Study Abroad Opportunities & Requirements

Dear Applicant for Study Abroad:

Welcome to one of the great opportunities you have as a student. The experience of living and studying in a different country for a semester or a year is invaluable--in fact, it is often transformative. Doing so will not slow down your progress toward the major. I will work closely with you to make sure that the courses you take abroad will count back home. 

The full year at Keble College, Oxford, is the gold standard in Study Abroad programs, and is much envied by other US colleges. You are a full member of the college and reside there, arriving in fall with the freshers from the UK and elsewhere, and are taught in tutorials of 1:1 or 2:1, and in small seminars. Because you are there for a full year, you have the same academic experience as UK students, and feel part of Oxford by the end. Students coming from this program speak of it as utterly transformative, the most important experience of their lives.

For those who can't do a year, the Middlebury Oxford Humanities Program offers a great alternative, if there are places available. This program is for US students only, and you live together in a lovely Georgian building in central Oxford. You don't get quite the full British college experience, but the program has close ties to Keble College and you are affiliate members of the college's student common room. This is a competitive program, as it can accommodate only 37 students per semester.

The three London programs have different strengths. We are currently reviewing our relationship with King’s College. While the formal relationship persists for the moment, I can’t recommend study at King’s at this point. University College London has excellent academics, though you can't always get into the courses you want and you may not find it easy at first to find academic help if you need it (but Arcadia University, which acts as a mediator between you and UCL, will always provide it); the main drawback otherwise is that you will probably find yourself living in rental accommodation a long way out of the center of the city, with long commutes. Queen Mary, by contrast, accommodates all its students on their campus beside the old Regent's Canal in London's east end. You therefore have the residential college experience, as at Keble in Oxford, with UK and other students, and so have slightly easier access to all London has to offer. The academics are also excellent. 

Dublin and Edinburgh are comparable; a lot will depend on which of these two lovely cities attracts you most. Arcadia takes good care of you in both places, even as you won’t always get into all the courses you've chosen in advance (though if you pick Irish lit in Dublin or Scottish lit in Edinburgh you'll rarely find a problem!) Both have great airports with cheap access to European cities for weekend or longer trips, and both give easy access to beautiful countryside.

Sydney is one of Australia's premier universities located in the country's most beautiful city (head for Sydney Harbour). The great argument for going is that you may never otherwise get there, and the academics are great as well. Though cost of living is fairly high, there are relatively cheap flights from here to the rest of this big country, or to South-East Asia, or to New Zealand. And the climate is terrific.

I hope to see you to discuss your travel plans.

Best wishes,

Wolfram Schmidgen

You should begin your planning early, and must have declared your major before you leave. Before departure, you should have completed your prerequisite courses for the major at the 200-level and have taken at least one and preferably two 300-level courses, including Literary Theory if at all possible. Students going abroad in the second semester of your junior year should have no difficulty in completing these requirements. You should discuss your program with the Study Abroad advisor to get a sense of how the specific course work anticipated in the UK or Ireland or Australia will fit into your English major. Though it is not always easy to predict what courses will be available to you on arrival at your chosen program abroad, our WU department will be flexible in counting these toward our requirements.

This consultation is especially important for students who plan to apply to the Honors program. You will need to apply for the Honors program in late spring; applications initiated at the beginning of senior year will not be considered. In general, students who wish to study in the UK, Ireland or Australia should expect to satisfy at least one of the two 400-level course requirements for the major here at Washington University.

Because the courses you end up taking abroad may differ from your initial section, we do not assign course codes until after your return.

If you are going to study English in the UK, Ireland, or Australia, you should keep all syllabi and all written work from your courses abroad. This material will be crucial for determining the credit you will receive for work done abroad. Most courses taken at our approved programs will transfer here as 300-level courses. If you did extremely well in a particular course, and if the level at which the course was pitched warrants it, you may be assigned up to one 400-level course equivalent.  

If you have further questions, please contact our Study Abroad Advisor, Professor Wolfram Schmidgen (wschmidg@wustl.edu).

The academic year at Oxford consists of three terms: Michaelmas, Hillary and Trinity. Students are slotted into the 2nd year curriculum for Keble College students within their major. Students receive the equivalent of 10 WU credits per term for a total of 30 WU credits.

