A Year in London as a Combined Major
1. Hi, Grace! Thank you so much for chatting with us about your time as a combined major who completed the London Scholars Program. To start, could you please explain what London Scholars is and which campus it’s on?
Of course! London Scholars is a program in which you spend your first year at Northeastern University London before transitioning to Northeastern’s Boston campus for the remaining 3 years of your degree. It’s hosted on our Northeastern University London campus, which is a fully accredited UK institution and part of our global network of campuses.
2. That sounds like a blast. What first drew you to the idea of going abroad to London as a freshman?
I have always loved to travel, and have wanted to study abroad for a long time. Being able to do it in my first year was so special because not only did I complete a full year when many study abroad programs are only a semester, but I also took almost all of my introductory and general education courses in London. The class sizes are typically small, which allows for group discussion and close relationships among peers and professors.
3. I’m curious to know more about your experience with academics in London. I know you’re a combined major, but could you explain how this differs from being a double major?
A combined major is built as an integration and overlap between the two sections of the major. A double major in Computer Science (CS) and Philosophy would mean that I happen to be studying CS and Phil at the same time, but as a combined major, they are really woven into each other. I’m required to take classes like Technology and Human Values, Advanced Deductive Logic, and AI Ethics, which are related to both parts of my major.
4. During your time in London, did you have the chance to focus on both aspects of your degree? Why or why not?
Yes, I did! I was able to take classes for CS like Fundamentals of Computer Science I and II (now Introduction to Program Design and Implementation and Program Design and Implementation I), classes for Philosophy like Introduction to Logic, and integrative requirements like Technology and Human Values. CS and Phil are offered as full-length degrees at the NU London campus (some students spend 3 years at NU London getting a UK bachelor's degree instead of 1 year through the London Scholars program, and CS and Phil is one of the courses for a full-time degree), so there were a lot of classes for both parts of my major.
5. Was it easy to connect with your professors in London?
Just like on the US campuses, professors are required to host office hours in London. Because the cohort of students at Northeastern University London is smaller than on the Boston campus, class sizes were also significantly smaller, so it was easy to speak to them during class, too.
6. Was it easy to make friends abroad? How did Northeastern support your bonding with other students?
The London Scholars cohort is a much smaller community than Northeastern as a whole (my year had around 500 students). The program has grown since then, but it still has a much smaller student body than the Boston campus. There were lots of opportunities to connect with people through Welcome Week activities, classes, and excursions. The way I met a lot of my friends was through Northeastern-organized (and funded!) trips to theatre shows, different neighborhoods of London, and different cities and towns around England! I connected with one of my best friends and current roommates on a Northeastern-sponsored trip to Richmond, and I got to meet new people on every excursion I went on!
7. How often did you find yourself venturing into London to do fun activities or schoolwork?
Quite a lot! My personal favorite thing to do in London was to see live theatre, and I saw over 2 dozen West End and off-West End shows while I was in London. I have a distinct memory of going to watch a Shakespeare play in the Globe for a class I was taking called British Drama and the London Stage, and marveling at the fact that something that is a bucket-list item for so many people was a part of my education. I would also go into London to try new cuisines, find the newest viral dessert, or find a fun place to study!
8. Are there any specific memories you want to share that you think speak to the London Scholars experience?
I can’t pin down any specific memory that speaks the most to the London Scholars experience because of the sheer number of experiences I had. In addition to my over 2 dozen West End shows, I got to eat at countless new restaurants, visit 8 countries, spend weeks traveling, get involved in new clubs, take classes about both my field of study and London culture, and make new friends.
9. What was it like transitioning from the London Campus to the Boston Campus? Were there any specific events or resources that helped you along the way?
Being able to participate in Welcome Week and Fall Fest as a 2nd year was super helpful! Because so many Northeastern students start outside of Boston, it felt super easy to come back and get integrated into clubs, meet new people, and get introduced to the Boston campus and the city as a whole!
10. If you had one piece of advice for a prospective student considering the London Scholars program, what would it be?
London Scholars is one of my favorite things I’ve ever done, but it requires independence and an open mindset. Of course, you have full support from the university, peers, and staff, but knowing how to cook your own food, organize your own schedule, set priorities, and make new connections are all important skills to have and develop for your time in London. With such skills, you will have the opportunity to make amazing memories in a world-class city full of food, culture, history, and more!
