• Group of UNI students along the River Thames

    Faculty-led Program in England

  • Brighton Pier

    Faculty-led Program in England

  • UNI group in front of Stonehenge

    Faculty-led Program in England

  • White cliffs of Dover

    Faculty-led Program in England

Introduction

Developing intercultural perspectives, while possible through reading and other forms of exposure to different cultures, is best made possible by immersing oneself in them. We often fail to see how much of what we consider to be "normal" is culture-bound until we go outside of our home culture. However, while people from different cultural backgrounds may do things differently, we are all deeply connected, and we strive towards similar goals.

In this program, we will examine the distinction between what is universal and what is cultural behavior as well as draw parallels between cultures. We will gain a deeper appreciation of cultures different from our own as we explore London and travel across England, making unforgettable memories along the way! 

 

Location

Course Leaders

Hilal Ergül, Assistant Professor

Department: Languages & Literatures
Phone: 319-273-2729
E-mail: hilal.ergul@uni.edu
Campus Address: BAR 2015

Hilal is an experienced educator, traveler, and study abroad leader. In addition to leading the Capstone in England program in 2022, she has enjoyed working with young adults in a variety of study abroad contexts, including leading student tours of Vienna, Austria; and Ankara, Turkey. Hilal has enjoyed all of these experiences immensely and looks forward to helping UNI students become world citizens.

 

Academics

CAP 3165/TESOL 3565/GER 3334 Intercultural Perspectives (3 credit hours)

  • This course fulfills the UNIFI Human Condition - Global requirement. It can also count as a general education UNIFI elective credit under the category of Connect. All majors are welcome. Students who wish to participate for capstone credit can do so upon request. Prerequisite(s) for capstone credit: junior standing. Capstone courses cannot be repeated. If you have previously taken this capstone course, please contact the UNI Study Abroad Center prior to starting your program application.

This course takes students on a 2.5-week immersion in the UK, where they get a chance to partake in intercultural communication and experience the cultures of this country unencumbered by the language barrier. Students study the linguistic and sociocultural aspects ethnographically to discover the intricacies that are embedded in the communication between cultures. The course is delivered in three phases; the pre-departure phase mostly in the spring semester before we embark on the trip, the on-site phase in the UK, and the post-arrival phase that takes place after we are back in the U.S.A. We will meet 4 times in the pre-departure phase during the spring semester and once in the summer (online) when the trip is near for 80-minute sessions. We will have informal reflection sessions in the on-site phase where we discuss cultural insights and questions as a group. We will also meet once for an 80-minute session in the post-arrival phase to present final projects.

Note that the meetings during the spring semester do not correspond with a credit-bearing course. The UNIFI course is scheduled as a summer course. The Study Abroad Center will directly enroll participants in the course during the spring semester.

NOTES:

  • Students planning to participate in the spring commencement ceremony in May can enroll in this summer term program, however, their degree will not be conferred until the end of the summer term and is contingent on the successful completion of the program and all required coursework.
  • Students attending colleges and universities other than UNI are welcome to participate in this program. If you are not currently a UNI student, but would like to participate in this program, please contact the UNI Study Abroad Center prior to starting your program application.

Itinerary

Tentative Program Dates: Saturday, June 10 (depart) to Monday, June 26, 2023 (return)

Sample itinerary is subject to change.

Day 1: Students arrive in London

Day 2: Guided tour of the Westminster Abbey (see the Houses of Parliament), London Eye and River Cruise on the Thames in the afternoon; fish and chips group dinner

Day 3: Tower of London (see Tower Bridge)

Day 4: Free day in London for unstructured activities (consider: shopping on Oxford Street, visiting museums, exploring Covent Garden, more sightseeing, etc.)

