ASU London: Earn a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Four Years Through Hands-On Learning in a Global City

For most students, choosing a university means balancing two priorities: a rigorous academic program and a meaningful life experience. ASU London, the new independent, U.K.-degree-awarding institution founded by Arizona State University, was designed so that students do not have to choose between them. This month, 320 students from around the world begin their studies in one of the most influential cities on the planet, with the opportunity to earn both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in as little as four years.

The launch represents one of the most notable developments in international higher education in recent years. Students complete a three-year bachelor’s degree in London, then pursue an accelerated one-year master’s degree at ASU in the United States. The result: two degrees, two countries, and professional connections across two of the world’s leading higher education systems — all within the time it typically takes to earn a single bachelor’s degree in the U.S.

If you are a prospective student, a parent, or an international applicant weighing your options, this guide explains how ASU London works, what makes its academic model distinctive, and how to decide whether it aligns with your goals. To review program details, admission requirements, and key dates directly, learn more about ASU London and its degree programs.

A New Model for International Higher Education

ASU London is not a branch campus in the traditional sense. It is an independent, U.K.-degree-awarding higher education provider founded by Arizona State University, located in the heart of the city at the Clerkenwell campus of City St. George’s, University of London. Students earn a U.K. degree while learning within an academic framework shaped by one of America’s most innovative universities.

ASU President Michael Crow has described the venture as an “experiment in academic innovation” — an initiative designed to build partnerships in the U.K., an English-speaking country with deep connections around the world. The model also addresses a practical reality: shifting immigration policies and visa constraints can complicate study plans in the United States. “You can’t come to the United States? Well, maybe you can go to England,” Crow said, underscoring the flexibility the institution offers.

For international students, that flexibility carries real weight. Michael Goodwin, managing director of ASU London, noted that families are being asked to make decisions three or four years in advance, often amid changing regulations. A London-based pathway gives students a route to an American university’s graduate programs without requiring them to begin their studies in the U.S.

How the Dual-Degree Pathway Works: Two Degrees in Four Years

The academic structure is the centerpiece of the ASU London proposition:

• Years one through three: Students complete a bachelor’s degree in London, following the U.K. model of concentrated, three-year undergraduate programs.
• Year four: Students transition to ASU in the United States for an accelerated, one-year master’s degree.

The advantages are straightforward. The compressed timeline saves a full year compared with the traditional four-year bachelor’s plus two-year master’s sequence, which reduces overall tuition and living costs. It also delivers an international experience across two countries — an increasingly valuable differentiator in a competitive job market.

“For both American students and international students, the opportunities are similar in the sense that you can get your degrees in a compressed time period if you wish, and you get the opportunity to be in two great different countries,” said Mark Searle, ASU University Professor and provost emeritus, who has been involved since the initial discussions about ASU London.

For Crow, the dual-degree model reflects a broader institutional commitment to designing education around how students actually live and plan. Earning a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in four years, he said, exemplifies ASU’s desire to “find that pathway that works best for kids.”

Degree Programs Built Around Global Careers

ASU London opens with six undergraduate degree programs, all aligned to fields with strong global demand:

• Business management
• Computer science
• Electrical and electronic engineering
• Engineering with artificial intelligence
• Engineering with mechatronics systems
• Global design engineering

Instruction is delivered by U.K.-based faculty in collaboration with faculty from ASU’s top-ranked Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering and the W. P. Carey School of Business. That combination gives students access to curricula and standards from two respected academic systems, along with faculty networks that span both sides of the Atlantic. Undecided between engineering tracks or weighing business against computer science? Explore our related articles comparing specialization options to sharpen your decision.

Project-Based Learning That Mirrors the Workplace

Perhaps the most distinctive feature of ASU London is its approach to teaching. Executive Dean Lisa Brodie has been explicit about what students should not expect: sitting in a lecture hall absorbing “academic speak.” Instead, the curriculum is built around hands-on, project-based work with real industry partners.

Students collaborate with organizations such as Iris Solar Technology, which produces off-grid solar power; Tesco, the British multinational grocery and merchandise retailer; and Grow Dynamics, a vertical farming and commercial greenhouse operation. “Everything they’re doing is getting them ready for the world of work,” Brodie said. “We think of them as professionals in training.”

That philosophy resonated with incoming business management student Shelby Connell, who chose ASU London after learning about its learning model. “You’re doing what you’re actually going to be doing when you’re in the workforce,” she said. “That checked every box and made me super excited.”

