Offered Fall, Spring, & Summer Terms

Enjoy theater, extraordinary museums, and exciting nightlife in one of the most cosmopolitan and culturally diverse cities in the world. When will you have another chance to spend an entire semester in one of the world’s most historic locations? Students have the opportunity to live in the capital of the UK, while completing courses and an internship placement. This program is ideal for UF students pursuing a business major or minor, or non-business students interested in completing upper-division electives in a beautiful European city.

• Application Checklist for All Students
• FIE – Welcome to London
• Hear from UF in London (2015) Students

• Apply Now

The City: London, England

London is a truly global city, one of the most exciting places on earth. It is one of the few capitals in the world that acts as a center for the arts, media, government, finance and commerce. London attractions include the open air theatre at Regent’s Park, the street life of Covent Garden, the theatre district of Shaftesbury Avenue and Piccadilly, the clubs of Soho, the hip and alternative bustle of Camden Town, and the numerous restaurants of Chinatown and Charlotte Street. There are many world-renowned sites in and around London, including Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, Tower Bridge, Big Ben, and plenty more!

Heavener's London Partner: FIE

FIE assists in coordinating the UF in London custom program. FIE is a London-based non-profit international education organization that provides customized partnership programs for undergraduates. Since establishing in 1998, FIE has set high standards in delivering academic programs abroad. They are a forward-thinking organization with a mission that expresses their passionate belief in higher education. FIE’s specialized academic programs allow visiting students to maximize the value of their stay, gaining theoretical knowledge, practical skills, life experience and international perspective. The FIE Study Centre, Foundation House, and their student residences are located in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, one of the most vibrant and exclusive areas of central London, just a few minutes from the Gloucester Road and South Kensington Underground stations, and very close to Imperial College, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Natural History Museum, the Royal Albert Hall, and Hyde Park.

Application Deadlines

This program operates on a rolling admission basis. When capacity is reached, the program may close before the listed deadline. Students are strongly encouraged to open an application and submit all materials in advance of the deadline.

• Summer: February 14
• Fall: April 5
• Spring: October 1

Program Dates

Terms of Agreement

Students must withdraw from their study abroad program on or before the following dates to avoid fee liability:

• Summer: April 1
• Fall: July 1
• Spring: November 1

Students become financially obligated for the full cost of their study abroad program after these dates. Only in extreme circumstances (e.g., serious personal injury, family emergency, etc.) will a student be allowed to petition for withdrawal prior to the start of the program. Petitions will be reviewed by the Assistant Dean and Director of the Heavener School of Business.

Academic Structure

Program Costs

Program Fee

• Summer 2024: $15,470
• Fall 2024: $18,728
• Spring 2025: $18,728

Program fee includes all academic expenses (tuition/fees), orientations, welcome activities, theatre excursion, co-curricular activities within London, housing/utilities, Oyster Card (unlimited public transportation via London Bus and Zones 1 & 2 London Underground), international travel medical insurance, and 24/7 emergency support. The $395 deposit paid at the time of application is included in the above figure. Note that some courses, such as Contemporary British Theatre, require additional fees upon arrival.

Other Estimated Expenses

In addition to the Program Fee, which is billed by UFIC and due before the program begins, students can also expect to incur the following out-of-pocket incidentals at various stages before or during the program:

The above figures are general estimates. All incidentals, except the passport and visa, will vary between students depending on circumstances and preferences. Students are strongly encouraged to devise a budget for meals and other personal expenses in-country. The currency in the UK is the Pound (£).

There may be unexpected costs associated with the visa application process, such as needing to rebook flights, if the student does not follow FIE’s suggested visa application timeline and/or if there are other delays outside of UF’s and FIE’s control.

Internships

All students are guaranteed a non-paying internship as part of the program. The internships are designed to be holistic professional development experiences that equip students with skills necessary to compete in today’s globalized marketplace. Students do not source their own internships or choose the exact company/organization at which they will work. FIE oversees the internship placement process and provides the necessary support, services, and supervision to ensure that students succeed. To help facilitate the placement process, students submit a portfolio of documents – CV, Personal Statement, and Industry Area Choices – after completing the UF in London application and being accepted into the program.

A broad range of industry areas are available. Placements are almost always in start-ups, SMEs, or non-profits. The internship sites are located in the greater London area, so students should expect to commute for any in-person aspects of the internship, possibly around an hour or so, as is typical in and around the city. Due to the workplace evolution spurred by the pandemic, modality may vary between or within internships. Internships may be fully in-person or hybrid, depending on the placement. Internships are generally not fully virtual but may still be possible, depending on the placement.

Placement information is typically provided approximately two weeks before the internship begins, with non-competitive interviews usually held with the company or organization around that time.

Students are encouraged to keep an open mind with respect to their placement. The most successful interns possess the following qualities:

• Adaptability, flexibility, & creativity
• Strong work ethic & communication skills
• High level of initiative & self-motivation
• Enthusiasm & commitment to ongoing learning

Check out FIE’s London Internship webpage for more information.

Housing

Housing and utilities are included in the cost of the program. Students will live in shared apartment-style student residences managed by FIE. There are three residence buildings, all in the Kensington area of London, within about 10-15 minutes walking distance of one another and Foundation House, the FIE Study Centre. The residence buildings are 19th century converted townhouses.

Students do not choose their residence building. FIE oversees the housing assignment process. To help facilitate that, students submit a housing/roommate questionnaire after completing the UF in London application and being accepted into the program. Students will be informed of their building assignment approximately two weeks before the start of the program and their exact housing assignment upon arrival.

Students can expect the following from the residence, regardless of building:

• Two to four students per bedroom; configuration of bedrooms per apartment/household varies widely
  • Bedrooms are same-gender
  • Apartments are usually co-ed
• Bathroom
• Living area & fully-equipped kitchen
• Laundry facilities access
• WiFi
• Security systems & live-in Residence Life Supervisors

Check out FIE’s Housing webpage for more information and photos.

Outside the Classroom

London is a bustling, lively city with plenty of places to enjoy and explore. FIE provides many co-curricular and extracurricular activities around London. For fall and spring programs, FIE also partners with a local university, Imperial College, wherein students receive Associate Membership access to the Imperial College Union. We encourage students to do some research, think about how best to spend their free time, and try to connect with locals whenever possible! Check out a few resources below:

• FIE Student Life – London Activities
• FIE Instagram & Imperial College Union Instagram
• London Gator Club – The official network of UF Alumni and Gators in London
• Visit London & Timeout London
• Tripadvisor London

Pre-Departure Preparations

In addition to regular advising during the application process, Heavener International Programs hosts a series of sessions for program participants that are designed to offer support and manage student expectations:

• First Meeting: Typically held within a week of the study abroad application deadline, students meet others in the participant cohort and begin networking. Cultural resources are reviewed and further pre-departure tasks are clarified.
• Pre-Departure Session: Typically held two weeks prior to the end of UF classes the preceding semester, final preparations (e.g., packing, finances, phones, etc.) are reviewed. Arrival information, daily life, health & safety, and more are also addressed.

Exact session dates and times are provided upon formal acceptance into the program. Students also complete an online Pre-Departure Module designed and overseen by the UF International Center, and receive regular communication from Heavener International Programs and FIE each step of the way. Lastly, students are provided with a Heavener International Program Pre-Departure Guide approximately 2-4 weeks before departure. Please email us if you would like to see samples of any pre-departure materials.