The chance to explore a new country and city is now available for the fall semester of 2016 thanks to the study abroad program from local community colleges.

This year students at Rio Hondo College can experience the joy of studying in London, England from Sept. 8 to Dec. 9 while receiving transferable credit to either Cal States or Universities of California.

The requirements to use this program are to have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 in at least 12 units of previous college level course work at an accredited college. First year students can be accommodated if approved with the campus Coordinator, Adam Wetsman.

Students are expected to take a minimum of 12 units while in London and a mandatory course in Humanities 120 British Civilization/Life and Culture. These courses can range from Business to English classes and students are allowed to take one Distance Education/Online Courses, which will start before the trip to London. Director Adam Wetsman advises that students do not take more than 12 units, so that students in the program can enjoy the city and explore British life.

The three steps are to:

Read and Complete the Financial Aid Fact Street.

Apply to Citrus College for the Fall Semester.

Pay the $450 deposit and submit the American Institute For Foreign Study (AIFS) enrollment by June 3, of this year. AIFS has worked with over 1.5 million students and has worked with Southern California Community Colleges since 1989.

While students look over this program, there are a number of financial aspects that need to be considered first in order to make sure that the trip is plausible.

The first thing to consider is the affordability of staying in one of the priciest places in the world.

There are two options of living while staying in London. The first option is Shared Homestay, which consists of a student living with a family for about $7875 and will proved breakfast, Monday through Friday. The second option is a shared apartment, which means sharing an apartment with other students for about $9375.

Both of these living situations are expensive, but with the help Financial Aid, Scholarships, and Loans, students can have the opportunity to experience living in one of the most talked about places in the world.

The program does cover the living situation, a public library card, and a transportation pass that allows you to use the buses and the subways, but it does not cover things like airfare, food, college courses, textbooks, fieldtrips, or personal expenses like laundry.

While in London, the program also offers optional trips that allow you to explore more of Europe. Some of these trips include a European tour of Paris, Bruges, and Brussels for a cost of $1095, a tour of Scotland for $595 and a Cultural tour of Oxford, Stonehenge, Salisbury, Bath, Brighton and/or Stratford-Upon-Avon. It should be noted that these trips are extra to the package price of the trip.

By stepping out of comfort zones, students can greatly benefit from the new environment by experiencing new adventures and new outlooks on cultures so different from American Culture.

For more information, contact Coordinator Adam Wetsman’s office phone at 562-463-7463.