Destination London
By: Kristen Carson
Hi I’m Kristen and I studied abroad in London with FIE during the 2017 winter quarter. Leading up to the program, I was very excited and nervous. While I couldn't wait to travel and explore Europe, I was a little scared about being in an entirely new place. I am happy to report though that my biggest challenge abroad ended up being the jetlag (which I swear lasted for a month). Living in London and traveling around Europe really put me out of my comfort zone, but it was so worth it. I returned from America with so many stories about the amazing places I saw, people I met, and experiences I had. I honestly feel like I grew so much as a person in just those few months. While everyone’s experience is different, I can’t imagine anyone not having the time of their life if they study abroad in London. I’d love to answer any questions or talk about my time in Europe so feel free to reach out!
Housing
The FIE student residences are actually townhouses converted into apartment style flats. All are located within a few blocks of each other in the royal borough of South Kensington, a very posh area of London. Just a short walk from my flat could get me to a number of restaurants, grocery stores, retail stores, and tube stations.
I was assigned to living in Metrogate, along with the other Santa Clara students and a few other universities. Although Metrogate was one of the quieter flats, I liked it because the laundry, computer lab, and mail pick up were based out of the building. I lived in a triple with two of my friends. The rooms were small, but that is pretty typical for London since real estate is so expensive. My flat didn't have a common room like the others so we used the kitchen on each of the floors for cooking and Facetiming.
Finances
Studying abroad isn’t cheap, but that doesn't mean you can’t do it on a budget. There are a number of easy ways you can save a few pounds while you’re here: Ordering your pastry “take away” instead of “for here,” asking for tap instead of bottled water at restaurants, bringing your own bag to the grocery store, and taking advantage of student discounts at stores like Topshop. The Oyster Card, the public transportation pass provided by FIE, also saved me a lot of money as I could travel anywhere by tube or bus for free. Nights out can get expensive so if you’re looking to save, have a few drinks before going out and connect with a promoter to get a discounted or waived cover.
One of the great things about London is that it is very credit card friendly. I charged most of my purchases out of convenience, but I was subject to whatever the exchange rate was on that day. My advice would be to get a credit card that doesn't have an international transaction fee (this was the case when I used the Alaska Airlines Visa card). I brought some pounds London, but there are a lot of places where you can exchange money there (just be aware of their fees).
While abroad, my moneywent mainly to food and travel. A lot of the top activities and places to see in London (including their museums) as well as Europe are actually free to the public. When planning trips, I found good deals on Skyscanner for flights with discount airlines like RyanAir and EasyJet. EasyBus and the tube are two ways to get to the different London airports for cheap. In other countries, I got around by walking and public transportation. I would suggest staying in a hostel or AirBnb that is near the city center as well as getting weekend public transportation passes.
Academics
FIE was a great program for me as a business major (marketing and international business) as I was able to take courses there that fulfilled my SCU requirements. They offer classes that count for C&I3, RTC2, and a number of introductory business courses. I had already taken those before studying abroad so I took Global Marketing, International Trade, Photojournalism, and a British Life class to help satisfy my major and minor requirements. Each class was held twice a week for three hours each. While school days could get long, the scheduling worked out to my advantage: I had Fridays free as well as free time before and between classes.
I really enjoyed my classes abroad. They were challenging, but I never felt overwhelmed by the work. The amount of reading, group projects, and test varied but the content was all very interesting. The professors are very knowledgeable in their subjects and also good resources for information about London and traveling throughout Europe.
Tip: Buy a used textbook from FIE for 5 pounds each (it’s a lot cheaper than buying your own)
Student Life
All classes are conducted out of another converted townhouse called the Foundation House. Most students study in their rooms, the computer lab at Metrogate, the basement lounge in Foundation House, or at a local coffee shop. Classes are mixed with students in the FIE program from universities all over the US so it is an easy way to meet people. My flat didn't have a common room so it was harder to meet people compared to students in other flats. FIE is partnered with Imperial College (a local school across the street from Metrogate) so while I didn’t join any of their clubs, I did go to their university bar nights.
Social Life
I met a lot of interesting and friendly Londoners while I was abroad, but didn't get the chance to hang out with any of them. I spent most of my time with people I met through the program, which are students from universities across the US. There are so many places to see and things to do in London so we would explore London in our free time or travel to other countries on the weekend.
Getting Around
Exploring London is so easy and fun. The best ways to get around is by walking, taking the tube (train), or riding the bus. If you have the time and the weather is nice, I would encourage you to walk or take the bus so you can see the city. The app CityMapper was so helpful for traveling in London as well as other cities around Europe. It gives you detailed directions to help you navigate yourself, including the tube schedules and routes.
Shopping
The best place for buying groceries would be Waitrose or Sainsbury, which are both in walking distance from the flats. Be careful though because London products expire faster than the American ones we’re used to. Borough Market was my favorite food market to visit in London so I would highly recommend a visit there. For retail shopping, you have a few options including Oxford Street, High Street, Covent Garden, and Westfield Mall. London has a mix of American and European stores, but just make sure you can fit everything you buy in your suitcase going home. Some of the stores I would always go to include Topshop, Bershka, H&M, Primark, and And Other Stories.
People
There are so many people of all different backgrounds living in London. Aside from the occasional rude or racist person, I would say I had a great experience with the locals. Customer service is not as friendly as what I was used to, but I came to realize that was the norm there. I would encourage anyone visiting London to start a conversation with strangers. Some of my best conversations happened with food market vendors or newspaper salespeople.