Jacobo studies finance at Tecnológico de Monterrey in Mexico and studied abroad at Queen Mary University of London during the spring 2024 semester. Thanks to a love of Man City, joining multiple university societies and reading local newspapers, Jacobo integrated well into local London life. Learn more about his experiences below…

When deciding where to study for a semester abroad, in the words of the renowned Dr. John Watson, “I naturally gravitated to London”. Years have gone by, but it’s still the most important cultural hub in the world. Backing up this title are all the museums, concerts and football matches (and yes, football, not soccer) just to mention some. Nevertheless, equally important as choosing the city is choosing which Uni to go to. How about… the University with the largest in-city campus in London, a Russell Group member, with large and diverse student programmes and a student association with more than 300 different groups? All of these and more is what Queen Mary University of London has to offer on paper, but the day-to-day is even better.

In my modules, I had researchers and experts disguised as lecturers, guiding the learning process and sharing their knowledge. In the student groups, I made long-lasting friendships while debating, playing table tennis or practicing our common religion. I would definitely recommend going to the student union fair and signing up to one or more of these societies or clubs, especially because British universities spend much less time in the classroom and it is culturally enriching. QM Elevate represented another learning and social tool, which helped to develop my presentation skills as well as storytelling technique.

Queen Mary is by far the best Study Abroad programme that I’ve seen, with more than 10 tutors and mentors that guide you through the whole process, from the beginning of the application, to the welcome week and continuous support throughout the semester. Their great preparation and efforts are reflected in the size of exchange students they receive each semester, my programme being made up of almost 700 students. Having the opportunity of studying a semester abroad while doing your undergraduate degree is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and it goes way beyond just attending your modules. That’s why, if I had to make the decision again, I wouldn’t hesitate in coming back to Queen Mary, and I’m pretty sure you won’t regret it either.