Planning
At the beginning there is of course always the planning. I spent a semester abroad in London in the fifth semester of my studies. I started planning for this in the third semester, i.e. a year before. First of all, you should ask yourself which country do you want to go to? It was particularly important for me to go to an English-speaking country so that I could improve my English skills not only at university but also in everyday life. My choice fell relatively quickly on England and especially London. Then I found out about various universities in London. Via MicroEDU I went to London South Bank University (LSBU)encountered. I then chose the LSBU mainly because of the relatively low costs for a semester abroad, the central location and the practice-oriented teaching.
After the university was selected, I found out about the necessary application documents via MicroEDU. In order to get all the application documents together, you should already submit a few months, as a language test or a letter of recommendation from a professor at a university can sometimes take a while. Then it was necessary to book the flights and look for accommodation, both of which should be done a few months before the start of the semester abroad.
University
According to act-test-centers, the university is really very central in London (Zone 1)and is easily accessible for all those who do not live in the dormitory via the Tube Station Elephant & Castle. In the first two weeks there is really a lot of program so that you can quickly get to know a lot of people. Here you should really look to take as much as possible with you in order to find the connection in the new city and the surrounding area. I also got to know some people here, with whom I spent a lot of time throughout the semester. Unfortunately, the enrollment at the university was quite chaotic and sometimes poorly or not at all organized. On my enrollment date, I actually wanted to finally choose my courses, as I had previously only specified preferences when applying. However, this was only an administrative process and I had no option to choose courses, so that I didn’t even know which courses to take. So in the first week of university I didn’t have a schedule and I didn’t know where to go and when. The situation only cleared up after numerous emails and discussions with the administration. The process should definitely be improved here!
The lectures and seminars themselves were then relatively interesting and well designed, although it must be said that the level is well below that at a German university. What I liked a lot was that I only had to write term papers and presentations and no exams. However, this depends on the choice of module.
I am studying industrial engineering in Germany and have studied business at the LSBU and had the courses “Managing the Principles of E-Business”, “Managing Business and Innovation” and “London: City of Change”.
Another plus point at the university is the good sports offer. In the first semester at LSBU you can use the university’s gym for free and I also joined the football team for £ 30 that I played against other London universities such as the LSE. Here I got to know a lot of nice people and also a few more locals, because otherwise you usually have mainly contact with the other international students.
Accommodation
I decided to go to a student residence at the university. The dorm rooms are really cheap by London standards (at £ 120 a week for me) and are all within walking distance of the university. In addition, foreign students are guaranteed a place in the dormitory. I stayed at the Dante Road dorm and was very happy with the accommodation. I had my own bedroom with a sink and shared the kitchen and bathroom with five other students. The dormitory is of course not luxurious, but it is centrally located, affordable and reasonably clean. In addition, you have a good connection right from the start via your roommates, which you may not have with an external apartment further outside.
Leisure
Hardly any other city in the world offers as many opportunities to spend your free time as London. London is a beautiful city that has a lot to offer and is extremely diverse.Even after four months in London, I was always able to discover new places. In addition to the well-known main attractions, London has numerous very charming and individual city districts that you can discover. I can particularly recommend the hip areas of Shoreditch, Greenwich and Notting Hill with the Portobello Market on Saturday. I can also highly recommend taking a few day trips in the area. I took the train to Oxford, Cambridge, Bath, Brighton and Eastbourne in the national park. I can highly recommend every single trip. Since the university is relatively relaxed, you also have enough time to explore London and the surrounding area.
Costs
The costs for a semester abroad in London are already very high overall. You should expect around 10,000 euros here. I paid £ 4,200 tuition fees for the university, around £ 2,300 for the dormitory for 4 months and then there are the flights, which are relatively cheap and the cost of living. Eating out and partying is quite expensive in London (a beer usually costs 4-5 pounds). The food in the supermarket is priced similar to that in Germany.
Conclusion
All in all, my conclusion for the semester abroad is very positive. It is a unique experience and you broaden your horizons by living in a new city abroad. In my opinion, London makes it really easy to feel comfortable here. I also met an incredible number of people in London and my English has definitely improved a lot here. I can also highly recommend working with MicroEDU, as you always have a reliable contact person who has a lot of experience. So I can recommend a semester abroad in London to everyone!
