Global Business Institute: London - Summer

 

Welcome to the Global Business Institute (GBI), your opportunity to study and practice business at one of five international campuses. GBI prepares you for the business world through coursework that advances your degree, offers out-of-the-classroom experiences that create cultural competence that provide you with transferable workplace skills.

A global center of finance, marketing, and economics, London offers an unparalleled setting for studying business. Along with Pitt faculty, your lecturers at the CEA CAPA London Center will be faculty from world-renowned institutions throughout the city.

Learn the Underground as you commute from your flat in a London neighborhood.  From hands-on marketing experience to exposure in financial management, GBI: London has an internship for you.  In fact, we guarantee it.

Want to learn more? Check out the Pitt Business To the World student blog and this video. 

 

 

What You'll Accomplish: 

As an engaged and active participant in this program, you will have the opportunity to:

  • fulfill major elective course(s) and general elective course requirements.
  • develop your global competency skills through coursework and cultural experiences.

 

If your first thoughts of London are the Royal Family and Downton Abbey, prepare to be blown away by what else London has to offer.  English history and culture are juxtaposed against streets filled with black cabs and lined with ethnic restaurants from Algerian to Indian to Vietnamese.  The birthplace of the English language is now home to speakers of more than 30 languages – and that doesn’t count the variety of English accents you will hear.  Skyscrapers tower over 17th-century buildings while Big Ben overlooks the River Thames. Study abroad through GBI: London and you find yourself constantly surprised by what you discover in one of the world’s most diverse global cities.

 

Where You'll Live: 

Part of the experience is to live like a Londoner. The overwhelming majority of students choose to live in shared apartments – the English call them flats – spread across the city. While apartments are as varied as the city itself and no two flats are alike, all of them are located in safe neighborhoods and secure buildings. Regardless of where you live, you can expect a 45- to 60-minute commute to the CEA CAPA Center. 

 

You can expect the following:

  • Shared bedrooms (2 or 3 students/bedroom, single bed or bunk bed)
  • Bedding, but need to bring your own towels
  • Shared bathroom
  • Shared kitchen 
  • Internet access (for general browsing, but not meant for heavy downloading or streaming)
  • Coin operated laundry 
  • It is not typical for UK residences to have air conditioning or dryers

Please note that meals are not included in the program fee.

You will receive your address, roommate information, and neighborhood description about 2 weeks before your departure for London. We do our best to provide the most accurate information about housing and amenities but due to the nature of the locations in which we offer programs and limited availability, these items are subject to change.  Contact your program manager with any questions.

 

What You'll Study: 

You will take a total of 6 credits on the GBI: London program.  Courses you take can fulfill your major requirements, business core courses, and general education requirements.  You can choose to take two courses or one course + the part-time internship.  Please note that the internship is for academic credit and is not a paid opportunity.

 

Summer 2024 

Comparative Healthcare in London (ANTH1737)

This course will introduce the UK healthcare system and the context within which it operates. Students will explore the evolution of the National Health Service (NHS) from its inception in 1948 to present day; analyze case studies to compare the UK model of healthcare with other healthcare systems such as in the United States, France, Sweden, and lower income countries; develop an understanding of concepts and themes in comparative healthcare; and critically examine the role of governmental and non-governmental organizations in healthcare.

Business International Internship (BUS1910)

This is a part-time internship (20 hours per week). In addition, you will attend weekly discussion-led sessions that include educational support and mentoring in a classroom environment, develop personal and professional skills, and learn to contextualize your internship experience socially and culturally. You will receive 3 credits for this course.
Please note internships are available for students who have successfully completed three semesters of coursework at Pitt or a transfer university as a degree-seeking student. 

Consulting Field Project (BUS0600)

Management consulting will continue to be a significant and popular career option, as it provides an opportunity for challenging work, continued self-development, access to important social and professional networks, traveling, and financial rewards.  In this course, you will explore the art of using expertise in a field to advise client organizations on high-level strategic issues and provide them with management counsel. Throughout the course, you will experience the opportunity to work on solving executive-level problems and simulate consulting project activities and situations by working on business cases, exercises, and a team assignment based on real-life consulting challenges.

GBI Florence: point of distinction and focus is Manufacturing and trade for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)

GBI London:  point of distinction and focus is Business Finance

GBI Sydney:  point of distinction and focus is Environmental Sustainability

 

International Finance (BUSFIN1341)

This course fulfills a finance major elective for Pitt Business students. 
This course will examine the structure and principal operations of the international financial economy. It will examine operations and their impact in terms of trade, the trading of financial assets and capital movements. It will also assess risk management techniques used by governments, corporations and other entities operating internationally and the global regulatory challenges posed by these developments. The course covers topics such as the historical development of money and capital markets, the role of major central banks, the maintenance of price stability, the control of interest rates, the management of monetary policy and the management of global systemic risk.

