UW Spring Global Launch in London

Location

Not sure where London is? See it on a map here.

The Kensington and Chelsea neighborhoods are an excellent hub for all that London has to offer. As viewed from the top of the London Eye or from a cafe window during afternoon tea, there is a lot to explore.  You can navigate by foot or hop on a double-decker bus to explore long-established rustic libraries and an assortment of museums.  To enjoy the outdoors, shop at local markets and lounge in the Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park or Holland Park.

You will live and study near famous London landmarks like Royal Albert Hall, Victoria and Albert Museum and the Natural History Museum with convenient access to the Tube, London’s subway system, to help you explore the city in your free time. World famous department stores, such as Harrods, and trendy boutiques are intermittently located next to convenience stores and supermarkets. In the heart of it all, Kensington Palace lends an added touch of elegance to the city.

Cost of living varies widely by location.  Be sure to consult a variety of resources when researching cost of living.

Housing

You will be living with other UW-Madison students in student residential buildings in the Kensington neighborhood. These mid- to late- 19th century converted townhouses are fully furnished flats with shared living space (kitchen and lounge). All participants will share rooms with other UW-Madison students.  

Each bedroom is fully furnished with a bed, bedside cabinet and lamp, and closet. Linens, comforter, and pillow are also provided. Common kitchens are equipped with cookware, silverware, and dishes. All residences feature common living areas where students can interact.

Other housing amenities include:

• Fully equipped kitchens with stove, refrigerator, oven, and microwave; and table and seating area
• High-speed wireless internet connection throughout the building
• Rooms cleaned weekly; kitchens cleaned daily
• Clean linen provided once a week
• Landline phones that can receive incoming calls; outgoing calls can be made after purchasing an appropriate phonecard
• TVs in the bedrooms or common living areas of the apartments
• CCTV monitoring surveillance system

Residence Life Supervisors

Residence Life Supervisors, or RLSs, are situated in all FIE residences to assist students with various residence life questions and concerns outside of standard hours. The FIE RLSs are an elite team of academics pursuing postgraduate study or occupying entry-level work positions and are trained to foster a conducive learning environment for students in the residences.

Room assignments

We typically place students in rooms with others of the same sex. In some locations, this is necessary for legal or cultural reasons.  We understand that not all students may identify as female or male, and we want to create a welcoming environment for you while you are abroad.  We are happy to work with students who identify as transgender, genderqueer, gender non-conforming, and/or non-binary regarding life abroad.  If you have questions or concerns regarding housing as it relates to your gender identity, please contact your Study Abroad Advisor.

Program Considerations

In a physical sense, the on-site experience may be very different from life on the UW campus. You may walk or take public transportation more than you are used to in Madison. The physical activity level will vary by program, but in general you should be prepared for extended periods of time walking, potentially on uneven terrain.

For many students, discovering and experiencing new foods is a part of the experience. It is important to consider any dietary restrictions, whether they are due to health conditions, religious beliefs, or individual needs, and look into whether you can get the foods you need locally.

How you identify yourself in Madison may differ from how people will view you on-site. Consider exploring our Identity Resources to reflect on how your identities may impact your experience. Students with disabilities should keep in mind that attitudes and laws related to disabilities vary by country, and these differences may impact the level of accommodation available in a particular location. More details are available on our page on Study Abroad for Students with Disabilities.

We encourage you to contact your Study Abroad Advisor and share your accommodation needs with us as early as possible. This will allow us to help you explore your options in advance.

Excursions and Activities

There will be two day-trips included for all Global Launch students. 

Enrich your appreciation for the fine arts in the West End theatre district, at a ballet production or musical performance with your peers. Snap a photo by the Tower of London, tour the British Museum and visit the Houses of Parliament. Spend your morning at Stonehenge or Oxford and participate in fanfare at a soccer match in the afternoon...the possibilities are endless!

Outside of academic excursions, FIE’s Student Life Team offers a wide range of optional extra-curricular events at a subsidized cost. These events satisfy a variety of student interests by providing activities in sport, theatre, music, sightseeing, tours and more. Using social media, FIE supplies information on events in and around London on a daily basis so you won't miss out on the fun stuff. In addition, a weekly newsletter called "Cheap London" will point you in the direction of events around the city for less than a fiver (£5)!

Your program fee includes a Tube (London's underground subway) pass for Zones 1& 2, so that you may take time to explore London during your free time.  On the weekend, many students choose to explore England and surrounding areas by traveling.  Additionally, a one-week spring break is built into the semester, allowing you to expand your travels to neighboring European destinations.  Our on-site program staff are happy to help provide suggestions and advice for activities during your free time in the city.

You will receive a student ID card to utilize the student union at Imperial College, a local British university. You can access sports facilities, cafes and bars, print shops, special interest clubs, guest speakers and live music. This is also where students may join clubs and associations, which is an excellent way to meet British students.

On-Site Support

The UW-Madison program leaders and the FIE London staff will provide on-site support for the duration of the program.

Foundation for International Education (FIE) is a London-based not-for-profit international educational organization established in 1998 to provide year-round customized partnership programs and individual undergraduate student enrollment programs in London and Dublin and a three country Peace and Conflict program in the summer.

