United Kingdom
Partner Universities
Imperial College London
Established in 1907 with roots dating back to 1845, Imperial College London is a public research university in London with a focus on science, technology, medicine, and business. It has engineering, medicine, natural sciences, and business faculties. Enrollment is currently 22,500, almost evenly split between undergrad and graduate students.
Imperial is committed to developing the next generation of researchers, scientists, and academics through collaboration across disciplines.
The architecturally diverse main campus in South Kensington is surrounded by London's cultural attractions. A second campus in White City focuses on innovation and entrepreneurship, and there are several medical research and teaching campuses.
The Imperial Student Experience
Imperial has an international community, with 60 percent of students coming from outside the UK and 140 countries represented on campus. Learn about international students at Imperial.
Cornell students can attend Imperial through their summer International Research Opportunity Program. Semester and full-year options are under development.
Research Themes at Imperial
- Big Data, AI, and New Media: Data Science Institute is a focal point for conducting data science research through cross-disciplinary collaboration.
- One Health: Institute of Global Health Innovation conducts multidisciplinary research on global health challenges through the development and diffusion of innovations to improve the quality and safety of care.
- Sustainable Development: Grantham Institute is the main hub for climate change and sustainability research, promoting research through collaboration between academia, industry, and policymakers.
King's College London
King's College London is a public research institute founded in 1829 as one of the original colleges of the University of London. King's has nine faculties covering the arts, humanities, business, law, natural and mathematical sciences, health sciences, and social sciences. It is Europe's largest medical teaching and biomedical research center and includes the world's first nursing school. The historic Strand Campus in central London is one of their five campuses.
King's is deeply committed to the environment and sustainability and has been recognized for its progress in reaching the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
There are 33,000 students at King's, with more than 19,000 undergrads and almost 14,000 graduate students.
The King's Student Experience
Located in the heart of London, King's College is one of the largest multi-faculty institutions in the UK and welcomes students from all over the world. Learn about international students at King's College London.
Undergraduate exchange students attending for an academic year have the opportunity to secure an internship through Study Abroad Plus.
Research Themes at King's
- Big Data, AI, and New Media: The Institute for Artificial Intelligence studies the broader implications of AI technology on society, businesses, and policy.
- Sustainable Development: Kings has multiple centers dedicated to researching the intersection between climate and inequality, social medicine, mental health, Indigenous knowledge, and inclusive policy.
- Future Cities: The Urban Living Hub researches urban-related issues such as social and infrastructure change, enhancing the sustainability and resilience of cities, and social and infrastructure change. The Centre for Urban Science and Progress London brings together researchers, businesses, local authorities, and government agencies to apply urban science to improve citizens' lives.
- Migrations and Mobility: The Migration Research Group is an interdisciplinary research group that carries out collaborative research, advocacy, and policy development on migration.
- One Health: The Global Health Institute, Centre for Conflict and Health Research, and Centre for Global Health and Health Partnerships carry out research collaborations on global health themes.
Queen Mary University of London
Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) was established in 1785 to provide educational opportunities for underrepresented sections of society. Today's QMUL university remains committed to this vision. Nearly 90% of the students come from state schools, more than 65% are BAME (Black, Asian, and minority ethnic), and more than 50% are first-generation students.
"At Queen Mary University of London, we believe that a diversity of ideas helps us achieve the previously unthinkable."
The university is located in the heart of London, with 32,000 students enrolled in degree programs and 4,500 faculty and staff. The location provides the advantages of studying in the capital with a community-driven campus experience. QMUL has three faculties—Humanities and Social Sciences, Medicine and Dentistry, and Science and Engineering—and one interdisciplinary life sciences institute.
The QMUL Student Experience
QMUL has been inviting exchange students for over 80 years and offers nearly 1,000 modules for study. The Global Opportunities Team supports study abroad students, and the university offers peer mentorship through a "Buddy Scheme." Learn more about international students at QMUL.
Students can opt for courses from any department. The Queen Mary London Internship Program enables students to take classes and participate in internships. Placements are offered in various industries such as arts and culture, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and the British Parliament.
Research Themes at QMUL
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Big Data, AI, and New Media: Significant research areas at QMUL include robotics and artificial intelligence. Center for Intelligent Sensing, Digital Environment Research Institute, Game AI Research Group, and Institute of Applied Data Science (IADS) are the research centers that work towards fostering research and collaboration in data science and AI.
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One Health: QMUL has been a pioneer in medical research in the UK, and the School of Medicine and Dentistry was England's first medical school when it opened in 1785. The university is conducting research on global health and well-being through interdisciplinary research spanning all three faculties at the university.
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Sustainable Development: Sustainability and the environment are other crucial areas of focus, with research on a sustainable, low-carbon, and climate-resilient future.
University College London
Established in 1826 as London University, today's University College London (UCL) is a multidisciplinary public research institute. UCL was the third university established in England after Oxford and Cambridge. It was the first university in England to welcome students of any religion or social background and the first to admit women.
Located in central London's Bloomsbury district, the university is part of the Knowledge Quarter, a consortium of over 90 academic, cultural, research, scientific, and media organizations.
UCL has produced one Nobel laureate every decade since the Nobel prize was awarded.
UCL has 11 faculties and one of the country's most extensive graduate programs. The university's more than 41,000 students are divided between undergrad and graduate students. About 18,000 students come from outside the UK, representing more than 150 countries, making UCL a diverse community providing global perspectives.
