Summer in Scotland
Experience the vibrant urban feel of the UK's third largest city while studying at the University of Glasgow, one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the United Kingdom.
Program Details
Location
Glasgow,
United Kingdom
Term
Summer Session
Housing
Dormitory
Languages Taught In
English
Program Eligibility
Student Type
UofM Students
Student Year
Sophomores
Juniors
Seniors
GPA
3.0
Photos
About
Glasgow, Scotland's largest city, is a lively place to live and study. There is excellent shopping, nightlife, museums, parks and galleries. Glasgow is a friendly and welcoming multicultural city, recently voted "politest city in the UK."
Founded in 1451, the University of Glasgow consistently ranks as one of the UK's most highly-rated schools. The university is host to more than 20,000 students from over 100 countries and offers an exceptional breadth of academic choice across the physical and life sciences, social sciences and the humanities.
Started in 2014, the University of Glasgow's International Summer School offers a wide range of classes, and hosts dozens of US and international students each June and July.
Program Model
Housing & Meals
For the summer progam, participants are housed in university flats. Accommodation in your own room is included. Rooms are part of self-contained flats including well-equipped kitchen and laundry facilities. Normally 4-5 other students will share the flat.
The flats are located in the University’s Student accommodation, which is within easy walking distance of both the main campus where classes will take place, and of the renowned West End of Glasgow.
Excursions
In addition to some summer modules containing built-in excursions, the University of Glasgow arranges a number of social activities during the summer program.
Learning Outcomes
Students studying at the University of Glasgow will:
- augment their cross-cultural understanding through interaction with British and international students and community members;
- gain appreciation of the academic culture of the UK and differences between the British and US educational systems through direct enrollment;
- gain awareness and appreciation of British culture through dorm-style placements with British students, as well as access to a wide range of student organizations and clubs;
- become more self-reliant through the experience of obtaining enrollment, housing, catering, and transportation independently;
- become more effective at navigating differences by spending four to ten months of full integration in a foreign academic, cultural, and political climate;
- and experience British and international perspectives on academic disciplines through direct enrollment at the British host university.
Faculty & Staff
Faculty and staff at the University of Glasgow are some of the best in the UK. The university is a member of the Russell Group – an academic honor reserved for only the top British universities, and International Office staff assist students with all questions related to immigration, housing, academic registration, and campus life.
Program Structure
Program Level
3000 level courses
Courseload
4–8 credits
Coursework
The International Summer School at the University of Glasgow offers a number of different academic modules and credit-bearing research placements to choose from.
The University of Glasgow International Summer School uses the Scottish credit scheme. The University of Minnesota converts Scottish credits at a 4:1 ratio (ex: 10 Scottish cr = 2.5 UofM cr).
Research Track
Be placed in a research project overseen by faculty researchers at the University of Glasgow. Available placements for this 6 credit 6-week program are in the following subject areas:
- Life Sciences
- Chemistry
- Psychology
- History
Detailed project descriptions, intended outcomes and project eligibility for Summer 2022
Global Identity
Global Identity: Connecting Your International Experience with Your Future is an optional 1-credit online course that helps you process your international experience and apply what you've learned upon your return. Global Identity gives you the opportunity to work individually with a trained cultural mentor, helping you articulate your newly acquired skills and differentiating you from your peers.
To access more information about the course, visit the Global Identity Course Information page.
Research Track
Students should expect to be in the lab conducted research-related activities and independent study, Monday - Friday, 8 hours per day. There will be a weekly interdisciplinary research seminar. All projects will offer substantial opportunity for independent investigation. All research projects are awarded 6 credits. Please review eligibility for each research area at the links to the University of Glasgow's International Summer School Research Program below.
Full Course list
Fantastic Texts and Where to Find Them: Approaching Fantasy Literature, from Fairy Tales to Harry Potter
Terms
-
Summer I
3.75 Credits
This course will introduce you to fantasy and the fantastic, often defined as the "literature of the impossible".
We will survey key texts across different media (e.g. by J.R.R. Tolkien and Ursula K. Le Guin, as well as cinematic and TV fantasy), while exploring critical approaches and recent theoretical debates. You will also have an opportunity to try your hand at writing fantasy in a Creative Writing workshop.
Fulfills Liberal Education Requirement
-
Literature
History of Christianity in Scotland
Terms
-
Summer II
3.75 Credits
Christianity has played a pivotal role in shaping Scotland from its arrival. This course represents a traditional Church History approach, shaped by recent developments in cultural and social history. For those interested in the history of Christianity in Scotland and its global significance, this three-week intensive summer school will provide a rich and broad overview. Moreover, the course will provide an opportunity to visit some of the key sites first-hand.
Fulfills Liberal Education Requirement
-
Historical Perspectives
Scottish Urban Landscape in Film & Glass: Glasgow School of Art
Terms
-
Summer II
2.5 Credits
This course in collaboration with Glasgow School of Art, will allow you to immerse yourself in the picturesque West of Scotland landscape and Glasgow’s urban cityscape, where grit and glamour collide, and where beautiful architecture and green spaces sit alongside relics of an industrial past.
It will combine off site research and practical experience in the GSA’s Photography and Glass Workshops. You will gain skills in SLR photography, leading onto the design, planning and making of a bespoke stained glass panel, referencing your printed images and research materials.