FIE is also our partner for the UW in London spring program.  Over the past 10 years, FIE has become a leader in providing first-year student programs. Their London center is a hub for first-year programs as it offers a safe, secure, and manageable environment in which young adults can step out of their homes and into the global community for the first time.

Orientation

IAP expects you to be an active participant in preparing for your study abroad experience. As a participant on an IAP program, you will receive a pre-departure orientation, both in-person and online. More information about these orientations will be provided to you upon acceptance to the program once the group of participants is confirmed.

Visa

A student visa is required. U.S. citizens must have a U.S. passport valid for at least six months beyond the end of the program. If you do not already have a passport, apply for one immediately. We have learned that current passport processing times are SIGNIFICANTLY delayed (up to 18 weeks for regular service and up to 12 weeks for expedited service).   You must have a valid passport to apply for your student visa.

You will apply for your own visa with guidance from FIE and study abroad staff. Non U.S. citizens are not eligible for this program.

As part of the application process (typically in October or November) you must make an appointment in Chicago or Milwaukee to have your "biometrics" taken (fingerprints and photograph).  This in-person appointment is required; students are responsible for their own travel arrangements for the appointment.

You may incur additional fees to expedite a visa application or to re-apply if your original visa application is rejected for any reason. You may also incur additional fees if your visa is delayed and you need to change your flight departure date.

Getting to Your Program

You will be given guidelines for arrival dates and times, but are responsible for making your own travel arrangements.  Upon arrival in London, transfers between the airport and housing will also be provided.

Insurance

You will be enrolled in the UW System required health insurance through Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI). The cost of the insurance coverage is included in program fees.

You can learn more about CISI here and in the study abroad handbook

If you are a citizen of a country other than the United States and will remain/study in, or travel to your country of record (the location of your permanent residence), the insurance provided for you is the same as the “study away” insurance provided to U.S. citizens studying on domestic U.S. programs. You may want to explore alternative or additional international health and medical insurance that will cover your needs both while in and during any period of transit to/from your country of record. This may include participation in a national healthcare plan or coverage provided under a personal healthcare plan in your country of record.  If you have questions about the coverage of the “study away” plan, please speak with your Study Abroad Advisor.

All other students participating on an international program will automatically be enrolled in Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI), the university's international health, medical and repatriation insurance policy.

Program cost information includes program fees, as well as out-of-pocket expenses with notes to help explain costs. Program fees are estimated and can be adjusted at any time. Once accepted, you will receive a cost sheet that includes confirmed program fees and additional out-of-pocket expenses. "The IAP Program Fee" and all processes and policies stated on this cost sheet apply to all participants on programs managed by International Academic Programs (IAP) and in partnership with the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, the College of Engineering, and Wisconsin School of Business.  All students participating on approved programs are all eligible to apply for scholarships administered through IAP when they meet the scholarship eligibility and selection criteria.

Financial Aid

Sources of available funding for study abroad include scholarships, grants and loans. To increase your chances of receiving financial aid, we recommend filling out your FAFSA to begin the financial planning process early.

For detailed information on financial resources, visit our Funding Study Abroad.

Scholarships

This scholarship list includes scholarships we know are relevant to this program. It is not an exhaustive list of all available scholarship opportunities for study abroad. Although we make our best effort to ensure the list is up-to-date, this information changes frequently, and it is the responsibility of the applicant to verify information. For additional scholarship information, please visit our scholarship page.

National Scholarships
Benjamin A. Gilman Int'l Scholarship Prgm
Fund for Education Abroad

IAP Administered
Bryan Davia Scholarship
Dorothy E. Paull Fund
Morton and Lena Wax Scholarship
Study Abroad Alumni & Friends Scholarship

UW-Madison
Claire Shaffer Study Abroad Award
History Department Global Perspectives Scholarship

Featured Scholarships

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, established for Fall 2020, 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: $10,000
Minnesota Resident: $7,500
Non-resident: $5,000

Returned Student Network

View the Returned Student Network to contact a returned student

How to Apply

First, make sure you have reviewed the information for Prospective Students on the IAP website.

There is also specific Academic Planning information that you should review.

Next login to the IAP Online Application.

Wondering when applications will open for this program?

View our application schedule.

After the Deadline

IAP completes a review of all applications to determine if students meet minimum eligibility requirements.

Disclosure

Students Requiring Accommodations: Consult and register with the McBurney Disability Resource Center McBurney Services if you will need academic, housing, and/or other disability-related accommodations or services abroad.

International Students: Talk with International Student Services about your visa status and study abroad.

Military-Connected Students with Veteran’s Benefits: Talk with University Veteran Services about how your benefits can be used for study abroad.

This program is offered by International Academic Programs.  We have a team that works with each program.  Each member of this program team is able to help students with different kinds of questions. Visit the advising webpage to learn how to schedule an appointment.

Enrollment Manager

For questions on application advising, program eligibility, course equivalency request process, grade processing.

Sara Lieburn (Make an appointment with Sara Lieburn, or email sara.lieburn@wisc.edu)

Study Abroad Advisor

For questions on program experience, academics, housing, visa, health safety, student identity, funding and scholarships, returned student resources.

Carmen Pitz (Make an appointment with Carmen Pitz, or email carmen.pitz@wisc.edu)

Financial Specialist

For questions on billing, funding and scholarships, financial policies.

Judy Humphrey (judy.humphrey@wisc.edu)