Environment, Social & Governance (ESG) in London: A Global View (Early Fall 2025)

Program Content

Environment, Social, & Governance (ESG) in London: A Global View is an engaging study abroad experience in London, United Kingdom that is designed to expose students to the sustainable business practices that are being introduced and required domestically and internationally. Students will learn foundational concepts about sustainable reporting and engage with business professionals to gain insight into the importance of improving environmental standards, while supporting diverse, inclusive cultures within their organizations.  

Europe is on the cutting-edge of sustainable reporting requirements. London is a central location for standard-setting bodies such as the ISSB (International Sustainability Standards Boards) and IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards) organizations. The Mayor of London has set a target for London to be net zero carbon by 2030, which is a very aggressive goal. Therefore, companies in London are on the forefront of sustainability trends that will impact world economies.

Students will visit the Lloyd’s of London Insurance Market to learn about ESG policies and how shared risk models are being implemented.

Additionally, students will have the opportunity to observe and study the rich history and cultural relevance of the citizens and businesspersons of London with regards to sustainable practices. London performs very highly overall, coming sixth in the world, with scores near the top for profit, planet and people in the new Arcadis Sustainable Cities Index 2022 (SCI) ranking of 100 of the world's leading cities.

Student lodging in Central London will provide the opportunity for a richer study abroad experience since the student loding is central to all that London has to offer!

This study abroad program is taught by Professors Gary Viers and Karen Janz. 

Academic Content

This program does not have any prerequisites or language requirements. Students receive a total of five credits for the program as follows:

TBUS 490 or TACCT 590 Environmental, Social, & Governance: A Global View (5 or 4 credits)

This course is designed to give students in the Milgard School of Business an understanding of how Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) issues are developing in a global economy. The time spent abroad will give students a chance to see the theory taught in this course applied in the real world. Students will gain a valuable global perspective during their time abroad that will enhance their ability to use the content taught in this course. This course will be taught in a hybrid format. The face to face portion will take place in London, and the remaining portions of the course will be delivered online. TBUS 490 (5 credits) is designed for undergraduate students while TACCT 590 (4 credits) is designed for graduate students. 

Learning Goals Include:

• Develop foundational skills to identify Environmental, Social, & Governance issues 

• Differentiate areas of ESG needs for specific types of business entities 

• Analyze the relationship between domestic and international ESG issues 

• Analyze the costs and benefits to firms due to ESG reporting requirements 

• Compare and contrast domestic and international ESG implementation 

• Synthesize the experiences from the study abroad and the theory taught in the course to develop a global perspective of ESG 

Program Schedule

The program runs from August 26-September 18, 2025. Students will spend September 7 to September 13 in London and will be required to participate in online instructional activities before leaving and after returning from abroad. 

Housing

Students will be staying in dorms at the London School of Economics in Central London. Rooms are double and triple occupancy.

Student Eligibility

Undergraduates and graduate students in good academic standing (2.0 or above), from any UW campus may apply. This program is designed for students who have an interest in sustainable business practices. Those that want to gain a deeper appreciation for how environmental, societal, and diversity issues influence the way business is conducted.  Students who have an interest in history and culture will also benefit from this study. We also welcome applications from non-matriculated students. Students who have not yet earned a high school diploma or equivalent are not eligible for our study abroad programs.

Application Deadline

Applications are due on February 15, 2025. Applicants will be notified of acceptance decisions a few weeks after the deadline. Once accepted to the program, applicants will need to confirm their participation two weeks after acceptance.

Travel Documents and Insurance 

All program participants must have a valid passport in order to travel to the United Kingdom.

Visas

As of January 8, 2025, U.S. citizens traveling to the U.K. for short visits, tourism, or business will need an Electronic Travel Authorization if they do not have a U.K. visa or legal residency in the U.K. or the Republic of Ireland. Information on the new requirements and how to apply can be found on the U.K. government website.

If you are a citizen of another country, you can research visa requirements by calling the consular offices of countries you plan to visit by going to the following website: http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/country.html. 

The cost and requirements for obtaining visas vary. It is your responsibility to determine visa requirements for all countries you plan to visit while abroad including countries that you plan to visit before or after your study abroad program. This is an especially important consideration if you are planning to do more than one study abroad program.

