Duke in London-Arts
A 4-week summer arts program
Program Alert
Duke in London-Arts Info Session
Join the Global Education Office and program faculty to learn more about Duke in London-Arts on December 3 from 6-7 pm in Social Sciences 105.
STUDY ARTS AND MEDIA IN A VIBRANT AND STORIED CITY
Apply NowThis 4-week, 1-course program is for students who wish to become familiar with London’s cosmopolitan character and experience the work of London’s culturally diverse arts sectors, both mainstream and alternative, including theatre, dance, music, visual art, and the tourism industry. The course will cover key issues surrounding arts production and funding in the UK, as well as discuss the importance of cultural production to national identity in the global context.
Program Fast Facts
Location: London, United Kingdom
Term: Summer II
Dates: June 28 - July 26, 2025 (TENTATIVE)
Application Deadline: February 1
Academic Theme(s): English, Theater Studies
Credit Type: Duke Credit
Eligibility: There are no prerequisites for this program. Non-Duke students are welcome to apply.
Duke Affiliation: Co-sponsored by the Duke Department of Theater Studies and the Duke English Department
Housing: Residence Hall
Primary Contact: Torry Bend
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London
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Abbey Road
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Globe Theatre
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Regent's Park
ACADEMICS
Students enroll in one course, offering one Duke credit. No pass/fail option or auditing is permitted for the course. The course may count towards major requirements in the English Department and the Department of Theater Studies.
COURSE
- THEATRST*
THEATRST*
THEATRST 251AS / ENGLISH 273AS / ARTSVIS 251AS / MUSIC 216AS / DANCE 251AS,
Duke in London: Arts
(ALP, CCI) 1.0 Credit
Prerequisite: None
This course surveys London as a site of dynamic cultural production, whose active participation in the global marketplace of artistic commodities reveals the city’s restlessly transnational, cosmopolitan character. As a leading tourist destination, London boasts one of the largest commercial arts sectors in the world, in addition to a robust heritage industry – born of a cult of fascination with the British monarchy as well as with giants of British culture, Shakespeare chief among them. London is also home to a thriving subsidized arts sector, one that – over the last 45 years – has increasingly approximated the managerial strategies of its commercial counterpart. Using local institutions as case studies, students will be introduced to the complex relationship among art, the state, and the global cultural marketplace; studying a multiracial and multiethnic community, they will become familiar with theories of globalization, neoliberalism, and cosmopolitanism, as well as migration and “national” identity. Students will also participate in multiple excursions each week, including dance, and theatre productions and visits to museums, markets, and other sites of cultural importance.
COSTS
Estimates are based on previous years’ programs and the current exchange rate. All costs are subject to change.
Summer 2025
| Duke Students | Non-Duke Students | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | TBD | TBD |
| Program Fee | TBD | TBD |
| Transcript Fee | N/A | $120 |
| Other Costs | Other Costs | Other Costs |
| TOTAL (Estimated): | TBD | TBD |
Explanation of Costs
The program fee for this program includes:
- Accommodations
- International SOS coverage
- Program-sponsored activities and excursions
- Orientation program
What is not included?
Use the following list to assist with budgeting for expenses outside the program fee. This list contains common examples but should not be considered exhaustive.
- Airfare
- Airport transportation to/from the program site
- Meals
- Out-of-pocket medical expenses
- On-site accident and health insurance policy
- Visa and/or residency permit (if needed)
- Passport
- Immunizations
- Mobile phone
- Laundry
- Independent travel and entertainment
- Items of a personal nature
- Incidentals
- Textbooks and class materials
- Internet usage
U.S. citizens do not need a visa for this program. However, if you are not a U.S. citizen, you may need a visa. Please be sure to research the cost of obtaining a UK visa, including any required travel to a consulate or embassy.
If you receive financial aid, and need assistance with travel costs, please contact your financial aid counselor.
Personal expenses can fluctuate greatly depending upon the habits and preferences of the individual. It’s also wise to budget for unexpected expenses such as medical emergencies. You can use a cost-of-living comparison tool to get an idea of what daily life costs in the program host location.
Step 1: Upon acceptance to the program, you must submit the Summer Participation Agreement found in your MyGlobalEd application to confirm your enrollment. A parent/guardian’s co-signature is required. This form takes the place of a deposit.
NOTE: If you withdraw after March 15, you will be charged a cancellation fee for voluntary withdrawal. Fees range from $2,000-3,000.
Step 2: Summer invoices will be sent via email to your Duke email address and home email address. Remit payment to the Bursar per due date and address indicated on your online statement. Consult the Duke Bursar's office billing schedule for payment due dates.
Financial Aid
Duke students receiving financial aid are eligible for aid for this program (work-study funds must be converted to loans). Students are individually responsible for making the necessary arrangements with the Karsh Office of Undergraduate Financial Support and the Duke Bursar’s Office.
