The great 18th-century British writer, Samuel Johnson, famously wrote, “When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.” This is even more true of the 21st-century city. London is a global financial capital, has some of the greatest theatre in the world, boasts superb international cuisine, is full of beautiful parks and gardens, and features an amazing array of museums and other cultural institutions. There is truly something for everyone in contemporary London.
The London Centre spring 2020 program will focus on the history, culture, and literature of the British Isles. Our texts will be the city itself, as well as many other sites throughout England and Scotland. In London, we will attend West End plays and musicals, eat amazing food, and visit such iconic sites as the British Museum, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the National Gallery, the Tate Modern, and possibly even Platform 9¾. Beyond the city, we will visit the Lake District, the Scottish Highlands, Canterbury, Stourhead, Stratford-upon-Avon, Stonehenge, Bath, Oxford, Cornwall, and many other fascinating destinations. All of this during the most beautiful time of the year in London. By the end of the program you will be able to join Samuel Johnson in saying, “By seeing London, I have seen as much of life as the world can show.”
DATES
28 Apr–15 Jun 2020
HOUSING AND FOOD
Students reside and take classes in the recently refurbished London Centre in the vibrant, conveniently located West End neighborhood of Bayswater. The centre is a short Tube ride from most central London attractions and just minutes by foot from Kensington Gardens, Notting Hill, and hundreds of shops and restaurants. Program costs include self-serve breakfasts and chef-prepared dinners all days except Saturday, and students can generally lunch on PBJs or the previous night’s leftovers. The centre offers free laundry facilities, a library, a lounge, and Wi-Fi access.
MEALS AT THE LONDON CENTRE
All dinners and breakfasts at the London Centre are prepared and served communally. Student participants are required to help in food preparation and clean-up. Because of the communal nature of the meals, the BYU London Centre cannot meet all special dietary needs nor can it ensure a safe environment for those with food allergies. Please also note that other than a communal microwave, students do not have accommodations in the centre and may not bring their own accommodations to the centre to prepare food for themselves individually. If you have dietary or allergy concerns we recommend that you speak with the International Study Programs office before you apply.
COURSES
Accepted students register as a full-time student (6 credit hours) in the following courses:
- ENGL 300R British Literature in a Cultural Setting (3 credit hours): with Mary Eyring; fulfills either GE Letters or major or minor requirements in English, European Studies, or Interdisciplinary Humanities.
- EUROP 336R / HIST 323 British History (3 credit hours): with E. Dursteler; fulfills GE Global and Cultural Awareness.
All accepted students living within ninety minutes of Provo must also register for IAS 201R (1 credit hour), a required pre-departure preparation course that will be taught as an evening course during the second block of winter semester 2020.
Participants may not take any other courses on this program, including BYU Online courses, without approval by the program director and ISP.
COST
$5,000-5,500 (final amount will depend in part on US/UK exchange rates in spring 2020)
Program cost estimate includes full-time Latter-day Saint undergraduate tuition (costs higher for graduate and Non-Latter-day Saint students); housing at the Centre; breakfast and dinner all days except Saturday; admission to program-related events, museums, and historical sites; transportation within London; travel, lodging, and meals on program excursions within UK; and international health insurance coverage.
Part-time BYU and non-BYU students must pay an additional $294 for the Winter 2020 preparation course.
Not included: airfare to/from London, lunches and Saturdays meals, passport fees, and personal expenses.
FUNDING SOURCES
BYU tuition scholarships, Pell Grants, and Federal Insured Student Loans may be applied to study abroad programs. BYU students are strongly encouraged to request experiential education funding through their home department and/or college and the ORCA program.
Those who complete the financial aid section of the ISP application and file a current FAFSA form at BYU’s Financial Aid Office (A-41 ASB) will also be considered for a need-based study abroad scholarship.
Students may also pursue private grants and scholarships, including those listed online at kennedy.byu.edu/scholarships.
APPLICATION PROCESS
While London Centre programs primarily serve undergraduates from BYU-Provo, students from other universities who are committed to a rigorous academic experience and adhering to BYU’s Honor Code are also invited to apply. Interested students may contact the faculty directors at any point. Applications are available online at kennedy.byu.edu/apply.
While the final application deadline is December 15, 2019, there is a rolling admissions process and the directors will begin interviewing applicants and admitting strong candidates during the late summer and early fall of 2019. Those who submit polished, academically-focused applications by the November 15, 2019 priority deadline will improve their chances of being admitted to what will likely prove a highly selective program.
FACULTY
Eric Dursteler (director) is a professor of early modern European history in the BYU History Department. He has directed study abroad programs in Paris and Europe, and was director of the London program in 2011 and 2018. He will be accompanied by his wife, Whitney. They have three children and two grandchildren.
Mary Eyring (associate director) is an assistant professor of English and American Studies specializing in the transatlantic and global dimensions of early American literature and culture. She lived briefly in London while her husband, Jacob, attended graduate school at the London School of Economics. She looks forward to returning to London with him. They will be accompanied by their mostly well-behaved daughter, who will be 3 next spring.
INTERESTED STUDENTS SHOULD CONTACT
International Study Programs
101 HRCB
(801) 422-3686
isp@byu.edu
kennedy.byu.edu/isp
Eric Dursteler
(801) 422-5260
ericd@byu.edu
Mary Eyring
(801) 422-5471
mary_eyring@byu.edu
PROGRAM ADJUSTMENTS
ISP reserves the right to cancel this program, revise its offerings, or make any adjustments to the preliminary cost estimates due to conditions beyond its control.
