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University of Westminster Summer

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University of Westminster Summer

Program Overview

Learning comes alive at this London university, with innovative teaching styles and classes like Jack the Ripper’s London. Get to know students from England and all over the world. Explore London’s West End, where most of Westminster’s campuses are located, along with iconic theaters, Covenant Garden’s lively markets, and Leicester Square’s abundant restaurants and cinemas. Plus, the Westminster Summer Social Programme, featuring a welcome event, theater outing, day tours, and more, is included in the program.

Details at a Glance

Application deadline

Summer: April 1

Minimum GPA

2.50

Credit load

4–8

Housing

Apartment/Flat, Single Room Option

Instruction language

English

Language prerequisites

None

Visa required?

Not in most cases. Learn more.

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Academics

Westminster offers two separate summer sessions. As an IFSA student, you may enroll in one summer session or both. Classes from all areas are offered during both sessions. Most classes will take place at the Marylebone, however photography students will utilize studios and facilities on the Harrow campus.

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

To view available classes at the University of Westminster, visit the summer catalog. Classes may include:

Liberal Arts and Sciences

Crime and the London Underworld
Jack the Ripper’s London
Monarchy: A Royal History of London
Writing London

Business

Buyer Behaviour
Fundamentals of Marketing
Global Business Environment
The Power of Brands

Design, Creative and Digital Industries

Photographing the City: London
Television in London

IFSA requires students to enroll in a full class load abroad. At the University of Westminster, a full class load consists of 15 Westminster credits per summer school session (equivalent to 4 U.S. semester credit hours). Please note that the University of Westminster has a very strict withdraw policy for summer, please contact the IFSA Enrollment Counselor with any questions.

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.

You can only take classes for which you have fulfilled the prerequisites.

New country, new way of learning!

Here’s what to expect at the University of Westminster:

More emphasis on independent learning. The university recommends completing 10 hours of independent study for each academic credit you seek.
One class per session. Each class meets Monday to Thursday, for four hours.
More advanced instruction and work than you’d find in a class at the same level in the United States. Because most English university degrees are three-year programs, students gain specialized knowledge faster here.
Less personal access to professors. Instead, it’s common to connect with more junior faculty members.
Grades are often based on a single final exam or final paper, or on just a few assignments.
Full access to the university’s robust academic support system and resources, including an assigned advisor for academic support. IFSA local staff are also available for individual help.

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) year of study at your home institution before the start of the program.
Eligibility requirements can vary among host institutions. Please ask your IFSA Enrollment Counselor for specific information.

Recommendation Letter
Your application to this program will require one (1) academic letter of recommendation.

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 courses 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

UNIVERSITY OF WESTMINSTER SUMMER SOCIAL PROGRAMME
The Westminster Summer Social Programme is included for IFSA students. Meet more people and experience the best parts of London and England with welcome and farewell events, plus:

Theater Outing: Enjoy the West End theater district with one performance per session. Shows may included Mamma Mia! and Wicked.
Day Trips: Day trips may include excursions to Bath, Stonehenge, and Oxford or Windsor, Cotswolds, and Oxford.
Activities: Take The Making of Harry Potter studio tour or a Thames River cruise with afternoon tea.

IFSA ACTIVITIES & 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 a selection of activities and excursions from previous terms; options may vary for your program. Due to the seasonal nature of many of program activities, we cannot guarantee a specific activity or excursion will be available in a given term or program.

London’s Southbank Walk and Borough Market: Wander the River Thames then nosh on fish and chips, Thai curry, and more—there are hundreds of produce and street food stalls to choose from. Soak up some history as you refuel—food markets have stood here since the Middle Ages.
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!
Buckingham Palace: On the bucket list for countless UK visitors, here’s your chance to see the majestic London home of British monarchs since Queen Victoria in 1837. (Look for the Royal Standard’s yellow, red and blue squares that signify the king is in residence.)
Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre: London is famous for its diverse, creative and unexpected theater landscape. During the warmer summer months, students can enjoy all the London theater scene has to offer in the stunning surroundings of a royal park.
Independence Day BBQ: You may be in the UK, but you can still celebrate the fabulous U.S. Independence Day with a festive get-together and meal.

Housing and Meals

Housing

Apartment/Flat, Single Room Option

Meals

Self-Catering

Details

Students stay in housing provided by Westminster or in 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

Harrow houses students who take classes on several different campuses. These are six-person flats 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 at these campuses may be placed at Alexander Fleming housing 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

Explore 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: 45 minutes by train/Tube to the Marylebone 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.