Richmond American University in London

• Location: London, England,
• Year of foundation: 1972,
• Number of students: about 1100,
• Language of instruction: English,
• Type of education: mixed.

Richmond American University in London (Richmond) is a private international university offering undergraduate and postgraduate programs in five faculties. A distinctive feature is dual accreditation, according to which higher education diplomas correspond to the educational systems of both the UK and the USA.

The educational institution was founded in 1972 by social entrepreneur and politician Cyril Taylor, who wanted to reform the educational system and bring modern methods to the academic process. The history of Richmond is constant progress, the desire to meet innovations in education, to provide excellent conditions for a multinational student community. In March 2020, the university entered into a strategic partnership with China Education Group (HK), a leading provider of private higher education in China. The next major strategic project for Richmond was the relocation of the campus to a new site in Chiswick Park in 2022. The learning platform provided an opportunity to improve the learning environment through state-of-the-art classrooms and learning resources with the latest amenities and technology, as well as access to new graduate internship and employment opportunities. Today, Richmond American University in London is considered a leading liberal arts university, in demand among students from different countries.

The university provides students with the opportunity to gain international educational experience through exchange programs, internships and cooperation. Partner organizations from Europe, North and South America, Asia, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, South Pacific, and Africa offer students short-term courses, semester studies in higher education programs, volunteer projects, and many other academic tools to enrich the student experience.

Educational process is based on five faculties:

• Richmond Business School;
• Department of Communications, Arts;
• Department of Social Sciences and Humanities;
• Department of Science, Technology;
• Faculty of Liberal Arts.

The institution also has the Richmond International Academic and Football Academy (RIASA), which offers professional training and development in football.

The university's research centers consist of groups of faculty and research staff conducting research in related fields both within existing schools and faculties and outside of them – in partnership with local, foreign organizations. Currently, there are five research centers:

• Well-being;
• The industry of persuasion;
• International Visual Art, Culture;
• Research in the field of mind in society;
• Gender in sports.

The educational staff supports all students who are facing personal difficulties so that they can reach their potential no matter what: physical or sensory impairments, medical or psychiatric conditions, certain learning difficulties such as dyslexia. In all cases, educators consider how personalizing a student's academic and extracurricular experiences will help them succeed.

The university, in partnership with the AES housing agency, offers accommodation in two comfortable residences located close to the educational campuses.

• West Kensington is an ideal location for intrernational students, offering proximity to numerous cafes, restaurants, and quirky boutiques. Nearby West Kensington and Barons Court stations allow you to reach central London, the university campus in 20 minutes. Basic amenities, including supermarkets, fitness centers, and picturesque Holland Park, are just a few steps away.  The residential complex has two-bedroom shared apartments, each with two to three students. Bathrooms, kitchens with all necessary appliances are located in each apartment, laundries, self-study areas are in common access to residents of the residence.
• Tower Hill offers a unique blend of historical charm and urban convenience, making it a sought-after destination for students. Home to attractions such as the Tower of London and Tower Bridge, this area is rich in history and culture, full of cosy cafes, popular eateries and local shops. With Tower Hill and Aldgate stations close by, central London is quick and easy to reach, and campus is within an hour. Residents of the Tower Hill enjoy the fact that everything they need is nearby, from supermarkets and gyms to riverside parks. Students are accommodated in shared apartments with two bedrooms, each of which is designed for two to three people. The apartments are equipped with bathrooms, kitchens and living rooms. The residence provides laundry services, round-the-clock assistance, access to a play area, an indoor pool, a gym.

The Richmond campus has dining rooms open on school days, with a cafeteria menu offering students a wide variety of meals, snacks and drinks to suit all tastes. The rest of the time, students prepare their own meals in the kitchens in the residence or visit the city's restaurants.

A wide range of student clubs offer students unique opportunities to develop their skills and gain new experiences. For example, the Society for Art Exhibitions offers students visits to London's art galleries and meetings with alumni working in the field, and the Green Project Club seeks to make an impact in the local community through volunteer work. The list of open thematic communities includes:

• Society of Arts;
• Book Club;
• Gaming Community;
• Korean Cultural Society;
• Baking Club;
• Black Student Union;
• Japanese Culture Lovers Club.

