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University of Westminster Partnership

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University of Westminster Partnership

Program Overview

FUEL YOUR AMBITION WITH LONDON ENERGY AT THE CITY’S MOST DIVERSE UNIVERSITY

As a university founded in 1836 to provide education to working people of all backgrounds, it makes perfect sense that Westminster has launched a slew of award-winning initiatives that raise cultural awareness and advance gender equality.

Winner of the EcoCampus Gold Award, the university’s four campuses offer options galore. Pursue topics ranging from art to business and check out unique London Studies options like Photography in London and Black London: Black History in London from Tudors to Today. Add a future-building internship in business, fine arts, communications, science, or social science. Take a break to hang out by the Thames or discover anime, netball, and more through one of many student groups.

Your program also includes IFSA excursions and activities that give you deeper insights into UK culture, with no extra fees. Possibilities include a West End theater performance, a cooking contest in the tent made famous by the Great British Bake Off, and a visit to Darcy’s Pemberley—really Chatsworth House—from the Pride and Prejudice film production.

Details at a Glance

Application deadline

Fall: April 1

Spring: Oct. 1

Academic Year: April 1

Minimum GPA

2.60

Credit load

12–16

Housing

Apartment/Flat, Single Room Option

Instruction language

English

Language prerequisites

None

Visa required?

In some cases. Learn More.

Apply Now

Academics

CHART Your Course
Find the classes you need fast with CHART. Our easy-to-use tool shows you classes recently taken by IFSA students.

Visit the University of Westminster class catalog to see a list of available subjects.

First-year (Level 4) classes are appropriate for departments in which you have little or no prior experience.
Second-year (Level 5) classes will be equivalent to advanced sophomore or junior-level U.S. classes.
Third-year (Level 6) classes are only available to students with a major in the area of study and two prior years of study in the subject area.
Study abroad students are not eligible for fourth-year (Level 7) classes.

Many students choose to complete a credit-bearing internship as one of their Westminster classes. See the Internships & Experiential Learning section of the Academic tab for more information.

Students can take either 3 or 4 modules at the University of Westminster. If you choose to enroll in only 3 modules per semester, you must confirm with your study abroad advisor that this class load meets your home institution expectations.

Credit Conversion

Fall or Spring semester

3-Module Programme = 12 U.S. semester credit hours
4-Module Programme = 16 U.S. semester credit hours

Academic year
6-Module Programme = 24 U.S. semester credit hours
8-Module Programme = 32 U.S. semester credit hours

Lab & Field Trip Fees
Please review syllabi and course materials when registering for direct-enroll classes. Certain classes may have a one-off lab or field trip fee disclosed in the syllabus or during the first meeting of the class. These fees are not included in your IFSA program fee. You will be responsible for these fees, whether they are billed and paid by IFSA or billed to you.

Media, Arts, and Design
Media, Arts and Design classes (“MAD” classes) require a cumulative 3.0 GPA. It is strongly suggested that students interested in media studies enroll for the entire academic year, but this is not an official requirement. The communication, design, and media courses are extremely competitive and can close before the IFSA published deadline.

INTERNSHIPS
The University of Westminster offers a wide array of internship opportunities in the bustling city of London. Each internship involves a work assignment of 14 hours, two to three days per week. Your placement is subject to a successful interview after you arrive in London. The duration of the internship is one semester, and it is worth 4 U.S. semester credit hours.

As part of the internship, you will take a tutorial course called “Professional and Personal Skills Development” and prepare a related academic project. An academic supervisor will monitor your progress in your field assignment, act as a placement liaison and assess your project. Assessment of your success in the placement is based on one meeting with your internship supervisor, a daily work log and a 3,000 word essay detailing your role in the organization, what you learned and your internship goals.

Internships are available in: Art and design, Arts Administration, Biological sciences, Built environment, Business studies, Communication, Computer science, Economics, Education, Environmental science, Finance, Information technology, Journalism, Management, Marketing, Mathematics, Media arts, Politics, Psychology, Social action, and Social service.