International Marketing (BUSMKT1461)

This International Marketing course will help you develop an understanding of the scope and challenges of marketing in the international context. The course examines how the global dimensions technology, research, capital investment and production impact marketing, distribution and communication networks. The breadth of this course will provide insights into the increasingly interdependent global economic and physical environment and its impact on international marketing. Globalisation has led to increasing interdependence. Connecting the dots has thus become essential to the survival and success of businesses, even those not operating in the international arena. By examining these linkages, the students will gain an understanding of how companies develop strategic plans that are competitive to survive and succeed in these global markets. The unique localised content provided by the CAPA centres will present further regional insights into the key issues surrounding marketing from an international perspective.

Contemporary British Film (ENGFLM1190)

The 1990s and 2000s saw the British film industry undergo a number of dramatic changes. From an all-time low at the end of 1980s, during the early 1990s British cinema entered a period of confidence and success that was mirrored by a major structural and financial reorganization. The course will chart the development of British film during the period 1994-2010 through the critical study of key films, and will examine the way that these films both emerge from and transform the earlier British cinema tradition. Readings will focus on the critical reception of the films and the manner in which they have been absorbed into the canon. There will also be particular focus on the political and social context of the films.

Introduction to Shakespeare (ENGLIT0580)

For a portrayal of the variety and depth of human emotions, Shakespeare has never been equaled. In this course, a selection of plays will be studied in depth, with equal focus on the genres of comedy, history and tragedy. Through visits to Shakespearean plays in performance, to the Globe theatre workshop, and through guest speakers, the plays will be examined not only textually but also as living plays that tell us as much about modern identity as the development of the early modern identity. Students will examine the notion of Shakespeare as 'timeless' to understand how vitally he moves from the concerns of his day to ours. This course requires an addition $70 fee to cover the cost of theatre tickets while in London.  You will pay this via credit card upon arrival.

Post-war Pop Culture in Britain (ENGLIT1760)

This course will look at some key theories of popular culture, and include case studies of selected examples from the British Isles since 1945. Popular culture versus subcultures will be examined. The main aim will be to enable students to think independently about this topic. The course will include study visits to galleries, museums and other sites as an important learning experience. This course aims to draw in the students' previous educational and life experiences of culture and history, including oral cultures, popular and ethnic cultures and social and religious movements. It will compare British and American experiences of popular culture, the differences, similarities and cross-influences.

Writing the City - London (ENGWRT1200)

This course will introduce creative writing in relation to the city and the particular challenges of writing about place. Students will examine how various subjects such as the river, urban spaces, solitude, ethnicity, particular boroughs, and characters (both fictional and real) function in London narratives; develop an understanding of the role of memory and experience in literary psycho-geographical accounts of the metropolis; utilize their observations of London to practice creative writing; and investigate the potential of place within the narrative of various genres.

Global Perspective on Nursing and Midwifery History (NUR1061)

This course will explore the development of nursing practice from the perspectives of medical, nursing, and midwifery history. Students will explore the impacts of social change, evolving attitudes to care, and the role of the Enlightenment, French Revolution, and American Independence, as well as the transition from Agrarian to Industrial Society in shaping nursing care; consider contributions made by Florence Nightingale, Mary Seacole, and Mrs Bedford-Fenwick to nursing practice; examine the effect of religion, philosophy, ethics, law, sociology, and economics on clinical practice and the professional role and practice of nurses and midwives; and reflect on related historical changes.

Child Development in a British Context (PSY1050)

This course investigates the aims and principles of developmental psychology as a scientific discipline, and describes the methods used to obtain knowledge about children and their development. Issues such as children's early attachments, the development of the self, the emergence of consciousness, and the role of play are examined, with an emphasis on the role of education and child care practices and policies in the UK in shaping children's development.

Analyzing and Exploring the Global City -London (URBNST0410)

This interdisciplinary course focuses on the modern development of one of the world's most significant global cities in comparative context. It examines London's changing identity as a world city, with a particular emphasis on comparing the city's imperial, postcolonial, and transatlantic connections and the ways in which past and present, local and global intertwine in the capital.

Experiential Learning Description: 

On this program, you have the option to participate in a part-time internship. Internship placements are based on your previous professional experiences, academic and professional goals, and availability of positions. Be aware that certain placements may be challenging as business operations are still being impacted by the global pandemic. You should have an open mind regarding internship placement opportunities.  For more information about CEA CAPA's internship placement process, click here.

Visa Advisory
 
As part of your study abroad program in the UK, you will be required to apply for a student visa if you are pursuing an internship placement.
 
