Overview

GlobaLinks Learning Abroad has designed this program in England  with your individual student goals in mind. It is built around a unique Discovery Model which is delivered by some of the best staff in study abroad, both in the U.S. and overseas, in order to provide you with an individualized experience through discovery in 5 key areas: personal, academic, cultural, social, and professional. Learn more about the Discovery Model.

Kingston University London is well recognized for the strength of the academic departments, the quality of instruction, and the proximity to London. With about 25,000 students, it is the largest provider of higher education in southwest London.

Kingston University seeks to establish a learning culture in which teaching and research of the highest quality are able to flourish equally. It aims to combine respect for traditional academic values with enthusiasm for novelty and innovation in higher education.

Research at Kingston keeps teaching up-to-date with the most recent developments, and many lecturers feed knowledge from industry or the professions into their teaching. Kingston puts students at the heart of its enterprise.

 
Check out a virtual tour of Kingston here.

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Location

Kingston University is housed on four separate campuses close to the centre of the Royal Borough of Kingston in Greater London, which is an affluent and attractive suburb to the south-west of London.

All campuses are within easy reach of one another and are connected by a regular free bus service. The main campus on Penrhyn Road is a 25 minute train ride from the center of London with convenient connections to the rest of the United Kingdom and Europe.

The town of Kingston upon Thames is a mixture of old and new with a daily open air market as well as chain stores, supermarkets, a shopping mall, night clubs, discos, and multi-screen cinemas. Kingston upon Thames is an excellent place to live and study – the location offers the peace and security of living outside the London city centre as well as attractive green areas and easy access to the beautiful countryside.

Check out a virtual tour of Kingston University here.

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Academic Highlights

Most undergraduate subject areas are open to study abroad students and students design their own program of study (subject to classes being approved and timetabling constraints).

Kingston has four Faculties that participate in the study abroad program:

• Art, Design and Architecture;
• Arts and Social Sciences;
• Business and Law; 
• Science, Engineering and Computing

Students attending for the academic year or spring semester MUST complete all coursework and take final examinations (held in January and May/June).

The exam period for Fall semester classes runs for three weeks in January. Fall semester only students may need to return to their home campus at the end of teaching in December. This means it may not be possible for students to be physically present in Kingston in January. We therefore recommend taking classes that are assessed without final exams in January. GlobaLinks Learning Abroad can advise about the assessment requirements for selected classes.

Kingston offers a British Life and Culture class to all Study Abroad students. The class is designed to help students gain optimum benefit from their UK experience and become aware of British culture in its many aspects. Lectures are given on various aspects of British life, culture, and history followed by excursions to places of special interest including Oxford, Bath, Stonehenge, Greenwich, the Globe Theatre, and Parliament. In addition to the lectures and excursions each student undertakes an independent study on some aspect of British Life.

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Housing

As long as deadlines are met, all Study Abroad students are eligible for University-arranged accommodation. All accommodation is offered on a self-catering basis as there are no meal plans at Kingston University; however, there are student cafeterias on each campus.

Students have 2 housing options at Kingston:  

• A room in the halls of residence where flats (apartments) have between two and nine other bedrooms. Flats are usually shared by both male and female students from a range of different backgrounds and courses. The residence halls have a range of rooms, some with en-suite facilities and others with shared bathrooms.
• Private lodgings where students live in a local house with the property owner and have a single furnished bedroom, access to the kitchen to prepare meals, access to the bathroom, and are provided with bedding and cooking utensils/equipment.

Want to learn more about study abroad in England?

University Services

The European and Study Abroad Office at Kingston University offers a comprehensive orientation program, an airport pick-up service, and a series of social events during each semester.

Study Abroad students have full access to the university’s student support and counselling services.

At Kingston University students have access to 2,000 networked computers, StudySpace(online learning resource), free Internet, and email. Plus the student Intranet, StudentSpace, will keep students on top of University life and what is happening in Kingston.

There are four Learning Resource Centres (libraries) where students have access to over 437,000 books and audio visual materials, subscriptions to over 1,800 printed journals, 49,000 electronic journals, and 136,500 e-books.

Want to learn more about study abroad in England? 

