College at 60 London

Thursday, May 7

• 7:30am-3:30pm - Arrive in London. Staff greeting at Heathrow Terminal 3.
• 10am-4pm - Check into Clerkenwell housing (self check-in also available)
• 4pm-6pm - Welcome reception on the Fordham London roof terrace

Friday, May 8

• 8:30am-9:30am - Breakfast at the Centre
• 10am-12pm - Faculty lecture on The History of British Politics and Government: An Introduction by Dr. John Annette
• 2pm-3:30pm - Orientation and walking tour of Clerkenwell with Dr. Steve Bentel
• Free time
• 6pm-9pm - Welcome dinner

Saturday, May 9

• 8:30am-9:30am - Breakfast at Fordham London
• 9:30am-4:30pm - Optional Day Trip to Bath (2.5 hour journey) (additional cost TBC)
  • Minibus transportation from Central London to Bath
  • Entry to Roman Baths
  • Time to explore Bath
• Free time

Sunday, May 10

• 8:30am-9:30am - Breakfast at Fordham London
• 8am or 9:30am - Optional Morning Mass at Jesuit Farm St Church
• 3:30pm-5pm - Optional sightseeing boat tour with afternoon tea (boarding at 3:15pm) (additional cost TBC)
• Free time

Monday, May 11

• 8:30am-9:30am - Breakfast at Fordham London
• 10am-11:30am - Faculty lecture on The British Monarchy-Past and Present by Dr. John Annette
• 11:30am-12:30pm - Free time for lunch
• 12:30pm-6:30pm - Visit to Windsor Castle outside London (1 hour journey)

Tuesday, May 12

• 8:30am-9:30am - Breakfast at Fordham London
• 10am-12pm - Faculty lecture on Parliamentary Sovereignty and the Unwritten Constitution by Dr. John Annette
• 2pm-5pm - Visit to Churchill War Rooms and Whitehall
• Free time

Wednesday, May 13

• 8:30am-9:30am - Breakfast at Fordham London
• 10am-1pm - Visit Prime Minister’s Question Time- House of Commons and Westminster
  • Overseas visitors can watch PMQs if there is space in the gallery. Entrance is not guaranteed. Alternative excursion is Westminster Abbey for discussion of Church and State.
• 1:30pm - Pub quiz on the Role of Parliament and the Prime Minister facillitated by Dr. John Annette
• Free time

Thursday, May 14

• 8:30am-9:30am - Breakfast at Fordham London
• 10am-12pm - Faculty lecture on Brexit with Dr. Christian Schnee
• Free time
• Optional Shakespeare Lecture and Excursion (additional cost: $50)
  • 2pm-4pm - Faculty lecture on Shakespeare with Dr. Varsha Panjwani
  • 5:30pm-6:30pm - Evening buffet at Fordham London
  • 7:30pm-10pm - Show at the Globe Theatre

Friday, May 15

• 8:30am-9:30am - Breakfast at Fordham London
• 10am-12pm - Panel discussion on The Changing Special UK-USA Relationship moderated by Dr. John Annette and Guest Lecturers
• 2pm-3:30pm - Group reflections
• Free time
• 6pm-9pm - Farewell dinner in Clerkenwell

Saturday, May 16

• 8:30am-9:30am - Breakfast at Fordham London
• Free time

Sunday, May 17

• Check out of accommodation by 10 am
• Depart London

*Itinerary is subject to change. Staff will provide recommendations for free time activities closer to the program. 

*For more information on the lecture topics, please see the website.

Lectures will be an hour long followed by a 15 minute break. The group will then break into discussion groups for 30 minutes followed by a general discussion led by the lecturer.

Lecture 1 - Friday, May 8: The History of British Politics and Government: An Introduction

We will consider the historical development of the United Kingdom from the Magna Carta to the present. We will examine the evolution of the United Kingdom including the Act of Union combining England and Wales with Scotland. The relationship with Ireland and the formation of Northern Ireland up to the present will also be considered. Finally, we will review the movement for ‘Devolution’ since the 1990’s, and we will make a comparison with the federal structure of the United States.

