Study Abroad | London

Housing

Residence

Students are housed within one of the SGUL student residences, located within a 20-minute walk from the hospital campus in Tooting.

• Single rooms
• Shared kitchen

City Facts

Population

London has a diverse range of peoples and cultures, and more than 300 languages are spoken within its boundaries. London had topped 9 million people in 2020.  

Culture

London is home to numerous museums, galleries, libraries, sporting events and other cultural institutions, including the British Museum, National Gallery, Tate Modern, British Library and 40 West End theaters.

Tooting itself is known for its multicultural population and you will be spoiled for choice when it comes to dining options within Tooting Market and the surrounding streets. Tooting Commons is a great park to relax in on a summer evening, and has been home to the iconic Tooting Lido, the largest open-air freshwater swimming pool in the UK, for over 100 years.

Tooting is approx. a 30-minute tube ride from central London.

Transportation

London’s transportation system is also renowned, and the London Underground is the oldest underground railway network in the world.

Site Staff

AIFS in London Director, Summer Program

Chris Shia

Chris has several years’ worth of experience in international education and support. Before joining AIFS, Chris worked in student resident life for many years. Growing up in Ealing, West London, Chris has studied abroad on an exchange to the University of North Texas and lived abroad in Toronto, Canada. Chris holds an undergraduate degree in Economics from the University of Surrey and a Masters in Urban Planning from University College London. Traveling around the world is something that Chris really enjoys, and Chris has been to over 36 countries around the world ranging from Bosnia to Japan. You can find Chris exploring and learning about different neighborhoods in London on the weekend and is always on the lookout for “hidden gems” that few people know about including local restaurants, markets, nightlife and experiences. Chris’s big passion is watching football and Chris supports the mighty Tottenham Hotspur and attends matches whenever possible. Feel free to contact Chris about a variety of things including things to see and do in London and the UK, housing, healthcare, traveling, saving money and much more.

The Program Director provides academic advice, introduces you to the community and handles communication with the University.

Cultural Activities

Learning does not begin or end in the classroom. To help you get a true taste of British life and culture the AIFS staff organizes an active social and cultural program. A guided city tour is included in the program fee – see Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London.

Other events are offered which are subsidized from student fees so students pay a much lower rate than they would if they bought tickets directly from local theaters and tour agencies. Last year’s activities included:

• Walking tours including Black London, Street Art and Harry Potter
• A sports event
• Day trips to Stonehenge and Salisbury, Oxford, Bath, Stratford Upon Avon and Brighton
• River boat cruise along the Thames
• Theater performances such as Wicked, Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables and The Woman in Black
• Traditional afternoon tea

Please note that students pay a small additional fee for some of the activities above.

Besides arranged activities, there are a wide range of events taking place in and around London during the summer, such as the Ascot races, Wimbledon tennis tournament, Henley Royal Regatta, rock concerts, theater in the parks and much, much more. Information on these events will be made available to students upon arrival in London.

St. Georges, University of London Facilities 

Located within one of the U.K.’s largest teaching hospitals, you will have access to a number of laboratories, simulation centers and a well-equipped library with computer suites that are open 24/7. The campus boasts a number of cafés and shops within the hospital, and five minutes’ walk will bring you to Tooting High Street/Broadway which is home to further cafés and restaurants, supermarkets, a covered market and a variety of high street clothes stores. A short Tube ride will connect you with central London museums, theaters and shopping districts such as the South Bank, Covent Garden and Camden.