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Constitutional Law in the United Kingdom

This course explores one of the most influential legal systems in the world and its relationship to the global legal order within the context of American and European politics. It focuses on London and the United Kingdom’s relationship to the common law system, including an examination of its relatively new UK Supreme Court, the Royal Courts of Justice, the Inns of Court and their political significance in the context of the English and U.S. court systems in the context of the English and U.S. court systems.

Apply now! This program is traveling for Spring Break 2027! Apply by November 15, 2026 to participate.

Location

London, England

Term

Spring Break

Housing

Hotel

Program Highlights

Spend Spring Break across the pond in England! If you want to truly understand the differences between American and British legal systems, then there’s no better way than to set a foot in each camp.

You’ll use your theoretical knowledge of law, courts and justice to evaluate how these play out in daily life in England.

Day trips and on-site visits include the University of Cambridge, Westminster Abbey, Parliament, and much more!

APPLY NOW Schedule an Advising Appointment

Program Contact Information

Desiree Dube

Assistant Director, Education Abroad

Email: ddube1@kent.edu

Office Phone: 330-672-7989

Important Dates & Billing

Important Dates

Program Dates: Spring Break 2027 - March 14 - 21, 2027

Application Deadline: November 15, 2026

Deadline to Commit to the Program: November 22, 2026

Withdrawal Deadline: November 22, 2026

Final Program Fee Deadline: The program fee will be billed to your Kent State student account. The program fee deadline will be in accordance with the Financial, Billing and Enrollment Center's Spring 2027 payment due dates. You should refer to the first Spring 2027 due date.

Application Process

You will need to complete a Kent State Education Abroad application. These quick steps will help walk you through the process.

1. Start an Education Abroad Application

When you click the "Apply Now" button (located towards the top and bottom of this page), you will be brought to the Education Abroad application system where you can view program costs and start an application. Be sure to submit your application before the deadline!

2. Guest Application (If applicable)

Are you a student at another university? To apply for a Kent State education abroad program, you will first need to apply for admission to Kent State University as a “Guest Student”. Please apply as either an “Undergraduate Guest Student” or as a “Graduate Guest Student”, depending on your course level.

Once you have applied and been accepted as a Kent State University student, you will receive an email with your FlashLine login credentials. Activate your account and then proceed to the next step, which is to apply to the Education Abroad program of your interest. You can return to this page and follow the “Apply Now” button to start that application.

You can also refer to the FAQs for Guest Students if you need further help.

3. Wait for Acceptance

Once you have submitted your study abroad program application, it will be reviewed by the faculty leader. Applications are evaluated on a rolling basis. You should hear back from us within one month.

4. Commit to the Program

If you are accepted, you need to log back into your application by going to educationabroad.kent.edu and clicking LOGIN. Once you see the name of your program, you need to click on it and commit (i.e., accept your offer of admission).

Academics

Course Information

Course Name and CRN: POL 40995 The Politics of London Law and Courts

Number of Credit Hours: 1

KSU Sponsoring College: College of Sciences and Humanities

Program Language of Instruction: English.

Course Description:

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

1. Evaluate the similarities and differences between political systems in America and England within their respective cultural milieus.

2. Understand political jurisprudence and legal theories relating to law, courts and justice in American and British adversarial legal systems.

3. Compare the political significance of the U.S. and English trial court processes in regard to civil and criminal litigation.

4. Distinguish between legal professions in the U.S. and U.K., and how each delivers justice in common law systems.

5. Analyze the nature and application of constitutional law and judicial review in the context of the appellate jurisprudence of the U.S. Supreme Court and the U.K. Supreme Court.

6. Comprehend the role of law and courts and their underlying salience to the global legal order.

Faculty Contact Information

Name: Professor Christopher P. Banks

Email: cbanks6@kent.edu

Phone: 330-672-0908

Tentative Itinerary

This program is designed to take place over Spring Break.

Below is a tentative itinerary; however, the exact sequence and sites are subject to changes in availability and cost.

