Learning Abroad Center
London Bridge at sunset

Study Comparative Health Care & Intern in London

Europe
LAC Program

Study and compare US and UK health care systems with an internship in the heart of London.

Program Details

Location
Location
London, United Kingdom
Term
Term
Summer Session
Housing
Housing
Apartment
Homestay
Languages Taught In
Languages Taught In
English

Program Eligibility

Student Type
Student Type
UofM Students
Student Year
Student Year
Sophomores
Juniors
Seniors
GPA
GPA
3.0

Photos

Videos

Study Comparative Health Care & Intern in London

Program Locations

Stonehenge

An excursion to the iconic neolithic site is included in the program fee.

Latitude
51.178900
Longitude
-1.826200
Stratford-upon-Avon

Explore the birthplace of William Shakespeare, set in a medieval market town. A day trip to Stratford-upon-Avon is one option you can choose for your second day-trip included in the program fee.

Latitude
52.191700
Longitude
-1.708400
Bath

An excursion to Bath is included in the program fee. Bath is known for its well-preserved Roman Baths and Georgian-style architecture. It was home to the famous author, Jane Austen.

Latitude
51.376000
Longitude
-2.361000
CEA CAPA London Center

You will have your courses at the CEA CAPA Center, located in the South Kensington district of London.

Latitude
51.494800
Longitude
-0.188000
Camden Market

A large public market where you can find clothing, food, and everything in between. Camden is known as a center of counter-culture and attracts locals and tourists alike.

Latitude
51.540100
Longitude
-0.143000
Gloucester Road Tube Station

The closest Tube station to the CEA CAPA Study Center. You can use the Tube and bus lines to access other parts of the city easily.

Latitude
51.494500
Longitude
-0.183600
Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace is a royal residence for the British royal family and a major tourist attraction. Watch the changing of the guard ceremony in front of the palace and walk through St. James’ Park nearby.

Latitude
51.501400
Longitude
-0.141800
Big Ben

London's iconic timepiece is connected to the Palace of Westminster, where the British parliament meets.

Latitude
51.500700
Longitude
-0.124600
The Globe Theater

Watch a production in the recreated theater—modeled after the original Global Theater—where many original Shakespeare plays were performed.

Latitude
51.508100
Longitude
-0.096800
Tower of London

The Tower of London is a famous historical site that has been used as a royal palace, prison, a place to store the Crown Jewels, and was even a zoo at one point in its history.

Latitude
51.508100
Longitude
-0.076100
Tate Modern

An art gallery in London. The Tate Modern is home to collections of contemporary and modern art. The Tate Modern building also offers a viewing platform on the top level with amazing views over the city.

Latitude
51.507600
Longitude
-0.099300
King's Cross Station

King’s Cross is a major train station that provides access to an extensive national rail network for travel outside of London. You can also visit platform 9¾ and have magical photos taken with a trolley and wand.

Latitude
51.532000
Longitude
-0.123300
Windsor Castle

Explore Windsor Castle—another residence of the British Royal famil—located just west of London.

Latitude
51.484000
Longitude
-0.604400
Cambridge

Visit the famous Cambridge University and explore a slightly smaller British city. A day trip to Cambridge is one option you can choose for your second day-trip included in the program fee.

Latitude
52.208400
Longitude
0.125500
Oxford

Visit the famous Oxford University and explore a slightly smaller British city. A day trip to Oxford is one option you can choose for your second day-trip included in the program fee.

Latitude
51.757000
Longitude
-1.255800

About

The National Healthcare Service (NHS) in London is one of the largest and most successful universal healthcare systems in the world. Developed shortly after World War II, the NHS boasts high equity of access with low financial costs to patients. Despite their successes, the NHS is still grossly underfunded and lacks in other areas such as long term care. Additionally, like many health care systems around the world, the NHS is still grappling with the affects of COVID-19 and is working to rebuild a stronger universal healthcare system than before.

If you intend to work in a health care profession, the Comparative Health Care and Intern program in London offers you an opportunity to study and compare US and UK health care systems. Participate in a uniquely focused internship in the health care field with an observational component, all in the heart of London.

Program Model

Study Abroad Center

Housing & Meals

Housing is provided in comfortable, well-equipped apartments or homestays. You will find out your housing placements about 2 weeks prior to departure.

Apartment

Between 5–7 students usually share apartments, which include single or double bedrooms, bathrooms, and laundry. Meals are not included if you choose this option, but each apartment has a full kitchen. There are also numerous pubs and cafes within a short walk or "tube" (subway) ride from the residence.