Insurance 

The University of Washington requires students engaged in educational activities abroad – including study, research, internships or community engagement – to purchase UW Student Abroad Insurance. If you are a current UW student, you are required to purchase coverage UW Student Abroad Insurance. Details are on the UW Study Abroad Insurance page.

Program Cost

The program cost is $2265.

Included in the cost of the program:

• $470 Administrative Fee 
• Instruction (5 credits)
• Housing and some meals while students are abroad
• Program activities and program travel

Not Included:

• Airfare
• Meals (except as listed above)
• UW Student Abroad Insurance
• Transportation to and from the airport in the U.S.
• Personal expenses (phone calls, eating out, etc.)
• Textbooks
• Visa cost

Payment Due Date: October 10, 2025

Program fees will be posted to your MyUW student account and can be paid the same way that you pay tuition and other fees. Check your MyUW Account periodically for due dates.

Withdrawals

The $470 UW Study Abroad Administrative Fees are non-refundable once a contract has been submitted. Students withdrawing from a program are responsible for paying a percentage of the program fee depending on the date of withdrawal. More details about the withdrawal policy are included in your payment contract. No part of the program fee is refundable once the program has begun (please refer to Emergency Withdrawal information below, if applicable). The date of withdrawal is considered the business day a withdrawal form is received by the Office of Global Affairs. Notice of withdrawal from the program must be made in writing by completing the following steps:

Please email uwtintl@uw.edu and copy your program director(s) providing notice that you will no longer be participating in the program. You will also need to respond to any further communication from the Office of Global Affairs to finalize your withdrawal.

Emergency Withdrawal 

If you cannot participate in a study abroad program, you may submit an Emergency Withdrawal Petition. If granted, the Emergency Withdrawal may allow for partial relief from your financial obligations to the program.

An Emergency Withdrawal Petition may be submitted in the following circumstances:

• Unanticipated change in financial situation
• Medical emergency
• Death in immediate family
• Active military duty
• Unusual or extenuating circumstances

To submit an Emergency Withdrawal Petition, complete this form and email it to uwtintl@uw.edu. 

Financial Aid and Scholarships

• A large percentage of UW students utilize financial aid to study abroad. Most types of financial aid can be applied to study abroad fees.
• Please note that students who are studying abroad in an Early Fall program must enroll in a minimum number of credits to be considered a full-time student during fall quarter and therefore eligible for financial aid. In addition to the 5 credits from this program, undergraduate students will need to be enrolled in at least 10 additional credits and graduate students will need to be enrolled in at least 5 additional graduate-level credits. There may be an adjustment to your aid if you are not considered to be full-time for financial aid purposes.
• For UW Tacoma students, you can submit a revision request to increase the amount of aid for the quarter you are studying abroad. These additional funds are usually awarded in the form of loans. To apply, fill out a revision request form, attach the budget sheet (available via the link at the top of this brochure) and submit these documents to the UW Tacoma Office of Financial Aid.
• For UW Seattle or Bothell Students, you can apply by filling out a revision request form, attach the budget sheet (available via the link at the top of this brochure) and submit these documents to the Office of Financial Aid.
• Consult the Financial Aid section on the UW Study Abroad website for more information on applying for financial aid, special considerations for summer and early fall programs, and budgeting and fundraising tips.
• Please also review this list of scholarships: these are opportunities that can help fund your study abroad experience. Please note that many of them have deadlines before your study abroad application is due. For help with the application process, please contact uwtintl@uw.edu.

Budgeting Tools

We understand that figuring out your finances for study abroad can be complicated, and we are here to help. Here are some ways to find additional support:

• Click on the Budget Sheets link at the top of this brochure to view the estimated budget of all expenses for this program.
• UW Tacoma students can attend a How to Fund Your Study Abroad event - more information is on the Events page of our website.

Changes in Cost or Scope of Program

In the event of significant devaluations of the dollar, some adjustments to program activities may be necessary. If there are any political events that might compromise the safety of the participants, a rescheduling or cancellation of the program may be necessary. If such changes occur, students will be notified of the changes and options will be presented.

Orientation

To be eligible to study abroad, all program participants must attend an online pre-departure orientation facilitated by UW Study Abroad as well as your program-specific orientations, offered by your program directors. Orientation must be completed prior to the enrollment deadline for the quarter that you are studying abroad.

Program Cancellation

If viable enrollment is not reached by April 15, 2025, the program will be cancelled. Participants will be notified and the administrative and program fees will be refunded.

Disability Accommodation