Study Abroad | London

Housing

Student Residence/Apartment

Students live with UAL degree seeking students and visiting study abroad students in the UAL Halls of Residence. UAL commonly uses unique historic buildings for housing, such as the Costume Store, a converted warehouse that once housed the costumes used in BBC television programs.  

Students will be housed in an en-suite bedroom in a furnished flat (apartment) that is shared with 4-9 students. Every bedroom has internet access. 

UAL Halls of Residence cater to art and design students and have studio workshop space as well as an art gallery.

City Facts

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. 

Site Staff

AIFS Abroad in London Director, Academic Year and Semester Programs

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 favourite 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.

Cultural Activities

AIFS Abroad staff arrange a rich variety of activities to introduce students to life in the United Kingdom. There is an additional fee for many of these activities, but they offer an inexpensive way to experience London’s exciting cultural life and to see other parts of Britain. Professional guides escort trips to enhance the educational experience. Past events have included:

• Black London, Rock Music, Street Art and Royal London walking tours
• Rugby and soccer matches
• Day trips such as Bath, Stratford-upon-Avon and Brighton
• River boat cruise along the Thames
• Theater performances of Wicked, Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables, and The Woman in Black
• Ballet performance of Cinderella
• Traditional afternoon tea

You may be asked to pay a small additional fee for some of the activities above.

Besides arranged activities, there is always a wide range of events taking place in and around London, concerts, theater in the parks and much, much more. Information on these events will be made available to students upon arrival in London.

UAL Facilities

University of the Arts London prides itself on the variety and quality of its facilities, from state-of-the-art design suites to traditional print studios. Students can access the libraries, Learning Zones, cafés, shops and galleries at any of UAL’s sites, as long as they can show their ID card.