England: The London Experience

  • students posing in London

January Term Study Abroad Program

A ten-day experience of the theatre of London with insights into its politics, society, and culture as reflected in the arts.

Learn about one of the greatest cities in the world during this exciting 10-day trip to London! Earn 4 credits that can also satisfy the Fine & Performing Arts Discovery requirement with a program that packs in a busy schedule visiting amazing sights and taking in some of the best theatre in the English-speaking world!

  • Open to all students! There are no pre-requisites and the coursework is open to all majors.
  • Satisfy the FPA Discovery Category requirement*
  • Travel with an experienced UNH faculty member
  • Experience London! From visiting major historical sites like the Tower of London to walking tours off the beaten path, students will have the opportunity to really discover this great city.
  • Action packed: the program includes numerous cultural activities include world-class theatre performances, museum visits, historic site tours, and daytrips outside the city.

*There is a Theatre and Dance Major’s version of the course that is only open to majors. This course (THDA 532 ) does not satisfy the FPA Discovery requirement.

 

Apply Now!

Program dates

Depart on January 5th (Arrive January 6th) 2025

Return January 16th 2025

Information Session

 Tuesday, April 16, 2024 at 5:10pm on zoom: https://unh.zoom.us/j/3826177894

 

Application Deadline

September 23, 2024

Deposit deadline

A non-refundable deposit of $300 is due October 1st, 2024
 

How to apply Financial Aid/scholarships

Contacts

David Kaye
Class of 1940 Professorship Award

Professor of Theatre and Dance (acting/directing)
London Experience Program Director
Email: djk@unh.edu
Phone: (603) 862-0667
Fax: (603) 862-0298
Website: mypages.unh.edu/dkaye

Mike Merrill
Education Abroad Advisor, Program Coordinator
Email: michael.merrill@unh.edu
Phone: (603) 862-4788

At the time of application, all students are expected to meet the following criteria:

  • At least 12 credits earned at UNH
    • Freshmen students not meeting the 12-credit requirement may be allowed to participate in the program. Approval is needed from both the Program Faculty Director. Contact the COLA Center for Study Abroad for guidance.
  • A declared major
  • A minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA
    • Students who do not have a declared major or who have an established GPA between 2.0 and 2.5 may still apply. Admission will be at the discretion of the program faculty director.
  • Good standing with the Student Conduct System
    • A student who is on probation, regardless of the underlying violation, must successfully petition through the Academic Standards and Advising Committee (ASAC) for permission to participate. Students who have had a past violation will also be required to petition. Please contact your Dean’s Office for more guidance and the petition form, if needed.

Program Faculty

Prof. David Kaye, Department of Theatre and Dance

Course Description

THDA 531: London Experience – Discovery: 4-credit course satisfying the Discovery Fine and Performing Arts requirement.
Learn about one of the greatest cities in the world during this exciting 10-day trip to London! This Discovery class begins as a two-week, on-line course and then packs in a busy schedule visiting amazing sights and taking in some of the best theatre in the English speaking world! The course offers an insight into the history, politics, society and culture of London through the lens of art, architecture, music and of course, theatre.

Theatre majors who have already satisfied the Fine & Performing Arts Discovery category may elect to enroll in a 2-credit version of the program course with permission of the faculty director. Contact the program faculty, Prof. Kaye, with questions on the coursework. Only a limited number of 2-credit enrollments will be allowed.

Registration

Course registration takes place when J-term registration begins. This is normally in October. Students will not have to register themselves; they will be registered by the COLA Study Abroad Coordinator.

London is one of the world's truly great cities. It's a bustling and modern economic hub with a population of over 9,000,000. It's one of the world's cultural capitals with legendary theatre and music scenes, and some of the greatest museums available. It's a political power center and a city with a rich historical legacy. It's a diverse urban environment with over 300 languages spoken by residents. London is all of these things and more.