Lecture 2 - Monday, May 11: The British Monarchy-Past and Present

We will consider the history of the British Monarchy from the Tudors to the present, highlighting the role of Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I. In reviewing the history of the Stuart Monarchs, we will consider Charles I and the English Civil War and the ‘Glorious Revolution’ and the establishment of ‘Constitutional Monarchy. The Hanoverian Monarchs will be illustrated by the reign of Queen Victoria and the growth of the British Empire. Finally, we will review the House of Windsor in the reigns of Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III with a guest appearance by Princess Diana.

Lecture 3 - Tuesday, May 12: Parliamentary Sovereignty and the Unwritten Constitution

Following the 1688 ‘Glorious Revolution’, the Monarchy agreed to rule under the authority of Parliament, thus establishing ‘Parliamentary Sovereignty’. We will compare this concept with the United States Constitution and the separation of powers which ‘limits’ the authority of the President. Unlike the United States, the United Kingdom does not have a ‘Written Constitution’, but has a range of precedents from the Magna Carta to the present. The United Kingdom does not have a ‘Bill of Rights’, but agreed to accept the European Convention of Human Rights (1953), and with the Human Rights Act of 1995, this was incorporated into UK law. Today, the immigration crisis has led to a growing movement led by the Reform Party to leave the ECHR and repeal the HRA of 1995.

Lecture 4 - Thursday, May 14: Brexit

To be announced.

Lecture 5 - Thursday, May 14: Shakespeare (Optional)

To be announced.

Lecture 6 - Friday, May 15: The Changing Special UK-USA Relationship

In 1946, Winston Churchill gave a speech in the context of post-WWII and the challenge posed by the Soviet Union and the ‘Iron Curtain’ in which he highlighted the need for unity between ‘English speaking peoples’ and argued for a special bond between the United States and the United Kingdom. This ‘special relationship’ was to maintain the ideals of liberal democracy and of human rights and the international rule of law. We will consider the changing nature of this relationship highlighting the relationships between Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan, Tony Blair and Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, and finally the post-Brexit relationships with Donald Trump.

Dr. John Annette

John Annette is the Academic Head at Fordham University London; and retired president and vice chancellor of Richmond, the American International University of London. He went to Richmond from Birkbeck College, University of London, where he was Pro Vice Master; prior to which he taught political science at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Annette has been part of the debate about, and subsequent creation of the Office for Students and the new HE framework. He was a member of the 1994 Group of Universities Strategy and Resources’ Senior Management Group, and of the Academic Board of the University of London’s International Academy. Annette was also an advisor to the Higher Education Funding Council for England’s Beacons for Public Engagement in Higher Education, and for projects for the Higher Education Academy UK (now part of Advance HE), and on the steering group of the Higher Education Academy’s GPA Pilot Project, chaired by Sir Robert Burgess.

He is a board member of the London Institute of Banking and Finance, and was a member of the Commission on the Future of Volunteering.

Dr. Steve Bentel

Steve Bentel is a cultural historian who specializes in the history of London in the 20th Century. He grew up in Arkansas and attended the University of Arkansas where he participated in study abroad programs in London and Ghana. He received an MA from Temple University in Philadelphia and a PhD from Queen Mary University of London.

Steve has taught undergraduates since 2016. Some of the courses he’s taught include 20th Century European History, A Cultural History of London, Global Cuisine and Food Culture in Britain, and The “Special Relationship”: Anglo-American Relations since 1939.

Dr. Christian Schnee

Christian Schnee has been teaching politics, public affairs and political communication since 2008. Prior to this he held positions as a political consultant and senior civil servant in Germany. As a student in England, Scotland and the USA he earned degrees in politics, history, public relations as well as education and completed a doctorate in political marketing. His research in political history, the management of reputation and leadership has been widely published in articles, research papers and books. Currently, he works on a cultural history that investigates the evolution of “politics as a profession.”

