Theater Study Abroad Programs in England

My name is Kabba and I studied abroad in London, England during the Fall 2025 semester! I chose to study abroad because I wanted to explore an opportunity to grow by doing something out of my comfort zone. AIFS helped make my experience an unforgettable one by ensuring I was prepared before departure and providing me with support during my time abroad. I would recommend studying abroad with AIFS to anyone who is willing to expand their horizon!

I had originally gone to the Middlebury CMRS program because I wanted to prove that I was better than anyone else; however, once I realized that there was more to Oxford than merely intelligence (after a prolonged period not going outside), this quickly fell by the wayside. To be surrounded by bookshelves that had their own horizons, maze-like streets you didn't mind getting lost within, and pubs galore to go have philosophical discussions whilst downing another Guinness, it's all a treat that I hope to take part in again. I grew as a result of the program, as I no longer feel as though I have to prove my worth to anyone. Instead, I only wish to grow as a means to become a better citizen of the world.

I decided to study abroad with AIFS and it truly was the best decision of my life. The AIFS Abroad team was so incredibly helpful--jumping onto phone calls to answer every one of my many questions. I had never lived abroad before but AIFS walked me through each step. My university required that I book my flights through AIFS' travel package, which I found to be so incredibly helpful. I did not have to worry about how I was getting to the airport or what flight to get. AIFS did it for me. From making sure I knew how to use the Tube to immersing me in the culture from the first moment I got off the plane, AIFS Abroad welcomed me with open arms. I loved going to class in a different part of the city as well. Kensington is GORGEOUS and getting to experience the life of a Londoner who travels back and forth from home is an experience I'll never forget. From traveling to Europe to visiting so many museums, from seeing theatre productions to meeting new people, London opened my world up. AIFS Abroad encouraged me to try new things and to spend as much time as I could out and about in the culture of England--while also making sure I got my schoolwork done! I even met my partner while there. I kept a digital journal through Instagram of my travels called "Lost In London"(@katharinegutkoski & @ontherecord._). I truly cannot thank AIFS Abroad for everything. Going to England changed my life and I would choose AIFS Abroad again and again and again.

My time at Middlebury CMRS was really rewarding. Adjusting to a new academic environment and system was definitely intimidating at first, but I grew to really appreciate the change, especially because of how much it pushed me outside of my comfort zone. Until coming to this program, I didn't realize how quickly I could read and write, and that helped me overcome intellectual/academic perfectionism. The tutorial system was definitely difficult and lots of work, but it felt really good to be taken so intellectually seriously by Oxford tutors, and the system also allowed me to create strong relationships with each of my tutors. By the end, I felt very proud of myself for taking on such a difficult course/workload and realizing that I could still keep up and do well. It built my intellectual confidence and also allowed me to meet some really wonderful people and create some really cool experiences and memories.

I would 100% recommend CIEE Study Abroad. I stayed in London for all 3 of my blocks, and the staff could not have been more helpful and supportive throughout my time here. They have helped me grow as a student, and as a person in the last 4 months, and I have found a city that I have fallen in love with. The planned events were always perfectly timed with the seasons and had a variety to choose from every block. I plan on returning in spring of 2027 through CIEE again!

I was on London for the two three-week sessions. The classes were excellent and I really enjoyed my class about Shakespeare. We traveled to the Globe theatre to see multiple productions, then had wonderful conversations. Through USAC, there were opportunities to travel outside of London and spend time in lesser known attractions, which let me explore more than just the city. Overall, it balanced both independence to see the city and do whatever you wanted while also letting you have more structure and planned trips.

I had a great time studying abroad in London for a semester. I was able to experience student life and make friends with people in my classes. I got to immerse myself culturally while still making time for my studies. I got to visit a lot of museums through the program as well.

If I could use one word to describe AIFS England it would be spectacular. I am so grateful that I got the opportunity to spend a semester in my dream city. I think about the relationships I made with friends, professors, and staff every day and wish I could live it all over again. I wouldn’t change my experience for anything and think about it all the time! Go study abroad, it will change your life just like it did mine.

During June 2025 I studied Managing Project and Events in London at University of Roehampton. I had an absolutely incredible time immersing myself in the London lifestyle, meeting other students from London, exploring famous monuments, and even going outside of London to some other English towns with other USAC students. I am interested in Project Management after undergraduate studies and this course that I took in London helped me immensely in understanding the resources and tools used in Project Management. I also went to some well-known sports facilities and the Shard for some class trips. The faculty and staff at the University of Roehampton made it very easy to navigate around campus and made us feel as if London was a second home. On the weekends I went with some of the other USAC students to other English towns including Brighton, Bath & Stone Henge, and Margate. We all had a wonderful time exploring those towns together as these were new sights for many of us. I am so grateful and happy that I had the opportunity to study abroad in London as it showed me that there are so many opportunities out in the world for people to take a part in and grow.

I would recommend studying abroad because you get to engage in a course you choose. You also have the liberty to explore the place you choose to stay in and the staff in the CIEE will support you if you have any concerns and you won't feel alone.

The CIEE staff clearly really care about us and how we do. Ashlyn is very organized, and really tries her hardest to fix any issue we have with courses. The teachers at Villanova University are also all AMAZING and so kind.

