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London - Theater Studies
$6+ Million in Scholarships & Aid
Academics
Our mission is simple: to provide you with the best study abroad program possible—which includes the highest quality academic and cultural experiences.
We offer unique courses that explore theater, drama, and other topics through an in-depth and hands-on approach. Our worldclass professors and course options at prestigious local universities enhance your academic experience and provide you with new perspectives each day in class.
Create your own academic experience by selecting from the following program components. You enroll in 15–19 credits per semester. Academic programming is scheduled four days a week.
- IES Abroad Theater courses (required, 3 credits each)
- DR355 Theatre in London: Analyzing Text & the Dramatic Imagination
- TH355 The Theater Industry: Inside & Out
- Elective Theater courses (optional, 3 credits each)
- TH390 Playwriting Workshop
- LT351 Shakespeare the Dramatist
- TH350 European Approaches to Text & Theater Performance
- Elective course at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts or Queen Mary, University of London (optional, 3-4 credits each)
- Internship placement and seminar (optional, 3 credits)
- Community-Based Learning placement and seminar (optional, 3 credits)
- Study London Program elective courses (optional, 3 credits each)
IES Abroad strongly discourages students from doing both an internship or community-based learning placement and an outside course, as these both require a time commitment that is very difficult to schedule. If you wish to do both, please understand that, if you are able to work both into your schedule, you will be occupied Monday through Friday with no day off. Please contact your IES Abroad Program Advisor for more information.
Courses
These courses are taught at the IES Abroad Center by local faculty.
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| AH 341 - The Architecture of London: 1600-Present Day | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| AH/FA 390 - Western Art And The Convergence Of Technique And Philosophy | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| SO/PS/CB/HL 395 - Comparative Social Policy: A Community-Based Learning Perspective and Practicum | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| FS/CM 325 - Censored! What the British Could Not See | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| PO/CM 350 - Media and UK Politics | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| CU/SO 352 - British Youth Culture From 1950 to the Present | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| DR 355 - Theatre In London: Text and the Dramatic Imagination | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| IR/EC 330 - The Economics and Business of Climate Change | Fall | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| FS/EU 335 - Visiting Europe In Cinema | Spring | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| AH/FA 390 - Western Art And The Convergence Of Technique And Philosophy | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| FI 355 - International Finance | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| FS 345 - Representations of Identity, Nation and Values in British Cinema | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| FS 390 - London Video Film Production Workshop | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| FS/CM 325 - Censored! What the British Could Not See | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| FS/EU 335 - Visiting Europe In Cinema | Spring | English | 3 |
| LT/FS 340 - Britain in the 1940s: Film and Literature | Spring | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| PO/HL 310 - International and European Health and Human Rights | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| SO/PS/CB/HL 395 - Comparative Social Policy: A Community-Based Learning Perspective and Practicum | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| HS 336 - The History Of London | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| WS/HS 366 - From Aphra Behn To The 'Blitz:' 300 Years Of London Women'S Social History | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| IB 340 - Contemporary Business Issues and the EU | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| IR/IB 393 - Leading Across Cultures: Principles and Practice | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| MG/IB 320 - Strategic Management | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| MG/IB 329 - Business Ethics | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| MG/IB 355 - International Marketing Management: Europe | Fall, Spring, Summer | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| IN 395 - Internship Seminar | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| IR/EC 330 - The Economics and Business of Climate Change | Fall | English | 3 |
| IR/IB 393 - Leading Across Cultures: Principles and Practice | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| LT 312 - Literature And Place | Spring | English | 3 |
| LT 322 - Modern British Novel | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| LT 351 - Shakespeare the Dramatist | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| LT/FS 340 - Britain in the 1940s: Film and Literature | Spring | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| MG 302 - Managing Behaviour in Organisations | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| MG/IB 320 - Strategic Management | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| MG/IB 329 - Business Ethics | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| MG/IB 355 - International Marketing Management: Europe | Fall, Spring, Summer | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| PO 317 - The United Kingdom and the European Union A Troubled History | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| PO 325 - An Introduction to European Integration: History, Institutions, and Policies | Spring | English | 3 |
| PO/CM 350 - Media and UK Politics | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| PO/HL 310 - International and European Health and Human Rights | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| SO/PS/CB/HL 395 - Comparative Social Policy: A Community-Based Learning Perspective and Practicum | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| CU/SO 352 - British Youth Culture From 1950 to the Present | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| SO/PS/CB/HL 395 - Comparative Social Policy: A Community-Based Learning Perspective and Practicum | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| TH 350 - European Approaches to Text and Theater Performance | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| TH 355 - The Theater Industry: Inside And Out | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| TH 390 - Playwriting Workshop | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| WS/HS 366 - From Aphra Behn To The 'Blitz:' 300 Years Of London Women'S Social History | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
Partner Institution(s)
In addition to our courses, we encourage you to enroll in a course offered at one of these prestigious British institutions. This is a great way to experience the British higher education system firsthand, meet British students, and study theater in a different context.
