London, England

Study London

Study Abroad
Program Options:
Experiential Learning, Part-Time Internship
Length:
Fall, Spring, Academic Year

At a Glance

Housing:

Residence Hall

Credits:

15 to 16 per Semester

Language of Instruction:

English

Language Prerequisites:

None

Part-Time Internship (Optional):

Included in program fee

Visa Required:

Maybe

About the Program

Build the perfect program with a semester in London! Choose from dozens of IES Abroad courses taught by expert local faculty at our Center. You can also focus your creative energy into the production of an original work in one of our unique creative arts workshops, or expand your study abroad experience with a course at a prestigious local university, a part-time internship, or a community-based learning placement.   

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Take Classes Like a Local

Our partner universities offer you hundreds of course options.

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Gain Hands-on Experience

Gain firsthand experience of British culture and society.

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Attend Cultural Activities

Visit local markets and watch world-class performances.

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Enroll in an Intensive Arts Workshop

Channel your creativity through writing, film, or fine art!

Fall 2024

Spring 2025

Program Dates:

September 03 - December 14

Application Deadline:

Estimated Cost:

$
21,352

Program Dates:

Mid January - Early May

Application Deadline:

Program Advisor

Macey Schondel headshot

Macey Schondel

Once you’ve applied for a program, I’ll be your direct point of contact. From housing to course registration and everything in between, I’m here to help you prepare to study abroad. Once you’re accepted to your program, you’ll find even more detailed information about what you need to know before you depart in your Predeparture Guide. Let’s get started!

📱 800.995.2300 ✉️ study@IESabroad.org

About the Destination

Why London?

An urban adventure awaits you in London, one of the largest and most fascinating cities in Europe. The goal of our program is to give you a hands-on education and a deeper knowledge of British culture and history. Explore contemporary London and its impact on Western art, literature, and politics!

Learn More About London

Get to Know Your New City

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Iconic Landmarks

Stroll along the river Thames to snap pictures of the Tower of London.

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Warner Bros. Studio: The Making of Harry Potter

Travel to Leavesden to discover the magic of all things Harry Potter.

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Beautiful Parks and Gardens

Relax and recharge in one of the city’s many parks.

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City Tours

Visit some of London's 48 culturally-vibrant and distinct neighborhoods.

The Student Experience

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Housing

A clean double bunk bed sitting in the hallway between living spaces.
  • Residence Hall

Residence Hall

Apartment Style Residence Hall – You will share a flat with five other IES Abroad students in a residence hall. Your room is single occupancy with a bed, desk, storage, and bathroom. There is a shared kitchen available to you and your flat mates. Washing machines and dryers are available. No meals are provided for this housing option.

Residence Hall – You and another IES Abroad student will share a room with a private bathroom and kitchen. You will share bunk beds and wardrobes for clothes storage. Washing machines and dryers are available. No meals are provided for this housing option.

Academics

Our mission is simple: to provide you with the best study abroad program possible—which includes the highest quality academic and cultural experiences. 

We offer unique courses that explore arts, literature, business, politics, and science, as well as other topics, through an in-depth and hands-on approach. Our world-class professors and course options at prestigious local universities enhance your academic experience and provide you with new perspectives each day in class. 

Partner Institutions

Students walk outside the University of London, a brick building with a round spire.
  • City
  • QMUL
  • LCDS

City, University of London

City, University of London (City) received its charter in 1966, evolving from Northampton Polytechnic, a school that was founded nearly a century ago. The Cass Business School is AACSB- and EQUIS-accredited.  

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Courses

Create your own academic experience by selecting from the following program components. You enroll in 15–16 credits per semester. Academic programming is scheduled four days a week. 

