United Kingdom: Semester in London with Kingston University
Kingston University offers a very vibrant and diverse campus community with a number of activities for students to get involved in! Kingston is located in Kingston upon Thames, a suburban area in the southwestern end of London. Campus is within walking distance of the River Thames and town center. Students can take a 20 minute tube ride from Kingston University to the heart of London.
Kingston University has an enrollment of over 18,000 students and has many years of experience receiving overseas students through study abroad programs. You will take the same classes as Kingston students, offering you an opportunity to integrate into student life at the university. Courses are available in a wide range of subject areas, including: art, architecture and design history, biological and sport sciences, business, chemistry, communications, computing and information systems, creative writing, criminology, drama, economics, engineering, English literature, film and video studies, finance, and much more.
Kingston University's Website for Study Abroad and Exchange Students
Check out past participant reviews.
GVSU's partner universities are largely independent programs; prospective participants should carefully consider if this form of study abroad suits their needs before registering. These partnerships allow students to experience a more independent international study abroad, but also require students to have a high level of flexibility and the ability to navigate much of the program independently. Those who prefer additional support may wish to consider other study abroad options such as external study abroad providers and our faculty-led options.
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Partnership
2.8 GPA Required
No Language
Requirement
Requirement
Issue Friendly
Program Dates and Application Deadline
Fall 2023
Estimated Program Dates: September 2023 - December 2023
Application Deadline: February 1, 2023
(Closed)
Academic Year 2023 (Fall 2023-Winter 2024)
Estimated Program Dates: September 2023 - May 2024
Application Deadline: February 1, 2023
(Closed)
Winter 2024
Estimated Program Dates: January 2024 - May 2024
Application Deadline: September 1, 2023
Courses
Kingston offers a wide range of course options for undergraduate students. The vast majority of courses at Kingston will transfer back to GVSU as 3 credits, unless otherwise approved in writing by the relevant academic department. GVSU students will be required to register for 4 courses at Kingston in order to maintain full-time status.
Course Options Use this button to search all available course options and descriptions.
Pre-Approved Courses Note: This course list indicates courses that have been previously approved. It is not a list of available courses on this program.
Course Approval Process Students registering for courses that have not been pre-approved will need to follow the course approval instructions.
Students interested in satisfying general education courses abroad can find more information on our General Education page.
This program requires maximum flexibility with regards to the academic program. While students are pre-registered for courses prior to their arrival at Kingston, courses are still subject to change once a student arrives.
Kingston's courses are set up as yearlong modules. Students who are participating for just one semester will take either the first or second half of the course. Students who attend Kingston for the full academic year will be required to take yearlong courses. In most cases, students will not be able to switch courses for the spring semester. This means that academic year participants will take 4 courses for the full year, but will still earn 3 credits per semester for each course. Students should take care in selecting courses. Students are advised to meet with their primary academic advisor to confirm which degree requirements can be fulfilled with yearlong courses.
Housing
International Students have two housing options:
- On campus Residence hall (optional for students studying for an academic year).
- Off campus private lodging (for students studying for one semester or an academic year).
Kingston offers additional information on their website regarding housing.
Housing is NOT guaranteed to exchange students. While most students will receive a housing placement, in recent semesters, Kingston University has not been able to offer all GVSU students a placement. Students who do not receive a housing placement through Kingston will be required to secure housing on their own. Kingston does offer students information on searching for affordable housing, however, the responsibility is on the student to secure his/her own housing.
The vast majority of past participants have reported very positive experiences with their housing placement. However, students need to be flexible and learn to adapt to local cultural norms. Due to the limited housing placements available, students who do receive a placement in private lodgings may not be offered an alternative placement if they are not satisfied with the location, differences in living standards, or if they experience personality differences with the landlord/landlady. Kingston may not have other housing placements to offer. If this becomes an issue for a student, the student may be directed to find his/her own accommodation.
Cost and Scholarships
NOTE: "Other Expenses" listed above in the Cost Breakdown are general cost estimates. Due to COVID-19, costs may increase for basic goods and housing. These estimates are provided as a guide to help students in their planning, but they are subject to change.
The cost of any study abroad program depends to a large extent on the participant's personal spending habits and lifestyle.
Eligibility
Open to all Majors 2.75 GPA Required
No Covid restrictions for entry
Additional Information
Host University Website
https://www.kingston.ac.uk/visitingstudents/studyabroad/
Culture
When studying abroad, it is important to learn about the culture of your host country.
For information on music, food, language, news & more, view Cultural Information
Campus Info / Campus Life
Founded in 1899, Kingston University is located just 20 minutes from the center of London, one of the world’s most diverse, vibrant, and cosmopolitan cities. You will find this suburban community to be a mixture of old and new, with a daily fruit and vegetable market, as well as major chain stores and supermarkets. Kingston upon Thames is home to three cinemas, many Thames-side pubs, an increasing number of international restaurants, royal parks, and amateur music and theatre groups.
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SEMESTER INFORMATION
Fall: September-December (14 weeks)
Academic Year: September-May (approx. 36 weeks)
Winter (Kingston's Spring): January-April (14 weeks)
Summer: early July - early August (4 weeks)
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VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES
Kingston University's Student Union offers many opportunities for volunteering in the community. Information on current projects and office location can be found on the website at: http://www.kingstonstudents.net/volunteering. Students can also contact the office directly by emailing [email protected] Sarah Dutton and Stephen Alexander are both full-time staff in the office. They both visited GVSU in April 2015 and are familiar with our exchange with Kingston University. Students interested in getting involved are also welcome to contact with of them to learn about volunteering opportunities:
Sarah Dutton, [email protected]
Stephen Alexander, [email protected]
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Already Applied
Visa Requirements
Students applying for one semester at Kingston University can enter the UK as a student visitor without securing a student visa. Restrictions do apply to those who enter as a student visitor. A student visa (Tier 4) is required for students who will study in the UK for the academic year or longer than 6 months. For additional information, please reference our student visa guide. Please note that the appropriate consulate or embassy must be consulted for the most up-to-date visa information.
Arrival Information
BEFORE YOU BOOK YOUR TICKET:
You cannot enter the UK on a flight via Ireland because you will not receive the correct stamp in your passport to validate your student visa. More information about this is available from the UK Council of International Student Affairs https://www.ukcisa.org.uk/Information--Advice/Visas-and-Immigration/Arriving-via-Ireland#layer-3648
Students interested in being greeted at the airport by a Kingston University staff person should fly into into London Heathrow Airport. If students arrive on one of the designated arrival days (provided by Kingston University), a staff member from Kingston will greet students at the airport, and take them to their housing placement. If you choose to arrive early, or your flight arrives outside of the designated times allowed for the airport greeting, you will be required to make your own way to Kingston.
Detailed instructions on how to get to Kingston are available on the Kingston University website at: http://www.kingston.ac.uk/international/pre-arrival-information/.
CDC Report
US State Department Information
US State Department Country Information (United Kingdom)
US State Department - Students Abroad
Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) Report - Crime and Safety Report
Guides
Resources for Emergency Situations
Reporting an Incident
Contact Information
"Studying abroad in London was the greatest experience of my life. The combination of the theatre, history, and beauty of the city gives London the most overwhelming, innervating, and surreal feeling in the world. The summer classes are filled with life through in-class activities and pre-planned field trips that help you immerse in the culture. The friends I made and experiences I had will never be forgotten! " -Marisa Clark
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