Study Abroad | London

Housing

Students are housed in shared rooms in residence halls.

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.

AIFS in London Resident Director, Summer Program

Dr Elizabeth Wesner

For over ten years I have been working in international education, across the US, UK and Asia. I have been lucky enough to live in Tianjin, Hong Kong and Liverpool but I look forward to welcoming you to my capital city, London. I was brought up in a small rural town in Central Virginia before leaving to study Education at the University of Virginia. During my college years, I spent the summer months working and studying with foreign students in China and South Korea. These experiences were life-changing, leading to my career in international education. Only one out of every ten American students studies abroad, so simply being on this program makes you stand out from the crowd. My team and I will make sure you make the most of your study abroad opportunity and look forward to welcoming you to London.

The Resident 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 and culture the AIFS staff organize an active social and cultural program. A guided city tour is included in the program fee – see Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London.

Other events are offered which are subsidized from student fees so students pay a much lower rate than they would if they bought tickets directly from local theaters and tour agencies. Last year’s activities included:

• Walking tours including Black London, Street Art and Harry Potter
• A sports event
• Day trips to Stonehenge and Salisbury, Oxford, Bath, Stratford Upon Avon and Brighton
• River boat cruise along the Thames
• Theater performances such as Wicked, Matilda, Les Misérables, and The Woman in Black
• Traditional afternoon tea

Please note that students pay a small additional fee for some of the activities above.

Besides arranged activities, there are a wide range of events taking place in and around London during the summer, such as Trooping the Colour, the Ascot races, Wimbledon tennis tournament, Henley Royal Regatta, rock concerts, theater in the parks and much, much more. Information on these events will be made available to students upon arrival in London.