Day 1:

Traveling to London, England

Day 2:

Welcome to London! This world capital has been among the finest cities on earth for centuries, and today's London is as deep as it is broad. Whether you are seeking urban bustle or a lush park, ancient history or modern art, fish and chips or tikka masala, you'll find the best of the best here in London.
Thames River Cruise: Take a leisurely cruise along the River Thames. Our cruise starts in London's city center and ends in Greenwich. Enjoy sightseeing as we pass by London Eye, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, the Tate Modern Museum, Tower Bridge, Tower of London, Canary Wharf, and more.

Day 3:

Westminster Walking Tour: Explore the Westminster area of London with your Blue Badge Guide as you learn about many of London's most iconic sites including St. James's Palace, Buckingham Palace, Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, 10 Downing St, the Churchill War Rooms, and more.
Westminster Abbey & Queen's Diamond Jubilee Galleries: Participate in a guided tour of one of the world's greatest churches. Westminster Abbey has been used as the site for all coronations since 1066 and has been the location for several weddings of the British royal family. The Abbey also serves as the final resting place of seventeen monarchs and thousands of others, including Charles Dickens, Geoffrey Chaucer, Charles Darwin, and Sir Isaac Newton. Continue your guided tour by climbing the Weston Tower to the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Galleries. High above the Abbey floor, the Galleries in the beautiful 13th century triforium display our greatest treasures and tell the story of our thousand-year history.

Day 4:

London Legal Walk with Criminal Defense Lawyer: Enjoy a 3.5-hour tour of London’s legal hotspots. Meet your lawyer guide and discover where London's lawyers meet to discuss cases and sit in on an actual court case as it’s being heard. Visit the Old Bailey, perhaps the most famous courtroom in the world. The Crown Court and The Old Bailey (The Crown Court deals with the most serious criminal cases and includes the Central Criminal Court, also known as the Old Bailey). Westminster Magistrate’s Court (Located on Marylebone Road, the Senior District Judge of England and Wales presides over the court, including all extradition and terrorism-related cases). You'll also visit the British Law Society, pausing for a tea/coffee break in their magnificent building. Go through the Inns of Court, passing the spot where former Prime Minister Tony Blair had his cloisters (law offices) prior to entering politics. Walk through the lovely Temple Gardens and visit the Temple Church.
Bow Street Police Museum

Day 5:

Supreme Court of the UK: You will be shown around the beautiful courtrooms as well as the magnificent Justices' Library. The tour will give you an introduction to the Court's role in the UK justice system, explain about the history and artwork of the building, give interesting examples of cases heard by the Court. Where possible the tour will include all three of the courtrooms but, in the event that one of them needs to be used for an urgent court matter or event, the tour route might be amended slightly, whilst still covering all the same subject matter.
Royal Courts of Justice: Enjoy a tour of the Royal courts of Justice where you will see the legal costume exhibition and continue to Court four (if space permits it), where the Lord Chief Justice sits. Here you can listen to a criminal appeal.

Day 6:

Cambridge Tour, Including Kings College
Fitzwilliam Museum

Day 7:

Houses of Parliament Guided Tour
Visit the Burrough Market for lunch
Farewell Dinner

Day 9:

Return to Ohio

Location & Transportation

London, United Kingdom

The United Kingdom consists of the countries of England, Scotland, Wales (which together make up Great Britain) and Northern Ireland. The Republic of Ireland is a separate country and is part of the European Union.

The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy. Each of the countries within the UK has a distinct culture and a fierce sense of national pride. Although the English pound is the most common currency in circulation, banks in Scotland and Northern Ireland also issue currency in the same denominations, which look similar and mainly circulate within their respective countries. English, Scottish and Northern Irish pound notes are equal in value. Keep in mind that if you plan to travel to the Republic of Ireland, the Euro is their official currency.

As the U.K.’s capital, London is where history meets modernity, with traditions from thousands of years ago to dynamic startups and global firms. As far as sights and activities go, you can spend years living there and still never see it all. On your study abroad trip to London, try to pack in as much as you can – museums, galleries, theater, iconic landmarks, street markets, pubs, trendy cafes – your only limitation is hours in the day!