You must meet the university’s specific requirements, including a GPA of 3.0 or above, and, in certain disciplines, prerequisites, and junior or senior standing. See the following for more specific information about each institution.
You may enroll in one supplementary course at no additional cost. If you choose to enroll in more than one supplementary course, there is an additional per-course cost.
The Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA)
Founded in 1904, RADA offers vocational training for actors, stage managers, designers, and technical stagecraft specialists. RADA’s facilities are a 10-15 minute walk from the IES Abroad Center. In partnership with IES Abroad, RADA offers a course uniquely for our Theater Studies students.
Acting: Then and Now (3 credits)
This course includes several weeks of intensive instruction at RADA where students immerse themselves in focused acting exercises. RADA instructors will lead skills workshops that focus on the five stages of English drama: Medieval Drama, Shakespeare's Theater, Restoration Comedy, Victorian Melodrama, and Twentieth Century Drama.
The course continues with a week of debriefing and discussion of a required research paper assignment with guidance from IES Abroad Theater Studies faculty.
Students participate in an Actioning Workshop and a Casting & Audition Techniques Workshop led by IES Abroad faculty and industry professionals.
Queen Mary, University of London (QMUL)
Located in the diverse East End, QMUL is one of the largest colleges in the group of institutions that together make up the University of London. QMUL offers numerous drama courses, all worth 4 credits each.
Some possible options include:
- Early Modern Drama (spring)
- Feeling It: Emotion & Sensation in the Theatre (spring)
- Costume Dramas (spring)
- Cultural Histories of Theatre (fall)
- Culture, Performance & Globalization (fall)
- Just for Tourists: Travel, Event, Performance (fall)
- London/Culture/Performance (fall)
- London Performance (fall & spring)
- Naturalism (spring)
- Performance & Celebrity (spring)
- Performance & Community (fall)
- Performance, Sexuality, Identity (fall)
- Performing Illness & Disability (spring)
- Popular Theatre & Performance (spring)
- Race & Racism in Performance (fall)
- Show Business: Theatre & Capitalism (spring)
- Voice, Gender, Performance (fall)
You are welcome to enroll in classes in any academic department, although certain classes may have prerequisites. Please also note that enrollment in Queen Mary courses is limited in the spring term due to a conflicting final exams schedule.
Current course listings are available on the University's Directory of Modules.
When you filter the course selections in the Directory of Modules, please refer to the following guidelines. More information can be found under the “guidance notes” link on the main page, as well.
- Step 1 - I'm interested in... - select Associate student modules
- Step 2 - Filter by:
- School - select the appropriate school for your course(s) of interest
- Semester - select Semester 1 for Fall or Semester 2 for Spring
- Level - select 4, 5 or 6
- 4 corresponds to US 100-level courses, 5 to 200-level courses and 6 to 300-level courses
- For major credit, it is recommended that students enroll in level 6 courses
Community-Based Learning
Participating in a community-based learning experience in London is one of the best ways to gain a deeper understanding of the city’s culture and society. Working alongside local people toward a common goal, you experience firsthand some of the social issues that affect London, while contributing your skills toward a community-driven solution.
A community-based learning experience consists of time spent with a local organization, accompanied by a 3-credit community-based learning seminar. Through the seminar, you have structured time for reflection, discussion, and even research on the issues of your host community.
All IES Abroad community-based learning placements are supervised. Placement examples include:
- Education
- Mental Health Outreach
- NGO Administration
- Public Health Administration
- Social Outreach
Internships
Did you know that, while in London, you can intern as part of your study abroad experience? With a part-time internship, you’ll gain global work experience that will increase your job readiness and give you an advantage after graduation. With an internship, you will:
- Take an important step in your career development by navigating the professional world with our support.
- Learn more about yourself both personally and professionally and build confidence in the process.
- Experience what working in London is really like and gain an authentic understanding of the workplace culture while developing real, applicable job skills that will bolster your career readiness.
- Begin building an international network by making connections with coworkers and peers.
All of our internships are supervised and earn IES Abroad credit. You participate in a 3-credit seminar to complement the practical experience you gain during the internship for a greater understanding of work life in your host country.
Personalized Job Placements
Once you indicate your interest in an internship, we work with you to find the ideal placement that satisfies your interests and goals. We’ve placed students with a wide variety of organizations and businesses. If we don’t currently offer placements in your field of interest, we will look for one that’s right for you.
