The Best Courses I Took in London

When I tell people about my study abroad experience, they often forget that I was actually taking classes there! I went to London over the summer for six weeks and took two classes for credit . As it was over summer, my classes were scheduled in a different manner than that of a typical semester.

We went to class Monday-Thursday for three hours. We always had Fridays off to travel and explore. The professors knew this was a long time to sit in the classroom for a lecture, so they took us on field trips so we could get to explore London in the context of what we were learning. I really appreciated how they structured these classes because we were there to study, but also there to experience London and a new culture.

The professors understood that and were accommodating if we were not able to make it to class. In each of these classes, we had a mini assignment, like a presentation or blog, and a major paper. There were plenty of resources and time to complete these, so it was not overly stressful. In addition, the professors were very understanding and helpful in the process.

Londonopolis: Exploring the Global City

For the first three weeks, I took a class called Londonopolis: Exploring the Global City. This was a combination of a sociology and anthropology class where we studied social aspects of London and analyzed them. The class schedule alternated from class discussion days to field trips. We went on four field trips in this class. Our first one was a tour of London’s financial district.

Our focus was on observing the social norms and characteristics of people working in this area and contrasting them with those in a nearby less affluent neighborhood. My favorite field trip was the second one, which was where we traveled to Southall, an area of London known for its wide religious diversity. Muslim, Sikh, and Hindu individuals populated the area, and it honestly felt like I was being transported into a different world.

We got the opportunity to enter a Sikh Gurdwara where we ate a traditional meal, witnessed a religious ceremony, and learned all about their religion from a local member. This was an eye opening experience and one I don’t think I ever will get to witness again. The third field trip we took was a tour of various artwork and forms of individual expression, from galleries to street art. Our professor took us to the famous Brick Lane for this.

Finally, we ventured beyond the city to an underprivileged area that is rarely visited, compared to popular tourist areas of London. Here, we participated in a local food drive. We assisted the organization running it and interacted with the people coming to get the food they provided. We encountered many intriguing individuals and engaged in discussions about social issues related to poverty. After all of these experiences, we had a class session to debrief and discuss the sociological readings that the professor assigned to explain them. I was thankful to have taken this class, as it truly enlightened me to social issues I hadn't noticed before. I highly recommend it to anyone going to the University of Roehampton.

Magic, Murder, and Mystery in London Literature

For my final three weeks, I took a literature class titled Magic, Murder, and Mystery in London Literature. For this class, we got to read a variety of books that took place in London locations and were influential in the world. We got to read famous books such as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Sherlock Holmes, and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde; however, it really meant something different now that we were in the location where these took place.

Our professor took us all over London and we visited sites that were mentioned in the books. We got to go to the actual Sherlock Holmes house on Baker Street and go into the museum. Being able to go to these spots gave such an insight and context to these famous books. On the days we did not go on field trips, we read the books and spent the class discussing them and the important themes, issues, and implications from them. For anyone that likes to read and chat about them, this class would be for you!

In terms of receiving credit for these classes, you will have to discuss the transfer with your university! CIS Abroad will receive the transcript from the university abroad and forward it to someone at your college. Each course most likely will be between 3-4 U.S. credits. By taking these classes over the summer, it is making my senior year much more relaxed and less stressful. Although I didn’t really want or need to take classes over the summer, it was so worth it to be able to go abroad and gain the experiences that I had!

Blog by Kate Kluge, Abilene Christian University

Interested in studying abroad in London? Check out available programs here!