Admission Requirements

1. What are the admission requirements for the CAPA London Program?

• You must be at least 18 years of age and it is recommended that participants are the equivalent of a 2nd semester sophomore.
• You must have a minimum GPA of 2.8 (on a 4.0 scale)
• You must be in good standing with your home institution and will be required to present two recommendations with your application.

Program Fees

1. What else do I need to budget for besides my program fees?

CAPA tries to provide an all inclusive program fee that will help cover most of your overseas costs; however there are a few items you will need to budget for in advance.

• Airfare

Please call STA Travel at 1-800-224-0371 for a quote on the airfare cost to the UK for specific program dates

• CAPA sponsored trips

Every semester CAPA London organizes excursions that you can sign up for once you are in country.  These trips range from $10 to $340 depending on the destination, inclusions, and length of the excursion.

• My Education Cultural Activities

Throughout the semester CAPA has organized an array of cultural activities to help enhance your overall experience of living in a new culture. You will receive a detailed ME calendar at the beginning of the program.  Most of these activities will be free however some have nominal costs listed on the calendar by each activity.

• Spending money

Please refer to the study abroad budget sheet to obtain approximate costs of good in the UK. Check out www.xe.com for the most up to date Us Dollar $ to Great Britain Pound ₤  conversion.  If you decide to live in a homestay you will need to budget 5 – 10 GBP for lunch each day (10 – 20 USD)

Application Process

1. When do I need to turn in my CAPA London Program application?

   Please refer to the timeline on your CAPA Program application which states the application due date for each term.  These deadlines are set at 85 days prior to the start of the program.

2. How will I know if I have been accepted on the CAPA London Program?

   If your application is approved you will receive a welcome pack approximately 70 days prior to your departure from the United States.  If you have any questions regarding your application please call the CAPA student services line at 1-800-793-0334.  If the CAPA admissions team has any concerns regarding your application you will be contacted immediately upon receipt of your application.

Financial Matters

1. When are the CAPA program fees due?

   You will need to send in a $300.00 deposit along with your initial CAPA application.  This deposit consists of a $50.00 non-refundable administrative fee plus a $250.00, which will be applied towards your program fees. Your final payment will be due 70 days prior to the start of the CAPA London Program.  If you have any questions regarding the payment schedule please contact the CAPA student services line at 1-800-793-0334.

2. Can I use my financial aid to help cover the program fees for the CAPA London program?

   For Fall and Spring semester programs your federal financial aid can be used to help cover the costs of the CAPA London Program, however you will need to meet with your financial aid officer at your home institution as soon as possible to make sure you have taken all of the required steps to obtain your aid. Some Aid may be available for summer programs however again it is important to check with your home institution financial aid advisor to see if you qualify.  Financial Aid students participating in the CAPA London Program will follow a different payment schedule than non-financial aid students.  Please refer to the following link for more specific Q & A’s on financial aid. 

3. What are the cancellation fees if I have to withdraw from the program?

The CAPA Cancellation fees are based on the number of days prior to the program that we receive the cancellation notice. 

Housing

1. Where will I live?

   You may choose to live in an apartment (or flat as it is called in the UK) or a homestay.  You housing will be located up to a 40-minute commute on public transportation between your housing and the CAPA London Center.  Please refer to the London specific Q&A for more specific housing details. 

2. Who will I live with?

If you decide to live in an apartment or flat you will be sharing your space with two to eight students depending on the size of the accommodation.  Generally there will be two – three students per bedroom.  If you choose the homestay option you will have your own bedroom but there may be other students staying in the homestay in a separate room.

Transportation

1. How will I get around the city of London?

London is well equipped with an extensive public transport system.  The subway or underground is referred to as the tube.  A monthly tube pass (Oyster card) is included in the program.  This will allow you unlimited access of the London underground in zones 1 - 2 and allow you unlimited rides on the public busses in zones 1 – 6.

Courses

1. What courses are offered for the CAPA London Program?

Please refer to the following regarding the available courses offered on the CAPA London Program.  Please note that a few of the courses are not offered during the summer session noted by an asterisk. 

2. How many credits are earned per course?

Each course is worth 3 credits.   During the Fall and Spring semester you may choose to take 12 – 18 credits.  During the Summer session you must enroll for at least 6 credits. 

3. Can I take any courses I choose?

Before signing up for a specific course you will need to check with your home institution to make sure they will approve the transfer credit provided for a specific course.  If you are having difficulties getting a specific course approved please call the CAPA student services line at 1-800-793-0334 and they will contact your university on your behalf.  On your application you will be ask to list several course choices.  On rare occasions there may be schedule or enrollment conflicts.  If this occurs you will be notified and ask to choose a second or third choice. 

4. Where will my classes be held?

Your classes will be held at the CAPA London Center.  Please note you will not be enrolled with students from British Universities and instead will be attending classes with students from various US universities and colleges.

Internships

1. Do I have to participate in an internship?

No, it is up to you on whether or not you want to participate in an internship during your time in London.  You can also choose to take a full load of faculty lead contextual courses.

2. How many credits will I earn by participating in an internship?

You may choose either a full or part time internship.  In addition to your time at your internship site you will also participate in an internships course.  Each class will be made up of five Course Components focused on your internship and the overseas experience.  These will be examined through seminars, workshops, presentations, and discussions.

3. If I choose to participate in an Internship as part of my program when will I receive my placement information?

As long as you have completed your internship application in full by the 85 days prior to departure deadline you should expect to receive your internship placement description fourteen days prior to your departure from the US. 

Please refer to the following link for more information regarding CAPA internships.

Academic Credit Transfer

1. What are the steps I need to take to ensure that I will receive credit for the program through my home institution?

There are three important steps to successfully obtaining Transfer Credit through your home institution:

• Obtain written pre-approval of your courses as well as for alternate courses.  CAPA can provide you with the needed course descriptions and syllabi to help with the approval process prior to applying for the program. 

• Achieve good marks in your classes while studying abroad

• You will need to complete a University of Minnesota Learning Abroad application as well as a transcript request form that CAPA will provide in your welcome pack once your application is received.  

2. When can I expect to have my transcripts sent to my home institution?

Your University of Minnesota transcript will be sent to your home institution approximately four weeks after your return to the United States.