Study + Internship | London
Fall 2026: Academics

Course Code: INTN 310

Instruction Language: English

The International Internship program combines practical work experience in a foreign country with structured preparation and reflection opportunities. The course aims at providing students of any discipline and majors with the professional skills required by today’s culturally diverse working environment. The placement opportunity will help students think about their own skills, those they would need to acquire according to their professional plans, and whether their own professional paths are coherent with their goals. The ideal internship placement is a coordination between the skills and personality that an organization is seeking and those which a student presents. Each student should approach the program with cultural awareness and flexibility. The course consists contact hours with seminars and workshops plus 90-132 hours of supervised unpaid work placement. Alongside with the internship seminars and work placements, students are required to enrol in the hybrid course HIST/SOCI 335 – British Life and Culture (3 credits) to complement their preparation.

Course Code: AHST/SOCI 380

Instruction Language: English

Have you ever looked at a painting or a photograph and been affected by its message about politics, race, gender, sexuality, or the environment? This course examines the relationship between art and society and considers how artists use their work to impact political activism and social change. Students will consider how the work of activist artists helps develop social awareness and empowers both individuals and communities. They will be given the opportunity to critically engage with how art in its various forms targets causes including the race, decolonisation, gender, utopianism, war, climate crisis and social engagement. The course will examine the creativity, tactics and organization skills employed by artists in the work they produce and in reaching a wider audience and evaluates the success of their campaigns.

Course Code: ARTH 355

Instruction Language: English

London is famous for the richness and diversity of its museums and galleries and there are over 250 registered art institutions in London. Through hands on experiential visits, this course will introduce students to the range and breadth of the museums and galleries in London. It will aim to build an appreciation of the variety of museums and galleries available, while offering first hand visual experience of the different art forms including visual art and media. Students will be asked to explore concepts such as the role of philanthropy in establishing museum and galleries, debates around repatriation of objects; public funding for the arts; different curating styles and the marketing of the arts, including the role of social media and innovation in order to gain a better understanding of the development of the museum and galleries in London over time and the challenges they face today. The course will be heavily based on experiential learning with visits to world-famous museums and galleries such as the British Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum and Tate Modern, along with lesser-known examples such as Sir John Soane’s House, Leighton House Museum and Whitechapel Gallery.

Course Code: COMM 305

Instruction Language: English

As a European hub and portal to the world, London offers an unparalleled learning opportunity to study British mass media in all its forms.?? Indeed, few cities, even within the United States, offer a more concentrated range of providers, producers and consumers of mass media.?? The lines of demarcation between media have become blurred and disciplines, which used to sit happily in their own silos, have now become interconnected and interdependent.? So the course will cover a wide range of communications professions, but will focus on major themes of current importance in the UK, the United State and world.? Course topics include:? British mass media; global brands; traditional vs. new media; social sites; domestic and international News; video in social media; marketing, PR and advertising; communications regulations; politics and censorship; Photography and art; and the future of mass media.

Course Code: COMM 455

Instruction Language: English

This course aims to fully engage with students’ experience of living in a different country by providing an introduction to communication between people from different cultures and backgrounds.? As one of the world’s most diverse cities, the course will make use of London as a learning resource, focusing on the application of theory and research as well as contextualising the everyday encounters that students experience with individuals from other cultures during their stay. Students will be introduced to the potential effects of the cultural patterns (beliefs, values, attitudes) of their own culture on those cultural patterns of another culture and will explore how different cultural and ethnic identities influence role expectations, perceptions and intercultural interaction, all the while examining how our own social and cultural perspectives impact our perceptions and our ability to connect with others. The course will introduce students to theories including the Hofstede’s cultural dimensions model and Bennett’s Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity and Intercultural Development Inventory.

