Florida State University London

History

• Founded in 1851, Florida State University (FSU) is the oldest continuous site of higher education in Florida.
• Combining traditional strength in the arts and humanities with recognized leadership in the sciences, the Florida State University provides unmatched opportunities for students and faculty through challenging academics, cultural discovery and community interaction
• The University has over 50 years of experience in international education and is a nationally recognized leader in the field of study-abroad programs
• University motto is Vires Artes Mores (Strength, Skill, Character)
• 'Florida State offers a distinctive academic environment based on our goal of being the most student-centered university in the nation, with a commitment to a diversified and globally aware student body.' Dr Eric Barron, President, FSU.

Location and transport

• Located in Tallahassee, the state capital of Florida which has a population of 266,000.
• Main campus is over 450 acres and is pedestrian friendly: you can walk from one side of campus to the other in 15 minutes.
• Free public bus around campus and Tallahassee.
• Thirty minutes' drive from the beaches on the Gulf Coast.
• Each FSU International campus is located in the heart of the city. The London Campus, for example, is located in Bloomsbury, a stone’s throw from the British Museum.

International Gateway Programme

• Designed for UK students who would like to undertake their university career at a US university, the International Gateway Programme at Florida State University allows students to complete the first year of their US undergraduate degree at one of Florida State University’s international locations (London, Florence, Valencia, Panama City) and, upon successful completion, to transfer to the USA for the remainder of their degree. During the first year, students are guided through the process of obtaining a US student visa and taking the SAT in preparation for the transfer to Tallahassee.

Entry standards

• The university draws applications from the most academically able students from an international recruitment pool.
• SAT Range: 1730–1950 (=middle 50th per cent of 2010 Freshman class).
• ACT Range 25–29 (= middle 50th per cent of 2010 Freshman class).

Student mix

• 40,255 total students, 30,457 undergraduates.
• 55% female, 45% male.
• Drawn from all 50 states and over 100 countries.

Course flexibility

• The Liberal Arts approach embedded within the US system suits both those who know their major and those who wish to discover their major. This allows students to explore and experiment during their early college years and truly find their niche.
• Florida State University is a comprehensive, graduate research university with a liberal arts base which offers a small school atmosphere rarely found at a major university.
• Fifteen colleges offer over 300 undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees.
• Our Honours program offers an enriched curriculum and special opportunities for exceptional, high-achieving students entering college for the first time.

Teaching standards

• Many FSU undergraduates have gone on to receive prestigious and competitive scholarships and awards. Between 2006 and 2009, for example, the university produced three U.S. Rhodes Scholars — the most of any state university in the country during that time.
• The University Teaching Awards program recognizes faculty for excellence in undergraduate and graduate teaching. Recipients must be outstanding in the many aspects of teaching which contribute to successful teaching and learning. This is a student-oriented award with nominations submitted by students and alumni.
• The University Honors Program offers an enriched curriculum and special opportunities for exceptional, high-achieving students entering college for the first time.

Research standards

• FSU is designated at the highest level in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
• The Office of National Fellowships mentors and prepares our students to compete for national and international scholarships and fellowships. In the last five years, more than 75 nationally competitive awards, including three Rhodes, three Truman, five Goldwater and five Hollings scholarships; three Pickering fellowships and 35 Fulbright fellowships and assistantships.
• The Office of Undergraduate Research helps our students arrange significant research opportunities which fit their academic and career goals.

Academic strengths

• According to US News and World Report, FSU has several programs consistently ranked in the top 25 including Insurance, Environmental Law, Criminology, Library and Information Studies, Public Affairs, Sociology and Speech Language Pathology.
• Our students have the opportunity to take classes from Nobel Laureates and Pulitzer Prize winners, Guggenheim Fellows, members of the National Academy of Science and American Academy of Arts and Sciences and other globally recognized teachers and researchers.
• Home to the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory – the largest and highest powered magnetic lab in the world. Each year more than 1,000 scientists from around the world visit the lab to conduct experiments – from developing new medicines to figuring out ways to better power our planet.

Student facilities including library and computing

• A wide range of support facilities available to students, such as financial help, career advice, and educational mapping.
• The mission of the university libraries is to support and enhance the learning, teaching, research, and service activities of the Florida State University by providing organized access to quality information in all formats, promoting information literacy, preserving information and engaging in collaborative partnerships to disseminate ideas to advance intellectual discovery.
• In support of this mission, the libraries' collections contain more than 3 million volumes, with more than 549,000 available as e-books. The libraries subscribe to more than 78,000 periodicals and serials and more than 600 databases, many of which are available for searching via the Internet.

Students’ Union

• A variety of restaurants and shops located in the Oglesby Union.
• The Union hosts regularly programmed events and activities, and provides support for major campus-wide events throughout the calendar year.
• The Union is also home to the Art Centre, Crenshaw Lanes, Club Downunder, and Student Life Cinema.
• There is a Centre for Global Engagement whose mission is to facilitate international diversity and foster global understanding and awareness within the FSU community.

Sport

• The athletic teams have collectively won 14 National Championships and 50 Atlantic Coast Conference Championships. Support for the university team is strong and serves both to reflect and promote community spirit. Students frequently participate in the very American tradition of 'tailgates' for example, whereby students from across the university come together in parking lots and parkland to celebrate and socialise before watching the game in the 85,000 seat Doak Cambell Stadium.
• The campus is also home to the Leach Student Recreation Centre, which, with over 20,000 square feet of fitness space, has room for almost everything you might need to work out. Over 100 strength and cardiovascular machines complement Leach's aerobics classes and personal fitness training, for example. 
• In addition to competitive sport, FSU also offers intramural sports in which any student can participate. Whether you are a fan on the side lines or playing in the game, and whether playing tennis, dodgeball, soccer, lacrosse, rugby, or even go-kart racing, intramurals bring students together in a whole new way.

Recent/prospective new builds

• Recently opened a 104-acre facility that encompasses 21 sports fields and additional activity spaces. Fields include baseball, soccer, flag-football, and many more available exclusively to FSU students.
• Facilities for research and creative activities continue to be developed and upgraded.
• Substantial recent athletic facility improvements include the Morcom Aquatics Centre, home to an Olympic size pool, the McIntosh Track and Field Building, the Barry Smith and Mary Ann Stiles Soccer & Softball Building, the Dave Middleton Golf Center, the basketball training centre, the men's and women's indoor tennis facility and many more.

Availability of part-time work

• Career.fsu.edu assists students in applying for part-time work. Every semester the career centre holds job fairs for those looking to work on or off campus.
• Advising for careers is available along with resume workshops and mock interviews.
• International students are eligible to work up to 20 hours per week on campus and full-time between semesters
• Upon graduating, international students are eligible to apply for a Practical Training Visa which allows for one or two years (depending on major) employment in the field of study.