Day 5: Guided tour of the Houses of Parliament; see a play at the Shakespeare's Globe Theatre

Day 6: Begin multi-day tour outside of London; travel to the White Cliffs of Dover and visit the Lighthouse

Day 7: Group activities in Brighton

Day 8: Free day in Brighton for unstructured activities 

Day 9: Travel to Bath with a stop at Stonehenge; free time in Bath 

Day 10: Ancient Roman Baths, group afternoon tea in Bath; Jane Austen Center

Day 11: Travel to Stratford-upon-Avon; Shakespeare's birthplace; walking tour of Stratford-upon-Avon; free time to explore

Day 12: Travel Cambridge University; punting on the River Cam

Day 13: Return to London with stop at Warner Bros Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter on the way

Day 14: Free day in London for unstructured activities

Day 15: Natural History Museum in the morning; group afternoon tea 

Day 16: Departure for USA

Participant Info

Important information to review:

Review the roles of the Advisee and the Advisor under the main menu Get Started

 

Entry and Exit Requirements:

  • Review and follow the travel recommendations of the CDC for International Travel
  • Monitor appropriate websites for updates and information about COVID or other emergencies before departing and while in the destination country. The U.S. Embassy for the United Kingdom provides updates that can be found on their website

Housing & Meals

Students will stay at hotels. Breakfast is built into the program cost. Students will purchase other meals out-of-pocket while abroad unless stated otherwise on the itinerary. Students are encouraged to try the local foods.

Program Costs

Faculty-led Program in England

Estimated Program Cost:

$7,959*

* estimated total cost of participation, actual amount depends on type of housing accommodation selected, actual airfare purchase price, personal spending habits, and other factors

Click Below to View Detailed Budget Sheet:

Cost of studying on-campus*

*per semester, estimated, will vary per person

Tuition & Fees:

$4,527

Room & Board:

$4,580

Books:

$400

Personal Expenses:

$878

Transportation:

$320

Total:

$10,705

Source: https://admissions.uni.edu/costs

PROGRAM COST COMPONENTS

Airfare

Your airfare may vary by airline choice, number of stopovers, choice of departure city, and actual travel dates.

Housing

Most programs include housing in the U-Bill section. When housing is not included, it will be displayed separately. Housing costs may include deposits, room upgrade charges, and special services fees.

U-Bill Charges

Includes core program costs such as tuition, mandatory fees, int'l health coverage, and many in-country costs for faculty led programs. Housing costs are often included here as well.

Day-to-Day Expenses

Typical costs include personal items, such as toiletries, as well as meals and public transportation when those costs are not included in the core program costs.

Dates & Deadlines

APPLY

Term: 
Summer
App Deadline: 
Wednesday, February 1, 2023
Program Dates: 
Saturday, June 10, 2023 to Monday, June 26, 2023

Eligibility Requirements to Study Abroad

The Study Abroad Center reserves the right to determine participants' eligibility to Study Abroad. Students must have a completed study abroad application, including supportive recommendation form(s). Additionally, students must meet all of the following in order to be eligible to Study Abroad:

  • Have a cumulative 2.5 GPA or higher at the time of application and maintain this cumulative GPA prior to departure and throughout the study abroad process
  • If your cumulative GPA is lower than 2.5, submit the following to the Study Abroad Center (103 East Bartlett):
  • Letters of reference from two academic contacts (e.g. academic advisor and former or current professor) supporting your pursuit of study abroad. If you are attending a faculty-led study abroad program, one of the letters must be from a course leader. However, if the program has two course leaders, only one of the letters can be from one of the course leaders.
  • Must be over the age of 18 years old
  • Must meet the course prerequisites (participation in the program is dependent upon meeting these)
  • Must be in good standing with the University
  • UNI's partner institutions may require additional eligibility requirements to be met, these vary from institution to institution. Please consult with the Study Abroad Center staff to discuss these additional requirements, if applicable.
  • Applicants traveling to a region of a country or a country with an overall Travel Advisory Level 3 (Reconsider Travel) or 4 (Do Not Travel) will not be eligible.
  • All study abroad applicants must pass the Study Abroad Applicant Assessment with a score of 70% or greater.
  • Applicants may be selected for an in-person interview before being accepted. Selection for an interview does not guarantee acceptance into the program. You will be contacted directly by the Study Abroad Center if selected for an interview.