The London Internship Program, offered fall and spring semesters and featuring 12 different academic tracks, combines a professional internship with coursework that examines a particular academic area in the context of Great Britain’s history, culture, and society. After completing the program’s five-week core phase, students spend the final eight weeks in full-time internships with organizations in the greater London area while also enrolled in a related weekly seminar course.
BU Abroad: Gathering Intelligence in London
BU Abroad: Gathering Intelligence in London
Requirements & Considerations
- All students must enroll according to, and remain in compliance with, the Boston University Study Abroad Course Load Policy.
- Students are accepted into one of the program’s 12 different tracks, which cover a wide variety of fields
- All students must complete the full 16-credit program, enrolling in three academic courses and one internship course
- Priority will be given to qualified upperclassmen
- Admissions requirements for all programs
Curriculum
Internship Areas & Tracks
Students must select a study area (referred to as a “track”) for the program from the list below. The track determines both the Core Course and Internship Course students will take in London.
London Internship Areas & Tracks
Please note: These are examples of past internship placements only. While BU Study Abroad guarantees an internship to program participants, specific placements vary from semester to semester and may not always be available. Likewise, internship placements may be available in academic areas not listed.
Advertising & Marketing
- Study European marketing techniques and advertising strategy and intern in advertising agencies or the marketing departments of London companies. Previous internships have included Brand Links, M2M, Park Village Productions, Elizabeth Arden, Allegra Foundation, and EMAP.
Arts & Arts Administration
- Study the current art market in London. Gain an overview and learn about the funding bodies that support the arts in the UK. Intern in one of London’s art galleries, museums, preservation projects, or local arts centres. Previous internships have included Pump House Gallery, the Royal Academy of Arts, Acava, Cadogan Contemporary, and Westminster City Archives.
Business
- Study international management and intern in entrepreneurship/starts-ups, business operations, the hospitality industry, or personnel departments. Previous internships have included Accelerator, Omerta Group, Citco, BE Group, Thrive, and The Connaught Hotel.
Economics & Finance
- Study the current economic, political, and social issues affecting Britain and intern in accounting, corporate finance, financial recruitment, financial communication, financial marketing, financial publications, investment firms, or economic research. Previous internships have included Europe Economics, Capital Markets Daily, Grayling, Overseas Development Institute, LDFM, and Maurice J Bushells Accountants.
Film, Radio & Television
- Study communications and society in Great Britain and intern for a radio, TV, or film production company. The UK media market is small by American standards. Previous internships have included Catsnake, Sky Movies, C Music Entertainment, Pilot Productions, Feelgood Fiction, and The Producers.
Hospitality and Tourism
- Study international management and intern in the international hospitality industries of London. Previous internships have included the Ritz, Better Bankside, Marylebone Hotel Group, Bumpkin Group, Bloomsbury Hotel, and EMC3.
International Relations
- Study British policy-making in an international context and the UK’s role as a prominent player in foreign affairs. Previous internships have included MENCAP, IHS/Janes, Overseas Development Institute, Nacue, and Westminster Briefing.
Journalism
- Study Britain’s news media in the context of the political, cultural, and social life of the United Kingdom by interning at a media, magazine, publishing house, or online publication. Previous internships have included Junior Magazine, Columbus Travel Media, Big Cheese, Simon & Schuster, Cultureshock Media, and Quintessentially Publishing.
Politics
- Study the issues and institutions of British political culture by interning in a political setting, including Parliament and party organizations. Previous internships have included various Members of Parliament, the Conservative Party Headquarters, the Labour Party Headquarters, various political party local offices, Dods and Government Knowledge.
Pre-Law
- Study the history and practice of the law in Great Britain and intern in a British law firm. Previous internships have included JD Spicer Zeb, Bark & Co, Powell Spencer & Partners Solicitors, McCue & Partners, Julian Young & Co and O’Keeffe Solicitors.
Psychology & Health Sciences
- Study psychology and social policy through healthcare and human services issues and intern in hospital administration, education programs, health centre administration, university research departments, community care centres or social activist organizations. Previous internships have included Chelsea & Westminster Hospital Schools, Goldsmiths University, MIND, Standing Together, Coombe Wood Unit and UCL Partners.