Non-Duke students are not eligible to receive financial aid at Duke and should contact their home institutions for financial aid information.
Scholarships
This program offers the following scholarship opportunities:
DATES
Attendance is required at all classes, excursions, and group events. Given the intense nature of this program, late arrival and/or early departure is not permitted.
Arrival: June 28 (TENTATIVE)
Departure: July 26 (TENTATIVE)
Flights
You will make your own travel arrangements to and from the program site. You are expected to arrive on the arrival date above, which means departing the U.S. the day prior. You may depart the program site at any point on the departure date. Once you have a flight itinerary, please log in to MyGlobalEd to update your travel registry.
Housing Before/After
You will need to make your own housing arrangements if you will be arriving before the program start date or leaving later than the program end date.
VISA & PASSPORT
VISA
No visa is required of U.S. citizens to participate in this program. Non-U.S. citizens should pay special attention to the visa requirements for their specific citizenship by contacting the country embassy to find out if any visa restrictions are in effect.
PASSPORT
All participants must have a valid passport. Make sure your passport has at least six months of validity beyond the program end date to avoid unintended disruptions. For instructions on obtaining or renewing your U.S. passport, visit passports.state.gov.
International Student Identity Card
An International Student Identity Card (ISIC) is optional. ISIC is the only internationally recognized form of student ID, endorsed by UNESCO. If purchased in the U.S., the card also carries with it a supplemental insurance policy, which can prove to be very helpful in the event of serious injury. You may purchase this card through www.myisic.com. Processing of the card takes between 4-15 days.
PROGRAM FACULTY & STAFF
Leadership of the program will rotate among professors in the Department of Theater Studies. The program faculty director can assist with questions related to program academics, admissions, on-site needs, etc. The faculty director for 2024 is Torry Bend. For all other inquires, please contact the GEO representative listed.
ADMISSIONS
Deadline: February 1
This program has rolling admission. Applications will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis until the program fills; after that, qualified students are added to a waitlist and notified of openings. Applications must be received by the deadline to be considered. Application opens November 1.
Priority: Priority is given to applicants who apply early.
Eligibility: There are no prerequisites or minimum GPA for this program.
Non-Duke students: Non-Duke students are welcome to apply for this program. In the past our roster has included students from Yale, William and Mary, University of Michigan, Michigan State, Emory, Wesleyan, Wake Forest, and Point Pleasant.
You must be a degree-seeking student in good standing at an accredited college or university. Consult your university’s registrar and/or study away advisor for assistance with transfer credit. Students who are not matriculated at a college or university are not eligible to participate in Duke’s study away programs.
*Special Note for First Year Applicants: Program acceptance cannot be determined until after Dean’s Checks are completed in January. This should not deter first-year students from applying!
GEO policy for graduating seniors who wish to apply for a Duke summer study abroad/away program:
Students must be active, matriculated students in order to participate in any Duke-in summer programs, including Duke’s domestic summer programs. All program courses must be taken for graded credit. If seniors plan to graduate in May of the year they plan to study abroad in the summer, they will not be eligible to participate on any of our summer programs unless they receive approval from their academic dean at Duke to delay their graduation until after the summer program has ended.
Non-Duke students planning to graduate in May in the year they plan to study abroad in the summer must provide approval to delay their graduation until after the summer program has ended from the appropriate official at their home institution. Such approval must be furnished in writing to GEO before the student will be allowed to participate in the summer program. This approval may be sent via email to the appropriate program assistant at GEO.
Duke students who defer their graduation to participate in study abroad should consult with their financial aid advisor in the Duke Office of Undergraduate Financial Aid to determine whether they are eligible for a summer aid package and/or a GEO summer scholarship.
Physical Requirements
Before applying to this program, you should assess and determine if you are physically or emotionally able to participate in the following physical demands required by some of this program’s activities:
- Walking approximately a mile in a day, sometimes for two or more days in a row, sometimes on hilly, uneven, or cobbled terrain
- Climbing and descending stairs
- Using public transportation, including sometimes crowded buses or trains
- Standing during tours and site visits
- Entering into older buildings with narrow and sometimes steep staircases, at times with limited or no access to elevators
- The possibility of warm/hot temperatures while residing in locations without air conditioning
If you have questions or are concerned about these or any other program activities, please contact the Duke Office of Global Health and Safety (oghs@duke.edu)
APPLY
Start your application early to ensure that it is complete by the deadline! Incomplete applications will not be forwarded to the program directors for consideration.
Submit the following items using MyGlobalEd:
- Online application
- Transcript(s) from all colleges and universities attended. First-year students should wait for fall semester grades to be posted before submitting their transcript.
- Personal statement, no longer than one page, explaining why you would like to participate
Once you submit an application, you may be asked to interview with the faculty director.
STUDENT STORIES
GEO ADVISING IS HERE FOR YOU
Get advice on choosing a program, exploring courses and credits, and covering the costs of study away when you engage the Global Education Office's advising network.