| Overview |
Each fall and spring semester, a group of Wake Forest students and a Resident Professor live and study together at Worrell House. Students marvel at the extension of the classroom into the city of London. Courses integrate visits to art galleries, theater performances, historical sites, and musical productions. All students take five courses that are taught at Worrell House. Three courses are taught by British professors and usually include Art History, History, and Theater. In addition, the Wake Forest Resident Professor teaches two courses from his/her discipline. Classes are scheduled Monday through Thursday, leaving a three-day weekend for exploring the city or travel to other destinations.
For more information about living at Worrell House, be sure to watch this great video!
Be sure to follow the Worrell House Instagram page (@wfu_worrellhouse) to see the most recent updates and photos!
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| Location |
London is one of Europe's largest and most cosmopolitan cities. Its famous sites include Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, Trafalgar Square, Picadilly Circus, and Westminster Abbey. With a multitude of art galleries, museums, and pubs, London is endlessly interesting. The underground rail "tube" system provides easy access to all parts of the city. Students may conveniently visit Canterbury, Oxford, Bath, Dover, and other destinations (Scotland and Wales) via the excellent British railway system.
In 1977, Wake Forest purchased a large brick house in Hampstead for its London program. The house, a gift from Eugene and Ann Worrell, was named in their honor. Formerly known as Morven House, the building served as the home and studio of landscape painter Charles Edward Johnson.
Worrell House has four stories and is situated on Steele's Road (named for essayist Sir Richard Steele) in a sector of suburban London known as Hampstead. Hampstead is primarily a residential neighborhood and home to Hampstead Heath, Regent's Park, Primrose Hill, and the Keats Cottage. Two underground tube stops are within a 5-10 minute walk. |
| Program |
Each fall and spring semester, a group of Wake Forest students and a Resident Professor live and study together at the Worrell House. Classes are held at the Worrell House. Elective courses are taught by local English professors. Classes are scheduled Monday through Thursday, leaving a three-day weekend to explore London or travel to other destinations. Many returning students cite the close relationships formed not only among students but also between students and the Resident Professor as a highlight of the program. Resident Professors alternate every semester.
It is the student’s responsibility to speak to their major and minor advisor(s) regarding their abroad coursework and how (or if) it will count towards their degree plan.
Academic Requirements
While at Worrell House, students must take:
- At least 1 of the Resident Professor’s courses
- HMN 180 Contemporary London Experience (1.5h) (p/f): Social, political, cultural, and environmental factors of life in London today.
- Minimum 12 credit hours total
Additional Divisional Courses
Divisional courses offered will be taught by local professors. These courses are elective to the program and are subject to change each semester. Please refer to the Resident Professor to discuss the entire course listings during their designated semester. Electives may include:
- ART 235 Arts of London (3h) (D): A course focused on the collections, exhibits, and architecture of London. The focus of the course will vary depending upon the specialty of the instructor and specific exhibits on view.
- ENG 165 Studies in British Literature (3h) (D): Emphasis on important writers representing different periods and genres; primarily discussion; writing intensive.
- HST 121 London and the World (3h) (D): This class examines how the history of London is intertwined with significant themes in world history, including exploration and trade in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries; urbanization, industrialization, and imperialism in the nineteenth century; and modern warfare, anti-colonialism, and emigration in the twentieth century. We will explore the history of London from the perspective of travelers, visitors, captives, prisoners, and immigrants, and we will read fictional representations of the city and incorporate historic site visits.
Fall 2025 with Dr. Kevin Frazier, Theatre
Course #1: THE 150: Introduction to Design and Production (4h) (D)
Introduction to the fundamentals of theatrical design and technology including script analysis, design development, and presentation methods. Through the lab, the student develops basic skills in theater technology.
Course #2: THE 266: Modern English and Continental Drama and the London Stage (3h) (D) / Cross Listed as ENG 347 (3h) (D)
Studies the works of major playwrights of England and Europe from 1875 to the present. Particular emphasis will be placed on plays which are currently being presented in London theatres, with a particular emphasis on contemporary musicals. Also offered in London.
Spring 2026 with Dr. Michaelle Browers, Political Science
Course #1: POL 115 (D) / POL 269A: Political Ideologies
This course, which can be taken under either number, examines both some of the competing ideologies of the modern world (liberalism, conservatism, communism, {anti}fascism) and how basic political concepts (democracy, freedom, equality, power) are ideologically contested, centering our discussion on the question of the exteor other countries we visit over the course of the semester) compared to the UK context, where freepost) communism and world wars--offers a particularly rich context for exploring these issues.
Course #2: POL 269A: The Politics of Memory
The process of constructing, shaping and reshaping memories is a political matter, constitutive of identities, especially national identities, and essential for establishing, maintaining and challenging political legitimacy. Political bodies debate the character and composition of memorials and museums, nations are attentive to how they are depicted in public school curricula, and “truth and reconciliation” commissions ask various groups to acknowledge historical injustices—to name just a few examples of memory politics. This course will explore why and the ways in which collective memory carries political significance as well as the tools of representation and remembrance that are marshalled to influence, control and contest collective memories. It will critically engage the question of how selection of memories and interpretations of the past relate to power. The United Kingdom--with its vast collection of museums and monuments and its complex relationship with imperialism, colonialism, slavery, (post)communism and world wars--offers a particularly rich context for exploring these issues.
