Learning Abroad Center
people in the street in Scotland

Summer in Scotland

Europe
LAC Program

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
Location
Glasgow, United Kingdom
Term
Term
Summer Session
Housing
Housing
Dormitory
Languages Taught In
Languages Taught In
English

Program Eligibility

Student Type
Student Type
UofM Students
Student Year
Student Year
Sophomores
Juniors
Seniors
GPA
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

University Study

Housing & Meals

For the summer program, you 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

Studying at the University of Glasgow will:

  • augment your 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 4–10 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

Courses

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:

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

You should expect to be in 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. Review eligibility for each research area at the links to the University of Glasgow's International Summer School Research Program below.

Chemistry Research Projects

History Research Projects

Life Sciences Research Projects

Psychology Research Projects (not available for 2024)

Full Course list

Education in a Globalized World: Comparing Systems Internationally

Terms
  • Summer II
3.75 Credits

The course aims to provide you with an overview of Scottish Education and to aid in critical reflection on different educational practices. In this course, you will have the opportunity to compare the importance of education in a global context as you find out more about the historical, cultural, and political influences on different educational systems, and what you need to know and be able to do in local contexts to be successful.

There is a focus on education in action during this course, with visits to a selection of local schools at kindergarten, elementary, and secondary levels to observe teaching in Scotland first hand. The observations will be complemented by focused input from the University of Glasgow’s expert academic staff and guided discussion with multicultural group members. The aim of this course is to provide an overview of education in global and local contexts, and to reflect critically on different educational practices.


Language Taught In
  • English
Fulfills Liberal Education Requirement
  • Social Sciences

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.


Language Taught In
  • English
Fulfills Liberal Education Requirement
  • Literature

Forensic Psychology

Terms
  • Summer I
2.5 Credits

Forensic psychology applies psychological theory to understanding crime, policing, criminal justice, and rehabilitation. In this two-week course, you will explore the origins of forensic psychology within the context of psychology as a whole, as well as learn about key theories and methodologies within the field. You will also have the opportunity to take part in practical activities in class, such as detecting deception and criminal profiling.

As part of the course assessment, you will complete a case study report on a serial killer as well as complete a short essay discussing variable methodologies used in forensic psychology.


Language Taught In
  • English

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 explores these enigmatic origins and charts the history of Christianity in Scotland, the role of Medieval Catholicism in shaping and consolidating the medieval state, and the transformation of society through the Scottish Reformation and its role in shaping national identity. We will also study the diversification of Protestant traditions, the role of Scottish Christianity in British imperialism, the development of deeply rooted sectarianism, and the rapid and significant secularization of Scotland in the last fifty years.

The 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.


Language Taught In
  • English
Fulfills Liberal Education Requirement
  • Global Perspectives
  • Historical Perspectives

How to be More Rational: Critical Thinking, Logic, and Reasoning Skills

Terms
  • Summer II
2.5 Credits

From advertising to social media, 24/7 news to reality TV, we live in a world full of information, but how do we know what to trust or not? How can we tell what is distorted, biased, or just playing up to what we want to believe? How can we interrogate our own assumptions and prejudices to arrive at sounder, more reasoned opinions?

Join this timely and reflective course to learn how to think more rationally and argue better. In daily talks and discussions, discover foundational concepts and techniques in logic and reasoning that enable you to approach any topic methodically, from the structure of arguments, deduction, induction, and rational persuasiveness, to logical fallacies and cognitive biases. Learn how to apply these to spot bad arguments, effectively counter them, and reach more rigorous answers.

Whether you are interested in the Arts, Social Sciences, Science, Engineering or Math, take this course to find new ways to interrogate the information you are presented with, forge better arguments, and arrive at sounder opinions and conclusions.


Language Taught In
  • English
Fulfills Liberal Education Requirement
  • Mathematical Thinking

Introduction to Scottish Gaelic

Terms
  • Summer I
2.5 Credits

Immerse yourself in Scottish Gaelic, a 1500-year-old language that spread across the country as the main Scottish language of the medieval Kingdom of Alba.

In this two-week course you will develop basic communication skills in the language, learning how to greet people, exchange personal details, talk about yourself and your daily life, as well as interact in common everyday situations (shops, restaurants, hotels, etc.).

You will also develop basic cultural awareness of the areas where the language is spoken and also learn about the history, culture, music, and customs of this centuries-old language.

No previous experience of learning Scottish Gaelic is required.


Language Taught In
  • Gaelic
Fulfills Liberal Education Requirement
  • Global Perspectives

Scotland and the World

Terms
  • Summer I
5
Credits

This new international summer school course explores the cultures and histories of Scotland through the multi-disciplinary perspectives offered by Archaeology, Celtic languages, History, and Literature. The course focuses on the common, overarching question of how Scottish society has interacted with the outside world. Using a number of case studies from different time periods, ranging from the ‘Viking’ era to the modern age, the course explores how connections to the outside world shaped Scotland’s distinctive history and culture.


Language Taught In
  • English

Scotland, Slavery, and Abolition

Terms
  • Summer I
3.75 Credits

This course will introduce you to the processes by which slavery and the slave trade in the British Empire were abolished. You will learn about the impact of the slave trade to Britain’s economy and the Empire, the work and successes of British abolition societies, the opposition to abolition, and the political efforts to abolish the slave trade and slavery. This course highlights the importance of New World slavery and enslaved labor to Glasgow’s tobacco lords and the city’s emergence as the “Second city of the empire”. It also examines how the people and profits of the slave trade changed the built landscape, industry, trade, and architecture across central Scotland.