Public Relations
- Study public relations as it is practiced in the UK and the EU, and intern in PR agencies or the PR departments of London companies. Previous internship placements have included Crabtree & Evelyn, LD Publicity, Bell Pottinger PR, Marks & Spencers, BrandNation and APCO.
Theatre Studies
- Spring Only
- Study the theatre industry in one of the most vibrant theatre scenes of the world. Students have the unique opportunity to combine coursework with hands-on experience in a full-time internship in the visual and performing arts. Previous internships have included PW Productions, the Ambassadors Theatre Group, AKA, Only Connect, Southwark Playhouse, and Tabard Theatre.
Week 1–Week 5 (Core Phase)
Students take the required core course for their track to prepare for their internships, and one elective course. Students also meet with the program's internship placement advisors to refine their area of work placement according to ability, professional goals, experience, and work habits. Note: Syllabi are for course approval and reference only. Students will receive up-to-date syllabi when their courses begin.
Required Course
Students are automatically enrolled in the designated Core Course assigned to their track.
Required Course List
Students must enroll in the required core course in their track:
Advertising & Marketing
- COM CM 521 British and European Marketing Strategy (4 credits)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Social Inquiry I
- Oral and/or Signed Communication
- Introduction to the strategic marketing concepts, tools and frameworks that underlie consumer marketing strategies. Analysis and assessment of companies operating in British and European markets that face increased global competition, demanding consumers and fast-evolving technologies. Examples used are updated to reflect current events.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
Arts & Arts Administration
- CAS AH 320 Modern and Contemporary British Art and Design (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Aesthetic Exploration
- Historical Consciousness
- The course provides an overview of Modern and Contemporary British Art and Design through the critical historical and aesthetic evaluation of art works and the institutions that house them within London’s permanent collections and temporary exhibitions.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
Business
- Questrom IM 345 International Management Environment (4)
- Prerequisites: CAS EC 101 and CAS EC 102, or the equivalent (prereq only required for BU Questrom students).
- Students enrolled in Questrom IM 345 are not permitted to take CAS IR 427.
- This course has been designed to appeal to students who wish to gain an international perspective on the environment faced by business organizations. In today’s business environment, with the pressures of an evolving global economy, managers must take into account the many ways in which differences are apparent when compared with the domestic scene. Managers must adapt their approaches to take account of the strong international competition, which is increasingly apparent and which is critical to successful business performance. They also need to be informed as to how firm strategies may be developed. It is a must for business students to learn the international dimensions of business activities in order to be successful in today’s business world.
- Syllabus
Economics & Finance
- CAS EC 364 British Economic Performance: A Comparative Perspective (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Social Inquiry II
- Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
- Prerequisite: CAS EC 101, or the equivalent.
- Recommended: CAS EC 102, or the equivalent.
- An economic analysis of UK government policy relating to economic performance. It explores in particular market-oriented economic reform since the 1980s designed to reverse long-term economic decline in the United Kingdom relative to the EU and USA. These reforms include privatization, deregulation, labour market reform, trade, UK economic relations with the EU, and Brexit.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
Film, Radio & Television
- COM FT 316 British Film and TV since 1960 (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Aesthetic Exploration
- Historical Consciousness
- Students will explore the evolution of British Film and Television from the 1960s to the present day through a case study approach organized by genres and/or styles, affording an analysis of changes to production, aesthetics and representation over time.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
Hospitality and Tourism
- Questrom IM 345 International Management Environment (4)
- Prerequisites: CAS EC 101 and CAS EC 102, or the equivalent (prereq only required for BU Questrom students).
- Students enrolled in Questrom IM 345 are not permitted to take CAS IR 427.
- This course has been designed to appeal to students who wish to gain an international perspective on the environment faced by business organizations. In today’s business environment, with the pressures of an evolving global economy, managers must take into account the many ways in which differences are apparent when compared with the domestic scene. Managers must adapt their approaches to take account of the strong international competition, which is increasingly apparent and which is critical to successful business performance. They also need to be informed as to how firm strategies may be developed. It is a must for business students to learn the international dimensions of business activities in order to be successful in today’s business world.