Placement Examples
Past students have interned in the following fields. Don’t see what you’re looking for? Just talk to your IES Abroad Advisor—we are always looking for new internship opportunities for our students.
- Arts & Museums
- Business
- Education
- Media
- Politics
- Theater
If you’re interested in participating in an internship for the semester, be aware that some internship options have earlier application deadlines. You must complete your program application first, and then you can apply for the internship. (You won’t have access to the internship forms until you’ve been admitted into the program.) Talk to your IES Abroad Advisor for more information on deadlines.
Field Trips & Events
Even though your adventure starts in London, our field trips take you outside the city to discover the culture and traditions of your host country and beyond. These trips are partially subsidized by IES Abroad.
Edinburgh
3 days | Fall & Spring
Take a trip to Scotland’s capital where you’ll learn about the city’s history on a guided walking tour. Visit Edinburgh Castle that overlooks the city from its hilltop location, and take a day trip to a wildlife reserve in the Highlands.
Bath & Stonehenge
2 days | Fall & Spring
Visit mysterious Stonehenge and the ancient Roman baths in Bath. Marvel at the collection of world-class couture at the Fashion Museum, and explore the Jane Austen Centre.
Brighton
1 day | Fall & Spring
Explore the historic maze of twisting alleyways and enjoy a visit to the Royal Pavilion, one of Europe’s most exotic palaces.
Cambridge
1 day | Fall & Spring
Visit this historic university town, with its picturesque colleges and punt in a gondola on the river.
Liverpool
1 day | Fall & Spring
Spend a Saturday experiencing Liverpool. Enjoy a guided tour around the city, including a visit to the Beatles Museum.
Stratford-Upon-Avon
1 day | Fall & Spring
Visit Shakespeare’s house, which was the place of his birth, and Holy Trinity Church, where he is buried.
IES Abroad field trip destinations, activities, and length of stay may vary according to term and availability.
Course-Related Trips
At least nine theater visits with live performances and tours are incorporated into the program as fundamental supplements to classroom learning. You share the cost of these visits with IES Abroad.
Some Study London Program electives include a tour of London’s East End, as well as architectural walking tours. Many courses integrate theater visits and tours into their curriculum. Past trips have included attending a London Mime Festival show, recording a voiceover in a professional studio, meeting with a professional casting director, actor, or designer from one of the shows you attend, and more.
Daily Life
Part of making you feel at home in England is doing our best to help you feel safe and cared for. Whether it is an orientation that makes you feel prepared, housing that is well-located and comfortable, or the field trips that take you to places off the beaten path—we’re all about our student services.
Orientation
Our Comprehensive Orientation & Re-Entry Experience (CORE™) begins at home with our virtual orientation to help you prepare for your IES Abroad experience. Our orientation introduces you to the IES Abroad London staff, your fellow students, and the city of London. Orientation continues through the semester with activities focusing on academic and cultural adjustment. Detailed information about housing, public transportation, culture, health and safety, and other important topics are also covered.
Other highlights include a guided bus or walking tour and a welcome reception with faculty and staff. You also learn about the teaching methods of British professors and the coursework of the Theater Studies Program, including internships, academic policies, and field trips.
Housing
We want to make sure that your greatest challenge is deciding which landmarks to see first or discovering the best café—not finding a place to live where you feel comfortable. We do our best to locate housing that is reflective of how the local students are living. Our goal is that when you leave London, it will feel like home.
Residence Hall in Central London – You and another IES Abroad student share a room with an en-suite bathroom and have access to a common kitchen or ensuite kitchenette. Meals are not included. There are laundry facilities and WiFi access throughout the building, and you will have access to a fitness facility.
Extracurricular Activities & Cultural Events
Take advantage of the cultural events we organize in London, such as:
- Organized walks and activities introducing various London neighborhoods
- Outings to London’s diverse markets
- World-class performances at London’s many entertainment venues
Get to Know Your New City
Explore Neighborhoods
The best way to get a feel for this culturally-vibrant metropolis is to visit some of its 48 distinct neighborhoods.
Walk Along the Thames
Snap an obligatory photo from the Westminster Bridge as you begin your stroll along the Southbank.
Tour the Tower of London
Set along the River Thames, this imposing castle has been a part of the London skyline since 1078.
Unwind in Parks & Gardens
From small garden squares to sprawling grounds with herds of deer, you are always close to a green space in London. Whenever you need a break from the craziness of the city, relax and recharge in one of the city’s many parks.
Take the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London: The Making of Harry Potter
Make the short trek to Leavesden to pay homage to J.K. Rowling and discover the magic of all things Harry Potter.
Program Cost
Consider these prices as a starting point. We encourage you to contact your study abroad office to determine the actual cost to you when factoring in financial aid, scholarships, your home school policies, and other factors.
