Study Sociology in London
Winter Session in London: Sociology of Food
The Department of Sociology and Criminology offers exciting opportunities to study abroad in London, either through the UB Semester in London program or a winter session. In today’s complex world and competitive job market, the decision to study abroad may be one of the best decisions you ever make!
Why is it important to study abroad?
"Seeing things from the perspective of a student in another country changes how you see the world. You become more mature and worldly, and you truly learn how to be an adult. I recommend this program, and every other study abroad program to everyone I meet. It will change you." – Nataliya Karpov, sociology student
UB Semester in London
London is one of the most vibrant, multicultural and truly global cities in the world. This spring semester program offers an insider’s view of London by combining comparative coursework on cutting-edge social issues, independent research, and a professional internship for academic credit.
Internships are designed to integrate students into a local organization, providing students with an opportunity to enhance intercultural skills and career prospects while making an active contribution.
Winter Session in London: Sociology of Food
Every accent and language—and every type of flavor and food—is available to hear, see, taste and experience in London. In addition to several other winter session course options, the department offers a three-week study abroad adventure to explore how food and water shape both everyday and exotic experiences in the modern world, with London as an impressive backdrop.
Study Abroad Scholarships
Did you know that UB offers several scholarships for study abroad? The university is committed to helping students take advantage of these life-changing opportunities.
Please Wait!
Do not make travel arrangements for any study abroad trip until program admission is confirmed and deposits are settled.
Questions?
Please contact Professor Debra Street to learn more about study abroad programs in London.
I am not a sociology major. Will the UB Semester in London work for me?
Of course it will! If you are mature and eager to live in London, aspire to excel in an international work experience, and intellectually curious in your sociology courses, you will learn a TON of things that will surprise you.
Are there any ways to customize the program?
Not many. But talk to Professor Street if you have questions. Remember that the two classroom courses offered in London are sociology courses because...she is a sociologist!
Do I really have to share housing with other UB students, even if I have alternatives?
Yes, regardless of your circumstances (aunt lives in London, want to live in a tent), the cost of shared London student housing is part of the package price for the program and all UB students live together. If you want to stay elsewhere, or don’t want to be fully immersed in the academic program and internship, your better choice would be to go to London as a tourist.
What if I don’t need xx credit hours of sociology?
Professor Street thinks it is always a good thing to learn more sociology! If you are not a sociology major, the credit hours could count as electives—check with your academic advisor. You may be able to do the internship in your home department--ask.
If I submit my application by the October deadline, am I automatically accepted?
No, not automatically, this is a selective program with a limited number of spaces. In all likelihood, the program will fill and some students may be placed on a wait list. Applications will be reviewed only when they are complete (both UB and CAPA portions). The application will be reviewed holistically, taking grades, study statements, cover letters and credentials, and letters of recommendation into account. Eligible students must be mature enough to live for an extended period with strangers in a foreign city, serious about intellectual goals and excelling in the internship, capable of dependably handling the logistics of being away from home, tolerant, and confidently fluent in English so that there are no unexpected problems negotiating either course work or living arrangements.
What about the recommendations?
There is an automatically generated form to be filled out by your recommender via email from the online application. Be sure to check with your recommender before you put their name in the online application— professors really don’t like it when students assume instructors will provide recommendations without first being asked.
Will it be cold in London in the spring?
Yes.
I am not a sociology major. Will the London Sociology of Food program work for me?
Of course it will! If you are mature, open minded, and eager to learn about London and the Sociology of Food, you will learn a TON of things that will surprise you.
Are there any ways to customize the program?
Not really. The only course on offer is SOC 358: Sociology of Food, and all students are required to reside at the same housing location in London, not elsewhere.
Do I really have to share housing with other UB students, even if I have alternatives?
Yes, regardless of your circumstances (aunt lives in London, want to live in a tent), the cost of shared London student housing is part of the package price for the program and we all live together. If you want to stay elsewhere, or don’t want to be fully immersed in the academic part of the program, then your better choice would be to go to London as a tourist.
What if I don't need 3 credit hours of sociology?
Professor Street thinks it is always a good thing to learn more sociology! If you are not a sociology major, the 3 hours could count as electives—double check with your academic advisor. The course meets the SUNY general education requirements in the social sciences.
If I submit my application by the October deadline, am I automatically accepted?
No, not automatically, this is a selective program with a very limited number of spaces. In past years, the program has filled, with some students placed on a wait list. Not all wait listed students have been able to join the program due to housing capacity. Applications will be reviewed only when they are complete, and admissions tend to be made on a rolling basis so that applicants who finish early have a better chance of getting into the program. All applications are reviewed holistically, taking grades, study statements, prior study abroad experience, and letters of recommendation into account.
Eligible students must be mature enough to live with strangers in a foreign city; serious about intellectual goals; capable of dependably handling the logistics of being away from home, while performing well in their course; tolerant; and, confidently fluent in English so that there are no unexpected problems negotiating either course work or living arrangements.
What about the recommendation?
There is an automatically generated form to be filled out by your recommender via email from the online application. Be sure to check with your recommender before you put their name in the online application— professors really don’t like it when students assume instructors will provide recommendations without first being asked.
Will it be cold in London in January?
Yes.
****Do not make travel arrangements until after program admission and deposits are settled.
Can international students** apply?
Of course! The more diversity in the study abroad program, the better. Complete ALL of the application materials online. You are UB students. Consequently, you pay exactly the same program fees (health insurance, housing deposit, etc.) as any other UB student, regardless of “home” campus or your own citizenship.
Get advice (not from Prof. Street), both academic and immigration-related.
International students must seek academic advice from their academic advisors and should check in with the Undergraduate Coordinator in their major Department before applying to the London program. If you hold US, Canadian, or Singaporean passports, you can visit the UK for a short 3 week study trip without obtaining a visa. However, if you are not a citizen of those three countries, you may need a visa to visit the UK, even for a short period.
Carefully check UK visa requirements that might pertain to citizens of your country.
No one at UB has the authority to make decisions about immigration matters that pertain to unique individuals; such decisions are your personal responsibility and subject to the laws of your country of citizenship, the US (if that is where you study), Singapore (if that is where you study) and the immigration laws of the United Kingdom as enforced by the UK Border Agency. Neither Professor Street nor the UB Study Abroad office staff have expertise in the intricacies of the combined UK, US, and/or Singaporean visa systems for international students. International students are responsible for arranging UK visas themselves, with advice from our logistics partner, CAPA.
*****Note this very carefully******
It is important for individual international students to ensure that their US or Singapore student visa status is not compromised if they study in London and then need to return to the United States or Singapore to complete their undergraduate degrees. There has never been a problem in the past when international students from either Buffalo or Singapore have joined the London winter session, because the students involved followed academic and immigration advice, acted in a timely way, and made certain that their visa statuses were protected. It would be horrible to study Sociology of Food in London during winter session, only to find that your student visa status had lapsed and you could not return to the US or Singapore to complete your degree. Don’t take chances, get expert advice from your consulate or embassy about travel to the UK, and also from the US or Singaporean governments about returning in your student status from the UK study abroad experience.
**International students are students who study in Buffalo but who do not hold US passports, or UB students who study in Singapore but who do not hold Singaporean passports.