Course Code: ENGL 320

Instruction Language: English

This course will provide students with the opportunity to develop their creative writing within the context of contemporary British fiction. Students will be introduced to the approaches taken by various British novelists and short story writers along with exploring those very areas that have inspired a variety of British writing. The course will employ London as a resource and inspiration for creative writing. London’s own literary scene will be explored to offer the perfect context for students to explore their own creative powers. A key part of the course will involve students sharing new and revised writing with one another and exploring strategies to deal with potential problems. Textual analysis will be used to help students to better understand and manipulate different forms and techniques adopted by a variety of diverse British writers and improve their own writing.

Course Code: CRIM 333

Instruction Language: English

This course will provide a global, comparative approach to the study of criminal behaviour and criminal justice systems. It will debate the causes of crime, with particular focus on the impact of ethnicity, gender, race and social class. Applying both a sociological and scientific approach, the course will analyse types of crime and its control, examining corrections, courts and policing around the world, with special focus on the UK and the US. Teaching methods will be by lecture, discussion and fieldtrips across the city of London to help students better understand the history of crime and its control in the UK. Comparisons between the US and UK perspectives and approaches in relation to similar crime types will be a focal point of the course.

Course Code: ENVS 345

Instruction Language: English

On both sides of the Atlantic, the idea of a Green New Deal has become a much-discussed policy area. This course will focus on the importance of sustainability for Britain, an island nation, through a focus on the capital and its response to the climate crisis. You will be asked to apply a critical approach to issues including creating a green economy, investing in sustainable transportation systems, renewable power sources, flood defenses and dealing with waste. By focusing closely on urban regeneration projects in London, one of the world’s global cities, students will be required to critically analyze the legacy of urban initiatives such as the 2012 London Olympics. The course will explore sustainability in Britain as a phenomenon beyond global green politics and ask you to apply a holistic approach towards a sustainable model which encompasses social, economic and cultural factors and in which we can all play an individual role.

Course Code: FILM 285

Instruction Language: English

What is “European cinema”? Frequently defined in opposition to Hollywood, the term is stereotypically used as a shortcut for ideas of art and cultural quality. But although art cinema remains important, popular genres like horror and comedy are increasingly garnering international attention. This course examines the major developments in European cinema and considers film in its historical, cultural, social, political, industrial, and aesthetic contexts. As well as analysing significant movements in cinema, such as the French New Wave and Italian neorealism, and their historical backdrops, students will learn about the diverse range of films being produced in Europe. Attention will also be paid to critical issues of migration, race, class, gender, and sexuality, along with concepts such as nation, nationality, and nationalism. In addition, the course will examine ways in which films appeal to international audiences and how film festivals and digital platforms play a part in the process.

Course Code: HIST/SOCI 335 (Required)

Instruction Language: English

Who are the British? The aim of this course is to offer students a new perspective beyond the walls that we inhabit and to encourage an understanding and appreciation of key aspects of contemporary British cultures and society within a social, cultural and historical context. The course will draw on experiential learning and student experiences as they familiarize themselves with their host nation. Using an interdisciplinary and comparative approach, students will be expected to engage and critically analyze key institutions in the UK such as the Monarchy and the NHS, along with debates in contemporary British society, such as Britain’s departure from the European Union (Brexit) and rise of English nationalism. Students will be required to apply a comparative approach between British and American identities and value systems with the overarching aim of helping to develop a broad understanding of their host country, with all its idiosyncrasies, and be able to evaluate and respond to their experiential context. Through a combination of lectures, discussions and activities, students will be encouraged to make informed, critical comparisons between what they know of and observe in the US and how that contrasts with British society and cultural values. Students will be introduced to significant cultural and historical sites in London which will support the lectures and learning activities.

Course Code: HIST/POLI 355

Instruction Language: English

The European Union (EU) is a fascinating and unique organization whose 27 member countries have developed an unparalleled level of political and economic cooperation. For its defenders, this has been a remarkable success story: creating peace and prosperity by uniting the countries of Europe to confront the challenges of interdependence. For its critics, the EU is overly bureaucratic, lacks democratic accountability and erodes national sovereignty. This course will explore these debates, examining the history of European integration since WWII and considering how today’s EU is grappling with contemporary challenges from international migration to energy security. The course will also explore Britain’s difficult relationship with the European Union: late to join the club and the first-ever member to leave, why did the British choose ‘Brexit’ and what are the implications? Throughout the course students will have the opportunity to analyze European current affairs through the media and use London as a case-study for understanding the dynamics of our globalized world.