Dr. Varsha Panjwani

Dr Varsha Panjwani is the host and creator of the award-winning ‘Women & Shakespeare’ podcast (www.womenandshakespeare.com) and is the author of Podcasts and Feminist Shakespeare Pedagogy (Cambridge University Press, 2022). She has published essays on Shakespeare and diversity in international journals including Shakespeare Survey and Shakespeare Studies, and in edited collections such as Shakespeare, Race and Performance; Shakespeare and Indian Cinema; Eating Shakespeare; and The Arden Research Handbook to Shakespeare and Adaptation.  She is the co-editor of Re-contextualizing Indian Shakespeare Cinema in the West: Familiar Strangers (Bloomsbury, 2023) and a special issue of Multicultural Shakespeare. She is currently writing the Introduction for the Oxford World Classics edition of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. She has been invited for public interviews and talks by numerous institutions such as BBC Tv & BBC Radio, the Royal Shakespeare Company, Shakespeare’s Globe, The Shakespeare Institute, and the University of Oxford.

*Please note Fordham London faculty participation is subject to change.

Your registration includes a double-occupancy room** within a flat at Fordham's Clerkenwell student housing. These are not dormitories and are comparable to fully-furnished student apartments in the US. The building has been recently refurbished with new flooring, kitchen appliances, and furniture throughout.

This apartment-style accommodation is typical of the undergraduate study abroad experience, where participants live in shared twin bedrooms and share living areas with additional flatmates. Flats have varied layouts, but include one or two bathrooms, a shared living space with couches, television and dining table, and a fully-equipped kitchen. All flats have complimentary WiFi.

The accommodation is partially accessible. There is no lift in the building, and ground floor flats are limited in number. Additionally, all showers are shower tubs. 

Our residence is located just a two minute walk away from Fordham London, along cobblestone streets. It is walkable to the Farringdon and Chancery Lane tube Stations, which provide easy access to all of central London.

**Single-occupancy rooms may be purchased for a supplemental $250. This rate is for the entirety of the program. A single room shared with a non-participating guest may be purchased for a supplemental $500.

Do you need to be registered with the College at 60 Program to attend?

No. College at 60 London is open to all Fordham alumni, regardless of their College at 60 status, as well as friends and family of College at 60 students. Each participant will need to complete their own registration.

Do you have to pay the full payment upfront?

Yes, the full payment is due upon registration. The refund and cancellation terms will apply to you based on the date, and therefore rate, of your purchase/registration.

What will housing be like?

Your registration includes a double-occupancy room** within a flat at Fordham's Clerkenwell student housing. These are not dormitories and are comparable to fully-furnished student apartments in the US. The building has been recently refurbished with new flooring, kitchen appliances, and furniture throughout.

This apartment-style accommodation is typical of the undergraduate study abroad experience, where participants live in shared twin bedrooms and share living areas with additional flatmates. Flats have varied layouts, but include one or two bathrooms, a shared living space with couches, television and dining table, and a fully-equipped kitchen. All flats have complimentary WiFi.

The accommodation is partially accessible. There is no lift in the building, and ground floor flats are limited in number. Additionally, all showers are shower tubs. 

Our residence is located just a two minute walk away from Fordham London, along cobblestone streets. It is walkable to the Farringdon and Chancery Lane tube Stations, which provide easy access to all of central London.

**Single-occupancy rooms may be purchased for a supplemental $250. This rate is for the entirety of the program.

Can I share a bedroom with my spouse, partner, or friend?

Yes. Participants will be asked to provide accommodation preferences and dietary information ahead of the trip. Attendees will share a bedroom with one other paying participant unless you purchase a single-occupancy room.

[Participants also have the option to purchase a private room for double occupancy to allow for a non-participating guest to join them in the accommodation. This can be purchased for a supplemental $500.]

You will be able to select your preferred roommate and flatmates, if desired.

Can I have my own bathroom?

Each room is allocated its own bathroom. However, in certain instances, the assigned bathroom may be situated in the common area rather than within the room itself. 

Participants can add further information pertaining to accommodation needs during the registration process.

What safety precautions are taken with accommodation?

The main door for the building is accessed via a key code. Upon check-in you will receive a key to access your specific apartment; please note that bedrooms within apartments are not fitted with locks. Fordham University London has live-in staff at the property to assist in the event of an emergency, and there are emergency phone numbers in place which you can call to contact Fordham London or the housing provider. There is also 24-hour CCTV surveillance at the building’s entrance. Furthermore, College at 60 participants will be sharing apartments only with other program participants.