Homestay

If you choose the homestay option, you will have a room to yourself. Breakfast and dinner are included during the week; you are responsible for lunch and meals on weekends.

Excursions

Cultural field trips in London, a theatre production, a full-day excursion to Bath and Stonehenge, and your choice of an excursion to Stratford-upon-Avon, Brighton, or Oxford are included in the program fee.

You can also take advantage of My Global City events, a calendar of events centered around key themes that provides you with a tool to help personalize your experience in London.

You will receive an Oyster Card (tube pass) for the term included in the program fee.

Flight

The Learning Abroad Center works with Village Travel, a local travel agency, to arrange a coordinated flight for program participants. The flight is optional, and is arranged if you want to fly with other program participants. Group flight information is typically available by the program application deadline, if not before.

If you are taking the the group flight, specific arrival instructions will be sent out prior to your departure.

For immigration purposes, you should purchase a round-trip ticket, since you must be able to show your entry and exit dates from the United Kingdom.

Learning Outcomes

Participating in the Comparative Healthcare & Intern program in London will allow you to:

  • Gain an understanding of the British National Health Service (NHS), comparing concepts and themes such as epidemiology, funding, and delivery of health care, and social determinates of health within the U.S. health care system
  • Deepen cross-cultural understanding through a unique internship that will include an opportunity to learn about and observe the UK health care system
  • Increase independence and self-reliance through learning to successfully navigate British society
  • Gain British and international perspectives on health care
  • Develop awareness of and challenge assumptions about British culture, their own culture, and how their own culture is viewed by others
  • Gain knowledge and insight into a professional career in health care.

Faculty & Staff

CEA CAPA Education Abroad provides housing, program classrooms and study areas. CEA CAPA also arranges on-site orientation and program excursions, as well as social and cultural events. Classes are taught by British faculty who are specialists in their academic field and in the field of teaching foreign students.

Program Structure

Program Level
Upper-division coursework focused on the UK Healthcare system and the context it operates in
Courseload

6 credits for summer session

  • Comparative Healthcare Systems (3 credits)
  • Global Internship Course (3 credits)

Coursework

Check the course list for more information and syllabi.

If you participate in an internship, you will enroll in the 3-credit Global Internship Course and work 20 hours per week.

Full Course List

Summer

  • Select the 2 courses: LNDN 3245 Comparative Health Care Systems for 3 credits, and LNDN 3375 Global Internship Course for 3 credits.
  • Total registration should equal 6 credits.

Course Planning Links

Comparative Healthcare Systems

Course ID
LNDN 3245
Terms
  • Summer
3
Credits

Healthcare systems are having to respond to the number of competing challenges. The pressures of globalisation, aging populations, increasing patient demands, and the rising costs of research and medical treatments are forcing us to look more critically at how healthcare is delivered to devise changes for the future. Changes made to health systems are often based on economic and political rationale and with many countries currently experiencing significant changes to the way in which healthcare systems have historically been funded and delivered. This course will introduce you to the healthcare system in the UK and the context within which it operates. It will start by looking at the introduction of the National Health System (NHS) in 1948 and take you through the key changes that have taken place right up to the present day. Drawing on a series of cases studies, you will be able to compare the UK model of healthcare with the healthcare system in the USA.

Syllabus for Comparative Healthcare Systems

Global Internship Course

Course ID
LNDN 3375
Terms
  • Summer
3
Credits

The Global Internship Course (GIC) is a unique and innovative opportunity for you to combine your internship placement (and living abroad) experience with a weekly in-class educational and mentoring experience (session), which aims to develop your personal and professional skills while earning academic credit. The GIC fits in with CEA CAPA's philosophy and practice of Globally Networked Learning (GNL), where you can learn about the social and cultural context of your internship placement and the host region and country, as well as other GIC themes, through comparative global analysis. At times, this analysis will be facilitated through a selection of CEA CAPA Master classes given by leading professionals from a diverse range of fields. The weekly discussion-based sessions have an active learning approach, which will give you the opportunity to discuss and analyze theories and models of work, critical thinking, and organizational behavior and management in a cross-cultural context.

