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Global Seminar in the United Kingdom

Schools, Schooling, and Why it Works or Fails

Applications for the Global Seminar in the United Kingdom will open in August 2028. Mark your calendars now and join our mailing list to be notified when applications open!

Examine the complex forces that shape modern classrooms by placing your work with students into a broader social, political, and economic context. Based in the diverse and youthful South London borough of Croydon, with comparison points stretching back to Philadelphia, this course introduces you to the structural challenges facing urban schools and the realities of contemporary school reform. By exploring how issues of class, race, and gender manifest in daily school life, you will analyze the vital role of schooling in a democracy and the intense demands placed on public education systems.

Through direct site visits to London's diverse array of school models, expert-led briefings, and firsthand interactions with students and educators, you will contrast international frameworks with American educational history. You will leave this program with a more robust understanding of the state of American education today, and how you, as individuals and members of a profession, can most effectively and ethically make a difference

Program Overview

Expand upon each of the links below to view more details about this program.

Academic Program

LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION

English

COURSE LOAD 

1 course, 3 credits

COURSE OFFERINGS

You will take the following course:

  • Education 2103 Sociocultural Foundations of Education (3 credits)

ACADEMIC PROGRAM

Throughout this course, you will engage in a semester-long project that challenges you to shift your focus from how education currently functions to how it truly could be. The School Design Project is your opportunity to synthesize everything you have read, discussed, and observed throughout your time in London and Croydon. Using the real-world frameworks you have analyzed, you will design a visionary school from the ground up—one that directly reflects your own core beliefs about the true purpose of education, the structural organization of classrooms, and the role schools should play in a modern democratic society. This major project allows you to apply your critical insights directly to your weekly coursework, serving as the ultimate bridge between urban educational theory and creative, ethical practice.

Location

Located in the south of England, London is the capital and largest city in the United Kingdom, with a population of approximately 9 million people.

Explore London!

London is one of the world’s great cities, and the possibilities are endless for you to make the most of your experience. Whether you are interested in visiting one of the four UNESCO World Heritage sites, one of the over 200 art galleries or museums in the city, shopping districts, public gardens, or the theatre, London has it all. There are, of course, the well-known sights, some of which you will be seeing on class excursions, but others left to you to explore. Beyond these famous places are some of the best contemporary arts and the most vibrant theater scene in the world. Though other destinations in Europe are easily accessible from the UK, be sure to explore to experience all that London has to offer! For all its history, London is a living, pulsing, diverse city, with each of its neighborhoods with its own flavor, and thriving immigrant communities from all over the globe.

Located in South London, the borough of Croydon serves as the primary home and living laboratory for this program. As one of London’s most densely populated and diverse areas, Croydon is one of the youngest sectors of the city, with 26% of its population being school-age. It is a vibrant community shaped by thriving global immigrant populations—approximately 48% white, 23% Black, and 18% Asian. However, with retail and healthcare driving the local economy, median household incomes sit well below the Greater London average, and the local school system encounters persistent challenges with student disaffection and above-average dropout rates.

Positioned at the intersection of rapid demographic shifts, economic constraints, and evolving policy reforms, Croydon sees a mixed track record for educational outcomes compared to the rest of the UK. For students analyzing these dynamics, this environment offers a striking comparative framework to contrast with the educational space of Philadelphia.

 View the map of London.

Program Dates

Course Duration: January – March (with required Spring Break travel to London) 

Tentative International Travel Dates

 

Spring 2029

Departure from U.S.

TBD

Arrival in London

TBD

Orientation

TBD

Last night in housing

TBD

Program concludes

TBD

Do not use the above dates to book your flight, as they are tentative and subject to change. Accepted students will receive confirmed program dates and flight booking guidelines from Education Abroad before making travel plans.  

Program participants are required to be present for the entire length of the program, from the official arrival date through the program end date.

Housing

Housing type: Hotel or Hostel

Basic hotel or hostel (shared, single-sex bedrooms) in London for the duration of the program. If you have documented accommodation with Disability Resources & Services for a single room, please contact Education Abroad when you apply for the program. 

Activities & Excursions

The on-site partner provides a comprehensive orientation upon arrival, in collaboration with the Temple Program Director.

Throughout the program, you will participate in numerous required excursions and school visits designed to demonstrate how different educational models and community realities shape student engagement, systemic equity, and academic outcomes in an urban environment.

Faculty & On-site Support

Temple Faculty

A Temple faculty member serves as the program director overseeing the academic program and will serve as your point of contact for academic matters.

View program faculty. 

On-site Support

In addition to your program director, you will have support from our on-site partner.

Program Costs

PROGRAM DEPOSIT

Students will pay a non-refundable program deposit of $400 within 2 weeks of acceptance to the program. This non-refundable deposit is credited to your spring tuition bill as a prepayment. 

TUITION AND FEES

Temple students pay their usual spring semester tuition and fees by school/college and residency.

All students pay:

  • Global Seminars Program Fee: TBD (Includes airfare, housing, required program activities, and some meals abroad.)
    • The program fee is heavily supported by departmental funds to keep student costs low.
  • Additional Expenses Not Included:
    • Additional Meals
    • Personal Expenses
    • Passport
    • Smart Phone

FINANCIAL AID

Learn more about financial aid.

Health & Safety

Staying healthy and safe abroad requires good planning and strong support. Review our health and safety page for important steps to prepare to study abroad, and details about international travel medical insurance and assistance provided by Temple. 

Contact

For the Global Seminar in the United Kingdom, there are no additional eligibility requirements. The program is open to students of all majors and experience levels. 

Application Requirements

Complete the online application and submit the additional checklist items, including advisor approval and transcript, outlined in the online portal. 

For the Global Seminar in the United Kingdom, applicants are asked to answer a short essay question (250 words) detailing their interest in the program. 

Admissions Timeline

Temple students may apply up to the standard application deadline. Application review will begin after the application deadline, not on a rolling admissions basis. After the application deadline, you should expect a decision within (2) weeks. 

Apply

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