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UW Global Launch in London

Students are outside of the Tate Britain and holding up a Wisconsin flag. They are all smiling at the camera.
View of Parliament square with Big Ben and the London Eye in the background.
Marching band of British soldiers in their iconic red uniforms marching around the streets near Buckingham Palace. There are crowds gathered on the sides.
An instructor is teaching students about an art piece. They are all focused on the piece and listening attentively.
View of a London Eye carrige with the city of London in the background. A dark fog clouds over some of the city.
Students are gathered together under one of London's iconic bridges. The students are all smiling at the camera and hugging.

Read all eligibility requirements carefully before applying.
This program is for incoming first-year students only. 

In order to participate on this program, you must have a US Passport by May 1, 2026 that will be valid through October, 2027. If you need to apply for (or renew) your passport, apply at the same time you apply to the program.  

England, London

Wisconsin Experience with a Global Perspective

Start your Wisconsin Experience abroad by joining a cohort of first-year Badgers on this partially-funded full first year abroad program in London! The UW Global Launch in London program is an academic and experiential opportunity designed specifically for first-year UW students to prepare them for success as global citizens in today’s interconnected world.

The fall semester 2026 program will be supported by UW-Madison Faculty in Residence Kathryn Ciancia. In the spring semester, you will join other Badgers on the UW in London program with a UW-Madison Faculty in Residence. Through classroom learning, guest lecturers, guided visits around London and overnight excursions, you will explore British culture, complete core credit requirements, and serve the community in which you will live through an international service learning component.

By choosing this program, you can start the fall semester of your Sophomore year having built strong relationships with your internationally-minded peers and faculty mentors, developed a competitive edge in your learning career, and completed 30 credits to make progress towards your degree.

The Chris & Suzy (Oldorf) DeWolf Family Global Launch Scholars

Students selected for participation on this program will receive the Chris & Suzy (Oldorf) DeWolf Family Global Launch Scholarship. This scholarship aims to ensure that the cost of study abroad for the first-year is comparable to the on-campus overall cost of attendance.

Awards will be given out as follows:
Wisconsin Resident: $20,000
Minnesota Resident: $15,000
Non-resident: $10,000

IAP encourages you to put great care and thought into your application materials (essays and submission of a recommendation form completed by a high school teacher or guidance counselor).

We are looking for students that demonstrate:

  • a strong commitment to a challenging international academic experience
  • responsibility and maturity
  • global curiosity
  • strength of character
  • commitment to being active participants on the program

Select applicants will be invited for interviews with the selection committee via Zoom before final selections are made. Prior to confirmation of participation, you will also be meeting with an academic advisor to discuss how this program will fit into your academic plan.

This program is offered by UW-Madison in cooperation with the Foundation for International Education (FIE).

Explore all UW Study Abroad Launch program options
Note: You may only apply to and participate in one UW Study Abroad Launch program.

Learning Objectives

We have overall Goals and Expectations for Study Abroad Participants, covering the personal, academic and professional aspects of study abroad. Additionally on this program, you can:

  • increase your knowledge of English history, literature, culture, and the arts
  • examine the values of sustainability, diversity & inclusivity, and social justice as reflected in British culture
  • immerse yourself in the local community through service
  • gain personal development, growth, and ability to adapt to a new culture
  • develop a literacy in day-to-day London life
  • gain a greater understanding of American culture through the lens of the U.K.
  • succeed in immersive academic experiences in the city of London

Diversity & Inclusion

We are committed to providing quality study abroad and domestic study away programs for every UW-Madison student. We work strategically to identify, address, and remove barriers that may prevent participation and to provide a welcoming and inclusive environment for students. Our staff actively engages with students, faculty, and staff from diverse backgrounds and prioritizes the continuous development of our knowledge and cultural competence. We also recognize the importance of increasing access to study abroad for historically underrepresented student populations. We are committed to diversity and inclusion so that every student can engage with and understand their identity through a new lens and continue to develop and make progress on their personal, professional, and academic goals.

Sustainability

We recognize that the future of study abroad, domestic study away, and international internship programming requires a Commitment to Sustainability. We are devoted to examining, developing, and improving sustainability in all our endeavors, aligning with campus priorities and following through with UW-Madison's climate action and Resilience Commitment. Join our efforts and learn more about how to study abroad sustainably.

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Eligibility

  • U.S. citizens only; Must be 18 years of age by the start of the program; Must be proficient in the English Language

    After applications have been reviewed, selected applicants will be asked to complete a virtual interview. Both application materials and interviews will be considered in acceptance decisions. 

