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Study Abroad | London

England | AIFS Global Education Center | January Term 2025
The Big Ben in London, England.

Select Your Program Option:

  • January Term 2025

  • January Term 2026

Overview

Spend January Term in the cosmopolitan city of London, England, with AIFS! Study history, art history or sociology at the AIFS Global Education Center in London. The Center is located in Kensington, one of the most picturesque areas of central London.

As a major political, financial and cultural center London is one of the world’s most thriving and cosmopolitan cities. Home to a multitude of museums and galleries, concert halls, theaters, historic buildings and a host of beautiful urban parks, London has something for everyone whatever your interest.   

The AIFS Abroad program in London focusses on experiential learning in a supportive environment with small class sizes. Our faculty use London as a classroom, supplementing their teaching with academic visits bringing the subject to life and expert guest speakers who demonstrate how you can apply what you learn in the classroom towards a career. We recognize the importance of career readiness for students and have designed our courses to prepare students for the global workplace.

What’s Included

The AIFS inclusive program fee includes all of the great features below in addition to many pre-departure, on-site and upon-return services to help students make the most of their time abroad.

Review Our Policies
  • Tuition

    Up to 3 semester credits

  • Courses

    Courses in art, history, marketing, sociology

  • Housing

    Double rooms in a student residence

  • Excursions & Day Trips

    Oxford (day trip)

  • Cultural & Social Activities

    Such as a sightseeing tour of London, a day trip to Oxford, a performance in London’s West End,  visits to London’s museums, galleries and landmarks and exploration of London’s diverse neighborhoods

  • Welcome Event

    To help you get to know your classmates better, familiarize you with the local area and advise you about your stay

  • On-Site Support

    To help with any questions or advice you may need throughout the program

  • Health & Safety

    24/7 emergency support and comprehensive insurance

  • Green Initiative

Additional Options & Opportunities

  • AIFS Flight Package

    Round trip flights U.S.-London-U.S

    Round trip transfers between the airport and campus overseas

Program Details: Study Abroad | London Liberal Arts

Program is closed

Dates

January 4, 2025January 24, 2025

Term

January Term

Institution

AIFS Global Education Center

Application Deadline

December 1, 2024

Inclusive Fees

$4,990

Eligibility

Open to First Year, Sophomore, Junior, Senior

Minimum of 2.5 GPA

Additional requirements may vary by course selection. See Academic section below.

Visa Requirements

A visa may be required for this program. Please contact your advisor or log into your portal for more information.

Academic Interest

  • Anthropology
  • Art
  • Art History
  • Communications
  • History
  • Marketing
  • Political Science
  • Social Science
  • Sociology

Global Themes

  • Arts, Culture and Creative Industries
  • Business, Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship
  • Language, History and Culture
Learn More About Global Themes

Rolling Admissions

Admission into this program is done on a rolling basis. You can expect confirmation of your acceptance within 2 working days of completing all required tasks.

Academics

AIFS Abroad offers a unique global educational experience for students on this program, with the following academic options available:

The AIFS Global Education Center in London consists of two classroom buildings in the heart of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, one of the most prestigious areas of the city and in a location that gives easy access to all that this wonderful capital has to offer. Classrooms are within walking distance of Hyde Park, Kensington Palace, the Natural History Museum, Science Museum and Victoria and Albert Museum as well as numerous stores, restaurants and cafés. Imperial College, the Royal College of Art and Royal College of Music are in the same neighborhood. The Program Director and Student Advisors are available to help students adjust to life in London and provide a friendly and familiar face. Free Wi-Fi is available in all buildings and there are a small number of computers for student use/printing.

Academic credit for the AIFS London program is awarded by Fairfield University. Fairfield University is a private Jesuit university founded in 1942 in Fairfield, Connecticut, well known for their commitment to international education. Fairfield is a fully accredited university and member of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. In 2020 Fairfield and AIFS partnered to develop a school of record relationship that will allow academic credit to be available for both Fairfield and non-Fairfield students. The London course syllabi and faculty credentials are reviewed and approved by Fairfield University. 

