Undergraduate Program
Study Abroad
Literary London 2010
May 17–June 25 (Summer I) or June 28—August 6 (Summer III)
Have your choice of classes in London this summer and earn 7 Miami credits in 6 weeks! Students from other universities welcome.
Watch the sun set over the Houses of Parliament from Waterloo Bridge. Enjoy a traditional afternoon tea at the Ritz Palm Court. Visit the Poets’ Corner at Westminster Abbey. Cruise the River Thames on a boat to Hampton Court Palace. Visit Shakespeare’s Globe on the South Bank and see performances of great plays. Study the magnificent paintings at the Tate. Tour literary Bloomsbury!
Who and what is Literary London?
Literary London is housed in the English Department of Miami University and is an official Miami workshop program. We have brought 95+ students to London in the past four years for an enriching academic and cultural experience for English majors, minors, non-majors, and non-Miami students. Our faculty teach a variety of full-credit, London-based literature and creative writing courses that satisfy Miami Plan, English major/minor, and other requirements and electives. Everyone lives in London during the program—we look forward to having you on board in the coming year.
Course information and schedule
- We always offer Summer I (May 17-June 25). This year, we are also piloting a second session for Summer III (June 28-Aug 6) to gauge interest in two sessions. Choose from either session or consider both for a full summer experience in London, gaining as many as 7 more credits.
- Choose from 2 out of 3 literature and creative writing courses designed by Miami faculty to be taught on-site in London—new courses every year! Summer III will offer 2 more courses in Shakespeare and creative writing. See 2010 course selections here.
- Shakespeare on-site courses and other Miami Plan credits, courses for English majors, minors, and non-majors always offered. Work on distribution, period, thematic sequence, and other credits.
- Classes meet Tuesday through Thursday, with weekends free
- Classrooms (w/AC) located conveniently in the heart of Bloomsbury
Live in the heart of London!
- Live independently with fellow Miami students in central London flats—have all the city’s rich resources right at your doorstep
- Flats for 2-4 Miami students equipped with private bath, kitchen, and internet
- Travelcards for the London Transport system included, giving you free travel on the Tube and buses for the whole stay
- Access to the University of London Union (ULU)
Program components
- Orientation tour on private coach to all major London tourist sites
- Overnight visit in private coach to Stratford to see Shakespeare heritage sites and a play at the Royal Shakespeare Company
- River Thames boat tour to Hampton Court palace and palace visit
- Tickets to 3 more plays in London at the National Theatre, the Old Vic, etc.
- Guided tours of St. Paul’s Cathedral, the British Museum, the book exhibit at the British Library, Shakespeare’s Globe, the National Gallery
- Walking tours of Bloomsbury and other course-themed walks
- A welcoming orientation dinner for students and faculty
- Wireless access and computer/printing facilities at student center across from classrooms/AIFS offices
Accommodation
Miami students have been housed together in flats in the Central London neighborhoods over the past four years:
- Kensington: these flats are located one block from the Gloucester Road Tube stop
- Tower Bridge (photo on right):
http://www.euracom.co.uk/london_apartments
_tower_bridge_rd.htm
http://www.euracom.co.uk/london_apartments
_maltings_place.htm
Safety and Security features
- 24/7 access to local London staff trained to help with emergencies
- Registration with the US Embassy
- Access to the AIFS student center and local staff for advice, help, and planning
- Assistance if traveling outside UK and trip registration
- Supplemental medical/travel insurance available
- Healthcare assistance
- Literary London is an official workshop program overseen by Miami’s Office of Lifelong Learning
Costs
- Summer tuition for 2010 has been reduced to $470/credit for in-state students and $768/credit for out-of-state students, plus a one-time $100 registration fee assessed by Lifelong Learning. For details, see
http://www.units.muohio.edu/lifelonglearning/
credit/fees_faq.html - Program fees for Literary London 2009 of $4,370 covered costs for the whole 6 weeks abroad: living in fully-equipped flats in central London, transportation within London, tickets to all events—theater plays, guided museum and site tours, guided themed walks, orientation events, group trips—and a welcoming orientation-week dinner for all students and faculty at a London restaurant. Program fees for Literary London 2010 will cover the same components and be approximately $4,450, depending upon final enrollment figures.
