About Us
"INSTEP offers such a tight-knit support system" ~Melissa Sp 2019
The INSTEP Programs began in 1979 in London when a small group of senior faculty members at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) designed a program offering American study abroad students the ability to take courses similar to those taught at the LSE but on an American calendar to allow proper assessment and ample faculty-student interaction. INSTEP was founded on the principle of small group teaching with senior faculty in specific disciplines. The program was designed to offer a scholarly, European perspective on Political Science, Law and International Relations. In recent years the offerings in London have expanded to include Communications, Business and Internship possibilities. Since its inception, INSTEP has received its students from a select group of curated US college/university affiliated institutions.
In 1986, following a period of sustained growth and success in London, INSTEP opened a second program in Cambridge following the same principles as the original program in London, but this time, drawing on senior faculty from Cambridge University. The Cambridge program expanded the disciplines available to students to include Economics, Economic History, Finance/Business, History and Literature.
In 2016, INSTEP was honored to come under the umbrella of Wake Forest University (WFU) to become a full WFU Program. Even as a WFU program, INSTEP-WFU continues to accept applications from students attending a small group of affiliated colleges and universities across the United States.
The following institutions have an affiliation agreement with INSTEP-WFU:
* Colgate University
* Connecticut College
* Franklin and Marshall College
* Hampden-Sydney College
* Sewanee: The University of the South
* Spelman College
* Swarthmore College
* Trinity College
* Trinity University
* Tulane University
* Villanova University
Learn more about our founders and a giving opportunity