Duke in London-Arts

A 4-week summer arts program

STUDY ARTS AND MEDIA IN A VIBRANT AND STORIED CITY

Apply Now

This 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 30 - July 27

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

  • London

  • Abbey Road

  • Globe Theatre

  • 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 2024

  Duke Students Non-Duke Students
Tuition $2,840 $2,840
Program Fee $5,700 $5,700
Transcript Fee N/A $120
Other Costs Other Costs Other Costs
TOTAL (Estimated): $14,415 $14,535

Explanation of Costs

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 30 
Departure: July 27

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 MyExperientialEd 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.

Torry Bend

Professor of the Practice of Theater Studies

Christine Lee

GEO Program Coordinator / Advisor

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! 

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 MyExperientialEd

  1. Online application
  2. Transcript(s) from all colleges and universities attended. First-year students should wait for fall semester grades to be posted before submitting their transcript.
  3. 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

Madeline Taylor on London: Oh, The Things that Bring You to Duke!

"We were sprinting through the streets of London, past 221B Baker Street, past famous historical landmarks, just to catch this production with an actual British rock star playing Jesus. We normally saw shows for class each night, but this one was not on the list. Even though we had a free night, we still chose to go out and see another show. It was a magical performance.”
 

Read More