Instruction at Keble is organized around weekly tutorial meetings supplemented by lectures. The tutorial system, which is at the heart of Oxford University's educational process, entails 20-25 hours of extensive, highly critical reading and research towards the submission of a paper for analysis and discussion. The student will then meet his or her tutor alone, and be examined on the work submitted. This intensive, one-on-one, Socratic approach is both challenging and highly profitable and permits a level of depth and insight incapable of being achieved by other methods of teaching. Students at Oxford must be prepared to work independently and to write an enormous number of papers.

Read more about Keble’s English program here.

Keble College is one of the many independent colleges within the University of Oxford. Little more than a century old, Keble is one of the few Oxford colleges built of brick. Oxford is a medium-sized university town that is home to over 30,000 students and has an overall population of just over 150,000. Beautiful and historic architecture sits alongside all the main high street stores, numerous coffee shops and restaurants, and a thriving bar and club scene. Oxford also has beautiful riverside walks and the oldest Botanic Garden in the country. Approximately 62 miles from Central London, Oxford is easily accessible by air, bus, train, and car.

Students accepted in the program at Keble live in the college, in rooms that are unusually comfortable by British university standards. Most of the 360 rooms are within the College itself. Meals are included during the academic term.

Academic life consists of a mixture of one or two tutorials conducted usually in pairs, sometimes alone, with a Keble tutor, or with another tutor whom he or she arranges for the student. With support, students learn how to think critically, write forcefully, and accept criticism, and the validity of other points of view.

Students will be part of Keble College with full privileges. Within the college, students are welcome to participate in Keble’s tradition in many different sports, at both College and University level. There is a very high level of participation among the student population, not only in sports but also in drama and music. Off campus, Oxford provides a wonderful environment, too.

The Keble College program is for the full academic year only. The first term begins in early October and the third term ends in late June.

Application deadline: February 1

There are only two places for English majors each year in the Keble program and admission will be quite competitive, but it offers an extremely challenging educational opportunity and an unparalleled opportunity for full integration into university life at Oxford.

Minimum 3.7 GPA; English major who has taken intermediate level courses for the major. Samples of written work required with application.

For more information, visit The Overseas Programs' Keble College Page or contact Amy Suelzer in the Overseas Program office (acsuelze@wustl.edu, 314-935-8372).

Students should take 60 KCL units per semester, which is typically 4 courses. 15 KCL units equals 4 WU units. Students must take at least 2 upper-level courses (2nd or 3rd year) in their major department.

King’s College is a prestigious British institution of higher education. Its central London location provides easy access to major libraries, institutes, and societies. It is also close to the Houses of Parliament.

In addition to a variety of sports and clubs that students can participate in, the number of things that students can to do around the three campuses is infinite. The Strand campus is between Trafalgar Square and St. Paul’s Cathedral. It is next to Somerset House and The National Gallery. Nearby is the West end, famous for shops, markets, and nightlife. Royal Opera House and Royal Ballet are there, too. The Waterloo campus, on the bank of the Thames River opposite the Strand campus, is next to the National Theater, the National Film Theater, and the Festival Arts Hall. The Eye of London is nearby as well. Guy’s campus is along the river, too, near the Tate Modern Gallery of Art.

Visiting students are usually offered a place in either a KCL or intercollegiate residence. The majority of KCL residences are self-catered student dormitories and apartments with kitchens that are shared with other students. The KCL and intercollegiate residence halls include cafeteria meals in the contract rate. The intercollegiate halls are only available to academic year students, not for one semester. Commercial apartments are available at higher cost if a student residence is not available or not desired.

Washington University in St. Louis staff have no control over the housing placements abroad and do not have the authority to change students’ accommodations. At KCL, a student may swap housing placements with another student who wants to switch, and KCL provides a mechanism for students to find each other. Students may also find apartments on their own in London if they are not happy with their housing assignments; however, they may lose their housing deposit. WU students at KCL have been placed in dorms as far as 45 minutes away from campus and Central London. Although the location of these residences may not be ideal, they have the advantage of being more spacious and housing more British students. Students housed in these facilities are encouraged to befriend the other students in their dorm in order to have people with whom to commute to and from Central London at night. More information about accommodations at KCL may be found HERE.