Course Code: HIST 375

Instruction Language: English

Study London’s history through the ages. Journey through its Bronze Age beginnings? and the city’s foundation by the Romans, onto the Plague, the Great Fire of London,? Henry VIII and his many wives, the Blitz, all the way to modern day London. Understand? what has made London the cosmopolitan, financial and cultural centre that it is today.? The course will focus upon the economic, political and social history of the city and? students will learn about London’s history through fieldtrips to important sites in? London and via class lectures and discussions.

Course Code: HIST 370

Instruction Language: English

This course will introduce you to the oldest of British institutions, the Monarchy. It will provide an overview of how the British Monarchy has evolved, often through very tumultuous times, outlining the changing role and function of the monarchy within our society over time. Using London as a resource, the life of the Royals from 1066 to the present day will be examined through field trips to renowned locations such as the Tower of London, Hampton Court and Buckingham Palace. Learn about concepts such as constitutional monarchy, the privy council, Royal prerogative and Royal Assent and explore ways in which these have historically shaped – and continue to shape – our current society. We will explore depictions of various monarchs in British society, the role of ceremony and tradition, and ideas such as the “Royal brand” and the relationship between tourism, media, film and TV and the Monarchy. Prepare to engage and critically analyze debates in contemporary British society, such as public opinion at the time of King Charles’s Coronation, “Megxit” or even the future abolishing of the British monarchy.

Course Code: HUMN 302

Instruction Language: English

Bibliotherapy dates back to ancient times when libraries were seen as sacred places where answers and healing could be found. This course will introduce students to the power of lifelong reading and explore how the traditional act of reading (often seen as a passive and private activity) can be turned into an active strategy to help oneself and others cope with life’s challenges and opportunities through the safe place of literature. The course will explore the wider and deeper ways in which fiction and non-fiction can ‘find’ people, emotionally and imaginatively, helping develop resilience and empathy, as well as aim to provide students with a deep sense of the rich and transformational impact of lifelong reading. It will introduce students to the neurological benefits of reading “for pleasure” as well as to various societal programs and their success, for example exploring the impact of reading programmes such as the role of The Reading Agency and The Shannon Trust.

Course Code: MGMT 425

Instruction Language: English

As you study in Kensington, one of London’s most upscale areas, the shops and hotels around you will become learning resources as you probe the essence of luxury brand management in this lively course. In class you will study the market responses towards luxury brands in the context of London, Britain and the wider world, considering topics such as the consumers’ psychology of luxury buying, the impact of sustainability movements and corporate social responsibility. Uncover the underlying rationales of branded luxury goods and the provision of luxury experiences, gain a strategic perspective on their dynamic characteristics and evaluate the different approaches required in managing a luxury brand today. On your trips and visits you will be given a peek behind the scenes of the luxury goods and luxury services industry in London and speak with experts who can reveal current industry perspectives. Your classes will teach you to make connections between classroom learning and real-world examples, challenging you to articulate and defend your ideas through discussion, written work and presentations.

Course Code: MKTG 345

Instruction Language: English

London is one of the world’s top fashion capitals, a creative and entrepreneurial hub with a rich history. Study the spectacular evolution of fashion from small dressmakers’ workshops serving the elite to an explosion into mainstream global consumption in which marketing and communication principles revolutionized the business of fashion forever. Let us introduce you to marketing in the context of the fashion industry in this course which will ask you to step out of the classroom and into high scale boutiques, bustling market places or the world’s largest museum of applied arts The V&A, all located a short walk from our study center. Learn about the role of marketing communication, its cross-functional importance and its contribution to fashion business success and meet professionals in the sector who will narrate their experience in the sector and provide you with the most current case studies. Topics covered include the marketing planning process, modern fashion communication, segmentation, the internal and external marketing environment, and the marketing mix in the world of fashion. This engaging course will provide you with strong transferable knowledge and skills, applying theory to practice every step of the way.

