The internship component was a standout experience—getting to work in London not only allowed me to build professional skills in an international context, but also challenged me to adapt, communicate across cultures, and think more broadly. Living and studying abroad helped me become more independent, curious, and aware of the world around me. I would highly recommend this program to any student looking to step outside their comfort zone and undergo a meaningful period of growth both inside and outside the classroom.

One of the many things people get worried about before singing into this program are the extracurricular activities during weekends and weekdays hosted by the program. Many prefer to travel and do things on their own. But from the experience that I had, the activities were what helped me bond closer to the people in my program. Not only that but you get to learn more about the beautiful country of Ireland, which is something I feel everyone should learn when doing the Dublin study abroad. Loved.

FIE has amazing classes that focus on integrative, experiential learning, so just by going to classes you'll find a lot of really neat stuff that you won't find on a tourist list of things to do in London! The housing was very convenient, if a bit lacking in some areas, and being close to a tube station was lifesaving. It was easy to travel across the city thanks to our provided Oyster cards. FIE's Student Life staff also helps you plan any trips throughout the UK and Europe, as most of them have also traveled and would like to help you find the cheapest, safest routes. The internship was also incredibly meaningful; I was able to watch my actions at my placement have an impact on community members in real time, which is a crazy thing to witness in one of the biggest cities in the world! I have never experienced such a fulfilling position.

Overall, this was the best experience of my life. I loved being able to witness so many different cultures in London. Meeting the locals at pubs was one of my favorite parts of this whole experience. They would always teach us some of their slang which was so funny. The City was amazing and the transportation was very simple. I developed many skills such as being independent which has helped me grow as a person from this experience. The weather was actually amazing while we were there too. I would highly recommend studying abroad here.

I grew significantly as a writer, photographer, international student, and intern with FIE London.

Through our classes, I explored the hidden gems of London and reflected on their impact on my creative life. The walking tours were invaluable!

In my marketing internship, I understood the British corporate lifestyle and expanded beyond my usual journalistic pursuits.

I had a solid group of friends, and we explored London + other European cities together! Lots of students from my cohort traveled outside London too (Paris, Amsterdam, York, Manchester, Italy, etc.) Highly recommend looking into other European locations, as they're reachable by train/plane!

For future students, get ready to hop on the Tube (underground train) or the buses a lot. You'll get an unlimited Oyster card that'll take you across Zones 1 and 2.

For future improvement of the program, I'd love to have more options before selecting our internship placement. Perhaps having more opportunities to interview at different companies to determine which company works best for us instead of sticking to a single placement.

Both FIE and my home professor ensured that everyone was safe and had all of the support they would ever need. It was an amazing opportunity. I really enjoyed my stay because I made the most out of it. My friends and I were able to enjoy cheap plane tickets to Morocco and Menorca, Spain. After we got familiar with the tube and bus routes, it became easy to get around, almost like it was a regular thing. If I talked to someone who would be attending next year, I would say, go out, enjoy traveling for cheap, and definitely enjoy the little differences as much as the big ones.

When I first got to London, I was nervous. I didn’t know what to expect however, as soon as I got to South Kensington, I was greeted with smiles from the FIE staff and me, my friends or now my friends for life if it wasn’t for FIE, I wouldn’t have as much confidence within myself And what I wanna do in my life. Not only was the program great and it allowed me to go to so many different countries, but the internship sent me up for success. I’d like to thank all the FIE staff for making this experience possible and I hope that going forward students like me could have as much of a great experience or even better than I had God bless.

Going abroad was really scary for me, and I debated dropping out many times because of how nervous I was. However, it was the best thing for me. I was able to mature, find new people, and grow in my independence. London was the best place to do this because of the wide range of activities and things that you can do there. FIE helped a ton in the process too by having orientation activities (my favorite was the West End Play and the River Cruise), having cleaners help us clean our rooms, and giving us support through school and student life. I would recommend going abroad to everyone, and London is the best place to go!

The Foundation for International Education (FIE) set me up for educational, professional, and social success before and after arrival in the UK. A week prior to the start of classes, I was welcomed by the kindest staff who had several activities, mixers, and informational sessions scheduled for incoming students. During this time, I acclimated to city living, made new friends, and prepared for coursework to come. Since then, I have enjoyed the wonderful curriculum and plethora of field trips offered by FIE and its office of industry experts who I am lucky enough to call my professors.

Being a FIE in London participant has pushed me to reach higher limits both personally and
professionally. The program provides an excellent balance of education by way of coursework and real-world experience. My classes offer valuable lessons in the form of lectures, study visits, and group discussions, while my internship enables me to put what I’ve learned into action and expand upon it. Living and interning in a new environment has improved my soft skills of adaptability and communication, as well as technical skills related to my area of study. Full entrenchment in English society has made me a better problem-solver as I regularly uncover new ways of accomplishing everyday tasks.

While studying abroad in London, I am grateful to have traveled to other parts of Europe as well. Weekend trips with my peers, many of whom I met through FIE, have further opened my eyes to varieties in culture, lifestyle, and work habits. Such exposures have altered my perspective of what being a professional can and should encompass. I am both eager and ready to take my reformed mindset back with me to the University of Florida in the fall but will always cherish my wonderful memories away from home.