AIFS Partnership Programs: Faculty-Led Study Abroad Programs

What is Included in the Program?

• Your housing in London. Housing is provided with a British family in a “homestay.” Students are housed in twin rooms and breakfast is provided Monday to Friday. Students are able to use the kitchen for the preparation of other meals. All bed linen will be provided and there is weekly use of a washing machine. Living in a homestay is a great way of getting to know real “Brits” and to experience British family life and culture.
• For an additional fee, housing is provided in self catering student apartments in central London. Apartments house between 2 and 6 students and include shared bedrooms, bathrooms, living area and kitchens.
• Your travel in London – a transportation pass for unlimited use on the tubes (subways), buses and nightbuses for the duration of the program.
• Computer facilities at the AIFS center – free Internet (including wireless), desk top computers and printing facilities.
• An orientation program consisting of an orientation meeting with AIFS staff, maps, handouts and handbooks, a welcome reception and half-day sightseeing tour of London.
• A cultural program of optional activities designed to enable you to get the most out of your stay in England. The activities are heavily subsidized by AIFS and are available at very affordable prices. Typical events include day trips to Oxford and Stonehenge/Salisbury, Stratford Upon Avon, Bath and Leeds Castle. A football (soccer to you) match is usually offered, a Jack the Ripper walk, plus theatre performances – in 2010 these included Wicked, Billy Elliot, Cinderella and Warhorse.
• Access to the AIFS Student Centre and services of experienced Student Advisors for information, personal advising/counselling and 24-hour emergency contact service.
• A British Life and Culture course taught by British instructors, focusing on historical, political, economic and cultural aspects of contemporary Britain, including weekly lectures and 4 related fieldtrips to locations such as the Houses of Parliament, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, a walking tour of the London 2012 Olympic site and the Tate Modern art gallery.
• Membership to the University of London Union giving access to Union clubs and societies, low-cost student cafeterias and, at an additional cost, sports facilities.
• Membership, with borrowing rights, to the local public library.
• Medical and program refund insurance policies.
• Optional transportation package consisting of international airfare (SFO – London - SFO) and round-trip transfers between the airport and the housing in London for an additional fee ($595) excluding taxes and fuel surcharges ($454, which will be billed separately).
• Optional tour transportation package consisting of international airfare (SFO – Paris and London - SFO) and round-trip transfers between the airport and the housing in Paris and London for an additional fee ($745) excluding taxes and fuel surcharges ($505, which will be billed separately).
• Optional Extra Protection Insurance Coverage, including increased medical insurance ($65) and/or personal effects insurance ($90) as outlined in the AIFS program brochure.

Optional Tours and Meal Plan:

• Tour of Europe: visit 3 spectacular European cities on the optional pre-program European tour. Fly into Paris, and spend 3 days in the city seeing the sights, then go on to Bruges and Brussels for a day in each. Housing will be in hotels with breakfast included. This is a great way to get to know your classmates before the semester gets underway and to see some of Europe’s fabulous cities in the process!
• Scotland tour: choose to participate in a 5-day, 4-night excursion to Scotland (departing Thursday afternoon, returning Monday afternoon) for a supplemental fee of $595.This is a brilliant way to see the highlands and islands of bonny Scotland, accompanied by a Scottish guide. Included in the price is a return train ticket from London to Edinburgh, 3 nights hostel accommodation with breakfast included (2 nights in Edinburgh, 1 night in Loch Ness, 1 night on the Isle of Skye), a 3-day guided bus tour to the highlands and islands of Scotland, entrance to Edinburgh Castle, 2 evening meals and the services of an AIFS staff member throughout the excursion.
• Meal plan: vouchers are provided for 19 meals at London’s restaurants for a supplemental fee of $350. Restaurants have been carefully chosen to ensure you have a wide variety of choice at locations convenient to the AIFS center and classrooms and include Asian, Mexican, Italian and even English restaurants!