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UW in London

View of Tower Bridge from the Thames riverbank. The city is in the background.
Upper half of Buckingham Palace, showcasing the ornate architecture and iconic detailing of the landmark.
People rushing in and out of the Picadilly Circus train station It is rush hour in London.

Passport Processing
If you need to apply for a new passport or renew your current passport, please do so immediately.  You will need a valid passport in order to apply for your student visa.  This happens prior to departure (October).

England, London

Travel to one of the most vibrant cities in the world with a group of your UW-Madison peers!  The UW in London program is located in the heart of London, snug in the Royal Borough (neighborhood) of Kensington and Chelsea. UW works closely with the Foundation for International Education (FIE) to help you take advantage of program events and activities to experience British culture and life in the UK.

This engaging spring semester program allows you the unique opportunity of selecting at least one course specifically designed and taught by a UW-Madison professor who will spend the semester in London.  You'll also have the freedom to choose from a variety of additional courses taught by well-respected local instructors. Classes are specially designed for American students new to London. Co-curricular excursions with your classmates offer a unique way to contextualize all that you learn about local art, history, theatre and more.

One unique and exciting aspect of the UW in London program is the internship component, which provides a unique opportunity for you to engage in an international work placement while earning academic credit.  At your internship, you will have the opportunity to build professional skills, increase industry knowledge and experience working in a different culture in a major global city.

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

  • Must be 18 years of age or older by the start of the program
  • 2.0 cumulative GPA
  • Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • 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

Arts, Humanities, Social Science, Business

Classroom Language

English

Housing

Apartments

Program Duration

Spring: Early January - Late April

Application Deadline(s)

Spring 2026-27 9/18/2026 Cost Details

Future durations will be posted at a later date.

APPLY NOW

 

The UW in London program allows you to enroll in a variety of courses while also earning academic credit for your internship placement.  Throughout the semester expert instructors will emphasize British culture, integrating historic details about London and revealing stories about its celebrated artists and historical figures. 

You will enroll in a key course which serves as the anchor of the program.  It will help you contextualize your experience in London in a broad, academic manner.  Your course schedule will also include one class taught by a UW-Madison professor.  Each course in London is worth 3 UW-Madison credits; you will earn 12-18 credits while on the program.  This is the required curriculum for the program:

• FIE Key Course.  You will choose one of the following: 
      -British Life & Business
      -British Life & Cultures
      -British Life & Europe
      -British Life & Visual Media
• 1 UW Professor course
• International Internship placement & course OR International Service Internship placement & course
• 1-3 FIE elective courses

Visit FIE's website to see course details.

Academic Internship Placement
FIE's internships cater to almost every major and include the various business sectors, not-for-profit, political, public sector and creative organizations.    FIE offers two types of placements:  internships and service internships.  Curious about the differences between an internship and service internship? They have a lot in common, but there are some differences.  Find out more.

After you've been accepted to the program, FIE's Internship Team will begin working with you to match your skills and background with an appropriate organization.  You will be required to confirm your participation on this program prior to receiving your specific internship placement.  You will be informed of your specific placement assignment after arrival in London.  You will most likely be placed with a small or medium sized organization.  All positions are unpaid and entry-level.  You will be expected to complete a wide variety of tasks, from basic and administrative to more specialized and project based. As with all study abroad experiences, flexibility and open-mindedness are key.

UW Faculty Member
Spring 2027 includes course offerings from Professor Elizabeth Hennessy, Associate Professor of History and Environmental Studies.  You will enroll in one of her classes:

• London at Home
Class description:  What can we learn about a global city through histories of the ways people have made their homes? This course will introduce students to historiographical research methods, particularly archival research and site visits, focused on the changing nature of home life. We’ll explore issues of class, gender, property rights, ideas about cleanliness and belonging, toxicity and affordability. We’ll also visit several of London’s museums focused on home life — including a recreation of 18th century life, the Museum of the Home and the Museum of Homelessness. 

• The Nature of London 
Class description:  An environmental history course that explores how the natural world has shaped, and been shaped by, urban development. The course will interrogate major environmental issues in the city’s history; London’s role as a center of natural science and global trade; and contemporary concerns about environmental justice and sustainability. 

Academic Credit for the Internship
All students:  You are welcome to request the pre-approved UW course equivalent for the internship on this program, or request a new equivalent.  As with any new course equivalent request, approval or denial will be decided by the corresponding academic department at UW.  Please contact us directly if you have questions.

SoHE Students:  The internship component of this program will meet your major requirement.  Please connect with your academic advisor once your credits from abroad transfer.  Your advisor will make the appropriate substitution for your required major internship.

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