London Maymester
Brand Management and the Great Brands of Great Britain
Upcoming Information Sessions
Penn State Education Abroad Fair
Wednesday, October 30 | 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Alumni Hall, HUB-Robeson Center
Each year, Penn State hosts exhibitors from its education abroad partners, support offices, funding resources, and academic colleges to bring students the information they want about education abroad!
London Maymester Info Session
Tuesday, November 5 | 4:45 PM
102 Business Building
Learn more about this customized Smeal experience! Talk with the faculty leading the course and get your questions answered.
Smeal Summer Study Abroad Fair
Tuesday, November 12 | 3:00 – 5:00 PM
Atrium, Business Building
Meet Smeal faculty leading courses around the world and get your questions about Faculty-Led Maymester & Summer programs answered. Also learn about other summer study abroad and internship opportunities!
Explore business in the financial heart of London!
A city within a city – London is the beating heart of the financial world. Make it your home for three weeks this summer on this customized Maymester program offered through the Smeal College of Business.
Students will all take a business course together, participate in company visits and cultural activities and immerse themselves into daily life in London.
Field trips and site visits:
Field trips and site visits have not been finalized for 2025, but possible opportunities may included:
- Museum of Brands
- Premier League Football Club
- Branding Agency
- Day trip to Oxford for a visit to Mini Cooper and a walking tour of the city center
- and more!
Expectations:
Students should come prepared for an intense and enriching experience! This program offers the opportunity for students in business and related fields to learn about the business environment of the UK by exploring brand management and UK brands. The multicultural city of London is the perfect place to do this!
Eligibilty:
- 18 years of age or above
- Good academic and disciplinary standing at Penn State
- 3.0 GPA or better at the time of the application
- Sophomore standing or above at the time of the program
- Applicants should have an interest in business
- Priority will be given to students in the Smeal College of Business
GET TO KNOW YOUR CITY
Why Study in London?
Global Business Hub
London is a major global financial and business hub. It is home to the headquarters of numerous multinational corporations, major financial institutions, and the London Stock Exchange.
Multicultural City
London is one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world. It attracts visitors from all over the globe, creating a rich tapestry of cultures, languages, and perspectives.
English Language
English is the primary language spoken in London, making it an ideal destination for business students to navigate the complexities of international business and communicate with companies during site visits.
the study in study abroad
Program Overview & Academics
All students will be enrolled in the following course for a total of 3 credits:
MKTG 399: Brand Management and the Great Brands of Great Britain
| 3 credits | This course can satisfy general elective credit only for Smeal majors.
Brands are often among a firm’s most valuable assets, but all too often we find that they are not very well understood or managed to their best potential. Often one of the most distinctive aspects of a brand is its provenance – which is the brand’s country of origin, its deep ‘roots’ and the images, flavors, personality and other factors that arise with where the brand comes from.
Together we’ll be exploring brands: what they are, how they work, and how to manage them for greater business impact. We’ll be going into deep immersion on the brands ‘Great Britain’ and ‘London’ as well as the provenance of a selection of British brands, to illustrate key concepts and savor experiences essential to these brands. We’ll be learning together in London, one of the most exciting brand environments in the world. (And we’ll have some fun while we do!)
At the center of this course, is a framework which you will to be able use in your business career called the ‘BrandScape’. The BrandScape is a template for dissecting a brand, and describing how you would want it to work at several levels in the mind of customer or other audience. At the end of the course, you are equipped to conduct a BrandScape Workshop with your team to better describe what you want your brand to mean, as well as to track what your brand really means in the marketplace.
faculty
Meet Your Professor
Johanna Slot
Associate Clinical Professor of Marketing
Email: johannaslot@psu.edu
Johanna Slot is Associate Clinical Professor of Marketing in the Marketing Department in the Smeal College of Business. She joined in January 2014, and has since taught a wide variety of upper-level courses including Advanced Retail Management, Advertising and Promotion Management and the Marketing Strategy Capstone. She also teaches Principles of Marketing in the Honors program, and New Product Development at the masters level. Johanna also developed and manages the exclusive, experiential Jacobs Program in Luxury Retail and Fashion.
