12 Good Reasons to Study Abroad at Richmond

Richmond, The American International University in London

Richmond, The American International University in London, is a highly-respected academic institution offering fully accredited BS, BA and MA programs, taught by outstanding British and international faculty, many of whom are leading experts in their field. Richmond is an independent, co-educational, non-profit international liberal arts and professional studies university with a student body of around 1,000.

The original Richmond College, founded in 1843, was a constituent institution of the University of London until the founding of the present University in 1970, which bears its name and occupies its campus. A second campus was later opened in the Kensington area of central London. This is where all upper division courses are taught and where most study abroad students live and study.

The University is licensed to award degrees by the Department of Education of the state of Delaware. It is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, one of the regional accrediting bodies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Its degrees are also validated by the British Open University and it was the first university in the U.K. to have its degrees validated by both U.S. and U.K. authorities.

All of Richmond’s degrees are designated by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills of Her Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom. Richmond is also accredited by the British Accreditation Council (BAC) as an independent higher education institute. Richmond’s faculty are leaders in their field, publishing and presenting research on a variety of different issues, including popular music, globalization, football (soccer), nationalism, politics, religion, science fiction, paganism, film, education, empire, propaganda, architecture, fundamentalism, management consulting, foreign trade, colonialism and U.S. foreign policy, all of which are fed back into the classroom to enrich discussion and study.

Students come to Richmond from more than 100 countries. Small classes and personal attention from the faculty, a course advising service and a wide range of courses make Richmond an ideal study abroad choice. At Richmond, you don’t just read about global cultures and issues, you experience them.

Richmond was a pioneer of the junior year abroad and has more than 30 years experience making visiting Americans feel at home. Richmond is a fully accredited U.S. University and was the first university in the U.K. to have its degrees validated by both U.S. and U.K. authorities. Small classes and personal attention from the faculty and a wide range of courses make Richmond an ideal study abroad choice. You will find Richmond both academically challenging and culturally enriching, a familiar setting in one of the world’s great cities.

The University campus

The upper division campus is located in Kensington, one of the best residential and most picturesque areas of central London, surrounded by places of enormous historical and cultural interest.

Accommodations and classrooms are located close to Kensington Palace, Hyde Park, the Royal Albert Hall, Natural History Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum and Kensington High Street with its lively mix of shops, restaurants, cafes and cinemas. The campus is complete with 4 computer labs, an extensive library and facilities for sculpture, painting and ceramics. The Center for New Media incorporates a video studio with editing suite and a photography studio with darkrooms. A cross-campus wireless network also exists.

Please note that classes for the Shakespeare's Globe summer program take place at the Sackler Studios and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.