  • IES Abroad area studies courses (required, 3 credits each) 
  • IES Abroad Workshops in the Creative Arts (optional, 3 credits each) 
  • Partner university course at either City, University of London or Queen Mary, University of London* (optional, 4 credits each) 
  • 1-2 courses at London Contemporary Dance School** (optional, credits vary)
  • Internship placement and seminar (optional, 3 credits) 
  • Community-Based Learning placement and seminar (optional, 3 credits) 

IES Abroad strongly discourages students from doing both an internship or community-based learning placement and an outside course, as these both require a time commitment that is very difficult to schedule. If you wish to do both, please understand that, if you are able to work both into your schedule, you will be occupied Monday through Friday with no day off.  

*Program cost includes one supplementary course at a local university per term. 

**Must be a Dance major or minor.

NOTE: This is a list of planned course offerings. After you are accepted, you will see a list of final course offerings in your MyIESabroad account. Additionally, IES Abroad reserves the right to cancel a course due to insufficient enrollment or circumstances beyond our control.

IES Abroad Courses

Disciplines (23)

Art History (2)

Course name Term Language Credits
AH 341 - The Architecture of London: 1600-Present Day Fall, Spring, Summer English 3
AH/FA 390 - Western Art And The Convergence Of Technique And Philosophy Fall, Spring English 3

Partner Institution Courses

City, University of London

Typically, you will need 2-3 classes in a specific subject area in order to enroll in a 2000-level class, and 4-5 in order to enroll in a 3000-level class. Courses in the following disciplines are particularly strong: 

  • Actuarial Science 
  • Business 
  • Computer Science* 
  • Criminology 
  • Economics 
  • Finance  
  • Foreign Language  
  • Journalism** (majors only)  
  • Management 
  • Media & Communications 
  • Political Science  
  • Psychology*** 
  • Sociology 
  • Statistics 

*Available only to Spring semester and Academic Year students. Students enrolled in these courses must stay to take finals in May/June, if applicable. 

**Students who wish to take Journalism courses must have already taken a least 1-2 journalism-related course(s). Please also note that course selections in the Fall semester are more limited than those in the Spring. 

***Courses are only available at upper levels that are more suitable for students majoring or minoring in Psychology. 

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NOTE: 2-credit courses are not available to IES Abroad students. 


Queen Mary, University of London

Courses in the following disciplines are particularly strong: 

  • Business 
  • Economics 
  • English 
  • Film 
  • History 
  • Literature
  • Natural Science 
  • Political Science 

You are welcome to enroll in classes in any academic department, although certain classes may have prerequisites. Please note that enrollment in Queen Mary courses is limited in the spring term due to a conflicting final exams schedule. 

Current course listings are available on the University's Directory of Modules.  

When you filter the course selections in the Directory of Modules, please refer to the following guidelines. More information can be found under the “guidance notes” link on the main page, as well. 

  • Step 1 - I'm interested in... - select Associate student modules 
  • Step 2 - Filter by: 
    • School - select the appropriate school for your course(s) of interest 
    • Semester - select Semester 1 for Fall or Semester 2 for Spring 
    • Level - select 4, 5 or 6 
      • 4 corresponds to US 100-level courses, 5 to 200-level courses and 6 to 300-level courses 
      • For major credit, it is recommended that students enroll in level 6 courses 

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London Contemporary Dance School 

LCDS is based in London, approximately 15-20 minutes away from the IES Abroad Center in Gray’s Inn. It is close to Senate House as well as University College London and Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

Students on the Study London program at IES Abroad London are being given the opportunity to take 1 – 2 courses at LCDS, as part of the semester abroad, alongside their IES Abroad courses. Students will be taught by experienced and internationally celebrated teachers specializing in all forms of dance, such as ballet and contemporary dance.

Students who are considering taking 1 or 2 courses at LCDS must have a major or minor in Dance. As part of their application, students will be required to submit the following:

  1. Transcript
  2. Cover letter explaining why you wish to study at LCDS
  3. Video audition demonstrating the following: 5 mins to introduction of yourself, 15 mins of a contemporary class with the focus on moving through space (i.e., the end part) and 5 min of improvisation or a solo that you have choreographed (this video should be submitted to IES via a URL link e.g., YouTube link)

If successful, students are able to select 1 -2 courses from the following course offerings:

  • Contemporary (meets 3 times a week for 90 minutes)
  • Capoeira (meets once a week for 90 minutes)
  • Locking & Popping (meets once a week for 90 minutes)
  • Ballet (meets twice a week for 90 minutes)

Please note these courses will only run from January 15th, 2024, to March 22nd, 2024.