- Syllabus
International Relations
- CAS IR 361/PO 225 Understanding British Foreign and Domestic Policy Processes (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Social Inquiry I
- Ethical Reasoning
- This course introduces students to the various processes, arrangements, and networks through which policy is made in the UK government for both the domestic and international spheres. There is a focus on foreign and defence policy.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
Journalism
- COM JO 358 British Journalism, Culture, and Society (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
- Creativity/Innovation
- Covers the workings of the British State and the obsessions and quirks of British culture so students can understand UK newspapers, and helps students build upon their own feature writing output from conception to completion.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
Politics
- CAS PO 221/IR 359 British Political Institutions in Theory and Practice: A Comparative Perspective (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Social Inquiry I
- Global Citizenship & Intercultural Literacy
- Critical Thinking
- Our course examines British political institutions’ layers of governance and actors with positive and normative reference to American and other political systems and equips you with a wide range of cases and concepts for critical analysis and constructive evaluation.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
Pre-Law
- CAS PO 222 The English Legal System (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Historical Consciousness
- Social Inquiry I
- Explores the historical development and current iteration of the English common law and the English legal system. Traces evolution from 11th century origins to present day. Examines in depth contemporary aspects of the legal professions, judiciary and legislatures of England.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
Psychology & Health Sciences
- CAS PS 365 Psychology and Social Issues: British Perspectives (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Social Inquiry II
- Individual in Community
- Teamwork/Collaboration
- This course will consider the value of contemporary theories and research in social psychology for understanding and addressing a number of current issues facing Britain today: violence and social disorder, immigration and asylum seeking; attitudes to gender and sexual diversity.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
Public Relations
- COM CM 413 Planning and Strategy in British Public Relations (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Social Inquiry I
- Digital/Multimedia Expression
- Creativity/Innovation
- This course explores the background, context, theories, practices and functions of PR in Britain, analyzing the environment of British organizations and its impact on PR planning and strategy, including the corporate, governmental and non-profit sectors.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
Theatre Studies - spring only
- CFA TH 440 Experiencing London Theatre in the Postwar World (4) - spring only
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Aesthetic Exploration
- Historical Consciousness
- This course offers an aesthetic and historical understanding of contemporary London theatre, as well as the interpretation of controversies in postwar British theatre history, plus knowledge of evaluative tools — including journalistic skills — for the analysis of current shows.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
Elective A Course
Students enroll in one of the following elective courses. These courses are open to all tracks. Some have a limited enrollment and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
Elective A Course List
- CAS AH 319 Arts and Media in Britain: Decades of Culture (4 credits)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Historical Consciousness
- Social Inquiry I
- Fall only
- This course offers a historical and sociological understanding of post-war and contemporary British arts (visual arts, performing arts, pop music, literature and architecture) and media (BBC, newspapers and the commercial broadcasters), plus practical knowledge of journalistic reviewing skills.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- CAS AH 388 British Painting 1500-1900: From Holbein to the Pre-Raphaelites (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Aesthetic Exploration
- Historical Consciousness
- Recommended elective for Arts & Arts Administration.
- The course provides an overview of ‘British Painting 1500-1900: From Holbein to the Pre-Raphaelites’ through a critical, aesthetic and historical exploration of selected art works and the institutions that house them within London’s permanent collections and temporary exhibitions.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- CAS EC 322 The Political Economy of the Middle East and North Africa (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Historical Consciousness
- Social Inquiry II
- This course provides an analytical framework for understanding the structural characteristics of the countries in the MENA region in the context of their human and natural resource availability and historical development.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- CAS EC 330/CAS IR 336 European Business Environment: Institutions and Enterprise (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Social Inquiry II
- Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
- Teamwork/Collaboration
- Provides learning and skills at the interface between international business, international relations, and other disciplines, through studying the system of EU “Competences” that provides comprehensive rules of conduct for firms. Includes Briefings by officials from EU Institutions, designed to build/test research/teamwork skills.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- CAS EC 346 European Capital Markets (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Quantitative Reasoning I
- This course examines global and European financial markets. Students learn about the foreign exchange market, Eurocurrency, Eurobond and derivative markets. In addition, students study a range of financial instruments, such as bills and bonds, forwards, futures and options.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- CAS EN 310 The Waste Land: British and Irish Writing since 1900 (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Aesthetic Exploration
- Recommended elective for all tracks.
