Maymester 2027
May 16 - 30
This May, immerse yourself in one of the world’s most dynamic and diverse cities: London. A global hub of creativity and culture, London provides the ideal backdrop for hands-on academic exploration.
Choose from courses that bring your subject to life through the city itself. Step into the world of Harry Potter with visits to iconic filming locations. Explore the foundations of American law through Britain’s historic courts. Trace the evolution of health care from early surgery to the modern NHS. Dive into music journalism while covering London’s legendary music scene. Or examine how World War II shaped daily life and public memory through powerful museum experiences.
Each course includes guided site visits, expert-led tours, and unique opportunities that go far beyond traditional classroom learning. You'll also have time to explore London on your own terms, from museums and historic pubs to neighborhoods full of character. An optional, full-day excursion to Stonehenge and Avebury is also available. Details can be found on the individual course pages.
This two-week program is an affordable and flexible option for students with summer jobs or internships. Students who add a second summer course beginning in London can save $1,000 and extend their international experience.
A History of Place, Space and Power
Every city tells a story. London tells one written in stone, streets, and public spaces.
Explore how London's buildings, parks, and landmarks reveal two thousand years of history, power, and change. From the Tower of London to Trafalgar Square, you'll examine how architecture and public spaces reflect the people and institutions that shaped Britain. As you trace London's evolution from a Roman settlement to a global capital, you'll discover how the city's landscape continues to influence the lives of those who move through it today. Every street and square are a chapter in the story of one of the world's most influential cities.
Instructor:
Course Levels:
WKU Credit:
Dr. Paul Beezley
Undergraduate
TBD
Garden to Table: Natural Products and Human Health
Nature's oldest remedies continue to shape modern science.
Discover how plants, foods, and botanical traditions influence human health as you explore London's gardens, markets, and historic sites. Visits to Kew Gardens, Chelsea Physic Garden, and Borough Market reveal connections between agriculture, culture, and scientific discovery while introducing the role of antioxidants and other bioactive compounds in nutrition. Through field experiences and scientific inquiry, you'll learn to evaluate health claims and better understand the science behind everyday foods and natural products.
Instructor:
Course Levels:
WKU Credit:
Prof. Savita Chaurasia
Undergraduate, Honors
TBD
London Through Children's Eyes
Children experience the world differently, and London has much to teach us about why.
Explore how art, storytelling, and creative environments shape childhood as you visit museums, children's spaces, and early years settings throughout London. Experiences at the Tate Modern, the Young V&A, and Discover Children's Story Centre reveal how thoughtfully designed spaces encourage imagination, learning, and self-expression. Through observation, discussion, and hands-on activities, you'll connect child development theory with real-world practice and discover the power of creativity in young lives.
Instructor:
Course Levels:
WKU Credit:
Dr. Rebecca Crawford
Undergraduate
TBD
Epidemics of Amnesia
The diseases we forget often have the most to teach us.
Explore how public memory influences the way societies respond to disease and discover how the stories we preserve, and the ones we overlook, continue to shape health policy, prevention, and preparedness. Following the legacy of London's 1854 cholera outbreak, you'll visit sites including the Soho Cholera Pump, the Old Operating Theatre, the Florence Nightingale Museum, and the Science Museum while examining how epidemics are remembered, challenged, and sometimes forgotten. By reading London's streets, monuments, and museums alongside historical accounts, you'll gain new insight into the relationship between memory, policy, and human behavior.
Instructor:
Course Levels:
WKU Credit:
Dr. Tara Stewart
Undergraduate, Graduate
TBD
The Cottagecore Canon in British Literature
Some of Britain's most beloved stories began with a walk through the garden.
Step into the landscapes that inspired generations of British writers as you trace the literary roots of today's cottagecore aesthetic. Visits to Kew Gardens, Hampstead Heath, Queen Mary's Rose Garden, and the Victoria and Albert Museum provide inspiration for your own journal, poetry, and nature writing while revealing how Britain's pastoral traditions continue to shape literature, creativity, and everyday life. Along the way, you'll slow down, observe the world with fresh eyes, and discover how the ordinary beauty of nature has inspired extraordinary stories for generations.
Instructor:
Course Levels:
WKU Credit:
Prof. Sarah Blackwell
Undergraduate, Honors
TBD
Stone and Story: Art & Architecture in Medieval London
The Middle Ages are still hiding in plain sight.
Explore the castles, cathedrals, manuscripts, and monuments that continue to shape London's identity centuries later. Encounter Anglo-Saxon treasures, Norman fortresses, Gothic architecture, and Victorian revivals while discovering how each generation reinterpreted the medieval past. By reading London's historic landscape, you'll uncover the enduring connections between art, architecture, power, and cultural memory. You'll leave with a new appreciation for the ways medieval ideas and craftsmanship continue to influence the city we experience today, often in places you'd least expect.
Instructor:
Course Levels:
WKU Credit:
Dr. Laura Cochrane
Undergraduate, Honors
TBD
The Art of Learning
Creativity doesn't just belong in museums. It lives in every community.
Discover how art education happens across London, from world-renowned museums to neighborhood studios, public murals, and community arts centers. As you explore institutions like the Tate Modern and the Royal Academy alongside local creative spaces, you'll examine how communities use art to tell stories, strengthen connections, and inspire change. Whether you're interested in art education or simply curious about the role of creativity in society, you'll gain a broader understanding of how artistic expression enriches everyday life.
Instructor:
Course Levels:
WKU Credit:
Prof. Hannah Logsdon
Undergraduate, Honors
TBD
London Unfiltered: Theatre, Art, and Social Transformation
London's most compelling stories aren't always found on the tourist map.
Explore the city's creative landscape through world-famous landmarks and the neighborhoods where artists, performers, and communities continue to shape London's cultural identity. Visit iconic destinations such as Shakespeare's Globe, the British Museum, and Kew Gardens while discovering neighborhood theatres, street art, local galleries, and hidden corners that reveal the city's creative spirit. Along the way, you'll examine how place inspires artistic expression and how the arts continue to spark conversations about identity, community, and social change.
Instructor:
Course Levels:
WKU Credit:
Dr. Carol Stewart
Undergraduate, Honors
TBD