Please be aware that UK visa processing times may be delayed due to ongoing impacts of the global pandemic. Obtaining a visa is solely your responsibility and is a very detailed process. You should be prepared to do the following: 
  • Begin your visa application process as soon as you receive the detailed instructions and guidance from CEA CAPA 
  • Follow the instructions carefully, checking for mistakes 
  • Respond promptly to any requests for follow-up or additional information related to your visa application  
  • Check to ensure that your returned passport has the appropriate visa stamp prior to departing the U.S. 
Failure to follow the visa instructions correctly may result in additional costs beyond the visa application fee, visa denial, or may impact your ability to do an internship on your program. 
 
Please note that internships are available for students in their second semester of sophomore year or higher.
 
More than 75 percent of GBI: London students complete an internship, and with good reason. An international internship is your opportunity to create a stand-out resume, and you will be challenged to apply your coursework to the work world, acquire cultural competence, and create professional connections that can last a lifetime.  Not only will your LinkedIn profile get a boost, but your marketability to future employers will too.
 
Internships in GBI: London are 20 hours per week, excluding commuting time.  In addition to workplace experience, you will also meet with peers and faculty for internship seminars to help you get the most out of the experience.  Internships are always unpaid, always for three credits, and always pass/fail.
 
You can sign up for an internship regardless of your major as a part of the application process. However, please note that if you decide to drop the internship past 70 days prior to departure, you will incur a $500 cancellation fee from CEA CAPA. Keep in mind that you will not know what your internship placement is until 14 days before departure.  While this may seem like a long time to wait, keep in mind that our partners are searching for an internship just for you. Your past experiences, coursework, and desired placements areas are all taken into account.  This kind of personalized service takes time but is well worth the wait. 
 

The University of Pittsburgh partners with CEA CAPA Education Abroad for this program.  CEA CAPA works with institutions of higher education to build programs that meet their goals for learning abroad, and offers study abroad and internship programs in destinations around the globe.  CEA CAPA focuses on academic offerings, support frameworks, and oversight structures for students and visiting faculty.

The CEA CAPA London Center is housed in 2 connected Victorian townhouses in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and their staff will be there to assist with any questions or challenges throughout the program.

 

Your Pitt Study Abroad Contacts: 

Steph Spirk

Hola, hallo, hi!  I'm Steph Spirk, and I am a Global Experiences Program Manager for Pitt Business.  I am a yinzer, very proud to call Pittsburgh my home, yet my love for cultural exchange has always led me to new places, even ones I never thought I'd go to before.  I was a Pitt student myself, becoming an expert on study abroad by participating in three programs: Global Service Learning in Bolivia, the International Internship Program in Madrid, and an exchange program at Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona.  I speak fluent Spanish and German at an advanced level.  In my free time you'll find me practicing yoga in the square, hiking through the many parks, painting, and capturing the beauty of Pittsburgh and beyond through the lens of my camera.
Looking forward to chatting with yinz!

Schedule an appointment

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Items Billed by Pitt

  In-State Out-of-State

Program Fee

$9,999 $10,199
Study Abroad Fee $300 $300
Total Billed by Pitt

$10,299

$10,499

Estimated Additional Out-of-Pocket Costs

Airfare $1,000 - $1,500
Personal Expenses and Meals $1000 - $2,000
Local Cell Phone $100
Visa (for interns and non-US citizens) $500

 

 

What's Included: 

 

 

As a part of your GBI: London fee, the following are included in the program:

  • Tuition for 6 credits
  • Housing
  • Orientation in London
  • Arrival reception, group events, departure ceremony
  • Co-curricular Cultural Events and Activities
  • Public Transportation pass for Zones 1 and 2
  • International Health Insurance

 

When You'll Go: 

The program dates for summer 2024 are May 16 through June 29.

What Else You Need to Know: 

Required Advising

As part of your Global Business Institute application, you are required to meet with Pitt Business Global Experiences staff to discuss program requirements.  You can fulfill this requirement by scheduling a meeting with the Program Manager or by stopping in to the Pitt Business Global Experiences suite for a drop-in appointment with a Global Ambassador.

 

Scholarship Information

For scholarship opportunities, be sure to check out the PittFund$Me site. PittFund$Me allows you to search for scholarships tailored to your specific global program.  Pitt Business students may also apply for additional scholarships through the CBA Global Experiences Scholarships. Please note that the application deadline for the CBA Global Experiences Scholarship is the same as the program application deadline.

 

Next Steps

Upon being accepted to the program, all students are required to attend the mandatory Program Agreement Meeting.  This afternoon long event will cover important topics relevant to study abroad like health, safety, security, and more.  In addition, it will give you the chance to meet other students studying abroad on your program.  Your program manager will follow up with more information after the decision date.