By Tayler Gill, Former ISA Senior Site Specialist
Choosing to study abroad is a big decision! At ISA, we are dedicated to helping students make the best decisions that are right for them because we know you have a lot of options and those options can be overwhelming.
So even though you’ve decided to study abroad in London, your next question is probably, who should you go to London with? Below you will find some of the biggest benefits to going to London with ISA.
1) Dedicated Full Time Staff
We have four full-time ISA staff members in London, dedicated to helping the ISA students adjust to their new city and learn more about British culture. The staff are available to answer questions, take students to the doctor, and respond during emergencies, among other things. Our Resident Director, Maria, has been the ISA London RD for 10 years and shares her extensive experience with our students. She strives to help the ISA students gain a meaningful personal, educational, and cultural experience while studying in London.
In addition to assisting students while abroad, the on-site staff pick up the students from the airport on their arrival, conduct the Bridging Cultures Program and lead ISA organized excursions and activities!
2) Organized excursions including an optional weekend to Bulgaria & Greece
Speaking of excursions and activities, ISA London students have a minimum of three organized excursions (trips outside the city) and a handful of cultural activities (events within London) to participate in while abroad.
Excursions include day trips to Brighton (coastal town), Stratford upon Avon (Shakespeare’s birthplace), and Windsor Castle (the Queen’s residence). Cultural activities include a tour of the city by the famous red buses, visit to the Tower of London, Harry Potter city walk, and a tour of Buckingham Palace.
In addition, students have the option to sign up for our optional multi-day weekend excursion to visit Bulgaria & Greece!! Students will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the breathtaking scenery of Bulgaria, the oldest nation in Europe, before hopping over to the cradle of western civilization and experiencing the country of Greece. It promises to be quite the unforgettable trip!
3) Apartment housing option in Notting Hill
For students participating in select programs, they will have the option to live the life of a real Londoner in flats (apartments) located in the famous cosmopolitan neighborhood known as Notting Hill. The neighborhood is best well known as the host to Portobello Market and the Notting Hill Carnival, as well as little known movie called “Notting Hill” that starred Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant. There are many activities for students to do in the area such as eating at one of the fashionable restaurants nearby or taking in a show at The Gate Theatre. Whatever the activity students will get the experience of what life in London is really like while still have the opportunity to meet local students through their university programs and classes.
4) Kingston University Scholarship & ISA Scholarships opportunities
Kingston University supports ISA semester and year study abroad students with a £500 scholarship, given out twice a year and ISA summer study abroad students with a £200 scholarship given out each summer. This is a unique and wonderful opportunity given only to ISA students who choose to participate at Kingston University.
In addition to host university scholarships, students studying abroad through ISA also have the opportunity to apply and win one of the many ISA Scholarships.
5) Alumni support & Career Resources
ALL students who study abroad with ISA have access to our Career Resources guide. This guide covers topics such as how to market your study abroad experience to future employers, preparing for interviews, tips on accepting job offers, applying to graduate school and much more!
And if your friends and family are tired of hearing about how amazing your time abroad was, you can channel your enthusiasm into a paid internship through ISA as a Global Ambassador. Becoming a GA is a great way to be an advocate for study abroad on your own campus and get paid to talk about your own experience. It’s really a win-win!
Still have more questions?
No problem! Contact the London Site Specialist, Mary, at mhowington@studiesabroad.com or the London Program Manager, Brittany, at blavornia@studiesabroad.com.
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