A variety of teaching and learning activities will be used, including lectures, workshops, discussions, informal and formal presentations, and mock (recorded) interviews. The assessment mechanisms are all designed to support learning, using the internship and living abroad experience as a vehicle. Above all, the on-site CEA CAPA sessions give you the opportunity to listen to individual experiences, compare and contrast activities with others, and consider the experience in terms of your personal and professional development. At the beginning of the course, we focus on self-reflection, and at the end of this process, we challenge each of you to focus on self-projection. It is, therefore, our intention that you will treat these on-site sessions with the same dedication and professionalism that we expect you to display at your internships. You will undertake an intensive orientation session to help prepare for and integrate into your placements. Additional resources and readings to aid your personal and professional development will be provided.

Syllabus for Global Internship Course—3 credits (PDF)


UofM Equivalent
IB Depth

Internships

You will earn 3 summer credits through the Health Care Internship combined with the Global Internship Course. You find out you internship placement about 2 weeks prior to departure. You are required to submit additional application materials for the internship. These materials can be found under the Apply tab. Internships are not open to Freshmen.

Academic Credit

As part of the program, you will enroll in the Global Internship Course and work 20 hours per week.

Applying for an Internship

Within the CEA CAPA application, you will provide CEA CAPA with the required application materials and give them your top 3 areas of interest in the health care field for potential placements. You are encouraged to speak to CEA CAPA or work with the academic advisers to determine your 3 choices. CEA CAPA uses this information to find a placement. You will be informed of your placement 2 weeks prior to departure.

Internship Placements

View sample internship placements (PDF).

Review the CEA CAPA Internship Handbook for additional information about the internship process and expectations.

Program Dates

Submit the online application and complete the assigned application checklist according to the appropriate deadline:

Orientation Dates & Locations

The Learning Abroad Center provides pre-departure orientation in preparation for your time abroad. It is your responsibility to know the information shared at these orientations.

Orientation consists of several sessions, all of which are created to support your preparation to go abroad:

  • Online Health & Safety Orientation: This asynchronous module can be accessed in your LAC checklist and is mandatory.
  • LAC Program Orientation: Program-specific and important UofM registration information will be covered (academic registration, finances, arrival, housing etc.). Details will be sent to you via email.

The Learning Abroad Center also offers 2 optional orientations:

Term AbroadOrientation Date/Time
Summer 2025TBD

Summer 2025

Application Open Date: August 1, 2024
Application Deadline: February 1, 2025

ScheduleDate
Program beginsMay 15, 2025
Program endsJune 28, 2025

Fees

Summer 2024 Cost of Participation

University of Minnesota participants pay the program fee instead of on-campus tuition and fees for the term they are abroad.

If you do not see a budget estimate for the term you intend to go abroad, the fee has not yet been finalized. We strive to post fees for this program at least 30 days prior to the application deadline. The Learning Abroad Center will delay the posting of some fees until enrollments, inflation, and exchange rates are determined. Note the average increase in fees will be 3–10%. Program fees are based on estimates and may change depending on international economic factors.

Fees or tuition from home institutions may be added to or differ from the University of Minnesota Learning Abroad Center fees listed on this page.

Billing & Payments

Visit Billing for information about the billing process for application fees, deposits, and program fees.

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Visit Financial Information for information on using financial aid and scholarships for study abroad.

Cancellation Policy

Before you apply to or confirm your participation on this program, review the Learning Abroad Center's Cancellation Policy to inform yourself of the timeline and financial obligations for canceling.

Summer 2024

Study Comparative Health Care & Intern in London

Apartment 1—Shared Apartment

Summer 2024

Program Fee

  • UofM students pay program fee instead of on-campus tuition & fees while abroad
  • Billed through UofM account
Non-refundable deposit $400
Tuition and educational costs $8,287
International health insurance $104
Housing and/or meals $2,224
Transportation (if required and included in program fee) $0
Total Program Fee $11,015
Program discount for University of Minnesota and Big Ten students, if applicable $-500
Total Program Fee with discount, if applicable $10,515

Estimated Additional Expenses

  • Financial aid-eligible but not included in program fee
Costs Typically Incurred Prior to Departure These costs may need to be paid before your financial aid is disbursed for your term abroad.
Transportation to and from program siteFlight estimate from MSP--LHR $2,000
Passport/photos $150
Visa/required documents $0
Travel clinic/immunizations* $0
Housing deposit $0
Total Estimated Cost Incurred Prior to Departure $2,150
Costs Typically Incurred After Arrival in Host Country
Texts/materialsTextbooks $50
Housing and/or meals not included in program fee($150 per week estimated for meals) $900
Essential daily living expensesIncludes the cost of required cell phone. $500
Total Estimated Cost Incurred After Arrival in Host Country $1,450

Total Estimated Cost of Participation

  • UofM students—compare this to your estimated on campus cost of attendance
Total Estimated Cost of Participation $14,115
Spending money and personal travel Not included in financial aid calculation $500
Additional Notes & Information
* Immunizations Note: This estimate is based on approximate cost of travel-related vaccinations and medications required for entry or recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Your costs may be higher or lower depending on your travel clinic, the specific immunizations and medication prescribed, and your insurance coverage.

