Take advantage of the unique flavor London has to offer. CEA offers a variety of local immersion activities to match your interests. Whether you enjoy music concerts, clubs, sports, cooking classes, language exchanges or something entirely different, our resident staff can help you get involved in the local culture. Here are just some examples.
Goldsmiths College, University of London
University of Westminster
Walking Tour
This is a journey that will take students back to a very different London from what they will see before them today. Hidden gems await them as students learn about how London has grown and evolved over the centuries. The tours are tailored specifically to each group; students will have the chance to retrace the steps of Shakespeare, discover “Secret London”, or maybe even follow the route of some of London's most notorious characters. Walking has never been so interesting. These tours are a real eye-opener and will leave students wanting to find out more about their adoptive home. The places visited along the tour and the new knowledge gained will enable students to impress their guests when they come and visit.
A Backstage Theatre Tour
Most visitors will at some point during their stay in London see a musical or play, and for the British, a trip to see a show or play (not just Shakespeare!) is second nature. CEA students have the opportunity to go behind the scenes and see how these famous productions are put together, such as learning how the play or show is transformed from mere text to a professional west end production, as well as finding out about the history of the theatre and some of theatre’s more colorful characters.
A Lesson in British Cuisine
What is Shepherd's Pie, toad in the hole and Jam Roly Poly? Mention this to some Brits and it conjures up plain and simple comfort food, for others it is a mystery. Students can find out more about how these dishes came to be and why; they can even learn how to prepare some of these dishes.
Hosting for Overseas Students (HOST)
What better way to immerse oneself in a culture than to actually live it? Students can do just this with Hosting for Overseas Students (HOST). British families will open their homes to students for a weekend where they can discover what a typical meal in the family consists of, what TV programs they watch and how they spend their free time. By staying with a family students have the opportunity to become part of the family for the weekend. Instead of simply reading about the culture, this is a great way to actually live it!
Cricket/Football/Polo/Rugby (Seasonal)
Sports may not be “everyone’s cup of tea”, but it does play (excuse the pun) a vital role in British culture. People come together from all walks of life to watch a rugby or cricket match. Sporting events are a great tradition in the UK, and are seen by academics as a way of commentating on the culture of a country. A Saturday afternoon spent cheering for one’s favorite team is part of English life; CEA students will have the opportunity to not only visit a sports stadium but also to learn about the details of the game.
Goldsmiths College, University of London
Sports
Goldsmiths offers students the opportunity to get involved with a wide variety of sports club such as rugby and football. Regular classes are also offered in aerobics and aikido. Nearby facilities also include Loring Hall in Sidcup which is used for football, cricket, rugby, hockey and track and field; a training field with cricket nets, tennis courts; and a swimming pool and leisure complex.
Clubs & Societies
There is a variety of clubs and societies with which students are able to get involved. This is a great way to meet other international students as well as British students with similar interests.
Recitals & Performances
Students at Goldsmiths regularly put on lunchtime recitals on campus and evening performances in the community which are open to all students.
Degree Shows
As a university for the creative arts, Goldsmiths offers a wide range of shows between June and August which display students’ final degree works in media such as fine art, textiles and design. Some pieces may be for sale.
Student Media
The award wining Smiths Magazine and Wired radio station are always looking for student contributors. Getting involved with these organizations is a great way to build resumes and meet British students.
Volunteer Opportunities and Community Service
Students can get involved with volunteering and a range of community service activities such as New Deals for Communities.
Department of Professional and Community Education (PACE)
PACE offers a wide range of evening courses, at reasonable prices in areas such as Cultural and Social Studies (including creative writing, journalism, literature, sociology), Languages (including English as a Foreign Language), and Performing Arts (including courses in guitar, jazz and popular music, percussion, piano/keyboard, saxophone, and world music).
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University of Westminster
Clubs & Societies
- Afro & Caribbean Society
- Animal Rights Society
- Christian Union
- Comparative Ideologies
- Drama Society
- Drum & Bass Society
- Electronic Dance Music Society
- Fashion Society
- Fight Against Aids Society
- Film Society
- Gaming Society
- Hindu Society
- Indie Culture Society
- Integrated Medicine Society
- International Law Society
- International Human Rights Society
- International Student Society
- Islamic Society
- Japanese Society
- Korean Society
- Live Music Society
- Mothers Society
- Muslim Womens' Cultural Society
- Sikh Society
- Socialist Worker Student Society
- Soul Train Society
- Tamil Society
- The Law & Debating Society
- UNICEF
- Uzbekistan Awareness Society
- Wesminster Volunteers Society
Athletic Union
They also have the Althletic Union which has a range of sports clubs.
Volunteer & Job Opportunitites
Students who are interested in volunteering and getting involved with the local community can contact our Community Volunteering Unit which is part of the Careers and Student Employment office based at the Marylebone Campus. They can help students find suitable volunteer placements, and the CaSE office can provide help and advice regarding part-time jobs, cv's etc.
Student Newspaper
The Student magazine 'Smoke' is always looking for contributers.
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