Start Your College Experience Abroad with Babson Begin: London

No, they are different programs. They do share some resources, and each cohort of students will arrive on the Babson campus in January. However, both applicant classes are different, and the programs are not interchangeable. Babson Begin is a first-year student abroad program in London, while January admission does not have a freshman study abroad portion. If you have questions about the standard January admission process at Babson, please visit our January Admission page.

If you’re accepted to Babson Begin, congratulations! You can submit your $1,500 deposit in the admitted student portal. It is due May 1. 

For prospective students, see our How to Apply page and our prospective student Babson Begin page.

All January students, whether they participated in Babson Begin: London or not, will have the same orientation and move-in schedule in January. Babson Begin students participate in January orientation. You will have similar experiences, resources, and support as those who arrived in the fall, including both a robust orientation program, academic advising, and a clubs and organization fair. Plus, you will have a semester of college academics and this dynamic personal experience to draw from to help you acclimate to the Babson curriculum.

If you have concerns or questions about arriving on campus in January, please visit our standard January admission page, which includes advice from students who have been there. (Please note, this page is about standard January admission, not Babson Begin: London. They are different programs, so some of the information may differ).

While abroad, you take four courses, including a first-year writing seminar. You are required to take two business-related courses, and the fourth course is an elective of your choosing. All four courses will count toward your Babson degree. 

Please note: Upon arriving on the Babson campus, Babson Begin students do not take Foundations of Management & Entrepreneurship. They will take two equivalent courses in Spring 2026: Foundations of Entrepreneurial Management (FEM) and Organizational Behavior. These two courses offer the same innovative and experiential academic content as the FME course; however, you do not start a business. By taking these two courses in Spring 2026, you will progress in the curriculum in closer alignment with other first-year students and satisfy the FME requirement, thus allowing you to take intermediate business courses starting in your second year (Fall 2026). 

The academic buildings are in the educational hub of London, the Bloomsbury neighborhood, which is home to the British Museum and is walking distance to London’s theater and literary hubs, the Covent Garden, Trafalgar Square, and Chinatown. It’s a great location for studying abroad freshman year. You will participate in excursions in and around London and engage with the local environments through guided community service opportunities.

Students live with other Babson students, as well as other first-year groups and upperclassmen from a wide range of US institutions studying at the Arcadia London Center, in Princess Elizabeth House, which is located in the residential neighborhood of Highgate. It is about a 40-minute tube ride to campus, which allows students to experience both a calm, cozy living space and a bustling city experience. It is dorm-style rooms with shared dining areas and kitchens, bathrooms, and living spaces. This setup allows for natural community building among the cohort as well as accommodates self-catering as there is no meal plan. The neighborhood has lush green space, restaurants, cafes, spectacular views of the city, and more.

Students are encouraged to make the most of their time in London. The Arcadia staff lead cultural excursions on the weekends, with options for all student budgets and interests. Options may include staff-led days to Stonehenge, Oxford, Windsor, Bath, Liverpool, and Paris.

Some excursions are included as part of this undergraduate international program, but students also can explore on their own as time and budgets allow. 

Beyond Arcadia-led travel excursions, students are encouraged to take in as much culture and opportunity as they would like. Options include volunteering and attending performances and speaking events. London is known for its cultural and historical landmarks, museums, shopping, professional sports, and local restaurants and markets.

Students will all have a membership to a local student union, which provides access to student clubs and organizations. Topics include athletics, performing and visual arts, and political and social groups.

You will have a designated Arcadia program coordinator, who is on site and on call to help with housing and academic concerns. Students also will have access to academic advising both from Arcadia and Babson.

There is 24/7 health and safety support available to students as part of this international undergraduate program. They have access to international health insurance, which includes mental health resources and partnership with local health partners. Students should still be on the health insurance they have at home.

Yes, there is a robust in-country orientation program at the beginning of the semester which will introduce you to the Arcadia London Center and team as well as your fellow students. It includes introductions to the support team and Program Contact. You will be shown how to take the tube to and from the Center to your housing and how to navigate your new city. Students are picked up from the airport on arrival day and accompanied to their residence and the Center. Additionally, we also hold virtual orientations over the summer for students.

You book travel independently, but as part of the orientation process, Arcadia will provide arrival dates and times and will coordinate airport pickups. Airfare is not included in the program fee/tuition. Specific travel guidance will be provided by the Program Advisor.

Yes, you will be on the same graduation schedule as students coming to Babson in the fall of 2025. You are scheduled to graduate in May 2029. The four classes you take as part of Babson Begin: London will count toward your Babson degree.

The final net cost of the program will depend on your need profile. The tuition cost will include a program fee and housing costs. Students do not have meal plans. Families will want to consider the additional cost of traveling, food, individual excursions, and other living expenses.

U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents are eligible for need-based financial aid as part of this program. You will need to submit the CSS Profile and FAFSA to be considered. Please reach out to Student Financial Services with any financial aid questions.

If you do not have a passport, you should apply for one immediately. Your passport must be valid for six months from the end of your program, otherwise you will need to renew your passport.

All US citizens will be required to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) to enter the UK. This is not a visa, but it is required for all citizens of visa-waiver countries (including the US). It will take under 20 minutes to complete and can be done via an app on your phone. The processing time is typically 3 business days, and the cost is approximately $20 USD. You will receive a prompt and detailed instructions on how to complete this process approximately one month before departure.  

Students who have a passport from a country outside of the US may need to apply for a Visitor Visa in advance of departure. Arcadia Abroad will be in touch with you directly if this is the case (you can also connect with your Program Advisor). Arcadia will provide you with some required documents; do not start applying for your visa until you receive instructions from us to do so. 

Any students coming to the US to study will need to apply for an F-1 student visa before they begin their studies on Babson’s main campus. Babson’s International Student & Scholar Services will contact you to begin the F-1 student visa application process around 4 months before you are to arrive at Babson’s main campus. As an international student you will need to request a Form I-20 as the first step in obtaining an F-1 visa.

It is preferable that you apply for your visa in your home country. It is generally understood that the visa process at home is easier and faster. However, circumstances, such as visa availability and travel plans, can impact this decision. You may be eligible to apply for your F-1 student visa while you are in London.

Your F-1 student status will start once you arrive on Babson’s main campus for the spring semester. You will need to complete two consecutive, full-time semesters before gaining US work authorization eligibility. This likely means you will need to complete the spring and following fall semester on Babson’s main campus before being eligible to do an internship. The Babson Begin: London program does not count towards the eligibility requirements. No students are eligible to complete an internship or work while studying in London.

We recommend that your current school completes your SEVIS record. We cannot accept your transferred SEVIS record because you will not be studying in the US. We will work with you to create a new F-1 SEVIS record.

No. If you are accepted to Babson Begin: London study abroad and choose to enroll, this is your path to attending Babson College. You will spend your first semester studying abroad in this London college program.