Outside of school hours, students can take part in the "Student Ambassadors" program, which involves part-time work and gaining professional experience, developing the necessary skills and meeting specialists in various industries. Students will collaborate with people from diverse backgrounds, ages, and nationalities to hone communication and leadership skills.

Each term, the Office of Student Affairs plans a variety of trips across the UK, Europe and beyond.

• Dual accreditation – UK + USA – for all educational programs;
• A wide range of scholarships;
• Personal mentors who organize about 15 hours of personal communication per week;
• Integrated internships that provide an opportunity to combine an academic degree with the acquisition of professional experience;
• Partnership with local and foreign organizations for knowledge exchange, research, exchange programs and internships;
• Extracurricular areas for the development of individual talents;
• Multinational student communiry;
• Comprehensive support from administrative and academic staff – from the time of application to the completion of the program.

The new learning area, which opened in 2022, is located in Chiswick Park, west London. Thanks to the well-developed transport infrastructure, the proximity of the campus to attractions and public places, it will take only 20 minutes to get to the city center. The input of students, faculty, and staff into the interior design process has created a fantastic learning environment with flexible academic spaces, including:

• Student Service Center;
• A library with a reading room offering additional study rooms for students, a café;
• Gym with cardio and strength training areas, yoga and dance studios;
• Classrooms with interactive equipment;
• Specialized laboratories, studios and workshops;
• Halls for events, rehearsals;
• Dining room, cafeteria;
• Administrative offices.

At Richmond, students have access to a range of IT services and opportunities. PCs and other network equipment with Windows, Microsoft Office, and a variety of software can be found in specialized computer laboratories and open access areas. High-speed WiFi is available throughout the campus, and wired Internet connection is available in some rooms (at maximum speed). For film, photography and graphics courses, there is a special Apple Mac laboratory with software that meets industry standards, special editing complexes, and sound recording equipment.

In the open area there is a lake, suspension bridges for walking, lawns, several sports grounds.

The academic calendar consists of the fall and spring semesters of about 15 weeks each, as well as the summer session of 6 weeks:

• Fall semester: September-December;
• Spring Semester: January-May;
• Summer session: May-July.

Classes are held on weekdays, Monday to Friday, in the morning and afternoon, followed by extracurricular activities. Rest is provided on national and international holidays, vacations, weekends.

The list of additional costs includes:

• Registration fee, deposits for accommodation reservations, course places;
• Accommodation, self-catering;
• Some textbooks, educational supplies;
• Some extracurricular activities;
• External exams;
• Personal expenses.

Admission of new students is carried out twice a year: spring - in January, autumn - in September. The admission process consists of several stages:

• Filling out a detailed questionnaire, providing documents;
• Payment of the registration fee;
• Passing an interview, possible entrance tests;
• Invitation to enrollment;
• Making deposits to book a place on the course, in the residence;
• Arrive on campus to start classes.

Since the university's inception, more than 15,000 students from 100+ countries have graduated from Richmond, building a global alumni network. Annual statistics confirm the high employability of pupils: students not only receive qualifications, but also professional skills that provide extensive opportunities for career development.

International applicants wishing to enroll in one of the higher education programs at Richmond must provide:

• A package of personal documents, including a valid passport, student visa or residence permit, health insurance;
• Certificate of Complete Secondary Education with Transcripts / Bachelor's Degree in Related Specialization with Official Transcript;
• A personal resume that includes individual achievements, an essay on plans and goals for studying;
• Language exam results: IELTS (from 6.0), TOEFL iBT (from 78), PTE Academic (from 52) or equivalent recognized by the university.

All documents must be translated into English and certified.

A wide range of scholarships are available to international students, covering part of the cost of paying for the program and other aspects of student life. Scholarships are awarded on the basis of high academic results, automatically renewed if they are maintained. Some of the awards are available to first-year students and are based on academic performance from the previous place of study.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision