Affiliate Students

Marisa Niegemann

Back home we are encouraged to spend a semester or a year abroad because of the international nature of my major. I chose UCL because the Earth Sciences program provided classes that were very interesting to me. Another reason for choosing UCL was the fact that the Earth Sciences department is very small, which gives it a very cozy atmosphere.

Here at UCL I was able to experience what it´s like when professors know your name and you can ask them for help when needed. There are many services and help available regarding career services and the university has its students very involved in all of its policies. My classmates were very friendly and  through them I was able to experience a nice teamwork environment. This has made my overall UCL experience very positive: my faculty was a niche in the middle of big, international, exciting London, the city that hosts the Natural History Museum.

Alice Michel

I am a third-year geobiology major at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), and last autumn I had the opportunity to study abroad in the Earth Sciences department at UCL. 

It was a wonderful component to my college education and experience. At UCL, I learned so much about my major, through classes and my adventures around London and beyond, I made friends from all over the world, I explored all I could, from concerts to museums to gardens and parks, and I feel that it brought me closer to figuring out who I want to be. 

I chose UCL because I wanted to attend a large, global university in the heart of London, and I was attracted to the stellar Earth Sciences department. At UCL I found top scientists in not only the Earth Sciences department, but in every field, and they all were approachable and helpful. In addition to my geology courses, I got to take an architecture and a biology class. As I expected, I came to love London in every way, and I found myself loving my classes more than I ever had before. One of my favorite moments was going on a tour of the Natural History Museum led by a leading paleontologist - my lecturer for UCL’s second-year paleontology module. Even everyday practicals in the Grant Museum of Zoology were unique and exciting experiences. Another highlight, having grown up in LA, was getting to use London's great public transportation system and walking everywhere! Studying abroad at UCL made me more well-rounded in my field of study, more versed in the world, eager to come back to London, and just plain happy.

Erica Yee

I am a second-year student at Columbia University, majoring in Materials Science and Engineering.  Although not my programme at my home institution, I studied in the Earth Sciences department at UCL as I was also interested in geomaterials and structural geology.  I chose UCL for its unparalleled location and global academic reputation.  Many courses in the Earth Sciences department integrated fieldwork, which was a great experience; I got to study the beautiful white cliffs of Dorset.  Additionally, I gained a multidisciplinary education, as I took geology modules as well as two outside of the department in history and art history.

My experience at UCL was wonderful.  In the Earth Sciences department, the professors are not only top researchers in their field, but also incredibly friendly and approachable. Danuta Kaminski, the Affiliate Tutor was very helpful and made my transition to the department trouble-free. I especially enjoyed learning about the mechanics of the San Andreas fault, as it's less than an hour from my home in California! 

Outside of academic studies, I made many friends through some of the myriad clubs & societies.  Living and exploring London was amazing: my walk to school each day passed by Buckingham Palace and St. James's Park. I also got the chance to visit many different parts of Europe and the UK (when finished revising, of course!). Overall, studying abroad not only provided me with valuable academic knowledge, but also gave me a new perspective on my role as a global citizen.