Is airfare included?

No. Airfare is not included and will have to be arranged independently. Travel insurance is also not provided and will be the responsibility of the participant. 

Can I travel on different dates to and from the program?

Of course! You are welcome to extend your stay in London or arrive early. However, we cannot guarantee that you will be able to stay in Fordham student accommodation outside of the specified dates of the program.

Which airport should I fly into?

Please make arrangements to arrive at London Heathrow Airport (LHR) the morning of Thursday, May 7th. Staff will not be able to greet participants at other airports and outside of the pre-determined greeting window.

You are welcome to fly into a different airport if you decide, and the program staff can offer advice on how best to reach London, but you will be responsible for coordinating your own transportation.

Do I need a visa? What type of visa do I need?

All participants will be responsible for obtaining travel authorization and/or a UK visa before attending the program.

Many participants will need to complete an electronic travel authorization (ETA) which requires them to apply online at least 3 business days before departure. Upon approval, an ETA will be digitally linked to their passport. Check whether or not you need an ETA.

Some participants will require a Standard Visitor visa. If you are a visa-required national intending to participate in the program you will need to obtain a Standard Visitor visa from the UK government prior to your arrival in London. Check whether or not you are a visa-required national.

All participants will be responsible for determining what visa is appropriate for their travel.

Note: Most U.S. Citizens will be able to enter the UK as a non-visa-required national for the purposes of tourism; therefore, many participants will only need to secure an ETA prior to the program.

When will I know the final itinerary?

The Fordham London team will confirm the itinerary after the March 15, 2026 deadline. They will aim to provide as much notice as possible. Much of the group's itinerary, including tourist excursions, are dependent on group size. You are not required to participate in any of the planned activities, but will remain financially responsible for the activities, regardless of your participation.

Can I check out early?

Yes, you can. The checkout process will be the same regardless of the day you decide to depart. You will simply strip your bed and leave your keys on the dining room table before leaving the flat. On the final day, you will checkout by 10 am. 

How physically rigorous will this trip be?

This is a lightly to moderately strenuous program. Some excursions may require periods of walking or continued standing, such as during visits to museums or historic sites. Walking surfaces can be uneven given the historic nature of London, such as with cobblestone streets. Participants will primarily use the London underground (comparable to the NYC subway) to get around. All participants will be given an Oyster Card (London's version of NYC's MetroCard) which will enable them to access the underground and London's famous double-decker buses for the entire trip.

Fordham London is fully accessible, while the London underground is only partially accessible. Therefore, elevators and escalators may not be available at certain stations. However, accommodations for disabilities and medical conditions can be made by Fordham London staff if given appropriate notice.

All participants will be required to follow the health and safety protocols dictated by Fordham London. If a Fordham staff member decides a participant cannot visit a site safely or in a timely manner, their judgment will be final.

What are participants financially responsible for?

All participants will be responsible for any additional travel expenses not explicitly mentioned in the itinerary, such as travel and health insurance, additional meals, activities, and souvenirs. Enjoy the opportunity to explore London's history and sample its cuisine!

Can Fordham recommend a travel insurance provider?

It is up to each individual attendee to determine whether or not they would like to purchase travel insurance, and which provider best suits their needs. If desired, the Fordham University Alumni Association has a partnership with Trawick International to offer travel protection for Fordham alumni.

If you are interested in purchasing a travel protection plan through this option, you can visit the Trawick International website. You can speak with an Alumni Travel Protect Plan administrator directly at 833-424-4932 or [email protected].

Terms and Conditions

The early bird rate ($2095) is non-refundable after January 31, 2026. A full refund of the early bird rate can be requested on or before that date. The standard rate ($2245) is due by March 15, 2026. After March 15, 2026, all standard rate payments are non-refundable.

If you wish to join the trip after the final payment deadline, please email [email protected]. No price reductions or refunds are available for those who choose not to participate in any portion of the program.

If Fordham University elects to cancel the trip for any reason, due notice will be provided via email and attendees will receive a full refund of their program fee.