Cambridge is an historic university city. It is home to the many colleges, departments, and centres of one of the United Kingdom’s most famous universities, the University of Cambridge. The City of Cambridge has a small-town feel but is only a short train ride into the large cosmopolitan city of London. As an INSTEP-WFU Cambridge study abroad student, you will live in central Cambridge within walking distance to your classes, many of which are held in different University of Cambridge Colleges and Centres.
 
You will spend a semester in Cambridge where you can study specific topics that include international relations, business, economics, political economy, geopolitics, history, and English literature. The INSTEP-WFU Cambridge program is designed to provide you with small interactive seminars taught by world class, experienced British faculty members.
 
Gain the full Cambridge experience by getting involved with all Cambridge has to offer. Join one of the many university clubs or societies where you will meet and interact with other university students, experience a debate at the historic Cambridge Union Society, or soak in the medieval architecture of Cambridge. With its proximity to London Stanstead Airport, Cambridge puts the whole of Europe at your doorstep.

The INSTEP-WFU program is one of the few American programs located in Cambridge, one of  the most renowned university towns in the world. Cambridge has a small-town flavor, but it also offers tremendous opportunities to those seeking an outstanding academic and student culture. The excellent British public transportation system makes Cambridge an easy journey to London and other cities in England.

Courses are taught in either seminar or supervision format.

The program emphasizes a close student to faculty teaching relationship which is underscored by the small group teaching style. Some courses are “seminars”, which range in size from 5-15 students. Other courses are offered in the traditional Cambridge “supervision” format which meet in small groups of one to four students, usually in the college rooms of the faculty.

Each semester will be split into two teaching blocks. 
 
FALL SEMESTER
During the first block of the semester (weeks 1-4) all students will take:
 

• HST 311G Western Europe and the USA since 1918

During the second block of the semester (weeks 5-15) students will choose four of the remaining courses from the INSTEP-WFU Cambridge course offerings.
 
SPRING SEMESTER
During the first block of the semester (weeks 1-11), students will choose four courses from INSTEP-WFU course offerings.

During the second block of the semester (weeks 12-15) students will choose one of the following courses:

• CGS 260 Seminar in Global Trade and Commerce
• HST 311/REL 103A Christian History

Descriptions of available courses can be found here:
http://www.instep-programs.org/cambridgeprograms.html

The following information is for Wake Forest, in-residence students only. Students from affiliated institutions should see their home study abroad office for course approval instructions.

WFU/INSTEP Cambridge Course Approvals

It is the student’s responsibility to speak to their major and minor advisor(s) regarding their abroad coursework and how (or if) it will count towards their degree plan.

NOTE to WFU Political Science students:
This program offers POL courses which will not count towards the in-residence (“at Wake Forest”) POL credit for Politics and International Affairs majors and minors.  For more details about taking POL courses on this program, students must consult the Department of Politics and International Affairs study abroad page or contact the department directly (wfupol@wfu.edu).

NOTE to WFU Global Trade and Commerce Minors:
In many cases, students can complete four courses towards the five required for the Global Trade and Commerce minor.

NOTE on Transcripts:
If you are applying for a fall program, you will need to upload your transcript showing your grades from the previous fall. If you are applying for a spring program, you will need to upload your transcript showing grades from the previous spring.

All courses are taught by carefully chosen local faculty, many of whom are from the University of Cambridge.

All students live in Warkworth House, a Victorian student residence that also houses the INSTEP-WFU office. The house is located in central Cambridge. It is a short walk to the city centre, many of the Cambridge colleges, and the railway station. Rooms include single, double and triple occupancy with each room having its own bathroom. There is a fully fitted communal kitchen for preparing meals as well as a student lounge and classroom in the house. Rooms are cleaned and linens are changed weekly.

NOTE: All students participating in the WFU/Cambridge: INSTEP program are required to live in program-provided housing. Housing accommodations you may have on campus do not automatically transfer to abroad and certain housing accommodations (single rooms and private bathrooms, for example) may not be available.

Students who participate on the INSTEP-WFU Cambridge program are temporary members of the Cambridge Union Society and are encouraged to join any of the student clubs at the university. Students are also temporary members of the Marshall Library in the Department of Economics.

In addition, the INSTEP-WFU Cambridge resident director arranges organized group activities, special receptions, and dinners.

Most successful applicants have a GPA of 3.0. If your GPA is lower than 3.0, you are still encouraged to apply and to discuss your application with a study abroad advisor. The admissions committee considers a number of factors  in addition to your cumulative GPA. Most importantly, strong consideration will be given to your major GPA.

Wake Forest students will pay the same WFU tuition and housing fees as you would at the Reynolda campus. Students from affiliated home institutions should discuss cost with your home study abroad office.

Fee Includes:

• Tuition
• Pre-Departure Counseling and Enrollment
• Permanent Academic Record and Grade Report Issued directly to WFU
• Housing during the Program Dates
• Access to INSTEP-staffed offices in both the UK and US
• International Health Insurance
• Orientation Program
• Organized Activities
• Membership in the Cambridge Union Society and Marshall Library

Fee does NOT include:

• Airfare
• Meals
• Personal Expenses

Wake Forest students should contact the Center for Global Programs & Studies for information about WFU study abroad scholarships. Students from affiliated institutions should contact their home study abroad office

Passport Information
Students need to check their passport’s expiration date and ensure that it will be valid for at least 6 months after the program’s end date.

Students going on a fall program need to make sure their passport is valid through at least mid-June of the following year. Students going on a spring program need to make sure their passport is valid through at least mid-November of the same year.

US passport holders who need to renew their passport should visit the U.S. Department of State’s passport website for information on this process.

Non-US passport holders who need to renew their passport should refer to their home country’s passport office.

Visa Information
All students participating on the INSTEP Cambridge program will receive a Letter of Certification before departing for the program. This letter confirms your status as a full-time WFU student attending the program.

For US passport holders, this letter will act as your visa application for the semester. You will not need to apply for a visa before your arrival in the UK. You will receive a Standard Visitor visa in your passport once you clear Customs in the UK.

Non-US passport holders may need to obtain a visa prior to your arrival in Cambridge. It is your responsibility to research this process and apply for the visa, however, GPS and INSTEP are here to help and can assist with obtaining necessary documentation. The Letter of Certification is just one of the documents you may need for your application.

To check if your citizenship classifies you as a visa national go to the Visa National List.

Wake Forest Students:

Students from All Other Institutions:

Wake Forest University students: Feel free to read through the current version of the program handbook for general program information.
WFU/INSTEP Cambridge Handbook

INSTEP Cambridge Global Ambassador for 2024-2025:
Announced in September 2024. Contact studyabroad@wfu.edu in the meantime if you have questions.

For more information about the program, visit the INSTEP website:  http://www.instep-programs.org/index.html