The Living Lab: Solving Real Community Problems

One signature example of project-based learning at ASU London is the Living Lab. Students identify something in the community that is not working and develop a practical solution. At the institution’s predecessor, The Engineering & Design Institute London, students created interactive software for students with special educational needs — a project with measurable social impact and a portfolio-ready outcome.

EPICS: Cross-Continent Community Service Projects

ASU London students will also work alongside students from ASU’s Fulton Schools of Engineering through EPICS: Engineering Projects in Community Service. The program pairs student teams with organizations that need engineering and design help, with projects designed to improve life “for a group of people or the planet,” as Brodie put it. For graduates, this means entering the job market with documented, real-world project experience — not just coursework.

Why London? The Value of Studying in a Global Capital

Location is more than scenery in the ASU London model. London is a global financial center and a global business center, home to headquarters, studios, startups, and multinational institutions across every major industry. “Phoenix is a great city, but it’s a regional capital. It’s not a global capital. London is a global capital,” Crow said.

For students, that translates into professional opportunity. Gustavo Alves, a 19-year-old first-year business management student from Brazil, said the decision was easy. “The professional side, with the job market, with the connections you can make with companies in London — I think it’s a great city to be in,” he said.

Student life benefits from a deliberate structure as well. ASU London offers a small, friendly, supportive academic community, while students also gain access to more than 250 clubs and societies at City St. George’s. The design gives students the intimacy of a small institution with the option to plug into a much larger university experience — from sports and arts to cultural and professional societies.

Have questions about what daily life, academics, or the admissions process actually look like? Write to us — reader questions are welcome and will help shape upcoming coverage.

Grand Opening Week: From Hackathons to Wembley Stadium

The institution’s launch is being marked with a full week of public events that reflect its identity:

• Official grand opening (Sept. 16): University leaders, government officials, industry representatives, faculty, and students from the U.K. and U.S. gather for a ribbon cutting and remarks from President Michael Crow, Sir Malcolm Grant, and ASU London students.
• Student hackathon: A multiday competition that puts the project-based ethos on display from day one.
• Design showcase: A student design showcase with Cadbury/Mondelez International, plus a window display of ASU FIDM alumni fashion designs at London’s Wolf & Badger.
• Changing Futures installations: More than 40 installations at Barbican Station, near the ASU London campus, running through Sept. 20 and highlighting ASU’s commitment to creating a world of thriving opportunity for all.
• The Union Jack Classic (Sept. 19): ASU Football faces the University of Kansas at Wembley Stadium, bringing American tailgates, marching band pep rallies, and game-day energy to London.

The week also includes events from units across the university — from the Pat Tillman Veterans Center to ASU Health to ASU Gammage — aimed at forming new U.K. connections that will extend well beyond opening week.

Is ASU London the Right Fit? Questions to Ask Before Applying

No single university model suits every student. Based on how ASU London is structured, it tends to fit applicants who can answer yes to several of the following questions:

• Do you learn best by doing? The curriculum is project-driven and industry-facing, not lecture-centered.
• Do you want to accelerate your education? Motivated students can hold two degrees in four years rather than five or six.
• Does international experience matter for your career? Graduates will have studied and built networks in both the U.K. and the U.S.
• Are you seeking flexibility in an uncertain visa environment? Starting in London provides an alternative route to ASU’s graduate programs.
• Do you want a smaller academic community with big-city access? The cohort model offers close support, with more than 250 societies available nearby.

Parents, too, have taken notice. Mindy Connell, an ASU alum and mother of incoming student Shelby, said she began hearing from other parents soon after her daughter enrolled, “because they have kids who are really interested in doing it, too.” For families evaluating options together, comparing cost, timeline, and career outcomes across programs is a sensible first step — and asking admissions offices direct questions early can prevent costly surprises later.

Taking the Next Step Toward Studying at ASU London

ASU London’s inaugural class is proof that there is demand for a different kind of international education: one that compresses timelines, emphasizes applied learning, and positions students in a global capital from day one. For the students arriving this month, the opportunity is exactly what Shelby Connell called it — a once-in-a-lifetime chance to build a career-ready education in one of the world’s great cities.

If the model aligns with your goals, act early. Inaugural cohorts are small by design, which means limited seats and a close-knit community. Take the next step: review admission requirements and program details at london.asu.edu, and prepare your application materials well ahead of priority deadlines.

Considering applying, or already part of the inaugural class? Share your experiences and questions in the comments below — your perspective could help the next group of applicants make a well-informed decision.