London

You may request to live with a friend by emailing ASA at hello@academicstudies.com. Roommate requests must be mutual, so be sure your friend requests you back. However, the host university is responsible for all hall allocations, so we cannot guarantee that you will be placed in the same flat or residence hall as your friend. You will meet your flatmates upon arrival; they could be from the U.S., the UK, or other countries.

ASA will notify you of your living arrangements via email approximately 1-2 weeks before the start of your program.

Rooms are single occupancy, but you will share a flat with 3-5 additional students. Flats are usually all gender.

No, meals are not included, but your flat will have a kitchen, and grocery stores are within walking distance.

A detailed list of what to bring (and what not to bring) will be included in your ASA pre-departure handbook, which will be emailed to you about a month before your program begins.

London is truly one of the most diverse cities in the world. About 53% of residents are native Brits, 21% are of Asian descent, 14% are of African descent, and 12% identify as mixed or other.

Black salons and barbershops are available throughout London. Shops that carry Black haircare products are also available throughout London. You can also check out these haircare brands created by Black British women.

The UK, with its favorable attitude towards disabled persons and legislation which requires employers to accommodate to disabled workers, is one of the most disability-friendly countries in the world.

Most public transportation in London (buses, subway (the Tube), and trains) is accessible for those with mobility disabilities. Click here for more information about accessible London transport.

According to Wheel the World, the UK has gone a long way towards becoming an accessible travel destination, with many public buildings and transport systems equipped with step-free access and accessible toilets. Due to the historic nature of some buildings and cities, disabled access may be more difficult or not possible, but this is generally indicated by researching in advance. Guide dogs are permitted in all public spaces.

We encourage you to open a dialogue with us so we can assess accessibility in housing and academic spaces.

The U.S. State Department has advice for international travelers with disabilities at this link.

Housing is in student residence halls, where you can prepare your own meals.

Resources for dietary needs for allergies, religious beliefs, or other preferences below. We strongly encourage you to order food/allergy translation cards to help communicate your needs while abroad.

• Gluten free
• Halal
• Kosher
• Vegan
• Vegetarian
• Dairy-Free
• Nut Allergy

ASA allows payment deferral until your institution releases your Financial Aid, and we offer payment plans upon request to students who need it. More information on billing and payment can be found here.

ASA also has several scholarships you can apply for within our program application. Students who receive a Pell Grant as part of their Financial Aid package are eligible to apply for the Gilman Scholarship.

We welcome students with any gender identity and sexuality on all of our programs.

• Same-sex activity, marriage, and adoption are all legal in England.
• London hosts a Pride parade every year.
• Transgender people are able to change their legal name on documentation so that it matches their gender identity and changing sex assigned at birth is allowed.

Check out the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association Guide here.

Students with a range of mental health conditions can successfully study abroad. If you take any medications, please review the U.S. State Department recommendations for traveling abroad with medications.

ASA is happy to talk to you about what resources are available for any mental or physical health needs you have. Please reach out to us by clicking here. Having advance notice of what your needs are will allow us to identify resources to support you, such as therapy or ongoing medical care to allow you to be successful. Any ASA team member is a safe person to share things with!

With your ASA program, you'll also have a paid subscription to mindhamok, a 24-7 service designed to support study abroad students’ mental, physical, and social wellbeing. mindhamok's curated online and live resources give you tools to help you succeed.

You can use mindhamok to: Request an appointment with a coach/therapist; Live chat with a coach/therapist about concerns such as roommate issues, relationships, etc.; Discuss homesickness, culture shock, or adjustment concerns; and much more.

For more information, see our mental & emotional health information here.

ASA welcomes all degree-seeking undergraduate students on any of our programs. We are happy to talk through any component of your identity (e.g. age, marital status, parental/caregiver status, military affiliation, et al.) that may affect your ability to participate on a program. Click here to contact us.

The UK's official religion is Christianity. Roughly 14% are part of the Church of England, 9% identify as Catholic, about 7% are Muslim. Hinduism, Sikhism, Judaism and Buddhism are also practiced. Roughly half of English people do not practice any religion. More detailed info on Religion in the United Kingdom can be found here. ASA is happy to help you find a place of worship in London - just ask us.