APSU sending students to live in Victorian manor outside of London this May
If you take the train an hour north from London to the town of Grantham, where Sir Isaac Newton once studied, you鈥檒l discover an ornate Victorian estate hidden deep in the countryside. The secluded house, often compared to fictional places like Downton Abbey and Hogwarts, is known as Harlaxton Manor, and it鈥檚 surrounded by lush gardens and green lawns so wide that the Royal Air Force landed bombers on the property during World War II.
For more than 50 years, the University of Evansville has used the manor for its top-rated study abroad program, and in the early 1990s, Dr. Marissa Chandler spent a year as a college student living in the opulent country home.
鈥淚t was a dream come true,鈥 Chandler, now director of study abroad and international exchange at Austin Peay State University, said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 owned by the University of Evansville, and I was able to study there and have an amazing experience.鈥
Chandler鈥檚 time at Harlaxton transformed her life, turning her into a world traveler whose passport is filled with stamps from places like Tokyo, Paris and the Galapagos Islands. A few years ago, while feeling nostalgic for her days at Harlaxton, Chandler began work on a partnership between Austin Peay and Evansville. That partnership has resulted in Austin Peay鈥檚 signature study abroad program 鈥 APSU鈥檚 British DEAL (Discovery, Exploration, Adventure, Learning) 鈥 which will send students to live in Harlaxton Manor for a week, followed by a week in London.
鈥淲e鈥檙e very happy to be partnering with the No. 1 program in the country,鈥 Dr. Mickey Wadia, APSU professor of languages and literature, said. In 2019, Evansville鈥檚 Harlaxton program was named the best study abroad program by Best College Reviews. 鈥淗arlaxton is a Victorian manor home but it resembles a castle in many ways. It鈥檚 absolutely exquisite on the inside. I mean, who has classes for God鈥檚 sake in a Victorian manor.鈥
Austin Peay will continue its signature program from May 9-23 by offering three classes at Harlaxton 鈥 a world literature class taught by Wadia, and a global business class taught by Dr. Victoria McCarthy, professor of management and marketing, and a public speaking class, taught by Dr. Pamela Gray, professor of communication. Part of what makes the program unique is that the world literature class is a general education core course that most students take within their first two years, regardless of their major.
The University has offered study abroad courses for decades, sending students to South America, Asia and Europe for different educational experiences. The APSU British DEAL program is different because it creates, for one week every summer, a satellite Austin Peay campus at an English country manor, followed by a week in London.
The first 25 students who sign up and commit to the program will have their airfare covered.
鈥淎nd there鈥檚 lots of other funding sources available for students,鈥 Chandler said.
For information on Austin Peay鈥檚 new British DEAL program, visit .
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