Students can study at King’s College for the full academic year, or in the spring or fall.

Term                                     Dates                                                                      Application Deadline

Academic Year                    mid September – early June                                February 1

Fall                                      mid September – end of December                     February 1

Spring                                  mid January – mid June                                       May 1

Minimum 3.3 GPA (both overall and within the major) for English majors. At least three courses of prior or current academic work relevant to the area to be studied at King’s College.

For more information, visit The Overseas Programs' King's College Page or contact Veronica Whittemore in the Overseas Program office (v.whittemore@wustl.edu,  314-935-3859).

 All students must enroll in 60 Edinburgh units for a total of 15 WU credits.

Edinburgh is the Scottish capital and is considered one of the most beautiful cities in northern Europe. The University of Edinburgh is more than 400 years old and an integral part of the city. Historic sites include Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile.

The university and the city offer students all of the intellectual, cultural, and recreational opportunities one would expect in a European capital city. Travel opportunities within Scotland, England, Ireland, and on the Continent are readily available too.

Through the Edinburgh Buddies program, international students can be paired with current Edinburgh students to help them adjust to life at the University of Edinburgh. The university also has its International Student Centre (ISC), which is a student-run arm of the International Office that deals with the social aspects of the international community in Edinburgh. Run completely by volunteers, the ISC aims to make every student’s time in the University of Edinburgh unforgettable.

The University of Edinburgh offers full board residence halls, self-catered dorms/houses, and self-catered shared apartments. University housing is guaranteed for full year visiting students who submit the accommodation application in a timely manner. Similarly, one semester visiting students have a good chance of being assigned university housing if they apply promptly. Otherwise, Accommodation Services assists students in securing suitable private accommodation.

Students can study at the University of Edinburgh for the full academic year, or in the spring or fall.

Term                                     Dates                                                                      Application Deadline

Academic Year                    early September – late May                                 February 1

Fall                                      early September - mid December                        February 1

Spring                                  early January – late May                                      May 1

Minimum 3.0 GPA.  Applicant must have appropriate background of prior course work or courses in progress.

For more information, visit The Overseas Programs' University of Edinburgh Page or contact Veronica Whittemore in the Overseas Program office (V.WHITTEMORE@WUSTL.EDU, 314-935-3859)

Students should take the equivalent of 15-16 WU credits (25-30 ECTS) per semester, including the Semester Start-up Program for fall/academic year students. 2 ECTS (European Community Course-Credit Transfer System) units usually equal 1 WU unit. 5 ECTS courses are worth 3 WU credits and 10 ECTS courses are worth 5 WU credits.

Dublin is the cultural center (and the heart) of Ireland. You'll be studying in the City of Literature that's home to such literary greats as George Bernard Shaw, Oscar Wilde, William Butler Yeats, and Samuel Beckett. Dublin’s historic architecture blends with modern design. Dublin also has a unique and lively atmosphere that attracts millions of visitors every year. The city is steeped in culture through arts, theatre, and folklore. Art galleries and museums, such as the National Museum, are available. Students can visit Croke Park to see a football match or Lansdowne for some rugby. Dublin has restaurants, bookstores, street markets, and ethnic restaurants all over. There are numerous pubs and clubs for the nightlife scene.

On campus, there is a wide range of activities to suit all tastes. While enrolled in Trinity, students are welcomed as full members of the academic community and encouraged to participate fully in student life in the University. All students are welcome to join student clubs, sports clubs, and student government. There are also countless special events and guests on campus.

Students stay in IES apartments that are located in various residential areas of central Dublin. Between four and six students usually share an apartment that consists of a kitchen, two or three bedrooms, and a common area. The apartments are completely furnished and include a computer, printer, and wireless Internet access. Students usually prepare meals on their own or eat at inexpensive local restaurants. Meal plans are not included. Commute time from student apartments to the IES Dublin Center is 15-30 minutes by foot or via the light-rail system, Luas.

(One can enroll for the fall or spring semester, but because so many American students seek opportunities to study abroad in Dublin, it can be difficult for students to find places in their preferred classes if they’re only going for the spring: they have much better chances of getting into the classes in which they’re most interested if they enroll for an entire year.) 