Course Code: POLI 332

Instruction Language: English

British Parliament has roots which reach back over 800 years, yet it is a modern institution which is constantly in flux as it evolves to meet the needs of the society it serves. Come to the city of London to look at the inner workings of British politics, from lifting the lid on the Houses of Parliament to debating the functions, and dysfunctions, of the British monarchy. You will gain an overview of the British electoral and legal system, and to the political parties and how they are represented, drawing on case studies taken from the news of the day. Learn to form and articulate an opinion on hot topics such as Britain’s departure from the European Union (Brexit), attitudes to immigration and constitutional reform. Using a comparative approach, you will find yourself with not only a growing knowledge and appreciation of the functioning of the British political system, but of the American system too.

Course Code: POLI/SOCI 318

Instruction Language: English

What are the conditions that uphold privilege and discrimination, and how can they be redressed? Using London as a resource, the course will introduce students to social issues such as racial injustice, systemic discrimination based on gender and/or sexuality, rising inequality in the UK capital and hunger and food insecurity. Students will explore the role and impact of grass-roots activism, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and local charities and analyse contemporary social justice campaigns such as Justice4Grenfell, as well as the work of well-known campaigners such as Baroness Doreen Lawrence, who has campaigned for social justice for over 20 years, after the racist murder of her son, Stephen.??? Students will be given opportunities to pursue their own areas of interest including structural and racial inequality, Labour and Trade Unions, Feminist movements, Gender and LGBTQI and Environmental Activism. As part of the course, they will experience a diverse range of counter-cultural movements from multiple perspectives, applying critical and creative thinking in exploring potential solutions for the future, with the ultimate aim of making a difference in society.

Course Code: PSYC 310

Instruction Language: English

How does the culture into which we are born shape the way we think, feel and the person we become? This course will open up a field of study which answers questions which, as a student living abroad, will be naturally provoked by your day to day experience. Informed by elements of sociology, ecology, anthropology, biology and sociology this multidisciplinary field cultivates the knowledge and criticality you need to understand the interconnected world around you as well as your own cultural norms. Specific attention will be devoted to issues such as the individual vs the social, mental health and cross-cultural communication. Prepare to engage in field research, conducting interviews on topics relating to your own study abroad experience while visiting lesser-known cultural sites around the city of London. Equipped with methodologies of inquiry which studying how relationships and behaviour in cross-cultural contexts take shape.

Course Code: PSYC 315

Instruction Language: English

This course will provide an interdisciplinary overview of wellbeing as a scientific construct, with its underpinning biological, psychological, cultural and social determinants, exploring the factors that contribute to the wellbeing of individuals and populations. It will support students develop an understanding of wellbeing as relatively new concept (WHO, 1948) and its main current and emerging perspectives, rooted in psychology, neuropsychology and social behaviour theories. The course will also focus on some specific topics that are central to wellbeing, such as quality of life, happiness, resilience and what factors promote them; creativity and the arts and how these are being used in evidence-based ways to improve health and wellbeing, both in everyday life, but also within healthcare systems (i.e. art therapy and music therapy to improve physical and mental health conditions). The course will also introduce students to some of main wellbeing measures currently utilised in science. Students will be encouraged to use a range of tools proposed during the course and apply them to understand health and wellbeing and their meaning in different individual, group and organisational contexts. Students will also be encouraged to reflect on their own value systems around wellbeing, in order to appreciate the diversity associated with the individual’s lived experience of health and wellbeing. Current UK government policies on wellbeing will also be examined and discussed, in comparison with US similar policies and students will be expected to take active part in discussions, debates, analyses and individual and small group work as required.