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PRO-TIP

Apply for your passport today!

Getting your passport is a crucial step for studying abroad. With processing times taking longer than usual, consider this a gentle reminder to not procrastinate on getting or renewing your passport.

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Field Trips

Even though your adventure starts in London, our field trips take you beyond the city to discover the culture and traditions of your host country. All trips are included in the program fee unless otherwise noted with ($).

NOTE: IES Abroad field trip destinations, activities, and lengths of stay may vary according to term and availability. 

stonehenge

Bath & Stonehenge

2 Days ($) Fall, Spring & Summer

Visit mysterious Stonehenge and the ancient Roman baths in Bath. Marvel at the collection of world-class couture at the Fashion Museum and explore the Jane Austen Centre.

Students explore the rocky inclines off the coast of Dover on a sunny day.

Canterbury & Dover

1 Day ($) Fall, Spring & Summer

Visit the Canterbury Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the beautiful Dover Castle. After the visit, go for a short hike along the White Cliff of Dover National Trust.

people punting on the Cam River in Cambridge

Cambridge

1 Day ($) Fall, Spring & Summer

Visit this historic university town, with its picturesque colleges and punt in a gondola on the river.

A student poses with a cow in the scottish highlands

Edinburgh

3 Days ($) Fall & Spring

Take a trip to Scotland’s capital where you’ll learn about the city’s history on a guided walking tour. Visit Edinburgh Castle that overlooks the city from its hilltop location and take a day trip to a wildlife reserve in the Highlands.

Canary Wharf

Greenwich

1 Day ($) Fall & Spring

Right on the river, with a lovely park with some of the best views in London, Greenwich's got a whole lot of history and is as alive as ever. Join our day trip to get a taste of why it has always been special.

A student poses in the doorway of Stratford castle

Stratford-Upon-Avon

1 Day ($) Fall & Spring

Visit Shakespeare’s house, which was the place of his birth, and Holy Trinity Church, where he is buried.

Part-Time Internships

Did you know that, while in London, you can intern as part of your study abroad experience? With a part-time internship, you’ll gain global work experience that will increase your job readiness and give you an advantage after graduation. With an internship, you will: 

  • Take an important step in your career development by navigating the professional world with our support. 
  • Learn more about yourself both personally and professionally and build confidence in the process. 
  • Experience what working in London is really like and gain an authentic understanding of the workplace culture while developing real, applicable job skills that will bolster your career readiness. 
  • Begin building an international network by making connections with coworkers and peers. 

All of our internships are supervised and earn IES Abroad credit. You participate in a 3-credit seminar to complement the practical experience you gain during the internship for a greater understanding of work life in your host country. 

NOTE: If you’re interested in participating in an internship for the semester, be aware that some internship options have earlier application deadlines. You must complete your program application first, and then you can apply for the internship.

Placement Examples

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Arts & Museums

a business student walking in Milan

Business

student teaching on a summer internship program

Education

a studio audience behind a camera in Milan

Media & Communication

students checking their phone in front of the European Council

Politics

Theater

Experiential Learning

Community-Based Learning

Participating in a community-based learning experience in London is one of the best ways to gain a deeper understanding of the city’s culture and society. Working alongside local people toward a common goal, you experience firsthand some of the social issues that affect London, while contributing your skills toward a community driven solution. 

A community-based learning experience consists of time spent with a local organization, accompanied by a 3-credit community-based learning seminar. Through the seminar, you have structured time for reflection, discussion, and even research on the issues of your host community. 

All IES Abroad community-based learning placements are supervised. Placement examples include tutoring children, volunteering at mental health organizations and in NGO and public health administration, and social outreach.