Term                                     Dates                                                                      Application Deadline       

Academic Year                    mid-September to late May                              February 1

Fall                                         mid-August to mid-December                        February 1

Spring                                     early January to late May                                 May 1

Minimum 3.3 GPA overall and within the major. Strong preparation in the subject area(s) to be studied.

For more information, visit The Overseas Programs' Trinity College-Dublin Page or contact Carrie Canham in the Overseas Program office (mosebach@wustl.edu, 314-935-7695)

The program at UCL is organized around a combination of lectures, seminars, and tutorial sessions; the department is a traditional one like our own and is ranked as one of the finest in Britain. Students must take 4 courses for a total of 15-16 WU units per semester. At least two of the courses must be within the admitting UCL department. English majors must take all 4 classes within the English department unless they apply to a 2nd department, in which case they would take 2 English classes and at least 1 in the secondary department. Students who wish to take classes in select departments must first be admitted by that department.

UCL is a prestigious British institution of higher education. It is located in central London in the vicinity of other Colleges and libraries comprising the University of London. London's appeal is obvious and hardly needs description, but there's very little of what you might call a "campus" in London. UCL is located just north of Oxford Street and the British Museum. Students enjoy being in the center of the British capital, with its culture, arts, politics, government, media, etc. London has over 200 museums, 150 theatres, 34,000 shops, 5,700 pubs, and 8,000 acres of parklands. The UCL Union provides many clubs and activities and hosts regular events and entertainments. For students wanting to socialize and relax, the Union provides a number of bars and cafés.

Students at UCL usually live in university housing, but are occasionally obliged to live in independent flats.

Students can study at UCL for a full academic year or for one semester during the academic year.

Term                     Dates                                                                      Application Deadline

Academic Year       mid September - mid June                                 February 1

Fall                         mid September - mid December                        February 1

Spring                     early January - mid June                                    May 1

Minimum 3.5 GPA (both overall and within the major) for English majors. At least three courses of prior or current academic work relevant to the area to be studied at UCL. Students apply directly to a department.

For more information, visit The Overseas Programs' UCL Page or contact Veronica Whittemore in the Overseas Program office (V.WHITTEMORE@WUSTL.EDU, 314-935-3859)

Enrolled students are required to take 4 classes at the University of Sydney and will receive 16 WU credits. Visit the units of study lists to see possible coursework in English and Writing.

Located on Australia’s east coast, Sydney is the state capital of New South Wales and the most populous city in Australia and Oceania. Home to beautiful golden beaches, world-class museums, delicious fresh food and a calendar of exciting events and festivals, Sydney ranks second on a list of the 50 best cities in the world in which to live, work, and study, above New York and Paris. The University has also been named among the world’s top 10 most beautiful campuses. Camperdown/Darlington, the biggest campus, is 72 hectares of state-of-the-art teaching and learning technology, including six libraries, art galleries, historical museums, and perfectly manicured lawns.

University of Sydney offers a variety of housing options for students:

University residences are where you can enjoy the freedom of affordable self-catered accommodation close to everything you need. These dorm-style accommodation offerings allow students to enjoy their own single room with access to shared bathrooms on each floor. Facilities typically include a shared communal kitchen, music rooms, TV rooms, and more.

The University of Sydney Union (USU) runs more than 200 clubs and societies, including 26 cultural groups. You can meet a variety of people, team up and make new friends, share your ideas and learn new skills through performances, sports and leadership opportunities. Sydney Uni Sport and Fitness offers a huge range of facilities, programs and events to keep you healthy and active. You can get involved in athletics, swimming, tennis, golf, hockey, soccer, rugby union, rowing, scuba diving, skiing and more.

Term                                     Dates                                                                      Application Deadline

Academic Year                    late July – early June                                           February 1

Fall  (Semester 2)                late July - early December                                   February 1

Spring (Semester 1)             mid February – late June                                     May 1

Minimum 3.0 GPA (both overall and within the major) for English majors. At least three courses of prior or current academic work relevant to the area to be studied at University of Sydney.

For more information, click The Overseas Programs’ University of Sydney Page or contact Veronica Whittemore in the Overseas Program office (v.whittemore@wustl.edu, 314-935-3859).

Students must take a full load of four courses, altogether valued at 15-16 WU units per semester.

