SATIRE – APRIL FOOLS
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette is adding Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry as a new location in its study abroad program. This location will be available for the 2026 study abroad program. Hogwarts is located in an undisclosed location in Scotland, while the train to get there is located in London, England.
The class tuition for the program is free, but students will have to pay for their flight to London, and any other items they want to buy outside of the school, like souvenirs or snacks. Students will also be provided with food and housing. The program will be held from May 28 to June 18. This program is offering classes for all majors, including defense against the dark arts, herbology, Hogwarts history, potions and care of magical creatures.
Students will be required to wear traditional Hogwarts uniforms that will be provided by the University.
Students at Hogwarts wear robes that match the colors of the house they are sorted into. Since study abroad students won’t be sorted into a Hogwarts house, they will wear robes with university colors.
Alberta Hothrew, headmaster of Hogwarts, explained why Hogwarts will be open to university students for study abroad. “We just thought opening up our school to muggles that want to learn magic would be a good opportunity to mix our cultures,” Hothrew said.
She added, “There was a big incident at Hogwarts a few decades ago, and ever since then our school’s mission has been to make sure muggles know they are welcome and will be well taken care of.”
Tim Fulton, a junior majoring in Accounting, explained why he thought the program addition was a great idea. “I love learning about new cultures and getting to know different people. The opportunity to see a new part of the world and become immersed in it is definitely one that I would hate to pass. If I can save up I definitely will be going,” Fulton said.
Emma Watkins, a sophomore majoring in Political Science, expressed her interest in the addition of Hogwarts as a study abroad location. “I had never considered studying abroad until now, especially because we don’t have to pay for our classes. I am for sure considering going.”
Daniel Ratliff, a junior majoring in General Studies, expressed his concerns surrounding safety for the program. “It sounds like an interesting opportunity, don’t get me wrong, but I don’t know how safe I would feel at that school since I don’t know a lot about it. The only thing I know is it’s near London or something.”
Robert Grant, a freshman majoring in Mechanical Engineering, said he was already saving money to go. “I have some family in London, and my cousin said she knows people that have gone to Hogwarts since they were little. She thinks it’s safe, so that is all I needed to hear.”
According to Margaret Smith, a history professor, the Battle of Hogwarts was a fight between the students at Hogwarts and an undisclosed group in the late ’90s. This battle took the lives of several people and left the school severely damaged. “Very little official information is known about the cause of the battle due to the secluded nature of the school,” Smith said.
Smith will be accompanying students to Hogwarts and will act as a guide.
She said she understands the safety concerns from students and cannot assure the safety of anyone who comes. “Hogwarts is so big and confusing that any student could get lost or find themselves somewhere they shouldn’t be,” Smith said.
“The best advice for students is to go where they know they are allowed to go and stick together,” Smith said. She continued, adding “Crazy things happen everywhere, especially at a school like this, so as long as students listen to administration they should be fine.”
UL Lafayette is not the only university that has a study abroad program with Hogwarts, so students from various colleges all over the world will also be in attendance next summer.
Hothrow expressed her excitement about the coming program. “Hogwarts is so excited to be hosting university students next summer. For incoming students and staff alike, we will do our best to make it a summer to remember,” Hothrew said.