Overview

Location	Birmingham, England
Term	Summer
Dates	July 17-August 4, 2023
Areas of Study	Computer networking, Fashion, International Business
Housing	Residence hall
Passport	Required
Visa (for US citizens)	Not required

Eligibility

GPA	2.8
WIU hours completed	12
Student Conduct	Good standing
Grad credit	No
Pre-requiste	Varies by course
Student Year	Sophomore, Junior, Senior

Entry Requirements

Passport:  Required. Must be valid for at least six (6) months after your study abroad program ends.  For information on how to apply for or renew a passport, see Passports 101 .
Current passport processing times are 6-9 weeks.  Plan accordingly to avoid issues obtaining your visa, airine tickets, and other necessary items for travel.  Failure to receive your passport in time can lead to postponement or cancellation of your program.

Visa:  You can apply for your UK Student Visitor Visa upon arrival in England.

Health Insurance

It is University policy that you must have international health insurance for the time you are abroad.  Only two options are approved to meet this requirement:
  • WIU Student Health Insurance
  • A supplemental plan (Patriot Travel Medical) from International Medical Group (IMG) .

Health Precautions

COVID-19 - You are REQUIRED to follow the policies of your host school, host country, the CDC and TSA.  It is your responsibility to know and understand these policies.  If policies change before or during your program, it is your responsibility to comply with the new policies.  Failure to do so can result in removal from your program and/or the host country, financial consequences and academic consequences at the host school and WIU.

Walking/mobility/travel - Expect more walking than on-campus.  It is a mixture of urban (pavement/concrete) and natural (grass/dirt) terrain, including uneven/hilly terrain and up/down flights of stairs.  Some historic sites and tourist areas have limited handicapped accessibility.  Sidewalks in these areas can be narrow with uneven surfaces. 

Vaccinations - No vaccinations are required for entry into England.  Up to date vaccination recommendations are available on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website .

Accessibility - Accessibility and accommodation are very different from that found in the United States.  Please contact Disability Resources for questions on the availability of accommodations for your specific situation.

PLEASE NOTE  It is your responsibility to request accommodation from DR; staff are not legally permitted to inquire about such needs.  Requests should be made as early as possible so there's sufficient time to arrange accommodations in your location. 

Costs (Comparative Table)

last updated  1/5/2023             

Items	WIU	BCU ISS
Tuition and fees 3 semester hours, plan V	1070	2621
Commitment Fee		75
Health Insurance		60
Passport		165
Student Visa		Not required for US citizens
Housing and Meals	Housing: 380 Meals: 1050	Housing: included in tuition Meals: 1250
Books and Supplies	120	100
Total	2620	4275*

*You are responsible for purchasing your own flights.

Various types of aid are available to help fund your experience.  Check out our Financial Aid and Scholarships pages for more details.

Academics

Summer students at Birmingham City University International Summer School take 1 course equaling 3-4 sh at WIU.
Courses are graded on a 100 point scale with letter grades of A, A-, B+, B, C+, C, and F. 

You are eligible to take any credit-bearing course offered in the International Summer School.   

Courses available for 2023:
Fashion - Print, Style and Capture
Network Engineering, Network Security and Ethical Hacking
Embracing Global Challenges in International Business

Housing and Meals

The Summer accommodation option at Birmingham City University International Summer School is residence halls.  You will be placed in a hall close to the BCU City Centre Campus.  Residence halls do not offer a meal plan; all meals are your responsibility.   

More information on housing and meal options can be found on the BCU ISS accommodation webpage .