Johanna has a very international background, for example, one of her degrees is in International Business Studies. And even though Johanna was born and raised in the Netherlands, she also lived in Orillia (Ontario, Canada), Berlin (Germany), a small town in Belgium, and in Austin (Texas) – all long enough to have had a haircut and bought fish abroad*. She taught in Florence (Italy) twice for Penn State. Other travels include trips to India, South Africa, the Middle East, and many, many countries in Europe.
*For Johanna, these qualifiers separate her extended international vacation or work travel from actually living somewhere abroad.
earn 3 credits towards the
International Business Minor
The International Business Minor is an academic credential for Smeal College of Business students to demonstrate their education in international business at Penn State and globally.
logistics
Housing, Travel & Meals
Students will be supported during the program by AIFS Abroad.
Where You’ll Stay
Student Residence Hall: Students will stay in a twin-bedded room in a student residence. Centrally located in North or West London with access to a kitchenette and laundry facilities on-site. Linens, weekly cleaning and WiFi are included. Students should bring their own towels. No meals are provided.
Be prepared to take public transportation to get from your accommodations to the classrooms – London is a large city and commute times can range from 45-60 minutes.
Independent housing is NOT permitted on this program.
Getting Around
Students will be provided an Oyster card for unlimited travel on the underground, buses, trams and regional trains in zones 1 & 2 of London. The city is at your fingertips!
Good Eats
Students are responsible for providing their own meals, as detailed above for each housing option. A welcome dinner and farewell afternoon tea will be organized by the program.
Students will find plentiful eating options around London as they explore. From internationally influenced cuisines to the food stalls of Borough Market to standard pub fare – fish and chips, anyone? – the dining options are endless!
what’s it like?
Student Stories
Meet Malena!
Major: Management
Minor: International Business
Malena participated on the London Maymester program (Summer 2023) and studied Europe and the global economy. “We were able to speak with an employee directly from the Delegation of the EU to the UK, learned about sustainability through the London Wetlands, and visited Canary Wharf and the Lloyd’s of London, where we could see COVID’s impact business norms throughout the UK”.
Malena is a Smeal Global Rep, which means that she has returned from abroad and is excited to share her experiences with students exploring the program. Feel free to reach out to Malena and ask questions about what it’s like!
Email: mjn5746@psu.edu
Budget
Cost & Scholarships
There are many ways to reduce the cost of study abroad. One key strategy is to plan ahead and select a program that makes the best use of credits towards graduation requirements. Smeal International Program Advisers are available to meet with students to help them select the best program to meet their academic goals.
Click here to view the PSU Global program website, click on the “Costs & Funding” tab for this particular program’s budget sheet:
Smeal Summer Study Abroad and International Internship Scholarship
Smeal students are encouraged to apply! One easy application to be considered for various financial awards.
***Scholarships are need-based and require that a FAFSA has been filed to be considered.***
Most PSU scholarship awards are made after the program application is due (January 23) but before the deadline to commit to the program (February 7).
Penn State Global Programs Scholarships
Student Engagement Network Study Abroad Grants
The Student Engagement Network offers this unique funding opportunity for students which supports the breadth of student engagement experiences in the spirit of both in-person and virtual/remote engagement experiences. Undergraduate students across the commonwealth are encouraged to apply for an SEN Grant that will support virtual, remote, and/or in-person engagement opportunities in the coming academic year.
Undergraduate students are eligible to receive one $2000 grant per student career/degree.
*Please note that SEN grant award decisions will not be made until after the commitment deadline for Summer Study Abroad*
More information is available on the Student Engagement Network’s website
Penn State Office of Student Aid
Have a Question?
Meet with an Adviser!
Make an appointment with a Smeal International Programs Adviser to learn more about study abroad programs, discuss academic fit, and how to apply! We offer in person advising in the Business Building (Suite 484) or virtual advising through Zoom.