Program Announcements
The 2026-27 program application will open August 1, 2026.
Upcoming Information Sessions:
Tuesday, April 14 at 4:30PM · Zoom https://uiowa.zoom.us/j/92432073910
Friday, April 17 at 1:30PM · Zoom https://uiowa.zoom.us/j/95397962504
Wednesday, April 22 at 10:30AM · Zoom https://uiowa.zoom.us/j/94407359782
Monday, April 27 at 10:00AM · Zoom https://uiowa.zoom.us/j/97614011244
Note: HawkID is required to join the Zoom room.
Winter Program Student Panel
Wednesday, April 29 at 4:45PM in S401 PBB
- This panel is a great opportunity to learn about our winter programs in Australia and London from students that participated last year.
London Winter Courses
Winter session participants may select one of the two courses offered in London.
Finance
FIN:4020 Topics in Finance - International Trade and Finance in a Time of Disruption
Changes in economic and financial expectations are communicated instantly around the globe. Gone are the days of the fable of Rothschild’s carrier pigeons carrying news of the Battle of Waterloo to London, allowing a fortune to be made in the British bond market. Here to stay is the almost instant contagion of the U.S. Financial Crisis to all corners of the globe. Now, as then, it is the events of the day – and their interpretation - that changes the valuation of assets. Today, as in the nineteenth century, London remains a global center of that interpretation.
This course will cover the basics of global trade, international finance, and money and banking to give us the tools to talk about current events. Thinking about it as the economics of disequilibrium, we will examine topics such as Brexit, COVID, European Union changes, second Russian invasion of Ukraine, threat and promise of AI, rise of authoritarian populism, tariffs and anti-globalism, and their impact on the financial markets and international companies.
Risk Management and Insurance
FIN:4470 Insurtech Innovation - From the Birth to the Future of Insurance: Risk, Innovation, and Transformation
Insurtech Innovation (FIN:4470:0001) is an immersive, study-abroad course that examines how innovation and technology are reshaping the global insurance industry, with a particular focus on property and casualty insurance and cybersecurity and AI-related risk. Taught in London, one of the world’s leading insurance and financial hubs, the course provides students with direct exposure to global insurance markets, emerging risks, and the firms driving innovation within the industry.
The global insurance market is projected to grow from $5.6 trillion in 2022 to $9.8 trillion by 2027, yet insurers face increasing pressure from climate change, geopolitical instability, cyber threats, regulatory complexity, and the rapid acceleration of artificial intelligence. This course explores how insurers, startups, and investors respond to these challenges through Insurtech innovation, including new business models, data-driven risk solutions, and emerging technologies such as parametric insurance, advanced analytics, and AI-enabled underwriting and claims processes.
Through a combination of class discussions, applied exercises, site-based learning experiences, and a final executive-style client presentation, students develop practical skills in innovation strategy, risk analysis, and professional communication. By the end of the course, students will have a deeper understanding of how Insurtech innovation is shaping the future of insurance, and how to contribute meaningfully to that transformation in a global context.
Program Admission Criteria
- 2.75 UI and cumulative GPA AND
- For FIN:4020, completion of FIN:3000
- For FIN:4470, completion of FIN:3400
- In good academic and disciplinary standing with the University of Iowa
- Not on probation for any reason
- If you have any questions about the prerequisites for these courses contact sydney-johnson@uiowa.edu before you apply
Program Dates
TBA
Program Application
Application Opens: August 1, 2026
Application Deadline: TBA
Confirmation of Participation Due: TBA
Program fees
2026-27 Program Fee: TBA
The program fee includes tuition, accommodation, transportation pass, all program related activities and events, UI Study Abroad fees, and 24/7 support from UI faculty and staff.
Flights, meals, and personal expenses are not included in the program fee.
What is included in the program fee:
- 3 s.h. course
- Housing
- Guided walking tour of London
- Guided tour of Tower of London
- Tea at the British Museum
- Day trip to Bath with a guided tour of the city
- Night out at a show in the West End
- Company visits and speakers
- UI Alumni panel
- Transportation card to explore central London
- On-site orientation and 24/7 support in London
- Study abroad administrative fee
What's not included in the program fee:
- Round-trip airfare (estimated to be $800-1200)
- Meals ($650)
- Personal expenses ($300)
- CISI International Health Insurance ($20)
- UK Electronic Visa ($13)
- Passport ($165)
Purchasing airline tickets
Students are advised NOT to purchase tickets until the program's status is confirmed. In late September, students will be informed about whether there is sufficient interest to offer the trip. Directions about purchasing tickets will be shared at that time.
Scholarships
Scholarships are available from two different sources: Tippie and the UI Study Abroad Office.
Students are encouraged to complete scholarship applications at the same time they are applying to the program.
"This study abroad experience taught me to have confidence in myself, maximize every moment, and showed me my ability to navigate a new side of the world. The most meaningful part of the study abroad trip was sharing it with Tippie students. My experiences on this trip were shaped by not only the experience itself but the people whom I shared it with. I am endlessly thankful for my classmates and friends that made the most of the experience and the encouragement of pushing me to try new things."
"As a first-generation student, I didn’t really know much about study abroad. After learning about the resources here and the affordability of study abroad through scholarships, I decided to take action. I was the first in my family to study abroad and I brought back more than just souvenirs... I brought back a new understanding of how large and complex the world is."
How do I learn more?
To stay up to date, email sydney-johnson@uiowa.edu to be added to the email update list. Details about information sessions will be shared via email.
Note to international students
Depending on your country of origin, it may be necessary for you to apply for a Student Visitor Visa before you can enter the United Kingdom for the program. You can check on the U.K. Border Agency’s website to find out if you need to apply. If you need a visa to enter the United Kingdom, UI Study Abroad will supply you with documents to support your application.
To return to the United States after the class, you will need a valid form I-20 or DS-2019 endorsed for travel abroad and an F-1 or J-1 student visa that is valid through the date that you plan to return to the United States. You can obtain a travel signature from an advisor at International Students and Scholars Services (ISSS).