Scholarships & Aid
Featured Scholarships
Edward Mowatt Endowed Scholarship
These scholarships are for students on IES Abroad London semester and year programs.
Use our budget worksheet to calculate your costs
$6+ Million in Scholarships & Aid
Our Center
For Summer 2021, the IES Abroad London Center will be based at the Stay Club Kentish Town, the same location as your housing.
Kentish Town is a lovely area that offers plenty of things to do and see nearby, as well as great connectivity to Central London. There is no shortage of eateries and multiple supermarkets and shops. The Stay Club Kentish Town is in a quiet part of the area, just a five-minute walk from Kentish Town tube station on the Northern Line and Kentish Town West on the overground.
Hampstead Heath Park is just 12 minutes on foot, and it offers tennis courts, a running track, as well as a beautiful forest ideal for walking, jogging, and cycling. Bustling Camden Town is less than 10 minutes away, with its independent shops, food stalls and ever-evolving nightlife! Despite all this on its doorstep, the Kentish Town area doesn’t lose its residential character, making it a lovely choice for student living.
At the Stay Club:
- You will take your IES Abroad courses in the Stay Club classrooms
- You will be able to meet with IES Abroad staff
- You will have access to the on-site cafe
- You can study or socialize in numerous common areas throughout the building
- You will benefit from a great environment with multiple building amenities.
- Stay Club reception functions 24 hours per day, 7 days a week.
- There is 24-hour security and CCTV coverage.
- You will have access to strong, unlimited WiFi
The IES Abroad London Center is an 18th-century Georgian building located in thecentral London neighborhood of Bloomsbury and a two-minute walk from the BritishMuseum.
Our Center is your connection point for all things IES Abroad.
- Take your IES Abroad courses in the Center’s classrooms
- Meet with staff in their offices
- Study in the library
- Bring your lunch to eat on the outdoor patio
- Meet up with friends in the student lounge
- Other features include: WiFi, printing facilities, and gender-neutral bathrooms.
The IES Abroad London Center is recognized by The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) for meeting or exceeding UK expectations as a quality higher education provider. Learn more about our recent QAA reports.
Our Staff
John Ockey
Center Director
John brings over 15 years of experience with IES Abroad, including seven years with IES Abroad Milan and nearly three years with IES Abroad Siena before coming to IES Abroad London. Here, he oversees all programs in London and Oxford. During his time in Siena, John developed and implemented a banner program with a strong focus on cultural immersion and academic rigor. In Milan, he played a key role in improving and developing the Milan program, notably in the areas of student housing, student activities, orientation, and supervision of the student services staff. Prior to working for IES Abroad, John received his undergraduate and graduate degrees in Italian Literature and Art History from Brigham Young University and worked in Geneva for the United Nations.
IES Abroad London Staff
Martin Hannan
Head of Operations
Rohima Ahmed
Academic Coordinator
Beth Lehlbach
Internships Manager
Zosia Rutkowska
Assistant Director and Head of Customised Programmes
Health & Safety
With 70 years of experience, we are proud to set the standard for health and safety in study abroad. Our Chicago-based and on-site staff are all highly trained and experienced in the matters of health, safety, and crisis management. We are here for you from predeparture to your return, and are ready to support you—no matter what time zone you’re in.
In response to COVID-19, enhanced safety guidelines will be implemented this year—such as social distancing and personal protective equipment (PPE) in on-site classes, in-country field trips and travel only, and apartment or residence hall housing (no homestays) that ensures proper space should self-quarantining be necessary.
How We Support You
We plan for "what if" so that you don't have to. From international health insurance included in the cost of your program to highly-trained local staff who can connect you to English-speaking healthcare providers, we are working around the clock to ensure your health and safety while abroad.
Learn more about the support you can expect to receive on our programs, including:
- International health insurance through CISI in the case you need to see a doctor or mental health professional
- 24/7 emergency support whether you encounter an issue while traveling or in your host city
- Location-specific health and safety information presented at orienation by on-site staff
- TripTracker system allowing you to share independent travel plans in case you need to be contacted swiftly in a crisis
- A mandatory cell phone policy so that you can be contacted locally and receive any emergency updates via call or text
- Crisis drills so that you feel prepared to respond to an emergency should one arise
- And more!
Health & Safety Resources
You safety begins with being accurately informed from the moment you're considering study abroad through to the day you return home.
Take note of ways you can maintain your health and stay safe abroad while reviewing our resources, including:
- IES Abroad MAP for Student Health, Safety & Crisis Management
- Study Abroad Safety Tips for Traveling
- IES Abroad Student Blogs on Safety and Mental Health
- And more!
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