Shakespeare in London

Summer School modules are designed to be intensive, intellectually-stimulating short courses. They are taught by King’s academics in academic disciplines where King's has expertise. Classes are very international with students from all around the globe learning together.

Each module is 150 study hours comprising intensive teaching, independent study and group work and is examined to university standards. Comparable to an in-semester 15-credit King’s undergraduate module and therefore typically awarded 3-4 US credits or 7.5 ECTS, many summer students ask their home institution to award them external credit for their King's summer module to use towards their degree programme when they return home.

FEE DISCOUNTS

One session (2 weeks): £2,400 

Two sessions (4 weeks): £4,800 £4,395*

*Fee valid for applications for two sessions received by 10 May 2024. Offer cannot be used in conjunction with other discounts or promotions. Subject to availability at the time of application.

This module will explore texts by Shakespeare and his contemporaries, with a specific focus on the social and cultural context of their production in early modern London. The texts will comprise three plays from the period as well as two film adaptations.

As part of the module, the class will visit places of historical interest and also some relevant museum and gallery exhibitions, where possible. Finally, attention will be paid to the ‘afterlife’ of Shakespeare’s plays, both as printed texts and as part of the national heritage and global culture. 

• To provide students with an understanding of how the social and cultural context of Shakespeare’s plays affected their development and, to some extent, how his work for the theatre differs from that of his contemporaries.
• To offer students a perspective on the issue of ‘Filming Shakespeare in London’, and will examine the survival, in present-day London and beyond, of the plays as texts, performance and films.
• To engage in the detailed study three plays (and two films).
• To enable students to discuss and analyse these plays and films from both a critical and a theatrical perspective.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, the students will be able to demonstrate intellectual, transferable and practicable skills appropriate to a Level 4 module and in particular will be able to demonstrate the following subject specific skills:

• Understand the context of the production of Shakespeare’s plays in early modern London.
• Analyse and criticize specific dramatic texts by Shakespeare and Jonson; analyse and criticise specific modern films adapting and about Shakespeare.
• Understand the relevance of specific museums, galleries, and archives to ongoing research in Shakespeare studies.
• Understand the debates relating to the ‘afterlife’ of the plays, nationally and internationally.

By the end of the module, students will also be able to demonstrate the following generic skills at Level 4:

Cognitive/Intellectual skills

• Analysis: can analyse texts, evidence, etc. with guidance using given approaches/techniques/principles
• Synthesis: can collect and categorise ideas and information in a predictable and standard format
• Evaluation: can critically evaluate material following guidance from the course teachers
• Application: can apply given methods carefully to a well defined problem and begin to appreciate the complexity of the issues.

Key/transferable skills

• Group working: can work effectively with others as a member of a group and meet obligations to others (for example, teachers and peers)
• Learning resources: can work within an appropriate ethos and can use and access a range of learning resources
• Self evaluation: can evaluate own strengths and weaknesses within criteria largely set by others
• Management of information: can manage information, collect appropriate material from a range of sources and undertake simple research tasks with external guidance
• Autonomy: can take responsibility for own learning with appropriate support
• Communications: can communicate effectively in a format appropriate to the discipline(s)
• Problem solving: can apply given methods carefully to a well-defined problem and begin to appreciate the complexity of the issues in the discipline.

Practical skills

• Application: can operate in predictable, defined contexts that require use of a specified range of methods and activities
• Autonomy in skill use: is able to act with limited autonomy, under direction or supervision, within defined guidelines.

The King's College London Undergraduate Summer School is open to students who are currently, or have been, enrolled in an undergraduate degree programme. We also welcome applications from professionals who have substantial relevant experience in their chosen subject area.

You should ensure that you are eligible to apply before you submit your application by checking our academic and English language entry criteria.

Essays (60%), Presentation (15%), Report (25%)

TBC

Taught on-campus 9am and 5pm from Monday to Friday