- Crossing TS Eliot’s The Waste Land, both figuratively and literally, we make an intensive study of significant works of major poets and writers who both helped to create and were created by the Modern Age, and of those they influenced.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- CAS EN 387 The Writer In The World: Meet the Writer (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Aesthetic Exploration
- Creativity/Innovation
- This course blends two complementary areas of study: the critical analysis of post-2000 literature (comprising mainly but not exclusively British literature) alongside the opportunity to conduct in-depth, wide-ranging interviews with a group of contemporary novelists, poets, dramatists, and non-fiction writers.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- CAS HI 249/WS 310 London Women’s Social History: From Aphra Behn to the Blitz (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Historical Consciousness
- Research and Information Literacy
- Students on this course will analyse London women’s social history in this time period through primary source materials in archives and specialist libraries, museums and galleries, and guided walks through relevant public sites.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- CAS HI 252 Class, Politics and the Making of British Identity (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Historical Consciousness
- Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
- This course explores shifts in power over a 500-year period, and considers the cultural effects of these changes. The impact of empire is also assessed. An understanding of the ‘invented’ and contested nature of British identity is the outcome.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- CAS MA 113 Elementary Statistics (4)Effective
Fall '18- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Critical Thinking
- Quantitative Reasoning II
- Priority will be given to Sargent College students enrolled in the Psychology & Health Sciences Track.
- Basic concepts of estimation and tests of hypotheses, ideas from probability; one-, two-, and multiple-sample problems. Applications will be in social sciences and students will be able to understand the basics of using a sample to predict uncertainty. CAS MA 113 may not be taken for credit by any student who has completed any MA course numbered 300 or higher. Students may receive credit for not more than one of the following courses: CAS MA 113, MA 115, or MA 213. Carries MCS divisional credit in CAS.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- CAS PO 220/CAS IR 335 Britain and Europe—A New Beginning? (4)Effective
Fall '22- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Historical Consciousness
- Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
- Recommended elective for all tracks.
- Examines the changing social, cultural, political, and economic structures of Britain at the end of the twentieth century. Introduction to current debates about the future of the United Kingdom in its relationship with Europe.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- CFA TH 508 Theater Capital: Performance in London/London in Performance (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Aesthetic Exploration
- Philosophical Inquiry and Life's Meaning
- Enrollment limited
- Provides students with the critical, philosophical, aesthetic and historical perspectives necessary to understand and enjoy performance in the West End/Fringe, theatre, the urban realm, and cultural site visits to the Royal Courts of Justice, the Freud Museum, and Tate Modern.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- COM CM 334 Advertising in the UK (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Aesthetic Exploration
- Philosophical Inquiry and Life's Meanings
- Recommended elective for Advertising, Marketing & Public Relations.
- Focuses on London’s stellar reputation for creative and production excellence in advertising; examines how the advertising is shaped by the anti-sell, irony-modulated consumer culture, and emphasizes the way that deifying research risks diluting creative.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- COM CM 457 Seminar in Global Promotional Strategies (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Social Inquiry II
- Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
- Critical Thinking
- This course develops both conceptual knowledge and practical skills to identify the most appropriate and cost-effective global promotional strategies and develop and implement successfully such a strategy in an increasingly competitive and volatile global environment.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- COM FT 318 British Television History and Genre (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Aesthetic Exploration
- Historical Consciousness
- This course traces the historical development of British television from the BBC monopoly in 1936 to today’s multichannelled environment. It evaluates key influences, analyses the impact on British culture, examines industry change and identifies and deconstructs key programme genres.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Questrom FE 449 Corporate Finance Management (4)
- Prerequisite: FE 323 Financial Management, or the equivalent
- Covers the financial manager's role in obtaining and allocating funds. Includes topics such as cash budgeting, working capital analysis, dividend policy, capital investment analysis, and debt policy as well as their associated risks. Valuation of companies, mergers and acquisitions, and bankruptcy are covered. The course requires using financial models and spreadsheets. Applications are made to current events and everyday business finance problems.
- Syllabus
Week 6–Week 13 (Internship Phase)
Students participate in London's work life through assigned internships that complement their particular academic concentration and personal goals. Students intern full time, four days a week, while enrolled in a weekly elective course and a non-credit co-curricular.
Note: Syllabi are for course approval and reference only. Students will receive up-to-date syllabi when their courses begin.
Internship Course
Internship placements are contingent upon students' past experiences, professional interests, and available opportunities in any given semester, so flexibility is essential. Study Abroad will enroll students in a non-credit Hub co-curricular and a four- credit internship course, which includes a classroom component. Upon successful completion of the internship experience, students will receive a Hub unit in the area Individual in the Community from the co-curricular HUB SA 330.
