Canterbury, England
University of Kent Partnership
Program Overview
JOIN A CLOSE COMMUNITY IN A UNIVERSITY TOWN
Historic Kent provides a unique backdrop to the university’s self-contained campus, where you’ll join students and staff from more than 150 nations. Kent is noted for strong law, international relations, and business departments, among others. Visiting students have access to all but a very small number of classes, so it’s easy to keep credits on track.
After class, head off the wooded campus and through medieval city walls to the old town, where cobblestone streets and timber-framed houses mingle with world-famous structures, including Canterbury Cathedral. (Look for dragon door handles, stone imps and carved mermaids before you explore markets, shops, and cafes.)
Canterbury is also a great jumping off point for further exploration. The coast and countryside are nearby, and must-see London is just one hour by high-speed train.
Your program also includes IFSA excursions and activities that give you deeper cultural insights, with no extra fees. Possibilities include a West End London theater performance, a cooking contest in the tent made famous by the Great British Bake Off, and a visit to Darcy’s Pemberly—really Chatsworth House—from the Pride and Prejudice film production.
Details at a Glance
Application deadline
Minimum GPA
3.00
Credit load
16
Housing
Apartment/Flat, Single Room Option
Instruction language
English
Language prerequisites
None
Visa required?
Not in most cases. Learn More.
Academics
CHART Your Course
Find the classes you need fast with CHART. Our easy-to-use tool shows you classes recently taken by IFSA students.
To view available courses at the University of Kent, visit the Kent online course catalog.
IFSA requires students to enroll in a full course load at the University of Kent. A full course load at the University of Kent is four classes, or 60 credits, for the semester (equivalent to 16 U.S. semester credit hours) and eight classes, or 120 credits, for the year (equivalent to 32 U.S. semester credit hours).
Lab & Field Trip Fees
Please review syllabi and course materials when registering for direct-enroll classes. Certain classes may have a one-off lab or field trip fee disclosed in the syllabus or during the first meeting of the class. These fees are not included in your IFSA program fee. You will be responsible for these fees, whether they are billed and paid by IFSA or billed to you.
A small number of modules are not available to study abroad students. If it is essential you take a particular module at the University of Kent, you may wish to check this with us prior to starting your application.
Journalism
Journalism modules are not available for study abroad students.
Drama
Stage 1 drama modules are not available for study abroad students.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Eligibility
- You must be at least 18 years of age. Students under 18 may be accepted on a case-by-case basis.
- You must be currently attending or recently graduated from a U.S. or Canadian community college, technical college, two-year college, four-year college, or four-year university.
- You must have completed at least one (1) full-time semester of study at your home institution before the beginning of the semester program or one (1) full-time year of study at your home institution before the beginning of the year program.
Recommendation Letter
Your application to this program will require one (1) academic letter of recommendation.
TRANSCRIPT
Upon completion of your program, IFSA will send an official Butler University transcript to your home university with your coursework converted to the U.S. semester credit hour system. You will also have access to an unofficial transcript in your IFSA Student Portal. The transcript reflects classes taken, credits attempted, and grades earned during your term abroad. This service is included in your study abroad program at no additional cost. See our Transcripts page for more information.
Excursions
Activities and excursions are designed to pull you into the communities you visit and encourage cultural connections of every kind. There’s no extra fee to participate in these optional outings—everything is included in your program fee.
Below are examples from previous terms; outings may be different for your program. We’ll make every effort to run them all, but sometimes things we can’t control, such as local regulations and health protocols, get in the way. As result, we cannot guarantee activities and excursions.
Activities
- The Great British Bake Off Experience: Step into the famous white tent and don your apron for this immersive baking experience. Perfect for fans of The Great British Bake Off, you’ll work in pairs and bake a dessert against the clock that will be judged by the head baker. You’ll even be able to take home your creation at the end!