Course Code: PSYC 320

Instruction Language: English

"What is personality, and why do people differ in personality in so many ways? The purpose of this course is to increase students’ awareness of the variety of theoretical viewpoints that exist regarding the nature of human personality and the factors that influence human behavior.? We will examine the different theoretical viewpoints in terms of what they may have to say about personality structure and its development, emotion, motivation, cognition, the development of psychopathology, and clinical applications for personality change.? Students will also be asked to evaluate the prominent theoretical perspectives critically and to consider cultural variations in personality constructs. It is hoped that students will be able to incorporate the most useful aspects of each approach and synthesize them to develop their own perspective regarding the nature of human personality development and functioning.

Course Code: SOCI 335

Instruction Language: English

London, home to nearly 9 million people, is arguably one of the most diverse cities in the world, with 40% of its population born abroad and 300 different languages spoken in the capital. Expect to explore the length and breadth of London in this highly experiential course which will show you a far richer and more diverse London than most visitors will see. Through reading, discussion and fieldwork, this course will focus on the character of ethnic, national and religious diversity in London and how different transnational communities have dealt with arriving, settling and living life as an immigrant in London. Starting with the post-war period and the 1948 British Nationality Act, the course will explore the experiences of minority ethnicities living in London and cover the period right up to the present day, exploring political and cultural responses within London to different groups (the South Asian community, the Windrush generation and EU community for instance) and exploring how these have changed over time. You will be introduced to the distinctive form and nature of Britain’s multiculturalism and critically analyze the legacy of the British Empire. As your knowledge and understanding of the city grows, you will be challenged to assess the way in which London has experienced the process of immigration and integration, presenting your independent insights in discussions, papers and presentations.

Course Code: ANTH/SOCI 345

Instruction Language: English

This course will focus on the emerging global cuisine in London and examine it as a cultural phenomenon inextricably linked to immigration. Taking a historical perspective, the course will explore the role of culinary dishes adopted as “national dishes” in the UK, from fish and chips to chicken tikka masala, and analyse their origins and evolution into iconic British foods. The course will explore the role of the British Empire in assimilating and appropriating global cuisines and study the cultural impact this has had on the communities involved. The course will also introduce students to European legislation and how it created classifications to promote regionally important food products while analysing recent challenges such as the debate between the EU and the UK over fisheries and how the scope of our global cuisine may be impacted by the UK leaving the EU, and “Brexit.” Finally, the course will ask students to apply creative and original thinking by drawing lessons from global food cultures in how to address issues such as the rise in food banks, food waste, the rise of obesity and other health issues, the welfare of animals and global warming and review options for a sustainable future such as organic farming and “slow food.”

Course Code: GEST/HIST/SOCI 355

Instruction Language: English

From identity politics and gender roles to issues of privilege and social exclusion, this course explores how Western culture came to view sex, gender and sexuality in the ways that we do, and how culture can shift our perspective of what’s “normal.” The course will aim to introduce students beyond binary definitions and question popular and problematic assumptions about sex, gender and identity in the UK today. It will introduce some of the key theories and thinkers and address the way in which these activists have helped shape UK law from the decriminalisation of homosexuality in 1967 under the Sexual Offences Act in 1967 to present day legislation. The course will address contemporary movements and debates including tensions between women’s right and rights of transgender people and the legal status of non-binary people. It will explore the progress made in human rights in the different parts of the UK and the issues that remain.

Course Code: ENGL/THR 315

Instruction Language: English

This course will introduce students to?one of the richest components of London life – its theatre and drama scene. The course will introduce students to the specific national flavour of British theatre – from fringe to subsidized to West End – focusing on an array of wide-ranging works, including adaptations and new writing. There will be a focus on exciting and contemporary plays, ranging from enchanting to hilarious to shocking, reflecting some of the more provocative staged works. The course will look at the role of the Artistic Director in the UK, at the variety of different drama available, at the imagination behind adaptations of renowned works such as Shakespeare’s plays and their impact, and at new writing and the way in which it might challenge preconceptions of theatre as a “high culture” form of art. In addition to discussing the relationship between form and content, the course will place a number of the plays in their cultural, historical and critical context and assess the role of contemporary drama in challenging the status quo.