The UCL Student Experience
At UCL, exchange students can focus on their major and gain an international perspective through advanced coursework alongside students with similar academic goals and passions. Learn about international students at UCL.
Exchange students can study for a semester or a year, and UCL Summer School welcomes students for three or six weeks.
Research Themes at UCL
- Big Data, AI, and New Media: UCL Center for Artificial Intelligence conducts research on the use of AI in science, industry, and society.
- Future Cities: The Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment explores how technology, climate change, health, and society interconnect in urban spaces.
- One Health: UCL Institute for Global Health is an interdisciplinary research institute studying developing and transitional countries' significant global health challenges.
- Sustainable Development: UCL Institute for Sustainable Development focuses its research on the sustainable use of natural resources, with topics including resource efficiency, circular economy, eco-innovation, and low-carbon societies.
University of Edinburgh
Founded in 1583, the University of Edinburgh is a public research university in Edinburgh, Scotland's capital. There are five main campuses, with the central campus housing many historic and architecturally significant buildings in Old Town. The university has three colleges—the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences; College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine; and College of Science and Engineering—and 21 schools. Edinburgh has several highly ranked and active engineering/science areas and is well-rated in arts and humanities. There are about 45,000 students, with 28,000 undergrads and 17,000 graduate students.
Charles Darwin, naturalist, geologist, biologist, and author of On the Origin of Species, is a University of Edinburgh alumnus.
Edinburgh is consistently considered one of the world's most desirable places to live and is also ranked the greenest in the UK. Given its breadth and location, multiple opportunities span the university, making Edinburgh a compelling partner.
The Edinburgh Student Experience
Edinburgh welcomes over 2,000 visiting students every year, and each year about 95 percent of students say they would recommend the experience to others. Learn about international students at the University of Edinburgh.
Edinburgh offers a wide range of courses for study abroad students and a summer program with humanities and social sciences courses.
Research Themes at Edinburgh
- Big Data, AI, and New Media: Edinburgh Futures Institute focuses on research, education, and engagement on broad-ranging issues such as data and artificial intelligence and leverages data-driven innovation for research in healthcare, sustainability, society, and democracy.
- Democratic Challenges and Change: The Centre on Constitutional Change is a leading center for studying constitutional change and territorial politics in the United Kingdom and beyond.
- Inequalities and Social Justice: The College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences has strengths in international and global governance, with research addressing issues such as development and global inequalities, international organizations and global governance, populism, and the crisis of democracy.
- Migrations and Mobilities: The research hub on Migration, Slavery, and Diaspora Studies provides support for research and teaching through the Edinburgh Centre for Global History.
- One Health: The Usher Institute at Edinburgh Medical School conducts research across population health, global health, medical informatics, biomedicine, and self and society.
- Sustainable Development: Research on climate change and sustainability is a major focus for the university. It has numerous institutes and research centers dedicated to studying the impacts and mitigating the effects of climate change.
Cornell Faculty Leads:
Imperial College London
Dwight C. Baum Professor in Engineering, Cornell Engineering
Imperial College is consistently rated as one of the top institutions in the world, with its focus on science, technology, medicine, and innovation. With the numerous ongoing collaborations between faculty at Cornell and Imperial, we have a tremendous opportunity to expand connections across all academic levels, from undergraduate and graduate exchanges to faculty sabbaticals and individual research projects. I am excited by the opportunities around entrepreneurship and innovation that Cornell and Imperial have structurally embraced throughout their programs. The lure of London, and the advantages of a common language, will encourage Cornell students—especially in sciences and engineering—to consider international experiences with Imperial. — Michael Thompson
I find the UK, and particularly London, to be an exciting place to live and study—as it is something of a bridge between the U.S. and broader English-speaking world on the one hand and continental Europe on the other. The economic and political challenges associated with the UK’s recent Brexit from the European Union make it an interesting place to conduct research right now. International partnerships and exchanges will be a valuable resource for answering the big questions around how best to respond to these challenges and learn from them. — Virginia Doellgast
I'm excited to serve as the faculty lead for our partnership with the University of Edinburgh, widely recognized as one of the world's great research universities. It was the intellectual center of the Scottish Enlightenment in the 18th century and has continued to be the home of leading researchers in a wide range of fields for nearly 400 years. I'm looking forward to developing partnerships that build on the strengths of both institutions, such as between the Edinburgh Earth Initiative and Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability and between Edinburgh's School of Informatics and Cornell's Bowers College of Computing and Information Science. — Nate Foster
About the Locations
London, England
London on the River Thames is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom. The historic City of London, known as the Square Mile, is London's ancient core and current financial center. The neighboring City of Westminster houses much of the national government. London's diverse population is estimated at nine million, with more than 300 languages spoken. The city is home to four World Heritage sites, including the Tower of London and Westminster Abby. Other landmarks include Buckingham Palace, Piccadilly Circus, and Big Ben.
Edinburgh, Scotland
Scotland's capital since the 15th century, Edinburgh is one of Europe's great cultural hubs and one of its greenest and most architecturally beautiful cities. Edinburgh is built across seven hills, with 112 parks in the city limits. With a population of half a million, it has a wide range of museums, art galleries, and theaters. Edinburgh hosts 12 festivals yearly, including the world's largest arts festival. It is a thriving commercial and financial center, the site of the new Scottish Parliament, and a gateway to the coastline, hills, and open country of the Scottish Highlands.