  • Anthropology
  • Art
  • Art History
  • Communications
  • History
  • Marketing
  • Political Science
  • Social Science
  • Sociology

Earn up to 3 credits while studying in the heart of London. London itself plays a vital role in your study. Critically analyze the legacy of the British Empire and consider the complexities of immigration by focusing on London’s global cuisine, learn about fashion marketing in one of the fashion capitals of the world, or find out more about the history of London by visiting major sites and hidden gems as the city becomes your textbook.

Earn up to 3 credits while studying in the heart of London. London itself plays a vital role in your study as you learn more about how this historic capital became one of the most powerful and diverse cities in the world. This is an action-packed course with visits to some of the most iconic sites in London, while also taking students off the beaten track.

View All Courses For Liberal Arts
A student singing in London.

Living Abroad

Student Residence

During your time abroad you will live in London, within easy travel by public transport to the AIFS Global Education Center, the many museums, galleries, theaters and green open spaces of central London.

Students will live in a private room with a double bed, private ensuite bathroom, study desk and chair. There will be a communal kitchen, shared between approximately 5-6 students.

Internet access is included in all AIFS London housing.

Population

London has a diverse range of peoples and cultures, and more than 300 languages are spoken within its boundaries. London had topped 9 million people in 2020.  

Culture

London is home to numerous museums, galleries, libraries, sporting events and other cultural institutions, including the British Museum, National Gallery, Tate Modern, British Library and 40 West End theaters.

Transportation

London’s transportation system is also renowned, and the London Underground is the oldest underground railway network in the world. A London Transport travel pass is included in your program fee.

AIFS in London Director, January Term Program

Heather Lees

Heather Lees

My love of travel began at an early age from moving around to different U.S. Naval bases and family road trips, to visiting family in the Philippines and studying abroad in the UK and Shanghai, China. After graduating from university in the U.S., I began a career in higher education, starting out in Residence Life and student activities before transitioning into international education. I have lived in the UK, on and off, for nearly 14 years (I am eligible for British citizenship!) and love to highlight all the UK has to offer. While I am mostly found indoors baking and crocheting, some of my favorite trips with students have been to national parks here in the UK… from ghyll scrambling in the Lake District to kayaking in the Brecon Beacons. I am a Mental Health First Aider and always happy to lend an ear.

The Program Director provides academic advice, introduces you to the community and handles communication with the University.

Learning does not begin or end in the classroom. To help you get a true taste of British life the AIFS staff organizes an active social and cultural program. Activities may include:

  • Guided city tour with a professional guide See Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London
  • Christmas at Kew Gardens Visit the world-renowned Royal Botanical Gardens.
  • Greenwich excursion Home to the Royal Observatory, the Cutty Sark and the National Maritime Museum
  • Performance at a West End theater London is renowned for its vibrant theater scene. See a show in the famous West End theater district
  • Afternoon tea tea in a pot, scones with cream and jam, finger sandwiches and dainty cakes; enjoy the most English of institutions in a charming tearoom
  • Visits to museums, galleries and landmarks
  • Walking tour to experience London’s diverse and multicultural neighborhoods and vibrant art scene
  • Curry night in Brick Lane, the heart of London’s Bangladeshi community. Sample what has become the U.K.’s national cuisine – curry! Enjoy a meal with new friends in a hip neighborhood of the city

Specific activities for your program will be confirmed prior to the program start date. Besides arranged activities and visits you will undertake as part of the course you select, there is always something going on in and around London. Your Program Director will give you all the information you need to find events and activities that interest you.

Learning does not begin or end in the classroom. To help you get a true taste of British life the AIFS staff organizes an active social and cultural program. Activities may include:

  • Guided city tour with a professional guide See Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London
  • Join in or observe the iconic ice-skating rink at Somerset House lit up by the River Thames
  • Greenwich excursion exploring Britain’s maritime dominance and stand with one foot on each side of the Greenwich Meridien Timeline, the point from which all other time zones in the world are calculated
  • Performance at a West End theater London is renowned for its vibrant theater scene. See a show in the famous West End theater district
  • Eat a world class curry in ”Banglatown” and visit markets and sample the diverse cuisine which vividly narrates the story of London’s multicultural population
  • Visits to museums, galleries and landmarks, including the Bank of England, Westminster Abbey, and the British Museum
  • Explore the bunkers where Winston Churchill worked, slept and strategized while bombs fell on London during World War II
  • Explore Brick Lane, home to a number of historic communities of migrants in Britain
  • Play in one of London’s new gaming venues to learn how technology has transformed the way Londoners work, rest and play
  • Volunteer alongside Londoners from every walk of life, cooking up a storm in a community kitchen
  • Experience the vibrant neighborhood of Brixton and listen to the music which bears testimony to a history of celebrating the community who lives there and challenging racism
  • Explore backstage at Shakespeare’s Globe, the theatre reconstructed to exactly resemble the space in which Shakespeare’s plays were first performed on the banks of the Thames