Transportation

Coach transportation and a weekly public transportation pass (zones 1-2) are included in the program fee.

Airports

Students will travel between Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) and London Heathrow International Airport (LHR) on a group flight.

Accessibility Information

GENERAL INFORMATION:

Whether your disability is visible or invisible, Education Abroad is committed to making educational experiences abroad possible for you. Early disclosure of personal needs and an open mind to different programs, locations, and services can help you identify the best opportunities abroad.

Things to Consider

What types of physical, academic, and mental health resources and accommodations are available in my host country?
What types of activities does this program involve? Will there be strenuous hiking? Will we be walking long distances? Will we be carrying significant weight?
What is the housing like on this program? Will I be sharing a room or bathroom? Is there AC/heat?
What types of foods are available to me on this program? Will I be able to find meals that meet my dietary needs?
What types of transportation does this program use? Will I be navigating public transportation? Is public transportation accessible?
What is the climate like in my host country? Will there be extreme heat or cold?
Are my medications controlled or banned abroad? Are there regulations on traveling with my medications, service animal, etc.?
Are there prescriptions that I need to fill before I leave? What medications are available abroad? Is there a refrigerator to store my medication if needed?
How does my host country view my disability?
How do accessibility regulations in my host country differ from the US? (Ex.) Are ramps, elevators, tactile markings, etc. required/available?
Can I use my US medical devices in my host country? Is the voltage different? Will my equipment fit through a standard door (height/width) in my host country?
If there are overnight field trips outside of my typical housing for the program, is it possible to maintain the same housing accommodations I may require?

Learn More About Studying Abroad with a Disability

Watch this helpful video about Studying Abroad with a Disability.

Resources

Student Accessibility Services

DA Global

Mobility International USA

ISEP's Diversity, Inclusion & Accessibility Abroad page

The U.S. State Department's Traveling with Disabilities page

Financial Aid & Scholarships

It is possible to use your federal financial aid to go on Kent State University-approved education abroad programs. You can learn more on the Financial, Billing and Enrollment Center website.

It is also possible to use most Kent State scholarships for education abroad costs. You can find education abroad scholarships on ScholarshipUniverse.

If you have any questions about using your financial aid and scholarships for study abroad, you can contact the Financial, Billing and Enrollment Center.

Health & Safety

Pre-Departure Orientation

Prior to your study abroad experience, you will participate in a mandatory pre-departure orientation hosted by the College of Honors and Global Education. During this orientation, you will be provided with information including but not limited to:

international travel procedures;
in-country resources;
health and safety resources and information;
culture shock and resources to help prepare for living abroad.

All students are encouraged to register with the Safe Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) prior to departure.

You can also review a wide variety of resources we’ve pulled together for you on our “Before You Go” page.

Country Profile

You can learn more about your destination(s), including travel advisories, through the U.S. Department of State website.

In addition, we encourage you to visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) travel page for information about any vaccinations you may need or health and safety tips for traveling to your destination(s).

If vaccinations or medications are needed according to the CDC, you should make arrangements for appointments with your healthcare provider or the DeWeese Health Center as soon as possible. Appointment openings at the DeWeese Health Center are limited and vaccines may need to be ordered, which takes time. Please note that not all immunizations are available at the DeWeese Health Center.

Costs and Funding

Costs for the program will differ for every student. You can use our Cost Calculator to get an estimate of what you might expect for your program. 

We encourage you to meet with the Financial, Billing, and Enrollment Center to see how your aid may apply to an international program. We also encourage you to meet with your Academic Advisor to discuss your Course Plan of Study and to evaluate if your planned coursework is eligible for federal financial aid. 

Get Cost Estimate

Trevor Walton

Political Science

"Studying abroad is not just about finishing your credit hours in a foreign country or a résumé builder, but an intrapersonal revelation. It expands students’ horizons and challenges their past biases, beliefs, and life philosophies."

Your Journey is Just Beginning

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