You will be asked to indicate whether you wish to pursue a Westminster internship when starting your IFSA application. You must have a strong academic background and achieved a cumulative GPA of at least 2.80 on a 4.0 scale.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years of age. Students under 18 may be accepted on a case-by-case basis.
You must be currently attending or recently graduated from a U.S. or Canadian community college, technical college, two-year college, four-year college, or four-year university.
You must have completed at least one (1) full-time semester of study at your home institution before the beginning of the semester program or one (1) full-time year of study at your home institution before the beginning of the year program.

GPA
The University of Westminster will consider applicants with a GPA from 2.60-2.69 with additional application materials. Interns must have at least a 2.8 GPA.

Recommendation Letter
Not required.

TRANSCRIPT
Upon completion of your program, IFSA will send an official Butler University transcript to your home university with your coursework converted to the U.S. semester credit hour system. You will also have access to an unofficial transcript in your IFSA Student Portal. The transcript reflects classes taken, credits attempted, and grades earned during your term abroad. This service is included in your study abroad program at no additional cost. See our Transcripts page for more information.

Excursions

Activities and excursions are designed to pull you into the communities you visit and encourage cultural connections of every kind. There’s no extra fee to participate in these optional outings—everything is included in your program fee.

Below are examples from previous terms; outings may be different for your program. We’ll make every effort to run them all, but sometimes things we can’t control, such as local regulations and health protocols, get in the way. As result, we cannot guarantee activities and excursions.

Activities

The Great British Bake Off Experience: Step into the famous white tent and don your apron for this immersive baking experience. Perfect for fans of The Great British Bake Off, you’ll work in pairs and bake a dessert against the clock that will be judged by the head baker. You’ll even be able to take home your creation at the end!
West End Theatre Performance: No time in the UK would be complete without a trip to the West End, London’s famous theatre district. Shows are chosen that provide context or different perspectives on London/the UK/Europe. Recent examples include Operation Mincemeat and Cabaret.
Sustainability Garden: Visit a community garden started to rewild urban space and respond to the challenges of urban sustainable food production in line with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals. By speaking to gardeners, learn more about the impact of sustainable practices on the biodiversity of urban areas and how they’re trying to widen participation in their local community. Make sure to dress appropriately because we’ll be getting our hands dirty!

Excursions

Stonehenge and Bath Visit: Stonehenge has stood on Salisbury Plain for around 5,000 years and it’s still unknown how the prehistoric monument came to rest there! Make up your own mind during this visit and discover the fascinating theories behind these rocks. You’ll learn about Stonehenge from the fascinating exhibits and be able to enjoy a virtual sunrise as it rises over the prehistoric stones! Afterward, travel to the Roman city of Bath for a walking tour of this World Heritage city once home to Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Gainsborough, Lord Nelson, and Beau Nash. Then prepare to travel back 2,000 years to the Roman era with a visit to the Roman Baths.
Piers and Queers Brighton Trip: Since the 18th century, Brighton has become a cosmopolitan place of recreation, escape, and freedom. A destination for people who didn’t conform. With an LGBTQ+ population now estimated at 15%, Brighton celebrated England’s first civil partnerships, and hosts the UK’s largest Pride event as well as Europe’s first Trans Pride, rightly earning its title as the LGBTQ+ Capital of Britain. Peers and Queers is a tour of Brighton from LGBTQ+ perspective. This colorful 90-minute walk along the beach and historic city center takes in more than 200 years of history including Regency Dandies, 1950s lesbian and gay life, and political activism. Afterward, there’s time for a walk on the pier and fish and chips, just watch out for seagulls!
Big Welsh Weekend: Delve into the rich history of Wales and explore its unique culture and its complex relationship with the rest of the UK on a weekend that takes in the famous Tintern Abbey, the historic Raglan Castle, the Blaenavon coal mines, and St Fagan’s, a museum that has preserved buildings and cultural practices from Welsh history. Spend the night in Cardiff, the Welsh capital, and discover the Cardiff Bay area, home of the Welsh Parliament.
Yorkshire Adventure: Explore the vibrant and historic county of Yorkshire on a weekend trip where you’ll discover how this English region has contributed to the UK’s cultural landscape. Highlights may include the Bronte Parsonage in Haworth, the Piece Hall in Halifax, the Victorian model village of Saltaire, or the imposing Harewood House in Leeds.

