IES Abroad London

My time abroad was such an incredible and rewarding experience. I think about London every day and can only say how amazing my time there was because of the opportunities, guidance, encouragement, and passion that my program provided. I went through IES Study London, which is an unique program because we are not directly enrolled full time at a traditional University. There are intern programs and the option to take a course at an outside University, which is something I did do. At first I thought this would “hinder” my abroad experience, but the dynamic ended up truly making it because my entire program was able to get to know each another so much better through classes, living in the same building, and participating in IES trips together. The classes at IES are taught by credible professors and the class-sizes were small and challenging. I learned a whole new perspective of international politics that I hadn’t been exposed to back home and really took away valuable skills and a better understanding about the world around me. London is such a vibrant city and IES does such a wonderful job helping us transition and encourages us to take full advantage of our time abroad. They really made London feel smaller and much more personal. I was able to learn and grow so much during my time in London and am so thankful for such an amazing experience. The chance to truly live, study, and experience a city for more than a visit is an opportunity that everyone should take full advantage of— I promise you will only regret it if you don’t go abroad!!

Going abroad to London through IES was one of the best experiences I’ve had in my life so far. It was easy to create a schedule of classes that allowed me to have a lot of free time to travel on the weekends and explore London. The staff also planned a lot of day trips, a midterm trip through Scotland (where we got to pet and feed REINDEER!), and day outings in London to make sure we had a great time. We lived close to the biggest tube station in London so getting around was really easy, and I liked living in a residence hall with a bunch of other study abroad students. The only negative was that the rooms were pretty small and the shared communal kitchen got dirty and lacked some basic kitchen equipment, but really I wasn’t in the residence hall that much. I would definitely recommend this program and the location: London is the most incredible city with so much to do and explore!

My love for music and attending concerts became a substantial part of my life while studying abroad in London through IES. IES staff members want you to have a great individual immersion, so they were always insightful when I asked questions about how a typical English student would be living including places to get cheap food, neighborhoods where young people hang, places to shop, resources for homework, and of course, which bands or dj's were in town and where. IES staff would share their personal favorite artists for me to listen to while recommending venues or student deals for shows.

Music was even incorporated into my curriculum. In my British Youth Culture course, we studied different historical periods and subcultures that were relatable for students and included studying famous British musicians. From the The Beatles to the creators of dub step, my courses allowed to further explore my interests and apply them in an academic setting.

Months and months of anticipation felt like a lifetime compared to the months actually spent abroad. Landing in London on January 5th was one of the most exciting days of my life. I was nervous to be away from home for such a long amount of time, but excited to start one of my most independent adventures of my entire life.

The first thing I wanted to do was to take a nap! I didn't get much sleep on the plane (due to excitement) and the jetlag was hitting hard! However, IES London had a different plan in mind. I arrived with my months worth of luggage and was told that I had one hour to get settled and that I would be going on a tour of the area and purchasing my Oyster card (the public transportation card that will inevitably become your best friend). IES staff knew we were all exhausted, but that the best thing for us was to get moving and adjust as best as we could to the time change as soon as possible. We all got our necessary items (sheets, hangers, and all the essentials) and got excited for what was left to come.

IES Staff wanted us all to have the best experience possible from day 1. Whether it was organizing fun and interesting tours around all of England, to just having a casual conversation about our travel plans in between classes. They never failed to lend their years of advice to ensure we were safe and making the most of our time overseas! I would not have traded this experience for anything and would not have wanted my experience to be with any other abroad coordinators.

Going abroad in London was easily the best decision I've ever made. I was able to learn more about myself than I ever thought possible while experiencing a new culture and lifestyle. Day to day life in London proved to be something that I could get used to in a heart beat and if you're looking for a big city and never running out of things to do, London is the place for you. I was able to travel and see the world while abroad, which was something that was also extremely important to me. I made connections and relationships with people that I have no doubt will help me down the line and I will treasure the friendships and memories forever.

