London Studying

Study abroad programs consist of college-level classes, often for credit. In order to choose a program that best fits your needs, research as much as you can before making your decision—determine costs and duration, as well as what kind of students participate in the program and what sort of accommodations are provided.

Visa Information. You will need a visa to study in the UK if you are a visa national (see www.ukvisas.gov.uk for details), are stateless, hold a non-traditional travel document, or hold a passport not recognized by the UK. To obtain a student visa, you must provide proof of admittance to a course of study and financial support. Non-visa nationals (citizens of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the US) only need a visa if they are staying longer than 6 months. In order to gain entry clearance, non-visa nationals must provide proof of student status and continue to provide documentation while traveling in and out of London (so remember to keep that documentation with your passport). Prospective students can travel to the UK for up to 6 months as long as they show that they intend to enroll in a university, can pay for their studies and support themselves, and intend to leave the UK once they finish their studies or once their permission to stay ends (if a visa cannot be obtained). EEA citizens (27 member countries of the EU, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway) and Swiss nationals have the right to free movement and residence in the UK.

Many American students choose London as their study-abroad destination in order to avoid a language barrier; a number of American universities even have direct-enroll programs in London universities—Tufts University, for instance, has its own subset at University College London. Studying with other foreign students may be less of an immersive experience than studying with Londoners, so choose your program of study carefully.

In an urban environment, most student accommodations exist as dorms or flats—homestays are rare. Most university housing is not centralized around a main campus as it may be in other countries. Even if you’re offered dorm housing, it may be a 45-minute Tube ride away from early-morning class, so plan accordingly.

With dozens of institutions from the sprawling colleges of the University of London to the vast collections of the British Library, you can study almost any subject at any level in London. It’s not surprising that every year thousands of international students choose to make London their academic home away from home. Even if you didn’t come to study, taking evening courses—whether in medieval architecture or jazz dance—can be a great way to broaden your horizons and meet similarly minded people. For a comprehensive list of part-time and evening classes, the annual Floodlight directory lists over 40,000 courses in Greater London (www.floodlight.co.uk, also available at newsstands). You can also search www.studyabroad.com for various semester-abroad programs that meet your criteria, including your desired location and focus of study. The following is a list of organizations that can help place students in university programs abroad (often through University of London colleges) or have their own branch in London.

American Programs

American Institute for Foreign Study, College Division, River Plaza, 9 West Broad St., Stamford, CT 06902, USA (☎800-727-2437; www.aifsabroad.com). Organizes programs for high school and college study in universities in London, including the American International University in London.
Arcadia University for Education Abroad, 450 S. Easton Rd., Glenside, USA (☎866-927-2234; www.arcadia.edu/cea). Operates both study and internship programs in London. Includes term-time and summer programs. Costs range from $1560 (summer) to $33,000 (full-year).
Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE), 7 Custom House St., 3rd fl., Portland, ME 01401, USA (☎800-407-8839; www.ciee.org/study). Sponsors work, volunteer, academic, and internship programs in London.
Intern Exchange International (IEI), 2606 Bridgewood Circle, Boca Raton, FL 33434, USA (☎561-477-2434; www.internexchange.com). Accepts high school students (aged 16-18 years) from US and Canada for various career internships in business, the professions, and the arts in London for a summer. Combined with an exploration of the sights and culture of England. $6945 plus airfare.
Institute for Study Abroad, Butler University, 1100 W. 42nd St., Suite 305, Indianapolis, IN 46208, USA (☎800-858-0229; www.ifsa-butler.org). Runs both study and internship programs. Includes term-time and summer programs. Costs range from $3000 (summer) to $30,000 (full-year).
International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience (IAESTE), 10400 Little Patuxent Pkwy., Suite 250, Columbia, MD 21044, USA (☎410-997-2200; www.iaeste.org). Offers 8- to 12-week internships in London for college students who have completed 2 years of technical study. $25-450 application fee, depending on experience.

London Programs

Combined, the University of London and the London Institute encompass the vast majority of London’s universities and colleges, though there are also numerous independent specialist institutions. Many offer special programs for international students on exchange visits, semesters abroad, and summer schools.

Enrolling for a degree course—meaning that you plan on attaining your final degree from a London school—rather than a semester- or year-long program can often present problems to those raised in a different system. UK universities will want to see evidence that you have attained the same educational standard as British 18-year-olds, either by passing the British A-level exams or a recognized equivalent such as the International Baccalaureate; EU credentials are generally admissible. Americans may have problems, since SAT scores and high-school diplomas are not normally accepted; frequently, Americans must have completed a year of college in the US before being considered equivalent to European high-school graduates. High marks on a number of Advanced Placement exams may, however, do the trick. The British Council (www.britishcouncil.org) can often arrange for people to take British exams in their home countries. The Council also runs EducationUK (www.educationuk.org), a slick website explaining the British education system.

Fees for degree programs for non-EU students depend on the subject and school, from around £8500 per year for humanities to £18,000 for medicine. This is always more expensive than what UK students pay: both UK natives and EU residents pay up to £3070 per year. In addition, you need approximately £5500-8000 per year for accommodation and living expenses. The British Council website listed above also offers resources to help fund study in the UK. Below is a list of unique universities and programs offered in London.

The London Institute, International Development Office, University of the Arts London, 65 Davies St., London W1K 5DA (☎7514 7605; www.linst.ac.uk). Five of London’s best-known art and design schools, including Central St. Martins College, Chelsea College of Art, and the London College of Fashion.
Universities and Colleges Admissions Services (UCAS), P.O. Box 28, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL52 3LZ (☎0870 112 2211; www.ucas.ac.uk). The centralized admissions service for all undergraduate degree courses in the UK. Also provides impartial information to international students on the application process.
The University of London, Senate House, Malet St., London WC1E 7HO (☎7862 8000; www.lon.ac.uk), is an umbrella organization uniting the vast majority of London’s academic institutions, with 19 constituent universities and colleges. A few of the best are listed below.
- King’s College London, Study Abroad Office, James Clerk Maxwell Building, 57 Waterloo Rd., London SE1 8WA (☎7848 6522 for international liaison; www.kcl.ac.uk). One of the largest University of London colleges. Affiliates normally must have completed 2 years of university at time of admission to King’s. Special study-abroad programs in association with the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA) and Globe Enterprises, where students take English courses at King’s and theatre courses at RADA or the Globe.
- London School of Economics, Undergraduate Admissions, London School of Economics, Houghton St., London WC2A 2AS (☎7405 7686; www.lse.ac.uk). Year-long courses for international students. Focuses on political science and economics.
- School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), Thornbaugh St., Russell Sq., London WC1H 0XG (☎7637 2388; www.soas.ac.uk). A college of the University of London. The only UK school to specialize in the study of Asia, Africa, and the Near and Middle East.
- University College London, Gower St., London WC1E 6BT (☎7679 2000; www.ucl.ac.uk). The biggest of University of London’s schools (and one of the UK’s top universities), with a complete academic curriculum. Special programs are offered for international affiliate students on semester or 1-year leaves from their home universities; affiliates normally must have completed 2 years of university at time of admission to UCL. Slade School of Fine Arts is also run through UCL.

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