Experiential Annenberg London

Applications for Fall 2023 are now closed.

The Annenberg study abroad program in London was one of my most defining college experiences and helped me gain a better world view. I loved exploring London as a city through its eclectic food markets and interesting architecture. Annenberg also made it so easy for us to adapt and act like locals, traveling around the city’s different boroughs."   - London Participant, 2018

Program
London is a thriving global city, continuing to push boundaries in global politics and world markets. As it transitions into a post-Brexit reality, the relevance of communication, media, and politics is unparalleled. As such, USC has partnered with Accent Global Learning and created a unique program with carefully tailored courses specifically designed for communication, journalism, and public relations majors. Students live in central London and attend courses led by British faculty taught at the Accent Study Center in Bloomsbury. The Annenberg London program provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to use this global metropolis as its classroom and experience the cutting edge in global communication and media.

Want to hear more from our students about their experience studying abroad in London? Check out our AIP blog for more information.

Dates
Program Dates: August 22 - December 16, 2023
Mid-Term Break: October 7 - October 15, 2023
Summer Bank Holiday: August 28, 2023

Curriculum* 
Students choose four of the following courses taught by British faculty at the Accent Study Center in Bloomsbury:

  • COMM 364 Comparative Media: US and the UK
    • Focus on the history and evolution of three key topics of media develop­ment and their social significance: the press, television/cinema, and the music industry
  • COMM 365 The Rhetoric of London
    • Examination of the modern city as a communicative text with London as the case study
  • COMM 384 Interpreting Popular Culture
    • Utilize theory and case studies to view popular culture as an indicator of cultural values, a producer and reflection of cultural meaning, and a means of communication
  • JOUR/COMM Gender and the News Media
    • Stimulate critical thinking and increase media literacy about news and gender issues exploring key theoretical concepts, historical milestones and contemporary issues facing female and male journalists.
  • COMM 412 Communication and Social Movements
    • Students develop a rhetorical and historic understanding of social movements in recent history, focusing on the USA, UK and Europe. Emphasis will be placed on the role of communication in seeking social change or in seeking to arrest social change.

*Courses are subject to change. JOUR/PR courses might also be available depending on availability.

JOUR/PR Options could include:

  • PR 410 London Calling - Political Campaigns in the UK
  • JOUR 448 Government and Public Affairs Reporting

Academic Units & Credit
All students are required to enroll in a full course load of 16 units.

  • COMM students will be able to earn 16 units of upper-division major elective credit.
  • JOUR & PR students will be able to earn 8-12 units of upper-division major elective credit; the remaining 4-8 units taken will be general elective credits.  

Students must take courses for a letter grade, pass/no pass is not an option. Letter grades will appear on their USC transcript and impact their GPA. 

Program Highlights

  • Organized excursions including high tea, theater productions, museum visits, and multiple academic excursions to Bath & Stonehenge, Cambridge, and Hampton Court Palace
  • Workshops and networking events geared toward preparing for your communication career
  • Access to USC Global Office, London and the extenstive Trojan Network of alumni based in London

Housing 
Students live in high-end multi-bedroom apartments located in central London, a short commute by tube or bus (30-35 mins) from the Accent Center. Apartments consist of a fully equipped kitchen and shared bedrooms and bathrooms. All bed linens, bath linens, and kitchenware will be supplied to the students in their London apartments. Students live with other Annenberg participants. 

Eligibility
This program is open to all ASCJ majors. Students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and a minimum of sophomore standing at the start of the program. 

COVID-19 Update: It is required that all students going abroad are compliant with USC’s COVID-19 Vaccination policy.

Additional Academic Requirements

  • COMM majors must have sophomore standing and have completed two Theoretical and Foundational courses at the time of application (one completed and one in progress).
  • JOUR majors must have junior standing and have completed JOUR 307 and JOUR 320 before the start of the program.
  • PR majors must have junior standing and have completed PR 351A before the start of the program.

Estimated Costs 
Please note that these costs are subject to change:

Fall 2023 Pricing
Tuition: $33,320
Program Fees: $3,350
Housing: $7,265 (paid directly to study abroad provider)
USC Overseas Health Insurance*: $527
Round Trip Airfare: $1,300 (estimate)
Personal Expenses (food, entertainment, weekend travel, etc.): $7,640 (estimate)
Additional Expenses (books and supplies, international student identity card, US passport): $335 (estimate)
TOTAL: $53,737

Please note, payment for housing is due approximately one month after acceptance into the London program directly to the study abroad provider. 

Financial aid and tuition remission apply. Contact AIP for more information on financial aid and scholarships or view our Funding Opportunities page.

*USC Overseas Health Insurance is required on all USC-approved study abroad programs. If a student is already enrolled in USC (domestic) Health Insurance there will be no additional charge for USC Overseas Health Insurance; students will be charged the domestic, on-campus rate (noted above). If a student is normally covered otherwise and waives out of USC Health Insurance on campus, students will be charged USC Overseas Health Insurance at a rate of $97/month (2019-2020 rate).