- Non-credit Hub Co-curricular: HUB SA 330 Study Abroad Internship
- This course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area:
- Individual in Community
- This course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area:
Internship Course List
The course number will depend on the area of specialization in which the student completes his or her internship.
Advertising & Marketing
- COM CM 471 Internship in Advertising & Marketing (4 credits)
Arts & Arts Administration
- CAS AH 505 Internship in the Arts/Architecture/Art Administration (4)
Business
- CAS EC 497 Internship in Business/Economics (4)
Economics & Finance
- CAS EC 497 Internship in Business/Economics (4)
Film, Radio & Television
- COM FT 493 Internship in Film, Radio & Television (4)
Hospitality & Tourism
- SHA HF 390 Field Placement in Hospitality Administration (4)
International Relations
- CAS PO 405/IR 455 Internship in International Organizations (4)
Journalism
- COM JO 412 Internship in Journalism (4)
Politics
- CAS PO 401/IR 451 Internship in Politics Abroad (4)
Pre-Law
- CAS PO 403 Internship in Comparative Law (4)
Psychology & Health Sciences
- CAS PS 495 Internship in Health & Human Services (4)
- SAR HS 405 Health Science Practicum (4)
- SAR HS 410 Field Experience: Human Physiology (4)
Public Relations
- COM CM 471 Internship in Public Relations (4)
Theater Studies - spring only
- CFA TH 543/544 Professional Theater Initiative Internship - spring only (4)
Internship Components
- The student's performance at the internship (evaluated by the supervisor)
- An internship seminar and related assignments (graded by BU London faculty)
Please note: The final internship course grade is determined solely by the coursework submitted for the internship seminar.
Elective B Course
These courses are taught concurrently with the internship/work placement. Students are encouraged to enroll in the course that is specifically designed for their track/internship. Please note that some courses have a limited enrollment, and priority will be given to students registered in the track for which the course was designed.
Elective B Course List
- CAS AH 381 London Architecture & Urbanism (4 credits)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Aesthetic Exploration
- Historical Consciousness
- Recommended elective for Arts & Arts Administration Track
- This course introduces the history and development of London and its buildings. It is aimed at a wide audience, not architectural specialists. Different styles of architecture and their origins will be explored through a combination of lectures and walking tours.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- CAS AH 411 Exploring Art and History in London: The Value of Art (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Aesthetic Exploration
- Creativity/Innovation
- Recommended elective for Arts & Arts Administration Track
- Art has many values: aesthetic, commercial, social, personal, and our responses depend on our own culture, education and life experience. Is art necessary? This course examines these and other topics whose common focus is the relationship between art and society.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- CAS EC 360 Macroeconomics in Contemporary Europe (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Social Inquiry II
- Recommended elective for “Economics & Finance and Management Tracks
- This course covers central theoretical concepts and models aimed at understanding key topics in macroeconomics. At the end of this course you will be able to master fundamental macroeconomic concepts as well as understand key macroeconomic processes in Europe.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- CAS EN 145 Introduction to Performance (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Aesthetic Exploration
- Philosophical Inquiry and Life's Meanings
- Creativity/Innovation
- This course uses performance as a critical lens to think about agency, the body, knowledge, (in)visibility, community, ephemerality, documentation, accessibility, disability, audience, participation, medium-specificity, formal experimentation, and identity. With a focus on 20th and 21st-century performance in a visual and live art context, we will examine the multi-media, interdisciplinary work of the historical avant-gardes (such as Dada, Bauhaus, and Futurism) and performance as it appears in dance, live poetry readings, theatre, videos, and digital work, drawing on feminist, queer, and intersectional perspectives. Further, we will consider the differences between performance art and theatre as well as performative writing on the page. The seminar hopes to foster a critical sensibility through close reading, close listening, and attentive viewing of performance.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- CAS EN 357 Modern British Drama: A Critic's Perspective (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Aesthetic Exploration
- Critical Thinking
- Ethical Reasoning
- Recommended elective for Journalism Track
- Offers a broad critical study of the major developments in British drama over the past 50 years. Through the eyes of a leading theater reviewer, the work of specific playwrights is analyzed in detail, and students are expected to produce written and oral critical analyses of plays read and observed during the course. Sierz.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- CAS EN 368 Seminar in Shakespeare Studies (4)
- This course aims to provide the student with an appreciation of the nature of Shakespeare’s achievement through the study of four plays in class sessions and the option of reading one other play that the student may choose for his or her directed study. The sessions will naturally involve some discussion of the general background of Shakespeare and his works, with time being devoted to the various thematic, structural, and historical issues that arise from a study of his plays. For the greater part of the course, however, time in class will be devoted to a close critical reading of various sections of the plays in order to give the student the opportunity to gain an intimate understanding of the verbal and dramatic qualities of Shakespeare’s genius, and of the myriad ways in which meanings are expressed through the language, imagery, structure, and dramatic possibilities of the works themselves.