The city is divided by the Thames River as it rambles its way eastwards into the North Sea. Famous bridges like the Waterloo, Tower, and London Bridges connect the north and south banks of the city. London is vast and stretches out over a huge expanse of ground. Historic sites like the Tower of London, St. Paul's Cathedral, the Globe Theatre, and Westminster Abbey are located along the Thames. Lush urban parks fill in sizeable portions of the city to the north and west including the famous Hyde Park, Regent's Park, and Primrose Hill. Distinct and endlessly interesting neighborhoods are nestled throughout the city from nightlife hubs of Soho and Covent Garden in the heart of London, to the posh and residential Kensington, hip and eclectic Brixton to the south, and Canary Wharf financial zone to the east. Students will get a taste for an exciting, complicated, and inspiring city so vast that it would take lifetimes to know.

Helpful Links

London skyline and Thames River

 

The total cost for this class is made up of three parts.

1) UNH January Term tuition and registration fee 

2) UNH Study Abroad mandatory fees

3) Estimated $950 course fee*, which includes:

  • Lodging will be at a hostel in central London (multi-bedrooms with only UNH students).
  • Continental breakfast each morning.
  • A pass for tube travel throughout central London.
  • A side trip outside London (in the past we have visited such places as Oxford, Stratford upon Avon, Bath, or Stonehenge)
  • Three to four theatre tickets to major London productions
  • Admission to most major historical sites. These have usually included:  The Tower of London, the Houses of Parliament, the Cabinet War Rooms, the Globe Theatre and Museum, St. Paul's Cathedral, Westminster Abby, London Museum, Imperial War Museum, Tate Modern Museum, the National Portrait Museum, the Harry Potter Museum and any admission to side trip sites like the Shakespeare Birthplace and Christ Church, Oxford. 
  • NOTE: All excursions are subject to change due to the occasional closure of some sites, ticket availability, budgetary limitations,  or other factors.

*Once admitted to the program, students will be required to submit a $300 non-refundable deposit. This deposit will be applied toward the total course fee. 

Balance of activity fee is due at course registration. 50% refundable from October 20 to December 1, 2024. No refunds available on activity fee after December 1, 2024.

Total estimated cost based on 2024 tuition, study abroad fees and the course fee:

Residents, 4 credits: $2,967
Non Residents, 4 credits: $3,155

*These totals are subject to change

Housing and Meals

Students will spend 10 nights at a central London hostel. Continental breakfast is normally provided daily by the hostel. Students must provide their own lunch and dinner. (The hostel may provide access to a kitchen and also laundry).

Other Inclusions

Not Included

  • Airfare to and from London
  • Lunch and dinner meals
  • Personal spending money
  • Ability to utilize your cell phone in the UK (Either through your own service or through the purchase of a UK SIM card or an eSIM card that works with a UK mobile network.

Payment Info and Refund Policy

Accepted students must submit a $300 non-refundable program deposit to confirm a spot on the program. Please note that the deposit is not refundable because theatre and other admission tickets will be purchased the day after the deposit due date.  UNH cannot recoup that money as those tickets and admissions are non-refundable.

View study abroad payment deadlines, cancellation and refund policy

While we cannot guarantee complete security abroad (just like on campus in Durham) the University of New Hampshire and the College of Liberal Arts (COLA) make every effort to facilitate safe international student experiences. Please find below important information on health and safety-related resources, policies, and procedures. If you have additional questions, please contact the program faculty director or the COLA Center for Study Abroad.

Travel to the UK

  • Program Location and Support. During the London J-Term program, students and faculty reside at the Astor Hyde Park Hostel in South Kensington, a centrally-located and well-maintained budget hotel. Program faculty accompany students on all program-related activities while in London. 
  • US Department of State Country Information
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Health Information for Travelers to  the UK
  • Emergency Contacts at UNH
    • COLA Center for Study Abroad: 603 862-3962 
    • International SOS (UNH Membership #11BCAS000009): 215 942-8478
    • UNH Police Dispatch (emergencies only): 603 862-1212
    • UNH SHARPP (Sexual Harassment & Rape Prevention Program):  603 862-723
  • Additional Contacts
    • US Embassy in London: + 44 (0)20-7499-9000 (US-citizen emergency contact number)
    • UK Emergency Services: 112

UNH Global health and safety information