- West End Theatre Performance: No time in the UK would be complete without a trip to the West End, London’s famous theatre district. Shows are chosen that provide context or different perspectives on London/the UK/Europe. Recent examples include Operation Mincemeat and Cabaret.
- Sustainability Garden: Visit a community garden started to rewild urban space and respond to the challenges of urban sustainable food production in line with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals. By speaking to gardeners, learn more about the impact of sustainable practices on the biodiversity of urban areas and how they’re trying to widen participation in their local community. Make sure to dress appropriately because we’ll be getting our hands dirty!
- Stonehenge and Bath Visit: Stonehenge has stood on Salisbury Plain for around 5,000 years and it’s still unknown how the prehistoric monument came to rest there! Make up your own mind during this visit and discover the fascinating theories behind these rocks. You’ll learn about Stonehenge from the fascinating exhibits and be able to enjoy a virtual sunrise as it rises over the prehistoric stones! Afterward, travel to the Roman city of Bath for a walking tour of this World Heritage city once home to Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Gainsborough, Lord Nelson, and Beau Nash. Then prepare to travel back 2,000 years to the Roman era with a visit to the Roman Baths.
- Piers and Queers Brighton Trip: Since the 18th century, Brighton has become a cosmopolitan place of recreation, escape, and freedom. A destination for people who didn’t conform. With an LGBTQ+ population now estimated at 15%, Brighton celebrated England’s first civil partnerships, and hosts the UK’s largest Pride event as well as Europe’s first Trans Pride, rightly earning its title as the LGBTQ+ Capital of Britain. Peers and Queers is a tour of Brighton from LGBTQ+ perspective. This colorful 90-minute walk along the beach and historic city center takes in more than 200 years of history including Regency Dandies, 1950s lesbian and gay life, and political activism. Afterward, there’s time for a walk on the pier and fish and chips, just watch out for seagulls!
- Big Welsh Weekend: Delve into the rich history of Wales and explore its unique culture and its complex relationship with the rest of the UK on a weekend that takes in the famous Tintern Abbey, the historic Raglan Castle, the Blaenavon coal mines, and St Fagan’s, a museum that has preserved buildings and cultural practices from Welsh history. Spend the night in Cardiff, the Welsh capital, and discover the Cardiff Bay area, home of the Welsh Parliament.
- Yorkshire Adventure: Explore the vibrant and historic county of Yorkshire on a weekend trip where you’ll discover how this English region has contributed to the UK’s cultural landscape. Highlights may include the Bronte Parsonage in Haworth, the Piece Hall in Halifax, the Victorian model village of Saltaire, or the imposing Harewood House in Leeds.
Housing and Meals
Housing
Apartment/Flat, Single Room OptionMeals
Self-CateringDetails
Students at Kent live in shared flats (apartments) for up to nine students, either on campus or in the university’s nearby student village, a 15-minute walk from campus.
Some housing has extra amenities—like private bathrooms—that warrant higher rent. Keep in mind that if you’re placed in more expensive housing, you will incur additional charges to cover these costs.
Sample housing
Take a look at Darwin College, one Kent housing option, to see what your Canterbury home might be like:
- Location: On campus, about a five-minute walk to classes and the library.
- Living space. Co-ed furnished flats. Designed for 10 students, with single bedrooms (each with sink, bed, desk, chair, and wardrobe) and bathrooms shared by four students. Shared kitchen has a refrigerator, oven, stove, microwave, and kettle. Students provide kitchenware, bed sheets, and towels.
- Meals: No meal plan. Students prepare or purchase meals. Many flatmates tell us cooking and sharing meals is a fun, social part of the day.
- Additional details: Resident advisor on site. Laundry on site. Bathrooms and kitchens are cleaned once a week. Rose garden. On-site restaurant hosts students events.
- Nearby: Supermarket, cafes, and pubs within a five-minute walk. The city center is 30 minutes away on foot, or about 15 minutes by bus.
Dates and Fees
Get Started
Kevin Cañas
Enrollment Counselor