- Syllabus
- CAS EN 388 Historical Fictions: Retrospection in Contemporary British Literature (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Aesthetic Exploration
- Historical Consciousness
- An introduction to the psyche, culture, history, and writers of 21st century British literature, confronting aspects of the human condition. Students will enter the historical consciousness of contemporary British writers who look to the past to understand the present.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- CAS HI 243/IR 392 Crises and Readjustments in Post-War British Foreign Policy, 1945-1990 (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Historical Conscious-ness
- Social Inquiry I
- Research and Information Literacy
- Recommended elective for International Relations and Politics Tracks
- In this course you will investigate Britain’s relative decline as a world power, focusing on a succession of crises, small wars, and policy readjustments in the context of end of empire, the Cold War, and European integration.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- CAS HI 250 British Youth Culture from 1950 to the Present (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Aesthetic Exploration
- Social Inquiry I
- How is generational identity created and maintained? Through the prism of youth movements in the United Kingdom, you will investigate how underground cults become mainstream culture in the context of changing attitudes to nationality, race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and class.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- CAS HI 251 Cultural Capital: The History of Popular Culture in London (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Critical Thinking
- Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
- Historical Consciousness
- Prerequisite: completion of one university-level History course.
- Traces the historical development of popular culture in London from the late seventeenth century to the present day. Concerned with texts (visual, aural, written) and sites. Organised chronologically and thematically, engages with theoretical perspectives. Engages with wider history of Britain.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- CAS HI 253 London at War: From the Home Front to the Frontline (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Historical Consciousness
- Social Inquiry I
- This chronologically structured course draws on theoretical understanding of historical development to inspire and enhance students’ critical engagement with ways in which the two world wars historically refashioned notions about gender, race/ethnicity, class and social identity, thereby transforming London.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- CAS IR 427 International Business in a European Framework (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Social Inquiry II
- Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
- Teamwork/Collaboration
- Recommended elective for Advertising & Marketing, Economics & Finance, Management, and Hospitality & Tourism Tracks
- Students enrolled in Questrom IM 345 are not permitted to take CAS IR 427.
- You will understand the importance of strategic management in international business, primarily across the United Kingdom and Europe, as it relates to innovation, competition, differing business cultures, policy-directed systems of regulation, financial market shocks and shifting corporate ethics.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- CAS PO 223 Issues in Contemporary Politics and Ethics (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Historical Consciousness
- Philosophical Inquiry and Life's Meanings
- Critical Thinking
- Recommended elective for International Relations and Politics Tracks
- This course examines the historical origins of and diverse philosophical positions on various contentious political and ethical issues today. Through reading, writing, exhibition or theatre visits and discussion, students will be encouraged and guided to foster a critical stance.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- CAS PO 224 Current British Legal Issues (4)
- Recommended elective for Pre-Law Track
- This course will examine a range of important, controversial issues in contemporary British law. As the aim is to relate to current matters, the issues will vary each semester, but are likely to include such topics as the law and terrorism; law and morality; the new British Supreme Court; and the Right to Know. Cousins, Sullivan.