Orientation

Bridging Cultures Program

The GlobaLinks Learning Abroad Bridging Cultures Program is our signature orientation program for all semester and year abroad students. The cost for this multi-day program is included in your program fees and covers several nights accommodation, most meals, local transportation, and excursions.

Typically 4-6 days in length, each orientation program includes:

Exciting excursions and activities

A chance to meet other students

Orientation sessions to help you adapt to your new country

Orientation sites vary based on the location of your program. Each site is selected based on the proximity to your host university as well as for the unique activities available within the area. Read more about the Bridging Cultures Program>
 

Kingston Orientation

In addition to the GlobaLinks Learning Abroad Bridging Cultures Program, all students will participate in a university specific orientation. 

Kingston provides a comprehensive orientation program at the start of each semester. The program provides an introduction to the University and the town and the opportunity to meet and socialize with other new students.

There is an International Welcome Centre at the University where students can go to call home, use the Internet, speak to staff, get advice, pick up a welcome pack of useful information and meet other students. The orientation program consists of an Essential Welcome and Orientation day with a welcome from senior staff, walking tours of Kingston and campuses, lunch, a seminar on adjusting to Learning and teaching techniques in the UK – designed to help you understand your new learning environment.

There is an evening welcome reception with music, dancing, snacks, and a bar, where you can go along and meet new people.

There is an additional Study Abroad orientation and enrollment session (compulsory attendance!) and academic advising sessions when classes can be finalized and/or changed. The third day of orientation for Study Abroad students is a free fun day trip to Brighton, on the south coast.

There are various optional events that students can choose to sign up for, with a nominal charge, such as walking tours of central London, Sunday Roast dinner in a local pub, a photo frenzy competition involving small teams of students racing to find and photograph famous sights in London.

There are numerous social events and parties organized throughout the year for all International students, and extra events for study abroad students too.
  

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Scholarships Available

Kingston University supports GlobaLinks Learning Abroad semester and year study abroad students with a £500 (GBP) scholarship each semester. Students must have a 3.0 GPA or above to be eligible for this award.  This award is open to all majors, but preference is given to students in the fields of Life Sciences or Business.

In addition to this scholarship opportunity through Kingston University, GlobaLinks Learning Abroad offers many other scholarship opportunities and resources for students. Learn more.

Get Involved Abroad

Extracurricular Activities

As a GlobaLinks Learning Abroad participant, you will be directly enrolled as a student in the university abroad. This allows you to take advantage of every opportunity to be culturally integrated in the campus environment and culture by participating in university activities with resident students.

Example of how you can get involved on campus:

Community Involvement

Getting involved abroad can enable you to meet local students, make a meaningful connection with your campus and community, and enhance your study abroad experience. Your coordinator will connect you with local resources if you wish to volunteer for community projects through your host university. It is important for you to find the right combination of academic, cultural, and leisure activities in order to take full advantage of international learning and cultural immersion.

All students are encouraged to participate in volunteer activities at or near their campus, where permitted under host-country immigration regulations. Service learning is an integral piece of a well-rounded education, and we support students’ efforts to integrate into the local culture through volunteer activities. Students are provided with information on volunteer opportunities on campus or within the community during the orientation and preparation process.

Example of how you can get involved in the community:

Have questions?

Special Programs and Excursions

Bridging Cultures Program

The GlobaLinks Learning Abroad Bridging Cultures Program is our signature orientation program for all semester and year abroad students. The cost for this multi-day program is included in your program fees and covers several nights accommodation, most meals, local transportation, and excursions.

Typically 4-6 days in length, each orientation program includes:

Exciting excursions and activities

A chance to meet other students

Orientation sessions to help you adapt to your new country

Orientation sites vary based on the location of your program. Each site is selected based on the proximity to your host university as well as for the unique activities available within the area. Read more about the Bridging Cultures Program>
 

Discovery Activities

Planned Excursions & Events

Our in-country resident staff arranges scheduled activities with students throughout the year. Activities are optional and designed to explore the five key areas of discovery: academic, social, personal, cultural, and professional. These are not just visits to tourist attractions. For example, these are activities such as networking opportunities, local festivals, gallery openings, and other similar events that you can’t find in a travel book. These activities will truly enhance your experience.

