CEA CAPA Education Abroad in London, England

I loved studying abroad with the CEA CAPA program in London. Our housing was very nice; we were in the center of London in a flat that had everything we needed. If anything ever broke or needed attention, there was an on-call number that was always available. The staff at the center itself were always kind and genuinely cared about our well-being. If you ever had a problem, they made it abundantly clear that they were available and had the resources to solve any problem to make sure our experience was amazing! They also had a ton of outside activities to immerse in cultural activities through the school itself.

I really enjoyed studying abroad with CEA CAPA in London this past semester. Most of my classes were excellent, with very attentive and engaged professors. They always took us on field study trips which was a great way to contextualize what we discussed in class, as well as a nice way to get out into new parts of the city. I am a Theatre/Media Comm major, and it was important to me that wherever I studied abroad I could take theatre studies classes. I am not a performer, which limited me from a few of the programs my college marked for Theatre Majors. But there were a few choices for theatre classes at CAPA which allowed me to stay in my academic interests. London is also bursting with performances to attend, one of which was written by one of my professors. I got to see so many shows, visit so many museums, and just discover new places every day.

While I did not do an internship abroad, I had roommates who did and they had a pretty good time. It was very time consuming for them, but they made the experience work for their schedule. Everyone had a different environment, working with companies across the city, so the intensity depended on where students were placed.

One thing to consider is that CEA CAPA isn't at a British university, it's a program with just study abroad students. I didn't mind this and felt good knowing I was at a similar level as my classmates, but if someone wanted to be taking classes with British students, this might not be the choice for them. CAPA has it's own building with classrooms and a lounge, and everyone there was really friendly and willing to help you with whatever you needed. They sponsored multiple activities like a trip to Stonehenge and Bath, a tour of the Tower of London, and tickets to see a West End show. There were also mid term and end of term dinners to celebrate our hard work.

I am not a city person but I adapted better than I thought I would, especially with the London Underground. CAPA provided us with Oyster cards for full travel throughout the inner zones, so we were pretty free to explore. It was sort of loud outside our flat building most nights and our flat was sort of small for all seven of us living there, sharing one stove and oven for individual meals. But I liked our neighborhood and how close we were to the tube stop and a couple grocery stores.

Overall, I had a great time in London and with CEA CAPA.

My experience studying abroad in London was phenomenal and something I recommend to many of my younger friends who have time left in their undergraduate programs. Studying abroad not only was a fun and new experience, but it was important and meaningful in my personal and professional life. Professionally, I was able to intern at a one of London's largest hospitals and have multiple operational roles within their school program. I also am proud to say to two of my supervisors are mentors and friends to me now and provided me and will continue to provide me with valuable insight. On a social level, I was able to pursue a hobby of mine, travel, with some friends that I came with and many new ones I made along the way. It also was just so fun, to be honest. In all facets, the programs was wonderful and I would recommend to any type of student.

I loved my time in London this summer. I am a huge Harry Potter fan and I got to visit the studio where they filmed the movies, I got to see different spots across London where they filmed, and yes I got to see the Platform. Not only did I love the Harry Potter experiences, but I loved the memories that I made with the friends that I met through this experience. We got to see so many things that I only dreamed about such as Stonehenge, the London eye, and many more. I would highly recommend doing study abroad. It is such a fun and life changing experience, and you might just meet some of your lifelong friends in the process!

Studying abroad for a semester was the best experience of my life. I am so thankful to have had this opportunity and I would do it again in a heart beat! I learned and grew so much during my time abroad and I came back as a completely different person. Interning was probably one of my favorite parts because I was given opportunities I never thought I would be given. My favorite part was going to London Fashion Week. Even though I had classes and a job, I still had so much opportunity to travel and explore with my friends. 10/10 recommend.

CAPA London was a fast-paced and fantastic experience!

The CAPA courses were dynamic, yet manageable. My favorite class was 20th Century British History. It was particularly interesting to learn about the London boroughs and UK immigration in the 20th century.

I had a very positive experience at my internship at a charity/ community center. I made immediate connections with my co-workers due to their warm and welcoming personalities. My one critique about the CAPA internship programs was that I was not satisfied with my placement. Though I loved my co-workers at my internship, I wish I was placed at a fashion/style company.

Overall, I had a wonderful experience exploring London, making friends, and documenting every beautiful and crazy moment.

While the Villanova program is different than the standard, studying abroad through London CAPA was fantastic due to the resources that they provided. From their work pairing me up with a summer internship to planning various excursions around London, I loved my time in the city. Before I left the US, I met with a CAPA advisor to discuss internship preferences, tailoring it to my interests. Living in an apartment by Tower Bridge, I was able to use the Tube to commute to the internship and then spend the afternoons and nights exploring the city, either with the larger program or with close friends. As a large program, we had numerous events planned such as attending the Wimbledon, visiting Lloyds, and so much more!

The CAPA London Global Business Institute Program, which I participated in during the Spring of 2020, had so much to offer! From a rigorous academic schedule that developed my knowledge of global business, to an incredible placement in an internship where I applied my skills in a hands-on environment, to a safe and comfortable housing arrangement, to fun and immersive events and activities. CAPA made me feel so supported both academically and socially. I loved every minute and would recommend the program to anyone interested in studying abroad!