- Syllabus
- COM CM 335 Seminar in Advertising Strategy (4)Effective
Fall '24- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Oral and/or Signed Communication
- Creativity/Innovation
- Recommended elective for Advertising & Marketing, Public Relations Tracks
- Introduces advanced advertising and media theory, focusing on the role of advertising and its integration within contemporary marketing communications. To define the advertising management process, messages, media, measurement, and assess creative work critically in terms of strategy, objectives, and execution.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- COM CM 447 Strategic Brand Management in the UK Context (4 credits)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Social Inquiry I
- Oral and/or Signed Communication
- Critical Thinking
- Recommended elective for Advertising & Marketing, Public Relations Tracks
- This course develops theoretical and working knowledge of how brands create value for organizations, consumers and society at large. It develops theoretical and practical knowledge of how brands can be managed to help organizations achieve their marketing and strategic goals.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- COM FT 317 British Cinema and Society (4)
- Recommended elective for Film, Radio & Television Track
- This course offers a combined social history and technological survey of British film making since World War II. The selected films provide vivid points of departure for an understanding of how British society has evolved. The course surveys the changing nature of modern British culture and society, using the products of the British movie industry as the main source of evidence. Most films fall outside of the category of British films that have made an impact in the United States market. Students will witness the cinematic version of the "other side" of Britain. One of the main themes of this "other side" is social class, which sets the agenda for most of the themes explored in the class. Special attention is also given to the differences between cinematic and historical versions of such themes. Dodson.
- Syllabus
- COM FT 344 Curating Contemporary European Cinema: Film Festivals and Film Culture (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Aesthetic Exploration
- Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
- Recommended elective for Film, Radio & Television Track
- Students will explore how Contemporary European Cinema is curated through film festivals and further curated for wider exhibition. The course combines analytical approaches to the study of cinema with creative responses to key debates in Contemporary European Cinema.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Questrom MK 467 Global Marketing Management (4)
- Recommended elective for Management Track
- Prerequisite: Questrom MK 323, or the equivalent.
- Develops a critical appreciation of both the opportunities and challenges associated with the increasing globalization of markets. Students will learn about the key environmental forces shaping the needs and preferences of the global consumer and the impact of foreign, political, and economic factors on the marketing mix.
- Syllabus
- SAR HP 522 Health and Wellbeing across the Life Course (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Social Inquiry II
- Ethical Reasoning
- Critical Thinking
- Recommended elective for Psychology & Health Sciences Track
- Priority will be given to Sargent College students.
- The course considers British perspectives on major challenges to health and wellbeing facing individuals and communities over the life course. You will develop skills in critical thinking about research and ethics in addressing such challenges through policy and practical initiatives.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
Housing & Student Services
Program Residences
- Accommodations for the Fall and Spring semester London Programs are residence hall style suites in BU’s own housing. Bedrooms consist of doubles, triples, and quads and all bedrooms come with an en suite bathroom. Please note that housing for the Summer London Internship Program is in a variety of locations in central London, and Summer London Internship students commute to classes and to internships.
- Limited single rooms may be available for an additional charge.
- Fully equipped kitchens are available within BU housing. Kitchens are shared between approximately 6-14 students.
- Board is not included in this program. Students are responsible for budgeting their own cost of meals.
- BU London does not have dining hall facilities, but there are ample grocery stores, restaurants, and other amenities in the immediate areas surrounding the residences.
- All buildings are within walking distance to local transportation, including the London Tube and bus systems. Students commute to their internships using public transportation.
- Card-operated laundry facilities are located in the basements of all residences. Cost of laundry is not included in the program fee.
- Students have access to the BU London Library for research and printing purposes. For recreational and social activities, students may take advantage of the BU London Social Programme as well as the clubs and societies of Imperial College London.
- Wi-Fi is available throughout all the BU buildings.
Program Dates
- Fall Semester: late August to mid-December
- Spring Semester: early-January to late April
Application Timeline
This program follows rolling admissions and may fill before the official deadline.
Fall Semester
- Applications Open December 15
- Applications Deadline March 15
Spring Semester
- Applications Open June 1
- Applications Deadline October 1
This program is rolling admissions; applications are reviewed once all application materials are received, prior to all deadlines. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that all required materials are received by the BU Study Abroad office. Students are encouraged to apply as early as possible as some programs and internship tracks have limited space and may fill up before the deadline. Submitting a complete application prior to the application deadline, does not guarantee acceptance. Students will be emailed an admissions decision within three weeks of a completed application.
Information for BU Students Awaiting an Admissions Decision and exceptions to the standard admission calendar for all students can be found here.
Cost & Financial Considerations
- 2023/2024 Tuition and Fees: $25,915
Cost includes tuition, housing, program related activities, administrative fee, overseas medical insurance, and emergency evacuation coverage. - Estimated program budget, including cost of living expenses.
- Grants and Scholarships available