Explore the dynamic multiculturalism of the fast-paced capital city, London, and the exciting, diverse and creative urban areas throughout the country that bring sports, arts, science and heritage to life. Drawing on its 2,000 year-old history, you’ll experience how England is reinventing itself for success in a globalized world – through a world-renowned higher education system and a torrent of creativity in finance, art, drama, music, technology, cultural and sporting innovations.

Queen Mary's traditional, compact campus is a rare find in London, and has a green area and jogging trail nearby. In fact, its buildings cluster around the second-oldest cemetery in England, dating from 1726. Its location in the East End is a neighborhood whose medley of multicultural restaurants and shops include the famed Spitalfields and Brick Lane markets. You’ll taste (literally!) the true essence of 21st century London.

Queen Mary's main library is located on the Mile End campus where most subjects are represented. Usual opening hours are 8 am to midnight. The Mile End Library is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week during term time (including bank holidays).

You will live in university housing. You’ll live on the Mile End Campus in self-catered apartments, or flats, that houses 4-10 people. Flats have single bedrooms, with a shared kitchen and dining area.

Dive into a wide range of learning activities, such as lectures, student clubs, new hobbies, and excursions. You can choose your own direction or follow Arcadia's lead through the options they coordinate. QMUL’s Student Union is home to more than 60 clubs, societies, and sports teams. You’ll also have access to Queen Mary’s recreational facilities, the largest of any University of London campus.

Term                                     Dates                                                                      Application Deadline

Academic Year                    early September – late June                                 February 1

Fall                                      early September - mid December                        February 1

Spring                                  early January – early June                                   May 1

Minimum 3.0 GPA. Applicant must have appropriate background of prior English coursework or courses in progress.

For more information, click The Overseas Programs’ QMUL Page or contact Veronica Whittemore in the Overseas Program office (v.whittemore@wustl.edu, 314-935-3859).

The Middlebury-CMRS curriculum, for either a semester or full year, is based on three academic components:

• The Research Course, for which students take on an independent project, supervised by faculty members, that include a significant research paper based on work in the various libraries, art galleries, and museums in and around Oxford;
• One Readings Seminar, for which students choose topics in medieval, early modern, or modern subjects that include literature, history, art history, classics, philosophy, religion, and political and social theory, and engage in small seminars taught by local faculty;
• Two one-on-one tutorials, which are designed by students and tailored to their academic interests, and carried out with instructors that are usually Oxford University faculty members.

Credit for Middlebury-CMRS courses is issued through Middlebury College.

The tutorial system, which is at the heart of Oxford University's educational process, entails 20-25 hours of extensive, highly critical reading and research towards the submission of a paper for analysis and discussion. The student will then meet his or her tutor alone, and be examined on the work submitted. This intensive, one-on-one, Socratic approach is both challenging and highly profitable and permits a level of depth and insight incapable of being achieved by other methods of teaching.

Oxford is a medium-sized city that is home to over 30,000 students. Beautiful and historic architecture sits alongside all the main high street stores, numerous coffee shops and restaurants, and a thriving bar and club scene. Oxford also has beautiful riverside walks and the oldest Botanic Garden in the country.

Middlebury-CMRS offers accommodations in St. Michael’s Hall, a centrally located facility with classrooms, a 40-bed dormitory, a large kitchen, and various social spaces. A local grocery store, pubs, and other shops, as well as Keble College resources, are all within walking distance.

Middlebury-CMRS is affiliated with Keble College, one of the largest colleges at Oxford, and provides excellent facilities and a wide range of opportunities for integration into university life—including meals in the dining hall, access to campus libraries and the junior common room, and association with clubs and sports teams.

Academic life consists of a mixture of one or two tutorials conducted usually in pairs, sometimes alone, with a Keble tutor, or with another tutor whom he or she arranges for the student. With support, students learn how to think critically, write forcefully, and accept criticism, and the validity of other points of view.

Within the college, students are welcome to participate in Keble’s tradition in many different sports, at both College and University level. There is a very high level of participation among the student population, not only in sport but also in drama and music. Off campus, Oxford provides a wonderful environment too.