I think it is a great program, obviously. It's super cool to just spend a really potent six weeks in a country, develop some passionate friendships, and then move on to the next place. I think I have learned a lot so far, and it's only the end of the first block

Truly I could not tell you what I would have changed about my experience with AIFS. The travel package was so nice, I can book a plane ticket easy peasy, but I was concerned about landing and trying to figure out the tube. They made it so I didn't have to worry about a thing. The accommodations were so nice, and well located. The first day they showed us the route to get from our accommodations to our classroom which I really appreciated. The staff were all so kind, helpful, and accommodating. The experiences they booked for us were so fun and a good balance of catered experiences and free time for you (and friends) to explore London on your own. The professor was amazing! He was incredibly knowledgeable and kind. I truly would not change a thing about my experience and I cannot recommend it enough! For this particular program, they took us to West End musicals, Oxford, Top Secret Comedy Club and out to a few dinners! During class we would walk around London to immerse ourselves in the city, we explored Kensington, the East End, Bond Street, Westminster, Big Ben, the Churchill War Rooms and more!

It’s an amazing opportunity to see the world and isn’t as expensive as some other programs! They’re super hands on, which I personally like because it’s nice to know you have a support system that cares about you when you’re thousands of miles away from your family or friends. The people that work here are so nice and genuinely want to get to know you and make you feel cared about. I was so scared to study abroad, but the second I got here, I knew I was in the right hands and felt cared about. It's nice to know you have a whole team of people who have your back when doing something super out of your comfort zone. I also like that they conduct excursions within our classes but also for the program as a whole.

Overall, my time in Exeter was phenomenal! The USF Semester in England program allowed our cohort the right window to truly feel a sense of home away from home in southwest England while remaining directed and specific in goals. With this, I was able to spend time getting to know both local and international students, participate in societies and events, and travel to nearby towns to get a feel for the broader English landscape. It was both fascinating and enjoyable to immerse myself in the culture whether through pub crawls and thrifting, fish and chips and cream teas, or hikes and train rides. In short, each new experience impels one to consider, what is uniquely British and not American here, but also what remains similar? Academically, studying abroad posed a unique but welcome challenge in the more self-directed, term-paper approach in Exeter instead of a structured weekly assignment schedule. Ultimately, the biggest lesson for me was actually being able to better appreciate the value of diversity in thought and the importance of travel to achieve this, and I continue to hope to encourage others to take this kind of chance since such opportunities are not so common in life.

I met so many people from diverse places and backgrounds, however, the most common comment I got when people first met me while I was in England was "you have such a cute American" accent. I don't know why but it made me laugh and overall made all my interactions feel lighter and more comfortable. I had such an amazing time on campus, exploring Exeter, and seeing what England has to offer. Not as many Americans pick the UK for a study abroad location, it just is not as popular for some reason. However, I would like to argue that coming to Exeter is not about beans on toast but about the student, staff, environment, and much more. I had the time of my life in England, went on lots of amazing adventures, met amazing people through societies, classes, and international events, learned and grew as a person, also met my best friend, and didn't want to leave at the end of the semester. There was not a single second in my study abroad that did not feel like an adventure, from the time I stepped foot in Bristol, to having strangers helping through the London underground and tubes late at night on my way back to America!

Going abroad was, undoubtedly, what I needed to start becoming the best version of myself. The University of Exeter is a fantastic campus with a plethora of societies to join. Before studying abroad, I really kept to myself at school, but I was determined to make the most of it, and I opened myself up and joined so many organizations — from the Body Society for work out classes, to the Harry Potter society to do scavenger hunts. I found myself not only being more willing to interact with others, but having these interactions became so much easier for me to do. I, a proud introvert, suddenly felt so much less awkward starting conversations with strangers. I was in a new environment, and— while that is scary— Exeter is a wonderful place to sit and ponder those emotions. Coming from a non-walkable city, there is nothing I loved more than spending time with myself at the quayside, or being able to walk from my dorms in the middle of town to anywhere in the city. As a writer, it allowed me to truly observe the world around me, and how I wanted to put it to the page. I left Exeter with nothing but kind things to say. Every student and teacher and local that I met was absolutely lovely, and there are many that I still keep in touch with and cherish dearly. This is a journey that I cannot recommend enough.

I loved my experience over at Exeter. It was my first time in uk so I was super excited. Exeter was a university town which I felt very safe. The weather wasn’t the best but I met a whole bunch of cool people from all over the country. I met most of them through different club/organization. I also met some nice people from my dorm, which was a private dorm near the university. I’m still in touch with some of the people I met. I even met up with some in Paris, Seoul, London, and Manchester.

Studying at the University of Exeter was an incredible experience that truly changed me. I met people from so many different cultural backgrounds and got to immerse myself in a completely new part of the world. That time abroad helped me grow in so many ways; the independence and new experiences were so worth it. Stepping away from the hustle and bustle of Chicago and spending time in the quieter towns of Exeter, Cornwall, and Newquay was honestly refreshing. The six months I spent outside my comfort zone, discovering new passions, and creating unforgettable memories will last me a lifetime. I loved my time there so much that I’m already planning to return in February 2026!

My time at the University of Exeter is something that I will never forget. I not only loved the classes and professors there, but the students were so warm and welcoming. I lived in student accommodation on campus, and it was so awesome. I was in a flat with other international students and I wouldn't have had it any other way. Going to Exeter for an entire semester after never leaving the country before was not only terrifying, but so rewarding. I met so many people, from so many different countries who I would’ve never encountered unless I took that leap to go abroad by myself. Yes, change is scary, but so is staying the same! I was not only integrated in the culture of the university I was living at, but I also got the opportunity to travel to multiple different countries other than the United Kingdom.