England Archives - IFSA

Cooking in London: How Routines Help You Feel at Home During Study Abroad

ichilds — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 19:44:53 +0000

Everything is more expensive in London, especially food. Cooking at home became an essential part of my daily routine, not only to have a mental break from academics, but also to save money. Finding a routine that worked took a few trials and errors, but I eventually figured out a good system. Saving money, meeting locals [...]

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Takeaways from Studying Abroad Twice

ichilds — Wed, 20 May 2026 16:18:55 +0000

Because I studied international policy, my professors encouraged me to study abroad to better understand how countries approach policy challenges. I chose University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, as I was doing research on international affairs in the Indo-Pacific region at the time. Beyond academics, my time in Sydney pushed me to step [...]

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Don’t Spend Your Study Abroad Semester in an Airport

ichilds — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 20:41:18 +0000

It is easy to get caught up in the travel flex when you get to London. I’ve done my fair share of travel already, having been to Dublin and Morocco, and writing from Wales, where I am visiting with my IFSA group. I have more trips lined up for the next few months, but I’ve realized if you aren't careful, you could end up treating London like a glorified base camp instead of the place you live. The [...]

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What’s So Good About the University of Oxford Academic System?

ichilds — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 20:36:37 +0000

As a student at a liberal arts college in North Carolina, I was used to traditional classroom lectures, homework that took a couple of hours a day, and 16-week semesters ending with exams or project submissions. Oxford asked me to throw all of this out the window. At Oxford, I had two classes (tutorials) instead of the four. We dove much deeper into subject matter. There is a [...]

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How Leaving the U.S. to Study Abroad Changed My Life

acarter — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 16:18:48 +0000

Initially, I was hesitant to study abroad. Having never traveled outside of America, I knew I was committing to learning a new way of life and being alone in an unfamiliar country. Despite these uncertainties, taking this leap of faith taught me things about myself and allowed me to experience a new way of life and culture. [...]

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Balancing Academics and Exploration in London

ichilds — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 15:40:44 +0000

For most students, me included, studying and attending classes isn’t always the most exciting aspect of being abroad. But between all the events and travel, it’s important to make time for academics. Academic culture shock This summer I studied at University of Westminster in London, and one of the things that gave me the most culture [...]

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Staying Mentally Balanced During Study Abroad in London

acarter — Thu, 24 Jul 2025 15:45:56 +0000

Mental health abroad is super important to me, especially as a first-generation student. Whether the idea of studying abroad is anxiety-inducing or exciting to you, such a change is bound to cause a plethora of different emotions, and for me this was certainly the case. New friends: an antidote for missing home Studying abroad at [...]

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Hello, London: Studying Abroad as an International Student

acarter — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 21:20:04 +0000

What I loved about my program Joining this IFSA program was one of the best parts of my undergraduate studies. From the welcoming IFSA staff to the student body at large, everyone was super nice and always there to help. Through IFSA, I joined thoughtfully curated excursions that truly enriched my experience. My favorite was [...]

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Five Ways to Make the Best of Study Abroad at Oxford University

acarter — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 21:05:23 +0000

Studying abroad in Oxford is tough, but a great choice. I hope these tips from my experience here this year help you maximize your time here. 1. Embrace the tutorial system. Here’s how it works: You’re assigned two tutorials per term, one primary and one secondary. You write six to eight essays for your primary, [...]

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Adjusting to Daily Life as A Study Abroad Student in London

Kate — Mon, 03 Mar 2025 15:57:02 +0000

Getting to Know London at King’s College As a third-year economics student at Duke, I spent my fall semester at King’s College in London. London didn’t feel too far from home because there was no language barrier and I had been there before. But there were certainly some unexpected transitional periods. Living in a flat and [...]

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