- Introduction
- Eligibility Process
- Program Benefits
- Arrival at Roehampton
- Acclimating to Living Abroad
- Travel Opportunities
- Back in the U.S.A.
Imagine yourself living and studying in England! Now imagine yourself flying over and back for free…your tuition costing no more than you pay here at UNH…attending an outstanding London university…and returning with a semester’s worth of academic credits and a lifetime’s worth of awesome memories! This fall twenty freshmen didn’t have to imagine this when they took part in the University of New Haven’s Freshman Semester Abroad (FSA) program.
In this unique program, these students studied abroad the first semester of their freshman year. They began their college experience at Roehampton University in England, just six miles from the heart of London. Last September, while the rest of the UNH freshmen moved onto campus and started classes, these twenty students from Connecticut, New Jersey, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, and New York chose to spend their first semester in London as FSA students. These students came into this program with a variety of interests. Currently they are studying the areas of Music Industry, Music and Sound Recording, Psychology, Business, and Criminal Justice. What attracts many students to the FSA program at Roehampton University is that it
is a campus similar to colleges and universities in the United States, like the University of New Haven. Roehampton has a variety of academic programs, on-campus housing, classroom buildings, library, student center, and more. Students have the opportunity to take core curriculum courses during their first semester as well as a course called London as a Resource. In this course students learn about the history and culture of London, often taking field trips to popular locations.
Eligibility Process
Students who are eligible for the FSA program are notified by mail in February. In order to be eligible for the FSA program, students must be 18 years old at the time of departure, as required by British law. Students in programs such as Engineering, Forensic Science, and Marine Biology are encouraged to take advantage of a study abroad opportunity other than Roehampton because the sequence of courses that they take first semester of freshman year are important to graduating in a four-year period. Other majors can be more flexible with course selection, therefore making FSA possible during freshman year.
Students who receive an invitation to FSA can respond to the online interest form. Interested students will then move on to the next step, which is a phone interview. Phone interviews are an informative part of the process, in which the student has the opportunity to learn more about the program, and the Admissions Office has the opportunity to learn whether the student is ready for the experience of studying abroad. There are twenty spots available for the class as well as a running wait list. Students who are accepted to the program have two weeks to pay a deposit of $1,000 to secure their spot. The group then attends an orientation session during SOAR (Summer Orientation Advising and Registration) where they learn about the specifics of student visas and what to expect.
Program Benefits
Students who are chosen to participate in the FSA program receive a number of unique benefits. As part of the UNH tuition they receive on-campus housing (shared bathroom, private room), roundtrip airfare from JFK to London, airport pickup and reception service, linens (sheets, duvet, towel), kitchen pack (pot, pan, plate, bowl and silverware), an international cell phone with $20 credit, two 1-day excursions, an Oyster Card (rechargeable tube card with 90 pounds credit), and return transportation to the airport.
Arrival at Roehampton
In mid-September students begin their adventure of a semester in London. They fly as a group with their chaperone from JFK International Airport to London’s Heathrow Airport. The program coordinator travels with the students to London to help them get settled and familiarize them with the campus and the area. After the flight we are welcomed by Roehampton’s International Centre staff and receive transportation to campus. FSA students are housed on campus in different residence halls, further immersing them into the campus culture and student body. Their accommodations include a single bedroom with common kitchens, living areas, and bathrooms in their hall.
Acclimating to Living Abroad
Upon arrival on Roehampton’s campus, the first group activity was to stay awake after the overnight flight. After a couple of days the students became accustomed to the time difference, but the first day was tough. The first few days were dedicated to acquainting the students to London and the surrounding area. They took campus tours, learned about the library, and registered for classes. Off campus they took tours of important places and learned how to use the public transportation of buses and the tube. They visited ASDA, which is like a Walmart store where students could grocery-shop and buy other things for their residence halls that they didn’t pack in their luggage. They used public transportation to go anywhere in and around London.
Roehampton also hosted an international student orientation where they acquainted the students to campus and downtown London. There were student information fairs, workshops, presentations, and socials. The students participated in a London Photo Frenzy where they took great pictures in Downtown London and practiced using the tube system.
Travel Opportunities
Throughout the semester, the students took advantage of their opportunities and surroundings. They had day trips that took them to places like Stonehenge and Bath. Many of the students traveled to a variety of places in Europe such as Rome, Paris, Austria, and Amsterdam. They took advantage of the student union trips, which took them to places like Disneyland Paris and Rome.
Back in the U.S.A.
Now back on campus for the spring semester, the students are adjusting to life at UNH. They are getting involved in clubs and organizations, meeting new friends, and taking advantage of the opportunities UNH has to offer. As a group and individually they really enjoyed their time at Roehampton. As one student put it, “The FSA program is a unique and wonderful opportunity that not many other universities offer. The idea of spending a semester abroad in London thrilled me. Looking back at my time at Roehampton University, I love the people I met, and the independence I was given. FSA is one of the best decisions I have made for my education.”
