Cañada College .... College of San Mateo .... Skyline College
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- Open to students of all ages who have earned at least 12 college units with a GPA of 2.5 or higher
- Low cost flights, living accommodations, and Central London travel pass
- Earn 12-15 units which are transferable for Bachelor's degree credit
- Special British Life and Culture series with field trips
- Financial aid available to eligible students
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Study abroad can be an enlightening, maturing and life-changing experience. As students live in and learn to understand a different culture, they are challenged to re-examine themselves, their attitudes and their values. London is an exciting city in which to live and study. One of the world's most beautiful capitals, London is the seat of British government and the world's longest surviving monarchy.
More than forty theaters present live, professional productions. Four major symphony orchestras reside in London, and world class operatic performances are given at the Royal Opera House (Covent Garden) and the English National Opera. There are concerts, recitals, and ballet performances to attend every day of the year. London also offers an unparalleled range of live rock and ethnic music performances.
Many of the world's art masterpieces can be viewed in London at the National Gallery, Tate Gallery, British Museum, and the Victoria and Albert Museum.
London, with its population of seven million, boasts culturally rich museums, libraries, famous theaters, concert halls and historic buildings. An exciting and easily maneuverable European city, London is a major political, financial and cultural center, graced with more parks and gardens than any other capital in the world.
London provides experiences not found elsewhere. Hop on the Tube and visit Covent Garden, Camden Market (you can buy vintage clothes and jewelry at a bargain) or Piccadilly Circus. Stop at a pub for traditional fish and chips, then see a Shakespearean play at the National Theater or peruse Harrods, one of London’s most famous department stores. Watch the sunset at Trafalgar Square while listening to street musicians, then stroll down the street to Big Ben. London’s climate in the summer is pleasant and mild with temperatures usually in the high 60s or low 70s.
Cañada College, College of San Mateo, and Skyline College offer this unique program to enable students to study abroad while making normal progress toward their degree objectives, earning 12-15 fully transferable units in courses taught by community college faculty and local guest lecturers.
This program is offered in cooperation with other community colleges and with the American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS), which provides transportation, living accommodations, and a wide range of student and instructional support services.
Students need not be currently enrolled at one of the sponsoring colleges in order to participate. Units earned will appear on transcripts from these fully accredited community colleges.
Students may choose between living in a homestay (a home in residential London) or in a shared apartment in Kensington.
California residents pay the regular community college enrollment fee for London Semester courses. Students who do not qualify as residents pay non-resident tuition as they would at their local community college.
The AIFS program fee of $7,795 (homestay) or $8,945 (apartment) pays for living accommodations, British Life and Culture lectures and field trips, a Bus and Underground Central London travel pass, and medical and fee refund insurance. Students in homestays receive five continental breakfasts per week, Mondays through Fridays, whereas students in apartments have facilities for preparing all their own meals.
Also covered by the program fee is the weekly cultural program that includes guided day trips to locations such as Cambridge, Greenwich, Stonehenge/Salisbury and Stratford-upon-Avon, as well as five theater performances and three guided walking tours in London (e.g., Shakespeare's London, historic Bloomsbury, and West End theaters).
Additional costs are involved for the following options: round trip air transportation ($700 plus airport taxes and fees) and a five-day pre-program European tour ($975) visiting Paris, Brussels and Bruges.
There is a required $250 refundable damage deposit, and students are responsible for the costs of meals other than breakfasts as specified above, textbooks, passport fees, and personal expenses (e.g., laundry). Students should plan on having at least $2,500 in spending money for expenses beyond enrollment fees, the AIFS program fee, and air tickets.
Many students may be eligible for financial aid (grants and/or loans) to assist them in paying the cost of their London Semester. Early application for financial aid is essential as processing can take up to twelve weeks. Interested students should contact the Financial Aid Office at College of San Mateo (even if they currently attend another college or university).
The AIFS application fee ($50) and enrollment deposit ($400) are due with the application, along with a $50 deposit for the optional pre-program tour if selected.
The AIFS fee balance and refundable damage deposit ($250) are due by July 18, 2008 along with the balance of optional fees listed above.
American Express, MasterCard and Visa payments are accepted. Community college enrollment fees are paid at the time of registration.
Students must enroll in at least twelve semester units, including British Life and Culture.
They may select among the courses listed below:
College of San Mateo
FILM 100 Introduction to Film (3 units)
FILM 121 History of Film II: 1946 to the Present (3)
FILM 200 Film Studies: British Comedies (3)
SOSC 680 British Life and Culture (3)
Cosumnes River College
ANTH 300 Physical Anthropology (3)
ANTH 310 Cultural Anthropology (3)
ANTH 330 Magic, Witchcraft and Religion (3)
SOSC 499 British Life and Culture (3)
Diablo Valley College
ENGL 150 Introduction to Literature (3)
ENGL 154 Shakespeare and His World (3)
ENGL 162 Language, Literature and Culture (British Life and Culture) (3)
ENGL 170 World Mythology (3)
Santa Rosa Junior College
COMM 7 Intercultural Communication (3)
MEDIA 4 Introduction to Mass Communication (3)
SPCH 9 Critical Thinking and Argumentation (3)
SOCS 48.11 British Life and Culture (3)
Because residential space is limited, students are strongly encouraged to apply early. The priority application deadline is Friday, April 11, 2008. Late applications will be accepted on a space available basis through Monday, May 5, 2008. Final fee payments will be due July 18, 2008.
Information on cancellation and refund policies is included in the AIFS program brochure, available with the application form.
Mary Scott will teach film in London. She is a faculty member at both College of San Mateo and San Francisco State University. She has taught film studies, video production and anthropology classes for the last fifteen years. She has degrees in both Cinema and Anthropology and herself is an award-winning filmmaker. She sees film studies as connected to the studies of other arts and sees London as a perfect location to pursue these connections
Cosumnes River College, Diablo Valley College and Santa Rosa Junior College faculty will teach a variety of courses, and British guest lecturers will participate in the British Life and Culture series in which all students will be enrolled.
Additional information on all aspects of the London program is available in a brochure that contains required application forms.
To request a brochure and application, call (650) 574-6595 at any time, or contact:
Christianne Marra
President's Office (Bldg. 1, Room 101)
College of San Mateo
1700 West Hillsdale Blvd.
San Mateo, CA 94402-3784
Plan to Apply Early
It's a good idea to make plans as far in advance as possible to participate in the Fall 2008 London Semester. Early applicants have the greatest chance of enrolling in the courses of their choice, and housing and transportation arrangements are assigned in order of submission of your application and deposit.
Interested students should contact Christianne Marra at the earliest possible date.
We invite you to join us at an information meeting on the London Semester. You will have an opportunity to ask questions and see a colorful and informative visual presentation.
Future informational meeting dates to be announced.
SMCCCD District Office Board Room
3401 CSM Drive, San Mateo (near CSM)
Why choose this program?
What about financial aid?