On-Going Activities

Your exploration of the culture, the academics, the people, and yourself is what will truly enhance your experience. Through the Discovery Model, our in-country staff will provide you with advice and recommendations for other types of activities you can undertake in order achieve your individual goals.

Other Trips and Travel Available

Beyond our included orientation and excursions, you will be able to pre-book a wide variety of day, weekend, and week-long tours at a discounted price through our travel partner, STA Travel. These trips provide the ultimate flexibility for you to travel where you want to go, when you want to go, and with whom you want to go. Most trips have open dates, so you can pre-book the trip(s) that interest you, yet choose your dates later on in your semester. This flexibility also means friends that you make from other countries/programs or even your friends and family who are visiting you abroad can also participate. Learn more>

A range of weekend and day trips are offered specifically to international students during each semester through the Kingston University International Students Society. Many students make their own travel plans to “see and do” Europe while studying at Kingston.

Paris is less than four hours by train! London is a 25 minute train ride away and has something for everyone – culture, arts, restaurants, and clubs. There are plenty of historical and cultural sites and events to visit and enjoy.

The British Life and Culture class has field trips as part of the course. Study Abroad students who are not already on the British Culture class are able to purchase any spare tickets / spare seats on the coach, providing opportunities to go on excursions to places such as Oxford, Stonehenge, Bath, London Theatre Shows, and backstage tours of the Globe Theatre.

Want to learn more about study abroad in England? 

Enhance Your Experience Online

Global Citizen Development

The new Global Citizen Development modules are online learning components designed to help you explore your study abroad destination and experience at a whole new level. These modules are not mandatory; however, we strongly encourage your participation as they will introduce you to the opportunities and challenges you may encounter when participating in a study abroad program, as well as expose you to cultural insights and knowledge about your host country to help make your program abroad even more successful and fulfilling. Through the 3 modules, you will refine your skills in cross-cultural observation, adaptation, and communication.  

Course Catalog

To determine if the classes you need are available at this university, select Courses/Subjects to view the specific course options.

Tips: For advice on navigating the university’s course catalog, use the Selecting Courses link. You may also view the suggested grade and credit transfer information through the Grade Conversion.

If you have any questions about course availability, please contact [email protected].

Want to learn more about study abroad in England?

Photo Slideshow

Watch a short slideshow of photos of Kingston University and of the surrounding areas of Kingston upon Thames and London

Ask Our Alumni

Ever wonder what it's like to live in Europe? Are you having trouble finding the right university for you? Speak to students that were already there! They are truly experts on their universities and cities, and want to help you go abroad too.

Email [email protected] with your name, email, and your specific program of interest and we'll email you with the contact details for one of our 20,000 alumni!

Please don't hesitate to contact us as well with any questions.

Fees

Fee Includes

Your Personalized Semester/Year Program Includes

• Tuition and instruction
• Host university activity and insurance fees
• 24/7 support for students and parents at home and abroad
• Pre-departure materials and travel gear
• Global Citizens online cultural preparation
• Comprehensive assistance
• Personal program manager
• Scholarship and financial aid assistance
• Facilitation of course selection / credit transfer

Activity and Excursion Package

• Multi-day on-site Bridging Cultures Program
• Local Discovery Activities hosted by on-site Resident Coordinator
• Welcome and farewell events
• HTH Worldwide health insurance protection
• Alumni opportunities, including professional ambassador program
• International Student Identity Card
• Exclusive Career-Building Alumni Institute (add-on option)

Additional Housing Fee

Housing amenities are generally:

• Single room
• Technology package available
• Linen package available

An additional refundable housing deposit may be required for your housing selection. This housing is self-catered, therefore you will have access to a kitchen where you can prepare your own meals. *All fees are subject to change.

Dates

Entry Requirements

GlobaLinks Learning Abroad Program Team

	Program Manager Corey Westbury [email protected] 1-800-980-0033 X 143
	Program Assistant Brad Bruchs [email protected] 1-800-980-0033 x124
	Resident Director Robin Buck [email protected]
	Resident Coordinator Marie O'Connor [email protected] +44 07935005630