How safe will I be in London?

As this is important to you, important to your parents and important to your instructors and AIFS (American Institute for Foreign Study, which provides all non-academic student services), you’ll be reassured to know that London, even after dark and even – parents, stop reading here – very late. The students, faculty and AIFS support staff are a kind of community that bonds for the duration of your stay in London.

AIFS offers programs that make your student's safety and health the highest priority. We are committed to ensuring the safety and security of our program participants. This "peace of mind" commitment includes the following features – all standard on AIFS programs:

• 24-hour emergency service in the U.S. and abroad

• On-site Resident Directors and local support staff to provide guidance and assistance

• Comprehensive insurance/assistance package that includes medical coverage abroad, program cancellation/interruption insurance and baggage coverage

• Financial security – a unique policy that protects every student's payment and guarantees he or she will receive the services included in the program

AIFS employs a staff of professional, full-time Residential Directors, the majority of whom are native to the area, who are intimately familiar with AIFS study abroad locations. The networks that the Resident Directors have established with local authorities, U.S. Consulate and Embassy personnel and local resources helps to ensure the highest level of care and the ability to respond to unexpected events should they arise.

Lectures and seminars on safety and security have been held on every AIFS campus to inform students and to keep them up to date on all issues. Current news items and bulletins are disseminated to all students as needed.

Safety Resources

U.S. Embassies - Listing of every U.S. embassy in the world with links to each website

U.S State Department - International travel information including current travel warnings and consulate information

Tips for Traveling Abroad - Detailed information to ensure a safe trip from the U.S. State Department

Safety Contact

If you have questions or concerns, please contact AIFS' main office in Stamford, Connecticut at (800) 727-2437 (from 8:30am to 5:00pm ET)

If the call is an emergency, please follow the system prompts in the main menu to reach our 24-hour emergency service.