Why Did I Choose London?
I did not originally choose to study in London. I started at a university in America before deciding to transfer once I studied abroad for 3 months. I loved the diversity on campus, the freedom that came from living in a different country, and the opportunities it opened up for me career-wise. For context, I am studying nursing, so once I graduate I will have the ability to work in the US and the UK if I so please.
What do I love and not love about London?
I love that there is public transportation so that you can get around with ease, and the cost of grocery shopping is low in comparison to the US right now. The nightlife is also amazing. If you’re not into partying, there are so many options available to you. Just taking a trip down to central at night and walking around is an experience. What I don’t love about London is that, despite my saying that groceries are cheap, the city itself can be quite expensive. As a university student and international student, the amount of time I can work personally is restricted to 20 hours, so if I planned on self-paying, the money to support myself would have to come from outside sources as well.
How are the accommodations?
Living on campus is automatically the cheapest option for people studying as international students. The rent includes utilities, and there are washers and dryers on campus. While they differ in quality based on the amount paid, they are still good quality from an objective standpoint. There’s also the option of having your own bathroom, but areas such as the kitchen and the living room are shared. Also, Roehampton allows you to choose who you want to live with. Lastly, if an issue arises in the flat, such as a clogged drain, there is a website where you can submit a ticket for that issue and a litany of other issues or questions that don’t pertain to accommodation.
How are the classes?
As an American, I am used to a large workload in terms of tests and homework. There is not a bunch of tests. There is homework, however it is not graded. This makes some people view this as optional, so you must hold yourself accountable to get the reading or work done. The lecturers are nice and will follow up with you to ensure that you have what you need. They are also good at accommodating personal issues or learning disabilities. As a nursing student, I have classes most days of the week, and then I have 6 or 7-week-long clinical placements. The dedicated time off to catch up on reading on complete assignments is also amazing. The only issue I might have is the ease of the course during the first year. It gives a false sense of security to students that results in constant questions that have already been answered, and unneeded confusion on tasks that are supposed to be “easy”.
What do I do in my spare time?
Right next to the campus is Richmond Park. It is so beautiful, and I love to put in my earphones and go for walks there to clear my mind. If I don’t feel like studying in my dorm, I can hop on one of the buses (there is a bus stop right outside the university) and go to a nearby cafe. There are tons in Richmond and Putney. I also like to read, and the campus has a lot of green areas that you can sit in and relax if the weather permits. On weekends, I do enjoy going to a cocktail bar, which there are also plenty of in Putney, which is about a 10-minute bus ride from campus, give or take depending on time and traffic. If I don’t want to spend money, I will just get together with my friends on campus and go to the bar on campus. The bar on campus regularly holds things such as quiz night and karaoke, which do not cost to go to.
Did you experience any issues with the university?
The only complaint I have is that the university does take a while to respond to some issues, even ones that are time-constrained, which can be very stressful. This previous year when I moved there officially, I was in continuous contact with the university to get the documents needed to start my visa process, which is also time-constrained. There was a major delay in the area for me personally. Lastly, there was an issue with students from the US receiving their financial aid. Instead of receiving my financial aid in September/October, I received it in the middle of November, which caused obvious issues with the cost of living.
Is there anything I wish I had known?
As a person coming to study abroad, I wish I had travelled more. Skyscanner is an amazing website that shows low-cost flights to places within Europe and elsewhere. As a person who is now an international student going to university full-time from America, I will say to research financial aid before you decide this is an option for you. Personally, the nursing courses at Roehampton are not eligible for federal funding, so that means private loans would be your next and only option if you do not have support from family or a sponsor. There are a few scholarships for students from the US studying permanently in the UK, but they are hard to find. I will also say to get a railcard. It will pay for itself in maybe 2 to 3 trips, and depending on where you are travelling, it might pay for itself in one trip. Lastly, if you need a job, check with campus resources first, and see if you can get a job on campus. They will accommodate your studies and other engagements better than an outside job would usually.
- Taniya