Housing and Meals

Housing

Apartment/Flat, Single Room Option

Meals

Self-Catering

Details

Students stay in housing provided by Westminster or flats (apartments) provided by IFSA.

Three of Westminster’s four campuses are walking distance apart in central London—Cavendish, Marylebone, and Regent. The fourth, Harrow—dedicated to art, design, fashion, film, tv, media, communications, and music—is 30 minutes northwest of London by Tube.

Harrow campus

If you’re taking most of your classes at Harrow, you’ll most likely live on this campus, in a six-person flat with single bedrooms and individual bathrooms. Flats include kitchens—students cook or purchase their meals. Harrow center has plenty of shops, restaurants, and more.

Cavendish, Marylebone, and Regent campuses

Students taking classes here live in furnished flats designed for four to eight students:

Living space: Some flats have single bedrooms and private bathrooms. Others have single bedrooms and shared bathrooms. Some have shared bedrooms and shared bathrooms.
Meals: Students cook or purchase their own meals. Flats include kitchen facilities, some fully equipped, some not. Flatmates say cooking and eating together is a fun, social part of their day.

London flats

Another possibility is a furnished flat selected by IFSA, with IFSA students as flatmates.

Living space: Each flat contains single bedrooms, each with its own private bathroom.
- Bedrooms include bed, desk, chair, wardrobe, and light for each student.
- Comfortable space to cook, eat, socialize, and study either in your flat or in convenient common areas.
- Linens, except towels, are typically provided.
Meals: There is no meal plan. Students cook or purchase their own meals. Some flats have private kitchens, others include shared kitchens. Most are fully equipped; if not, kitchenware is easy to purchase nearby. Flatmates say cooking and eating together is a fun, social part of their day.
Commute: Varies by location. Expect a 40- to 50-minute trip via local train services, the Tube (the London subway), or bus.

Sample housing

Read about Vita Lewisham, one housing option, to see what your London home might be like:

Location: Lewisham, an area in southeast London undergoing substantial regeneration, particularly following its tenure as London Borough of Culture in 2022. Lewisham Shopping Centre, a five-minute walk away, is home to over 70 stores. Across the street is Glass Mill Leisure Centre, with gym, pool, sauna, and steam room. Two-minute walk to Lewisham train station.
Commute: 40 minutes by train/Tube to the Cavendish campus; 40 minutes by train/Tube to the Regent Street campus; 45 minutes by train/Tube to the Marylebone campus; 65 minutes by train/Tube to the Harrow campus.
Single rooms: Rooms include one double bed, desk, chair, wardrobe, and TV. Bed linens provided. Studio rooms include private kitchen with oven, stove, refrigerator, and microwave. Other rooms are part of cluster flats: six single rooms with private bathrooms, a shared kitchen, and living space. Kitchenware provided.
Meals: No meal plan. Students purchase meals or prepare food in shared kitchens. Breakfast available in the reception area on weekday mornings. Free coffee 24/7.
Common spaces: Three private dining rooms, a bar, study spaces, a gym with dance studio, and a games room.
Other details: Unlimited Wi-Fi, staff and security on site 24/7. Laundry facilities on-site. Cleaning provided every two weeks. The residence runs a full social calendar.
Nearby: The bustling Greenwich area, home to Greenwich Market, renowned museums, and Greenwich Park (where the Eastern and Western Hemispheres meet)—five minutes away via Docklands Light Railway. (Watch for celebrities: Greenwich frequently stands in as London and occasionally Paris in film and television productions.) Central London is 15 minutes away via train, so it’s easy to get to London Bridge and Charing Cross, the historic center of London.