  • Must be admitted to the College of Letters & Science (L&S)
  • This program is for incoming first-year students only. You must be accepted to attend UW-Madison as a First-Year Student, not a Transfer Student. The program would take place during your first year.
  • Due to on campus obligations, students in the following programs are unable to apply: POSSE, First Wave, Athletics, Mercile J Lee Scholars. Please talk with the scholarship program administrator if you have questions.
  • Incoming Freshman
  • Open to UW-Madison degree-seeking students only
  • Good academic and disciplinary standing
  • At the time of application and the semester prior to participation, UW-Madison students must be currently enrolled. Transfer Students to UW-Madison need to be currently enrolled at their home institution

Advising Location

Program Structure

UW Signature

Subjects

Humanities, Social Sciences

Classroom Language

English

Housing

Residence Hall

Program Duration

Academic Year: Late August-Late April

Application Deadline(s)

Year 2026-27 4/1/2026 Cost Details
Extended Deadline: 4/8/2026

Future durations will be posted at a later date.

APPLY NOW

 

This program is well-suited for students admitted into the College of Letters & Science, who are interested in majors related to histories, cultures, languages, arts, media, social affairs, and many other fields.

It may not be the best fit for students interested in biological, computer, mathematical or physical sciences. These majors typically advise enrollment in math and/or chemistry courses during the first year, which are not offered on the London program.

Have questions? Email the study abroad advisor who can help you consider your options and connect you to an academic advisor for further consultation.


Students will earn 15 credits each semester by taking five (3 credit) courses per semester.   

Fall Semester Courses

  1. 2026 Fall course 1: Modern London: City of Refuge

    While you have come to London to study, for centuries the city has been a refuge for people escaping persecution, war, and political turmoil across the world. Focusing on the period since the mid-to-late nineteenth century, this class will explore why people ended up in London, how they experienced the city in their everyday lives, and the ways in which the attitudes of their new British neighbors shaped alternate senses of belonging and alienation. While we’ll explore each of our case studies—which will include Russian revolutionaries in the 1890s and Ugandan Asians in the 1970s—through a global lens, we’ll also piece together local experiences through fieldtrips to the physical sites in which our historical protagonists lived, worked, and played.

  2. 2026 Fall course 2: Beyond Living Memory: Reconstructing UK Life in World War II

    As the last survivors of World War II pass away, we are entering a new phase in studying the war—one without direct witnesses. This hands-on class invites you to become a historical detective who reconstructs the diverse experiences of this transformative global conflagration in the United Kingdom: What was it like to live through the intense bombing of the Blitz? How did various groups experience the new terrors and opportunities ushered in by the war? What did ordinary people know about what was going on across the globe, including in the British Empire—and what did the government hide from them? Through exciting primary sources, which will include the Mass Observation Archive, and fieldtrips to such sights as the underground stations that acted as air raid shelters, we’ll reflect on the changes—big and small—that the war brought about. 

  3. College Writing-Britain as a Text (Communication-A)*
  4. British Life and Cultures 
  5. Choose one course from the list below
Course Options for 5:
  • Music in 20th Century Britain 
  • Sustainable Cities: London in the Era of Climate Change
  • Media in Britain 
  • Harry Potter: Magic, Myth and Meaning 
  • Diversity in Britain: Immigration, Discrimination, and Integration 
  • The Political Economy of the European Union 
*If a student has already fulfilled their Comm A requirement, they won't take the course listed in 3 and will take two courses from the list for 5.

Spring Semester Courses

  1. UW in London Spring Faculty in Residence course (Choose one from two courses offered)
  2. The Nature of Story Creative Writing (Communication-B)
  3. International Service & Leadership 
  4. Choose one course from the list below
  5. Choose one course from the list below  

Course Options for 4 and 5:

  • Understanding Art Through London's Collections 
  • Food, Society, and Culture in Britain: From Traditional Tastes to Contemporary Concerns
  • Diversity in Britain: Immigration, Discrimination, and Integration 
  • British Politics 
  • Health Care Policy 
  • Shakespeare and Elizabethan Literature 
  • Creative Thinking for Advertising 

Video:  Service Learning in Action
Hear firsthand from UW-Madison students Taylor and Logan as they reflect on their service learning experience at Ace of Clubs, based in London. Uncover how they gave back to the Clapham community, picked up new skills, and shared how the experience will stay with them. 

 

Course Equivalents

Use the links below to see a list of courses that past students have taken on this program and the UW equivalents. Note: This list only includes pre-approved courses for your program and may not be an exhaustive list of courses, departments or equivalents. Courses may not be available the semester you are abroad. You will receive instructions on the course equivalent process after acceptance. View Course Equivalents

Program Leader

Program leader photo placeholder

Kathryn Ciancia

Associate Professor , History

Fall 2026 Program Leader, Kathryn Ciancia, is an associate professor in UW-Madison's History Department where she teaches classes on the history of modern Eastern Europe, World War II, ethnic violence, and genealogy. In her teaching, she focuses on supporting students in asking creative questions (and listening patiently to the answers), getting down to original research, and reflecting on what they’re learning—and why it matters. She is excited about teaching in London (a city she last lived in over twenty years ago!) in her native UK and helping students navigate its sights and sounds with a historian’s eye.