Language Taught In
  • English
Fulfills Liberal Education Requirement
  • Global Perspectives
  • Historical Perspectives

Scottish Urban Landscape in Film & Glass: Glasgow School of Art

Terms
  • Summer II
2.5 Credits

This course in collaboration with the Glasgow School of ART (GSA), 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. You will be introduced to a range of glass techniques including cutting glass, glass painting, leading, copper foiling and soldering, and apply these to the creation of a glass panel.

This course is a stand-alone option but some of you may wish to combine it with another of our Summer School courses.


Language Taught In
  • English
Fulfills Liberal Education Requirement
  • Arts/Humanities

The Age and Ideas of Adam Smith

Terms
  • Summer I
3.75 Credits

Adam Smith (1723-1790) is world famous as the father of economics, but there is much more to him than this. He is one of a handful of thinkers whose ideas can be said to shape the world we live in. Age and Ideas of Adam Smith gives you an opportunity to immerse yourself in Smith’s thought at the University where he studied and taught. As a student and then Professor at the University of Glasgow, Smith made major contributions to the flourishing of the ground-breaking movement that has become known as the Scottish Enlightenment. This Summer course aims to introduce you to the whole of Smith’s impressive body of work, ranging from moral philosophy and literary criticism, to economics and political science. You will have the opportunity to read and discuss Smith’s work with some of the leading world experts on his thinking.

The intensive series of lectures and discussions is complemented by trips to locations in Scotland with strong associations with Smith, including his birthplace Kirkcaldy and his final resting place in Edinburgh.


Language Taught In
  • English
Fulfills Liberal Education Requirement
  • Arts/Humanities
  • Global Perspectives

Ways of Looking at Western Art 

Terms
  • Summer I
2.5 Credits

This course offers a focused analysis of the key movements, artists, and ideas in Western art from the 14th to the 19th century. We will address and discuss questions such as:

  • How do you read a picture?
  • Why does that sculpture look the way it does?
  • How do artists make their works?

You will be introduced to the important debates and ideas, as well as the key fundamentals of art history as a discipline. You will enhance your understanding of art and art history, through formal and contextual analysis.


Language Taught In
  • English

Writing the City: A Creative Writing Workshop on Urban Landscapes and the Literary Flâneur/Flâneuse

Terms
  • Summer I
2.5 Credits

In this course, we will contextualize 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.

Glasgow is a vibrant creative city with a thriving artistic scene that embraces numerous forms and disciplines – especially writing. It is also a city with incredible built heritage, including medieval houses from the 15th century, an atmospheric Victorian necropolis, enough parks to earn it the literary nickname ‘the dear green place’, hidden murals by Alasdair Gray, and the stunning Gothic university at which this course is based. The Creative Writing program at University of Glasgow is the oldest and most prestigious in Scotland, with a strong ethos of encouraging a supportive community of writers and an openness to form and genre.


Language Taught In
  • English
Fulfills Liberal Education Requirement
  • Global Perspectives
  • Writing Intensive

Program Dates

Submit the online application and complete the assigned application checklist according to the appropriate deadline:

TermProgram DatesApplication Deadline
Summer 2024 Course TrackMid June–Mid July; exact dates vary by course*Apr 1, 2024
Summer 2024 Research TrackJune 20–August 2March 1, 2024

*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

The Learning Abroad Center provides pre-departure orientation in preparation for your time abroad. It is your responsibility to know the information shared at these orientations.

Orientation consists of several sessions, all of which are created to support your preparation to go abroad:

  • Online Health & Safety Orientation: This asynchronous module can be accessed in your LAC checklist and is mandatory.
  • LAC Program Orientation: Program-specific and important UofM registration information will be covered (academic registration, finances, arrival, housing etc.). Details will be sent to you via email.

The Learning Abroad Center also offers 2 optional orientations:

Term AbroadDate/TimeLocation
Summer 2024TBDTBD

Fees

Summer 2024 Estimated Cost of Participation

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 2024

Summer 2024 Estimated Costs

Session IBilled Cost
(deposit, tuition, international insurance)
Estimated Non-Billed Costs
(flight, passport, housing, meals, etc)
Writing in the City$2,295‡$2,950*
Introduction to Scottish Gaelic$4,035‡$3,530*
Fantastic Texts and Where to Find Them$4,035‡$3,530*
Forensic Psychology$4,035‡$3,530*
Ways of Looking at Western Art$4,035‡$3,530*
Scotland, Slavery and Abolition$4,035‡$3,530*
Age and Ideas of Adam Smith$5,365‡$3,860*
Scotland and the World$6,130‡$4,250*
Session IIBilled Cost
(deposit, tuition, international insurance)
Estimated Non-Billed Costs
(flight, passport, housing, meals, etc)
History of Christianity in Scotland$4,245‡$3,320*
Scottish Urban Landscapes in Film & Glass$2,925‡$2,970
How to be More Rational$4,035‡$3,665*
Education in a Globalized World$5,365‡$4,060*
Summer ResearchBilled Cost
(deposit, tuition, international insurance)
Estimated Non-Billed Costs
(flight, passport, housing, meals, etc)
Chemistry, History, Life Sciences$5,270‡$6,135*

‡ If you are participating in more than one course (e.g. "Fantastic Texts and Where to Find Them" and "History of Christianity in Scotland") the total estimated cost should be reduced  by $1,250.00. There are fees that are assessed for the summer term only, not for each individual "Summer I" and "Summer II" terms.

* Lodging is paid directly to the University of Glasgow and out-of-pocket estimates are made based on roughly $150 per week (meals & spending money) and an additional $750 per term for incidental expenses and $150 for passport services. Final out-of-pocket costs will be included in your SACE form once you've completed an application with the Learning Abroad Center.

Please reach out to Molly Green at [email protected] for more information regarding program costs.

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.

Apply Now

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 at [email protected], or call at 612.625.6076