Spend a week immersed in the world of English literature at one of the most prestigious universities in the world. The Sigma Tau Delta–Cambridge Undergraduate Summer Program offers students an unforgettable chance to live, study, and explore at historic Girton College, at the University of Cambridge.
This is a rare opportunity to walk the same paths as generations of scholars, poets, and thinkers who shaped the literary tradition. You’ll take part in two courses designed especially for Sigma Tau Delta and taught by distinguished Cambridge faculty, experience the vibrant social and cultural life of the city, and live the true Cambridge college experience. From punting on the River Cam to attending a centuries-old Formal Hall, every moment of this week combines academic excellence with authentic Cambridge traditions.
Through close reading, critical discussion, and essay writing, you’ll sharpen your analytical skills and deepen your understanding of English literature in ways that will benefit you long after the program ends. With personalized instruction in small seminars, expert faculty feedback, and access to Cambridge’s unparalleled academic environment, this program will equip you with the tools to think more deeply, write more persuasively, and approach literature with fresh insights.
Application Process
Applications are open until November 1, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. (CT).
Undergraduate Sigma Tau Delta members are asked to complete a short application form to participate in the Sigma Tau Delta–Cambridge Undergraduate Summer Program 2026.
The application process includes the following questions, which Sigma Tau Delta members must respond to:
- Why are you interested in participating in the Sigma Tau Delta-Cambridge Summer Program? (max. 200 words)
- How do you expect this experience will enhance your academic and professional growth? (max. 200 words)
- What unique perspectives or experiences have you gained as a member of Sigma Tau Delta that will positively impact you on the Sigma Tau Delta-Cambridge Summer Program? (max. 200 words)
2025 Testimonials
“The Girton experience reignited my desire to pursue research for my personal and professional development and enrichment. I left the program feeling like I want more encounters like this in my life. The other participants and Student Ambassadors made me feel hopeful for the future of the world, knowing it is in such caring, smart hands.”
“Go. Find the financing if needed, seek out scholarships or loans, whatever it takes: go. You won’t know how much you need this vacation-learning program until you’re there and after you’ve done it. You’ll likely make some new friends, and you’ll definitely learn some things about Cambridge, Girton, and yourself. You’ll be given special access via the included tours of Cambridge Colleges and Museums to manuscripts you’ve never heard of or seen but will love learning about. This summer program is definitely worth it!”
“The lasting impact this has already had is that it renewed my appreciation of and love of learning, something for me which is not just academic but also very personal. I felt I had lost it, which was like losing a part of myself and made me question if I should continue with my education. After my week at Girton, I feel so much more refreshed and much more excited to keep going and continue with PhD applications.”
“The residential experience is something I did not previously experience, as I attended a school that I commuted to. So, while also being new, the residential experience at Girton was unforgettable; it was a treasure to be able to see the beauty of Girton College every day on my walks around the college in between courses. I loved being able to live, even temporarily, in a place so infused with a rich and meaningful history. Furthermore, the courses were intellectually enriching. My professors were supportive and they presented lots of great material. I felt that I came away from each course with a lot of great knowledge.”
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About Girton College
Girton College is not just one of the largest colleges of the University of Cambridge, one of the most highly-ranked universities in the world—it is a place where history, innovation, and community come together to create something extraordinary. Founded in 1869 by pioneers Emily Davies and Barbara Bodichon, Girton was the first residential college in Britain to offer women degree-level education, breaking barriers and setting new standards for equality. That same spirit of ambition and inclusion continues to define Girton today. With its stunning buildings and expansive grounds just outside the city center, Girton offers a unique combination of space, beauty, and a famously warm, welcoming atmosphere. Here, students from every background come together, inspired to learn, to question, and to make their mark on the world. For over 150 years, Girtonians have gone on to shape the future—in countless fields and in every corner of the globe.
The 2026 Academic Program
This Sigma Tau Delta-Girton College Undergraduate Summer Program offers students a fantastic opportunity to experience Cambridge academic life over one intense week.