Fulfills Liberal Education Requirement
-
Arts/Humanities
Writing the City: A creative writing workshop on urban landscapes and the literary flâneur/flâneuse
Terms
-
Summer I
2.5 Credits
A practical, one-week creative writing course that enables you to develop your own original literary work in response to the urban environment.
We contextualise the writer in the city by examining such concepts as the literary flâneuse as urban explorer and the poetics of place, as well as exploring some of the narratives of the built environment and the ways in which the wild takes root in the city. It is a chance to learn about the wider context of urban and experimental writing through seminars, workshops and the production of literary non-fiction, fiction, poetry or hybrid work.
Fulfills Liberal Education Requirement
-
Writing Intensive
Program Dates
Submit the online application and complete the assigned application checklist according to the appropriate deadline:
| Term | Program Dates | Application Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Summer 2023 Course Track | Mid June - Mid July; exact dates vary by course | Apr 1, 2023 |
| Summer 2023 Research Track | June 15–July 29 | Feb 13, 2023 |
For precise program dates, visit University of Glasgow's Summer School website.
*Program dates are subject to change. Contact the LAC for verification of dates before purchasing your airfare.
Orientation Dates & Locations
Orientation will be conducted in 2 parts: an online orientation, which is mandatory for all students, and an in-person, program-specific session. You will receive more information about the online orientation via email. Failure to complete the online orientation will impact your ability to go abroad.
See below for tentative dates and times for your in-person session. You will be notified of the official date and time via email. Participants will receive applicable orientation materials via email approximately 1 week prior to the in-person session.
| Term Abroad | Date/Time | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Summer 2023 | TBD | TBD |
Fees
University of Minnesota participants pay the program fee instead of on-campus tuition and fees for the term they are abroad.
If you do not see a budget estimate for the term you intend to go abroad, the fee has not yet been finalized. We strive to post fees for this program at least 30 days prior to the application deadline. The Learning Abroad Center will delay the posting of some fees until enrollments, inflation, and exchange rates are determined. Note the average increase in fees will be 3–10%. Program fees are based on estimates and may change depending on international economic factors.
Fees or tuition from home institutions may be added to or differ from the University of Minnesota Learning Abroad Center fees listed on this page.
Billing & Payments
Visit Billing for information about the billing process for application fees, deposits, and program fees.
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Visit Financial Information for information on using financial aid and scholarships for study abroad.
Cancellation Policy
Before you apply to or confirm your participation on this program, review the Learning Abroad Center's Cancellation Policy to inform yourself of the timeline and financial obligations for canceling.
Summer 2022
Summer in Scotland: Research TrackSummer 2022 |
|
|---|---|
Program Fee
|
|
| Non-refundable deposit | $400 |
| Tuition and educational costs | $3,950 |
| International health insurance | $100 |
| Housing and/or meals | $0 |
| Transportation (if required and included in program fee) | $0 |
| Total Program Fee | $4,450 |
| Program discount for University of Minnesota and Big Ten students, if applicable | $0 |
| Total Program Fee with discount, if applicable | $4,450 |
Estimated Additional Expenses
|
|
| Costs Typically Incurred Prior to Departure These costs may need to be paid before your financial aid is disbursed for your term abroad. | |
| Transportation to and from program site | $1,200 |
| Passport/photos | $150 |
| Visa/required documents | $0 |
| Travel clinic/immunizations* | $0 |
| Housing deposit | $0 |
| Total Estimated Cost Incurred Prior to Departure | $1,350 |
| Costs Typically Incurred After Arrival in Host Country | |
| Texts/materials | $150 |
| Housing and/or meals not included in program feeSix weeks room and board | $2,000 |
| Essential daily living expenses | $750 |
| Total Estimated Cost Incurred After Arrival in Host Country | $2,900 |
Total Estimated Cost of Participation
|
|
| Total Estimated Cost of Participation | $8,700 |
| Spending money and personal travel Not included in financial aid calculation | $750 |
| Additional Notes & Information | |
| * Immunizations Note: This estimate is based on approximate cost of travel-related vaccinations and medications required for entry or recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Your costs may be higher or lower depending on your travel clinic, the specific immunizations and medication prescribed, and your insurance coverage. | |
Prepare
Complete pre-application advising.
Apply
The COVID-19 vaccine series is strongly recommended, pursuant to CDC guidelines, but not required for participation in this program.
You will be charged a $50 application fee for each application you submit.
Complete
Upon submitting the online application, you will be assigned an application checklist that includes:
Submit to University of Glasgow:
- University of Glasgow Application
Detailed descriptions and instructions for submitting each checklist item are included on the application checklist assigned to you.
After You Apply
Before your program begins, review these resources.
Health & Safety
Learn more about staying healthy and safe abroad, including mental health and wellness, international travel insurance, and safety precautions.
Power of Attorney
Consider designating someone as your power of attorney to act as your legal representative while you’re abroad.
Student Identity
Consult our resources on student identities as you prepare for your abroad experience.
Travel Resources
Ready to go abroad? Our travel resources will help you pack and learn what to expect.
Program Contact
For further information or questions about this program, send an email to
Molly Green
or call at
612.625.6076