Fall 2026 with Dr. Paul Pauca, Computer Science
Course #1: CSC 111: Introduction to Computer Science - London
This course is your gateway to the world of computer programming using London as a dynamic urban laboratory. As you learn the fundamentals of programming in Java, you will not only master problem-solving and algorithmic thinking but also discover how code shapes and is shaped by a global metropolis. With London as our classroom, we will learn to think like a computer scientist by tackling real- world problems inspired by London, such as its transport system, museums, and tech industry, and through visits to sites of significance in the history of computing and AI.
Course #2: CSC 391: Large Language Models & the Global Economy / BEM 391 Global Business Studies
This course leverages London’s unique position as a global tech and financial hub, connecting theoretical concepts to real-world applications and the global economy. You will learn the core concepts of transformer architectures and model training while exploring how LLMs are being developed and deployed in London’s major tech and financial districts, like the City of London and Canary Wharf. It will integrate technical projects with a critical analysis of LLM’s broader implications, addressing issues such as bias, fairness, misinformation, societal and economic impacts. Prerequisites: CSC 201, MTH 121 or MTH 205
Spring 2027 with Dr. Christa Colyer, Chemistry
Course #1: CHM 280 College Chemistry II. (3 h) (Div. V, QR)
Advanced study of fundamental chemical principles, with a special focus on the pivotal role of British scientists and their discoveries. P-CHM 111.
This course can fulfill a Div. V requirement, and counts towards the Chemistry major/minor, or as a Biology major co-req, a basic science elective for the Engineering major, or elective credit towards graduation for all others. It is commonly taken by pre-health students in the spring of their sophomore or junior year.
Course #2: CHM 280L Theory & Methods of Quantitative Analysis Laboratory (1 h) P or C-CHM 280
This lab-based course can be taken by students concurrently registered in CHM 280 at the Worrell House, or by students with prior credit (or AP credit) for CHM 280 lecture. This lab-based course could also be completed on the Reynolda campus in any semester after returning from the Spring 2027 Worrell House/London study-abroad program.
Course #3: CHM 351 / ENT 351 Special Topics: Green Technologies-Science and Entrepreneurship (3 h)
Introduces the science and entrepreneurship opportunities of select green technologies. You will be introduced to the 12 principles of green chemistry as they apply to sustainable innovation, focusing on case studies and site visits of green technology ventures in London.
This course counts towards the Chemistry major/minor, the Entrepreneurship minor, a Biology major co-req, an area requirement for Environmental majors/minors, or elective credit towards graduation.
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| Faculty |
Resident Professors:
Fall 2025: Kevin Frazier, Theatre, fraziek@wfu.edu
Spring 2026: Dr. Michaelle Browers, Politics, browerm@wfu.edu
Fall 2026: Dr. Paul Pauca, Computer Science, paucavp@wfu.edu
Spring 2027: Dr. Christa Colyer, Chemistry, colyercl@wfu.edu
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| Accommodation |
Worrell House accommodates fourteen students. There are five student bedrooms, four bathrooms, a large kitchen, a student lounge, a living room, and a library/seminar room. Modern kitchen facilities are available, and students often prefer to cook their meals together in the house. The house is wired for internet access and students should bring their laptop computers. The living room, called the Churchill Room, was named in honor of the former prime minister and statesman. His daughter, Sarah Churchill, unveiled a bust of Churchill at the 1977 dedication of the house. A beautiful English garden is located behind the house. There is a ground floor apartment (flat) for the Resident Professor consisting of two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a kitchen.
NOTE: All students participating in the WFU/London: Worrell House program are required to live in program-provided housing. Housing accommodations you may have on campus do not automatically transfer to abroad and certain housing accommodations (single rooms and private bathrooms, for example) may not be available. |
| Excursions |
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| Selection |
The Resident Professor is responsible for selecting each group based on the following criteria:
- Academic suitability
- Social and emotional maturity
- Classification (seniors given some priority)
- Seriousness of the student in pursuing the academic and cultural aims of the program
- Applicability of the program to the student's interests and studies
Majors in all disciplines are eligible and encouraged to apply.
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| Costs |
Students pay current Wake Forest tuition and housing fees. Students are responsible for all meals, round-trip airfare, local transportation costs, additional personal travel, books, and other personal expenses. |
| Scholarships |
Special scholarships for study at Worrell House are available through the David Hadley/Worrell House Scholarship Fund, the Ivy Hixson Fund, and the Hubert Humphrey Studies Abroad Scholarship. Students may apply for additional scholarships through the Center for Global Programs and Studies (Reynolda Hall 116). |
| Visa & Passport |
Passport Information
Students need to check their passport's expiration date and ensure that it will be valid for at least 6 months after the program's end date.
Students going on a fall program need to make sure their passport is valid through at least mid-June of the following year. Students going on a spring program need to make sure their passport is valid through at least mid-November of the same year.
US passport holders who need to renew their passport should visit the U.S. Department of State's passport website for information on this process.
Non-US passport holders who need to renew their passport should refer to their home country's passport office.
Visa Information
To help students and families understand the UK visa process, the Center for Global Programs and Studies has created a useful website.
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| Contact |
Dr. Christa Colyer
Program Director of Worrell House
Professor of Chemistry
Phone: (336) 758-4936
Email: colyercl@wfu.edu
Christina Canon
Senior Study Abroad Advisor
Reynolda Hall, Room 116
E-mail: canonc@wfu.edu
House Address:
Worrell House
36 Steele's Road
Hampstead
London NW3 4RG
England
Phone: 011-44-207-722-3808
Fax: 011-44-207-722-2496 |
| Testimonials |
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