Students will all take the two unique courses that have been specially crafted for Sigma Tau Delta student members:
- Poetry Practical Criticism and Close Reading (7.5 hours)
- Literary Traditions and Cambridge (7.5 hours)
The modules will be delivered through small classes of around 15 students, giving students the chance to cover the course material in more depth. Students will be assessed by an essay in each module and once the program has finished students will receive a grade for the work they have completed, as well as a certificate of participation.
Full reading lists will be made available during fall 2025.
Faculty Biographies
The Poetry Practical Criticism and Close Reading course will be led by Dr. Alex Wong, a poet and critic with long ties to the Cambridge English Faculty. Having studied ‘Practical Criticism’ himself as a Cambridge undergraduate, he has over a dozen years’ experience in teaching it as part of the Cambridge English Tripos. He was a fellow of St John’s College, Cambridge, for eight years and is currently a fellow of the Royal Literary Fund. His two collections of verse, Poems Without Irony (2016) and Shadow and Refrain (2021), are published in the UK by Carcanet, for whom he has also edited and introduced selections from the work of Algernon Charles Swinburne, Walter Pater, and Alice Meynell. His poems, translations, and critical essays appear widely.
The Literary Traditions and Cambridge course will be led by Dr. Nathaniel Zetter, a writer and academic based at the University of Cambridge. Since completing his PhD in 2019, he has taught literature, film, and critical theory at Cambridge, with research in cultural theory and history focusing on the meanings of technology, militarism, and the body. His writing has appeared in The Washington Post, Textual Practice, Humanities, and Critical Quarterly, among other journals and edited collections. His first monograph, War/Sport: A Genealogy of Play and Violence, explores the intersections of war and sport in modernity.
The 2026 Social Program
Current Girton students will act as Student Ambassadors (SAs) throughout the summer program. The SAs will organize social activities in the afternoons and evenings to ensure students make the most of their Cambridge experience. Such SA-organized activities may include a trip to a traditional pub, visits to other Cambridge colleges, punting on the River Cam, a visit to the famous King’s College Chapel, a walk along the River Cam to take tea at The Orchard Tea Room at Grantchester, or visits to the Fitzwilliam Museum or the University Botanic Garden.
The College Experience
Students will live in Cambridge student accommodation on the main Girton College site, and all rooms are single occupancy study bedrooms.
Eating together is an important part of college life, and therefore meals are offered in the College’s excellent refectory. At each meal there is a wide choice of food available, including hot and cold meals, a salad bar, sandwiches, and delicious puddings. Students wishing to have a lighter option may use the Social Hub, the College’s coffee shop.
Students will generally have two meals per day in College, and this partial meal plan gives students the freedom to explore the many wonderful cafes, restaurants, and pubs around Cambridge.
In addition to regular meals, students will experience a traditional English Afternoon Tea, with sandwiches, cakes, scones and jam, and tea and coffee, and they will also attend one Formal Hall during the program. Formal Halls are a Cambridge tradition going back centuries and these three-course meals, served in Girton’s splendid dining hall and preceded by drinks, are particularly special and memorable occasions.
Students on the summer program will have access to all the usual College facilities, including the College Library, indoor swimming pool, gym, chapel, and squash courts, and students are also free to use the woodland, orchard, gardens, lawns and sports fields.
Dates, Costs, Inclusions & Other Details
Dates:
July 19 – 25, 2026
Costs:
The Summer Program fee is £1,745 per student
Payment Dates:
Non-refundable deposit: £500 – no later than February 1, 2026
Remaining balance: £1,245 – no later than March, 31, 2026
Payments can be made in installments and are made using credit cards or bank transfers only.
Age Requirements:
All participants are required to be aged 18 or over by the start of the course.
Inclusions:
- The academic program
- 6-nights accommodation in a single occupancy student bedroom
- Use of College facilities
- Approximately two meals per day at Girton College, as well as a Formal Dinner and a traditional Afternoon Tea
- A Student Ambassador-led social program to get the most out of the Cambridge student experience
- Coach pick-up from Heathrow at start of the program and drop-off at the end
Exclusions:
- Round-trip flight to the UK
- Travel and medical insurance
- Approximately one meal per day while in Cambridge
- Any optional activity fees on SA-led activities, any personal expenditure or the costs of independent travel