Specific activities for your program will be confirmed prior to the program start date. Besides the arranged activities and visits you will undertake as part of the course you select, there is always something going on in and around London. Your Program Director will give you all the information you need to find events and activities that interest you.

Excursions

This program offers a range of day trips and excursions that will take you outside London and deepen your social, historical and cultural understanding of England. Previous excursions have included:

A courtyard at Oxford.

Oxford

Visit Oxford, a counterpoint to London and a global city in its own right which has been the global center of academic excellence since the 12th century. Includes transportation, guided tour through the countryside, visit to one of the colleges, and free time.
  • England
  • Day Trip
  • Included in Program Fee
Barcelona,Spain
A group of happy students at a carnival.
A view of Prague.

Social identity & access

One of the best things you can do before departure is enter into the journey knowing that your time abroad will be unique to this experience. The resources, community, and support available to you when abroad will likely be different as well. In order to help you prepare for your experience, we have compiled many resources about social identity and access in specific locations abroad. Your program staff will also provide you with more details pre-departure and during orientation.

Learn more

Important Dates & Deadlines

Request Info

Closed

Program is closed

Dates & Deadlines

Details

  • Early Application Deadline*
  • Application Deadline
    December 1, 2024
  • Deposit Deadline
    November 5, 2024
  • Scholarship Deadline
    October 7, 2024
  • Visa Deadline****
  • Optional Departure Flight from US***
    January 3, 2025
  • Program Begins
    January 4, 2025
  • Program Ends
    January 24, 2025
  • Optional Return Flight to US***
    January 24, 2025
  • *** Included for students on AIFS flight package.
  • **** AIFS Abroad offers visa processing services to applicants who enroll into the program by this date. All other applicants who enroll after this date will be responsible for securing their own visa with guidance from AIFS Abroad.

Optional Flight Package

Participants can select an optional transportation package for all AIFS Abroad programs that includes a round-trip flight from 25 U.S gateways and airport transfers to and from campus. Participants who choose to book their own flights will be responsible for connecting with the group at the program location and will need to make their own ground transportation arrangements from the airport.

Below are fees by departure city based on average historical costs and subject to change. If you select this option on your application, the total flight package price will be confirmed approximately one month prior to departure. Your program fee is guaranteed, and the optional flight package is an additional fee. Please note that once we have finalized the pricing for your flights the cost may change, and you will be responsible for making the additional payment if you want to participate in the flight package. Your program advisor will be in touch should there be any changes in the price of your flights.

Depature City

Fee

  • Atlanta
    $1,320
  • Boston
    $1,280
  • Buffalo
    $1,280
  • Charlotte
    $1,400
  • Chicago
    $1,300
  • Cincinnati
    $1,300
  • Columbus
    $1,280
  • Dallas
    $1,300
  • Denver
    $1,380
  • Des Moines
    $1,300
  • Detroit
    $1,340
  • Houston
    $1,300
  • Los Angeles
    $1,380
  • Miami
    $1,300
  • Minneapolis
    $1,400
  • New York
    $1,200
  • Newark
    $1,100
  • Orlando
    $1,300
  • Philadelphia
    $1,240
  • Phoenix
    $1,380
  • Pittsburgh
    $1,280
  • Raleigh/Durham
    $1,300
  • San Francisco
    $1,380
  • Seattle
    $1,380
  • St. Louis
    $1,300
  • Washington/Dulles
    $1,240
  • View more View less

See what others are saying

Two students walking in a field.

Ready to Study Abroad in London?

For more dates or questions, contact your program consultant:
(203) 399-5163 or email: aifsabroad@aifs.com