Term                                     Dates                                                                      Application Deadline

Academic Year                    late August – late April .                                     February 1

Fall                                      late August - mid December                               February 1

Spring                                  early January – late April                                    May 1

Minimum 3.5 GPA

For more information, click The Overseas Programs’ Middlebury College Page or contact Amy Suelzer in the Overseas Program office (acsuelze@wustl.edu, 314-935-8372).

The Pembroke Cambridge Summer Programme lasts for six weeks. You have to take three courses and while there are some timetable considerations to keep in mind, you can choose one of these course combinations:

• One Module 1 course, one Module 2 course, and one Module 3 course
• One Module 1 course and two Module 2 courses
• Two Module 1 courses and one Module 2 course
• One Module 1 or Module 2 course and two Module 3 courses
• Three Module 3 courses

You can earn up to 9 WUSTL credits during a summer term. Of these, 6 will count toward the English major.

We don't think you can beat a summer living and studying in Cambridge, and this is your chance to experience it.  The city itself is stunning, unique and absolutely steeped in history. You’ll be part of the historic Pembroke College (founded 1347) with access to its impressive libraries and dining halls.  

Cambridge is bursting with excellent restaurants, cafes, and pubs so it’s no surprise there’s a rich and varied social scene. The many museums and art galleries are worth a browse and don’t miss settling down with a hamper to watch the outdoor Cambridge Shakespeare Festival.

Six weeks in the summer. Start date to be announced.

Minimum GPA of 3.2. Applicant must have appropriate background of prior coursework or courses in progress.

For more information, contact Amy Suelzer in the Overseas Program Office (acsuelze@wustl.edu, 314-935-8372)

You'll choose 1 to 3 modules from the following 3 course types:

• Text & Context: These courses examine literature from Britain and Ireland in the context of key societal and cultural developments in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. 
• Creative Writing: This course offers developing writers a supportive environment in which to further their writing skills in fiction, poetry, and drama. Please note that this class will not count toward the creative writing concentration. It will only count as elective credit toward the major.
• Contemporary British and Irish Theatre & Performance: For this module, students get the chance to study theatre and performance while the Edinburgh International Festival and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe take place.

Each of these courses will include an intensive program of lectures and seminars. The literature sessions provide an opportunity to hear leading novelists, poets, literary critics, and historians discuss the social, political, historical and theoretical influences that have impacted modern British literature. You’ll be encouraged to freely interact with these distinguished scholars and personalities, sharing your ideas and observations with them and other visiting students.

You can earn up to 7.5 WUSTL credits during a summer term. To transfer credit to the English major, you’ll need to enroll in the six-week option. You can earn a total of 6 credits toward the English major. The transfer of credit for the creative concentration has to be cleared beforehand with the director of the creative concentration.

Edinburgh is the Scottish capital and one of the most beautiful cities in northern Europe. It consistently considered one of the most desirable places to live in the world, and is also ranked the greenest in the UK. Despite its small size (and population of only 500,000 people), Edinburgh has all of the social and cultural assets of a city. It’s no surprise that Edinburgh is one of the UK’s leading tourist destinations, coming second only to London. Around 4 million people visit the beautiful city every year, many of them for the Edinburgh International Book Festival in August – ‘the largest public celebration of the written word in the world’ – but many to explore the literary city and all it has to offer the book lover. SUISS coincides with the many Edinburgh Festivals, including the Military Tattoo, the Edinburgh International Festival and Fringe Festival against the glorious backdrop of the extinct volcanoes of Arthur’s Seat and Edinburgh Castle.

Students have the choice of residing in the Pollock Halls of Residence or residing in Self-Catered Student Flats.

The Pollock Halls of Residence are located half a mile (15-minute walk) from the center of the University of Edinburgh. You will have a single or twin bedroom with a wash basin in your room. All 12 halls share a dining hall, computer lab and student bar.

The University controls several blocks of student flats designed for student living. Some are located between Pollock Halls of Residence and the central campus at George Square. The flats usually house five people and are mixed gender. All bedrooms are single study rooms (w/ bed, desk and bureau).

The Summer School has different sessions. The session that is most suitable to English majors at WashU begins in the second week of July and ends in the first week of August.

Minimum GPA of 3.0. Applicant must have appropriate background of prior coursework or courses in progress.

For more information, contact:

Veronica Whittemore

v.whittemore@wustl.edu