Literary London

This 9-unit subject will explore the literature, history, locations, and artistic institutions that have made London a world cultural center. Through intensive reading, discussion, research, site visits, and input from guest experts, a seminar of 15 undergraduate students will study the long history and huge transformations of London, from a Roman outpost to the site of Shakespeare's theater, through plague and fire to the hub of the British Empire--and now, into a multicultural cauldron of creativity and conflicting identities. 

The course includes  12 3-hour classroom sessions from Monday-Wednesday over the four weeks of IAP, coordinated with readings and visits to the City and Southwark, museums and art galleries, Westminster Abbey, the British Library, the Mithraeum, and a professional theater performance.  Readings will range across genres and time periods, and the course will culminate in students creating and presenting their own research projects and literary maps. Students will live and work together, learning from one another as well as this immersive humanities-centered experience in another culture.

Program Dates: January 4-27, 2027

Credit: This course is 9 units. The course number is 21L.591.

Requirements:

• Students should have a strong commitment to reading and learning together, and priority will be given to those who have taken subjects in Literature and related areas of study (such as Theater, History, and Urban Studies). The class moves at a fast pace, and expects all its members to contribute actively to the seminar. The class counts towards the minor and major in Literature, and to the HASS Requirement as a HASS-E subject.
• This program is open to MIT undergraduate students only.

Application opens: September 9, 2026

Application deadline: October 1, 2026

Apply here

Program Fee: $2,100**

The program fee covers accommodation in London for the duration of the program, and all program excursions and activities.

**Financial Aid:

Financial aid is offered in coordination with Student Financial Services. Applications are reviewed on a need-blind basis; once a student is accepted into the program, the porgram fee is calculated individually based on financial need. 

Additional Costs: 

Students are responsible for their own meals ($500-$600), airfare ($800-$1,000), and in-country public transportation costs for the month (~$300). These may be partially offset through successful application to other funding sources, such as the Kelly-Douglas Travel Fellowship.

Students will be housed in shared (double) rooms in the same apartment building near King's Cross.

The UK requires an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) for US citizens. The program will provide guidance about this process.

For international students, please consult with MISTI-UK about the proper visa process. 

The program will include extensive walking, including around the cobblestone streets of old London as well as historical sites and museums.

Students with questions about accessibility are encouraged to contact Prof. Diana Henderson (dianah [at] mit.edu (dianah[at]mit[dot]edu)) and MIT Disability and Access Services (das-student [at] mit.edu (das-student[at]mit[dot]edu)) early to discuss accommodations.