Financing Study Abroad
- Undergraduate Summer Scholars program:
http://www.units.muohio.edu/english/Undergraduate/Independent_Study/summer_scholars.html - Study-abroad scholarships: http://www.units.muohio.edu/internationalprograms/scholarships.php
- Lifelong Learning Workshop Scholarship Application:
http://www.units.muohio.edu/lifelonglearning/forms/enSummer2010_SACW_SchlrshpAp.pdf - Advising on scholarships: Richard Menard, menardro@muohio.edu
http://www.units.muohio.edu/internationalprograms/about.php#menard
Calendar: Subject to Change
- Wednesday, December 2, 2009—Passport Blitz, Lifelong Learning, 10am-2pm, MacMillan 212
- Friday, December 4, 2009—Undergraduate Summer Scholars applications due in English Department (356 BAC) by 4pm (Margaret Luongo’s mailbox)
- December 2009 or January 2010—Second Literary London info session
- Friday, January 29, 2010—Lifelong Learning Study Abroad Scholarship Applications due in 127 McGuffey
- Friday, January 29, 2010—Program fee deposits ($450) due by January 30, 2010 to Kaara Peterson’s mailbox, Bachelor Hall
- February 2010—Confirmed students get-together. Course selection confirmation begins
- mid-March 2010—Final program fee balances/invoices due to AIFS, CT
- mid-March 2010—Tuition due; course registration. These are done together at Miami’s Lifelong Learning Office
- mid-April—Pre-departure Orientation for all students and parents with London-based AIFS staff.
- Applications available here. Applications accepted through January 30, 2010 for both Summer I and Summer III. Priority given to applications and deposits of $450 (write checks out to AIFS) received by December 10, 2009. Deposits accepted separately—see application for details.
Forms and Useful Information
Passport Blitz
Lifelong Learning will hold a Passport Blitz on Wednesday, December 2, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., room 212 MacMillan. Lifelong Learning accepts passport applications daily 8 to 5 and Saturday, 8 to noon.
- Passport information:
http://www.units.muohio.edu/lifelonglearning/passport/index.html - Information about designing an independent Thematic Sequence:
http://www.units.muohio.edu/led/ThematicSequences/index.htm - Undergraduate Summer Scholars Information/Application:
http://www.units.muohio.edu/oars/undergrad_research/summer_scholars_program/index.php
Arriving in London
- Summer I begins on May 17, 2010
- London orientation day and tour on May 18, 2010
- Summer I ends on June 25, 2010
- Summer III begins on June 28, 2010
- London orientation day and tour on June 29, 2010
- Summer III ends on August 6, 2010
Literary London faculty and staff
General inquiries: please email literarylondon@muohio.edu
- Director, Dr. Kaara L. Peterson, Literature, English Department
- Assistant Director, Dr. Catherine Wagner, Creative Writing, English Department
- Faculty alumni: please contact our alumni faculty who will happily talk to you about their past experiences teaching in the program
- Margaret Luongo, Creative Writing, Fiction: Short Story.
ENG 399: Writing Historical London - Kaara Peterson, Literature, Shakespeare studies.
ENG 440: Shakespeare On-stage, On-Site - David Schloss, Creative Writing, Fiction; Literature and Film Studies
ENG 345: British Modernism c. 1900-40 - Edward Tomarken, Literature, English.
ENG 299: Literature Inspired by London, 1660-present - Catherine Wagner, Creative Writing, Poetry.
ENG 490: Art and the Word: Ekphrastic and Visual Poetry - Student alumni: our alumni students can answer questions you might have about life in London
Places of Interest
- Globe Theatre: http://www.shakespeares-globe.org/
- National Gallery: http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/
- Tate Modern: http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/
- Tate Britain: http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/
- National Portrait Gallery: http://www.npg.org.uk/
- Hampton Court Palace: http://www.hrp.org.uk/hamptoncourtpalace/
Additional Resources
- Literary London Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=40851319232&ref=ts - Visit London: http://www.visitlondon.com/
- Tube map:
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/standard-tube-map.pdf - NYT guide to London:
http://travel.nytimes.com/travel/guides/europe/britain/england/london/overview.html - Lonely Planet Travel Guide:
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/england/london - Let’s Go Travel Guide:
http://www.letsgo.com/15-great_britain-travel-guides-london-d