IES Abroad London

This experience really sparked my interest for traveling and taught me so much about how international health care and human rights is viewed. I got hands on experience in the medical field in Jamaica, I was able to travel all over Europe for a very affordable price, and I got to volunteer with CLAPA. IES really catered to my interest and helped me to develop and mature on a professional, academic, and personal level. I learned so much about culture and identity in a place that I thought would be very similar to the United States. These experiences made it more than worthwhile! This was a life changing experience that has inspired me to keep traveling and possibly even change my career goals to something that will allow me to travel abroad.
The IES program was so supportive and they really worked hard to create an inclusive living and learning environment. While there were some small things that could be improved, the people were really what made the program the best experience of my life.

Academic
Overall the courses were interesting and challenging. The administration and professors were very supportive and engaging. However, the program was not able to offer the Oxford class at the last minute so I ended up taking classes at City University of London. This turned out to be just around the corner from my housing assignment and the course included some very interesting aspects. I really ended up enjoying this course and it allowed me to have Friday off to travel.

Support
The administration was very supportive in making sure I was acclimated to living abroad. They constantly kept in touch and responded to emails quickly. They made sure we met up for dinner or tea a couple times during the semester and they also hosted clubs and events around town. They were also very supportive if I wasn't feeling well. Luckily, I did not have any major health issues, but my roommate did and from my perspective, the administration was very helpful. The administrator that lived in our building took her to the hospital and stayed with her until she got home. At one point, I caught a small cold and an administrator offered to make a doctor appointment for me and to go with me, but I was able to easily take care of it with cold medication from the pharmacist.

Housing
The apartment I lived in was right in the heart of London. It was the ideal location for getting around the city by tube or walking. The housing had all the amenities and I always felt safe there. The roommate situation was not ideal because I am so used to living on my own, however it was a great way to make friends and I learned a lot about myself. I had a great view of the city from my room and the program made sure I had everything I needed, and if I didn't there was a shopping tour on the first day that helped me to get everything.

Safety
During orientation, there was a briefing on safety by a police officer who told us about the most common crimes and how to avoid being a target. This was very useful because it made me more aware of my actions and it gave me more information on who to contact if something did go wrong. Also, one of the administrators lived in the same apartment complex me, so there was always someone available. While I was in London, there were a few small bombings including one on the tube and violent protests, but the program has a very specific and strict protocol for locating each person and ensuring our safety and they communicated with my parents that I was safe. In Jamaica, we were chaperoned everywhere and I felt very safe because one of our professors/chaperones is a native Jamaican.

IES Abroad truly made my semester the best one of my life. IES was willing to help me every step of the way, from pre-departure to day to day while abroad, and even helped me readjust after I returned home. I couldn't have asked for a more attentive, inclusive, and helpful organization. They made the semester run so smoothly. The HPP program was immersive and interesting, and I came away learning so much. Thanks, IES!

If someone were to ask me, "Anna, what is the coolest thing you have ever done?" the answer would be easy: "Study abroad!" This summer, I had the awesome experience of studying abroad in London with the IES UK Today program. I took two classes with amazing professors who took us on field trips for basically every class, and were quick to give suggestions as to the best things to do and see in the city. The IES staff was attentive and detail-oriented, from the dispersal and explanation of the pre-departure information, throughout the study abroad experience, and to the day we all left to go home. IES also facilitated amazing field trips to Brighton, Kenilworth Castle and Stratford-Upon-Avon, and Stonehenge and Bath. In addition to giving us opportunities to explore the UK, the IES staff really encouraged us to explore London, UK, and Europe independently. I took this advice to heart, and when I wasn't in class, I could be found in a museum, walking through a royal palace, strolling along the South Bank, or taking in a musical or play in the West End. I also took several trips outside of London, including Paris, Brussels, Dover, Wimbledon, Windsor, and Oxford. Without the support of IES staff encouraging me to make the most of my study abroad experience, and providing me with all the support I needed, I do not think my experience would have been nearly as unforgettable!

IES makes everything easier for your study abroad experience. They provide you with all the necessary information to succeed without being overbearing. They are there when you need them but give you space to do your own thing! I was able to travel to three different countries in my six weeks and see so much of England! I would highly recommend this program if you are independent and are looking for a life changing experience!

I had an amazing time through the IES-UK Today program. I met some of my best friends as well as had an amazing time exploring new countries and getting to know different cultures from around the world. If you are thinking about going abroad I would highly recommend just going for it! Overall, my experience was truly amazing and I think that it is an amazing opportunity to go abroad and try new things. The administration was amazing and helped with anything you needed. They made you feel at home and helped you with the culture shock of a new country. However, you had so much autonomy to do what you wanted when you wanted.

I signed up for the Study London track on a whim; I knew I wanted to go to London and I knew that I wanted to do an internship, but that's it. However, I am so happy that my school's Study London program was cancelled. Being able to go abroad with IES provided me with once in a lifetime experiences. With the program, I was able to meet and make new friends from different colleges around the US, expand my professional career with an internship, travel to different areas of the country and overall showed me so much of what London had to offer. The staff were helpful, the accommodations were amazing, and I can now saw that I feed reindeer in the highlands of Scotland.

If you have the opportunity to go to London with IES, do it!

This was the best year of my life. Living only 20 minutes by tube from central London was extremely convenient. I got to live with students from around the world, not just England. I made unforgettable memories and learned how to be much more independent. It is certainly a different academic experience, but that's the point. Don't let this opportunity pass you by; London is the best city in the world to study abroad, and IES will make it happen.

Studying abroad in London was one of the best decisions of my life. IES provided a great living location that made it easy and quick to get around London. All of the IES staff were welcoming from the moment we arrived and were always trying to make our experience abroad more enjoyable. IES provided multiple planned trips to other cities and towns around England that gave us more opportunities to travel and meet other students in our program. I enjoyed every one of my classes I took at our program's center. I was able to explore parts of London through my classes on a daily basis which helped make the classes and learning more enjoyable. My time abroad was one of the best experiences and I am happy to say that I am still connected with the the friends I made in London. I would highly recommend studying abroad because you get to experience new cultures and make unforgettable memories with new people.