This opportunity could not have come at a more perfect time. I had just finished my most grueling semester of college and my terms were coming to an end for my positions in both my business and social fraternity. I felt the need to break from the mundane and try something completely new, and the Study London program through IES gave me that chance. This program gave me so many opportunities and it can do the same for you. Through this program, I took relevant and challenging courses that not only kept me engaged and helped the GPA, but allowed me to think critically and gave me extra tools for both the academic and the "real" world. Despite my business major, I was able to take an acting class through IES. This allowed me to see a play once a week for a fraction of the cost, giving me the chance to soak in London's fine art culture at a discount. I was happy with the living arrangements (we stayed in Kings Cross, the proverbial epicenter of London). I could get almost anywhere I needed to be within 20 minutes and the common living area allowed for all of the students to really get to know each other. But perhaps the greatest thing about the study abroad program is that they understand that students want to travel and take that into account when building the program. The coursework can be a little rigorous at times, but IES has created a system where you can make your class schedule work with your study schedule. I knew I wanted to travel to different countries so I put all of my classes on Tuesday and Wednesday. While this option isn't always open, I was able to ensure that I put in a solid effort into my academics while being able to travel whenever I could. The result was a huge GPA boost and my unbelievable experiences in Berlin, Barcelona, Amsterdam, and Dublin. But don't forget to explore everything London has to offer! All in all, I had an amazing experience, I made friends I will cherish throughout the years to come, and I hope everyone can have as an amazing experience as I did.

I knew that if I graduated college without studying abroad I would regret it and once I experienced a semester at IES – Health Practice and Policy I knew I was right. Although stepping out of my comfort zone was a little daunting the staff in London was welcoming and allowed me to feel at home, in a completely different country. During my time abroad I not only discovered a new country, cultures and food but ultimately I rediscovered myself. One of the main reasons I loved my time abroad was because the program was so well rounded it allows my to engage in different things and shape my experience!

At the IES center in London I was able to take classes that were related to my major and counted for credit. What made studying abroad unique was having the ability to engage in topics of epidemiology, women’s history, social welfare, health and disease while walking and exploring the city. One of the highlights of the Health Practice and Policy was taking a class at Oxford.

Another aspect of the program that made it unique was the service learning component. While we learned in our classes we also had the ability to learn through our service learning placement. Through my service learning placement I was able to engage with individuals from different communities within London. I was also able to gain a deeper understanding and practice on how grants are obtained, monitored, and awarded. At the end of the semester we completed a new service placement in Jamaica, which had an immense impact on me both on a personal and professional level. While in Jamaica I was able to explore the culture and beautiful sight of Kingston but also observe different clinical settings and take classes at the University of the West Indies.

As if studying in London, having a service placement, and even traveling to Jamaica was not enough the program allows you to further shape your experience. Although you are focused on your course work the staff at IES London are really there to help with anything! They try to make sure to have all the resources you need to enjoy your time in London. One of those aspects involved traveling and activities. Throughout the semester the staff at the center planned different trips and activities. Some of the traveling I did with the center was visiting Bath, Stonehenge, and Oxford. On the other hand some of the activities I attended were soccer games and even visiting Harry Potter studios. Throughout my stay the staff also encouraged me to explore Europe and gave me different tips that made traveling easier.

The center allows you to shape your experience by allowing you to obtain a student ID from the University of London. By obtaining the ID you are able to join any club or intermural sport the university has. Through the center you are also able to apply for a program that allows you to do homestays with families in England. All these options allowed me and will allow you to shape your experience to what you find interesting and ultimately make London my home away from home.

On a school day, I would get up, try not to wake my roommate while getting ready for class, and walk down the street to the the cafe for a delicious pastry and hot chocolate. As I walked to the bus stop I would always admire the morning light on King's Cross. A 30 minute drive to the IES center on the double decker bus is great for people watching and seeing the city come to life. Getting off the bus, looking right and not left to cross the street, the center blends into the surroundings on Bloomsbury. You buzz into the center and Simon and Vanessza welcome you with bright smiles every time. As you walk up the stairs Albus Dumbledore gives you some education tips. The classrooms are small but cozy, and make the two and a half hour classes not as painful. The teachers, not Professors but teachers, insist you call them by their first name and constantly engage you throughout the lesson with their humor and fascinating experiences in their topics. The day is like a throwback to High School when you're in class all day, but you want to be there and you want to learn.