Class Is Castled: The Bursary That Sends You to Study at Herstmonceux

By Dan Blackwell

Easily mistaken for something from the pages of a fairy tale, Herstmonceux Castle is a picturesque 15th-century moated castle in rural England. Throughout its storied history, the castle grounds have hosted everything from royalty to a royal observatory. Now, the castle is home to Bader College— and, thanks to the Bader International Bursary, a select group of talented Victoria College students.

For Lukas Urban, a third-year student majoring in political science and art history, studying at Herstmonceux was a life-changing experience. “I wanted to experience something different,” he says. “How many chances are there in a person’s life to go study in a castle?”

As a recipient of the bursary, Urban enjoyed the full Herstmonceux experience. It covers up to $13,500 for one term of study at Bader College and is granted to students to support their participation in the International Studies Program. The college, purchased by philanthropist Alfred Bader in 1993 and gifted to his late wife Isabel Overton Bader Vic 4T9, Hon. 9T5, offers small class sizes, interdisciplinary learning opportunities and courses taken right on the sprawling estate.

Urban says the college’s unique learning environment allowed him to fully engage in his studies. “The small class sizes allow you to build a lasting relationship with your professor, where you learn about their history and experiences and how that informs the material they are teaching you,” he says.

Students also get the chance to live minutes away from the castle in nearby Bader Hall. “This was my first experience living in residence,” says Urban. “The student life was great and the setting was beautiful. Most of the students there were from different parts of Canada, but the actual environment that we were in was completely British and completely intercultural.”

Urban says he loved the range of extracurricular activities, including hikes, visits to the in-castle pub for evening trivia and trips throughout East Sussex. “Each day was different,” he says. “It brought a lot of excitement.” One highlight was a midterm sojourn to London, where the class visited the British Film Institute and saw a movie exploring the history of the European Union. It brought together art and political science, reflecting Bader College’s interdisciplinary approach to learning.

Urban is now back in Canada, studying at Victoria College. While he says he’ll forever cherish the memories of his time abroad, it’s the newfound sense of curiosity instilled in him at Herstmonceux that will have the most enduring impact.

“This opened my eyes to new possibilities and ways of thinking,” he says. “The program exposed me to students and professors interested in so many diverse academic pursuits. I’ve never experienced learning that was so engaging and so personal!”

“While the Bader International Bursary is one of hundreds of scholarships, bursaries and awards offered by Victoria College, the unique experience it provides for students makes it truly exceptional,” says Louise Yearwood, executive director of Alumni Affairs & Advancement at Victoria University.

“Isabel Bader believed that an international experience was an important learning opportunity for students,” she says. “It gave her tremendous pleasure to support this particular student award.”

This unique student experience was made possible thanks to the generosity of the late Isabel Bader. To learn more about how you can support student scholarships, awards and bursaries, visit vicu.utoronto.ca/giving.