Prepare

Complete pre-application advising.

Apply

The COVID-19 vaccine series is strongly recommended, pursuant to CDC guidelines, but not required for participation in this program.

You will be charged a $50 application fee for each application you submit.

Apply Now

Complete

After you submit your application, you will receive an email notification confirming that your application was received. Submitted applications are assigned an application checklist, which will include the following items:

  • Application Essay

If you do not meet the GPA requirement for this program you will be required to submit an additional essay. It will be added to your checklist after you start your application, and you will be notified when it has been added.

If you are interested in participating in an internship, contact Stuart Robbins-Butcher at [email protected] before submitting your Low GPA materials.

If you are interested in participating in the Internship, you must also submit the following items through CEA CAPA's online application:

Detailed descriptions and instructions for submitting each checklist item are included on the application checklist assigned to you.

Application Review Process

After your application checklist is complete, your application is reviewed by our program team. You will be notified of an acceptance decision by email. If accepted, you will be assigned a confirmation checklist, which you will complete to confirm your participation in the program. If you decide not to continue with the application process, log into the online application system and submit a Cancel Request.

After You Apply

Before your program begins, review these resources.

Health & Safety

Learn more about staying healthy and safe abroad, including mental health and wellness, international travel insurance, and safety precautions.

Power of Attorney

Consider designating someone as your power of attorney to act as your legal representative while you’re abroad.

Student Identity

Consult our resources on student identities as you prepare for your abroad experience.

Travel Resources

Ready to go abroad? Our travel resources will help you pack and learn what to expect.

Visa

Passport

You must have a passport that is valid for the duration of the program, as well as up to 6 months after the end of the program, in order to enter the United Kingdom. If you do not have a passport, apply as soon as possible.

Visa

If you are not participating in the internship or service learning option, you will receive an entry letter from CEA CAPA that should be carried along with your passports.

A visa is required if you are participating in an internship or service-learning. If participating in the internship, you will be issued a CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) number to apply for a Student visa after confirmation on the program. If you withdraw from the internship portion of the program after being issued a CAS, you will incur and be assessed a penalty of $500. Detailed visa application instructions will be emailed to you from CEA CAPA about 60 days from the program start date. You should begin the visa application process as soon as you receive the instructions. Once you have completed your CEA CAPA application and have confirmed your participation with the Learning Abroad Center by 90 days before the program start date, you will be eligible to receive your CAS and visa instructions approximately 80 days before the program start date. If you are unsure of your eligibility to receive a CAS at 80 days instead of 60 days, contact CEA CAPA.

Photos that meet the required UKBA photos regulations can be obtained at the UofM Passport Office office on campus.

Note that the visa you will be applying for will allow you to be in the UK on the specific Student visa status during the official program dates only. With this visa, you are required to leave the UK within 7 days of the official program end date. If you would like to stay in the UK longer, you are required to leave the British Isles and reenter the UK as a tourist. This can be done within the same day, and staff in London will advise various ways for you to do this. If you wish to enter the country earlier than the dates for which your visa is valid, you must enter as a tourist, leave the British Isles, and then reenter on your Student visa. If you wish to arrive in the UK early or stay beyond the program dates, you will need to double-check the validity dates for your visa when you receive it, and should contact your CEA CAPA program adviser for further instructions at that point.

Program Contact

For further information or questions about this program, send an email to

Stuart Robbins-Butcher at [email protected], or call at 612.625.8829

Contact Program Alum

Below is a list of students who participated in the Study & Intern in London program. They are ready and willing to answer your questions about this program. Feel free to contact them during your decision-making process or anytime during your pre-departure preparation to get a student perspective on studying and living in London.

  • Emily R.—Neuroscience major, Spring 2022, Internship, apartment
  • Emily C.—Marketing major, Strategic Management minor, Spring 2022, Internship, apartment
  • Jacqueline W.—Graphic Design major, Digital Media Studies and Interdisciplinary Design minor, Spring 2022, Internship, apartment