Study Abroad | London

Housing

Housing

Students are housed in shared rooms in residence halls.

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 in London Director, Summer Program

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

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.