Program Cost

Consider these prices as a starting point. We encourage you to contact your current college or university to determine the actual cost to you when factoring in financial aid, scholarships, your school's policies, and other factors.

Spring 2024

Tuition
$
16,313
Housing
$
4,390
Insurance
$
230
Total
$
20,933

Fall 2024

Tuition
$
16,517
Housing
$
4,590
Insurance
$
245
Total
$
21,352

Academic Year 2024

Tuition
$
29,715
Housing
$
9,180
Insurance
$
490
Total
$
39,385

Spring 2025

Tuition
-
Housing
-
Insurance
-
Total
Pending

Use Our Budget Worksheet to Calculate Your Costs

See the Worksheet
APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS

$7 Million in Scholarships & Aid

We firmly believe that financial limitations should not prevent a qualified student from studying abroad. This is why we commit millions of dollars to our study abroad scholarships and aid.

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About the IES Abroad Center

The Center is where our highly trained local staff provide on-the-ground support throughout your time abroad.  

The IES Abroad London Center is in a centrally-located Georgian building with green space called the Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn. Whether you’re grabbing lunch at the Leather Lane food market, or visiting the Rosetta Stone at the British Museum, the Center is your study abroad hub. 

 

Orientation

Start at Home
Our Comprehensive Orientation & Re-Entry Experience (CORE™) begins at home with our virtual orientation to meet the IES Abroad Center staff, fellow students, and the city.
Arrive in London
Orientation continues when you arrive onsite with activities focusing on adjusting to London. Detailed information about other important topics is also covered.
Get to Know the City
Beyond orientation sessions, you will have opportunities to explore London and surrounding areas before classes start to help you feel at home in your new environment.
Prepare to Learn
Feel prepared to begin classes with practical lessons, activities designed to help you learn your way around the area, and support from our dedicated student staff.
Settle In
Orientation continues throughout the semester with field trips allowing you to both further sample elements of English culture and get to know the other students.

Health & Safety

With 70 years of experience, we are proud to set the standard for health and safety in study abroad. Our Chicago-based and on-site staff are all highly trained and experienced in the matters of health, safety, and crisis management. We are here for you from predeparture to your return, and are ready to support you—no matter which time zone you’re in. We plan for "what ifs" so that you don’t have to. From international health insurance included in the cost of your program to highly-trained local staff who can connect you to English-speaking healthcare providers, we are working around the clock to ensure your health and safety while abroad.

Support You Can Expect to Receive on Our Programs

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CISI International Health Insurance

In the case you need to see a doctor or mental health professional.

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24/7 Emergency Support

Whether you encounter an issue while traveling or in your host city.

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Mandatory Cell Phone Policy

Receive any emergency updates from IES Abroad staff via call or text.

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Location-Specific Information

Health and safety information presented at orientation by on-site staff.

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TripTracker System

Allowing you to share independent travel plans.

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Crisis Drills

So that you feel prepared to respond to an emergency should one arise.

Program Dates

Spring 2024

Program Dates:

January 09 - April 20

Application Deadline:

Fall 2024

Program Dates:

September 03 - December 14

Application Deadline:

Academic Year 2024

Program Dates:

Early September - Late April

Application Deadline:

Spring 2025

Program Dates:

Mid January - Early May

Application Deadline:

NOTE: If you choose to take Partner University Courses, your program's end date will be different:

  • Fall 2022: September 6 to December 22

Requirements

  • Eligibility Requirements
  • Application Requirements
  • Passport & Visa Requirements

Eligibility Requirements

  • 18 years of age 
  • In good standing at your home school 
  • 2.75 GPA or better on a 4.0 scale (GPAs under 2.75 will be considered on a case-by-case basis)
  • Sophomore, junior, or senior standing when program begins 

Frequently Asked Questions

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Student Ambassadors

No one knows the IES Abroad experience better than a student who has lived it! From budget tips to housing experiences, our volunteer Ambassadors are here to share it all.

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The Student Experience

How will study abroad redefine your world? We can’t wait to find out.

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