While preparing for my exchange program at Royal Holloway, University of London, I often found myself overlooking one key aspect of studying abroad: the studying. After arriving at my host university, I realized that there are many aspects of succeeding in a classroom setting that students likely don’t realize differ from country to country. In order to help other globetrotting college kids be better prepared than I was, I’ve compiled a short list of my top study tips for students studying in the UK.
Classroom Culture
In many respects, British classrooms are fairly similar to their American counterparts, but they do differ in a few key respects.
- Dress code: In the UK, leggings and sweatpants are for the gym, not for class. Most students also wear sweaters instead of sweatshirts, although jeans and sneakers are perfectly appropriate. And, as a bonus tip: no outfit in the UK is complete without an umbrella— you’re going to need one far more often than you expect!
- Addressing professors: Instructors should always be addressed formally—no first names. Getting hold of them can be tricky, as many teachers in the UK have a much stricter work-life balance than in the States, but in my experience it’s easiest to reach them immediately after class, or via email. (In general, I would never drop by their office without inquiring about it first).
- Class attendance: Attendance is highly valued, and if you’re on a student visa, it’s mandatory. However, note that attendance is rarely a factor in determining your grade in the class, and at my university students logged their attendance themselves, rather than the instructors.
Acing Assessments
While far from the most thrilling aspect of study abroad, assessments will demand a lot of your attention, and knowing how to prepare for them is essential.
- Assignments: Make sure you are aware of how many assessments you have for each class, what they involve (a research report, exam, presentation, etc.), and when they are due so you can appropriately plan to study for them. Something to note here is that British classes have far fewer assignments than American classes— most of my courses only had two assessments for the entire year, just a midterm and a final. It isn’t uncommon for one report or essay to determine anywhere from thirty to seventy percent of your grade in the UK— so prepare accordingly!
- Referencing: This may seem like a small point, but universities take plagiarism extremely seriously, so making sure you know how to cite your sources on an assignment is critical. At GW, I usually used MLA and APA style referencing in my classes, but at Royal Holloway, I was expected to use MHRA and Harvard style. Make sure to check which format your department uses, and find a reference guidebook if it’s unfamiliar.
- Submitting work: At my host school, all of our assignment submissions were anonymous. This means I submitted my work with my designated candidate number instead of my name. This practice is intended to ensure fairness in the grading, but it certainly took some getting used to.
- Grades: Speaking of grading: the UK uses a very different grading scale from the US. In fact, the UK scale makes it difficult to achieve any grade higher than 70. This seems bad but actually isn’t, as anything over 40 is considered passing, making it much harder to fail your assignments.
Help Wanted
Unfortunately, even all the study advice in the world can’t guarantee you always know the answers. Fortunately, there are many people willing to help you as an exchange student.
- Study abroad office: Go to the staff of this office for all questions regarding your time abroad— if they don’t know what to do, they can point you to the people who do.
- Personal tutors: My host university assigned every student to a faculty member who acted as a sort of guidance counselor and professional contact for all academic concerns.
- Instructors: Remember, if you’re having a hard time in a class, the instructor is your best point of contact. Make sure to inquire about consultation hours where they can offer you personalized advice.
- Other visiting students: Sometimes other students are your best reference! I’ve gone to other students for advice about everything from laundry facilities to class projects to day trips from London.
While not all of the above points will be relevant to all students (obviously many policies differ from school to school), it is my hope that these items will make students aware of some differences between GW and their host universities. As a final piece of advice: studying abroad comes with a steep learning curve that can often seem scary. When in doubt, just ask questions and do your best. Good luck studying in a new country!
Megan Krueger
Spring 2025
GW Exchange - Royal Holloway, University of London
Columbian College of Arts and Science
English & Marketing Double Major