International Programs

Set in a bay on the east coast of Scotland, St. Andrews is a small city with a great sense of community and plenty of history. The twisting streets and preserved buildings of St. Andrews reflect the long history of the town, which was first settled in the sixth century. The university and its students make up nearly one-third the population of the city; you'll have no trouble making local friends!

St. Andrews offers a breathtaking view of the Fife coast and a beautiful hilly locale. St. Andrews is home to the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, caretakers of the world-famous Old Course of St. Andrews. If you're a good golfer with a handicap that meets the course's standards, you'll be able to play for a surprisingly reasonable price. Thanks to the glorious scenery, St. Andrews also is a great place for hiking and backpacking.

A cosmopolitan city with a stellar arts scene, Glasgow offers great culture and endless entertainment possibilities. This city is home to the national Scottish companies of ballet, opera, orchestra, and chorus, and it boasts two repertory theatres and the Glasgow Film Theatre, which runs only limited-release films. Visit Glasgow’s galleries and museums, including the reconstructed home of Charles Rennie Mackintosh, the famous graduate of the Glasgow School of Art.

Glasgow boasts beautifully preserved Victorian buildings and lovely parks and gardens, but it has a young, hip feel. The nightlife in Glasgow is among the best in Scotland.

The gorgeous capital city of Scotland offers breathtaking views, hundreds of years of history, and a great nightlife. Edinburgh is one of the most architecturally beautiful cities in Europe, but you'll find much more than just lovingly preserved buildings. The city has the advantage of a compact, convenient layout and warm, welcoming people, yet with a cosmopolitan atmosphere. The Scottish Parliament opened in 1998, making the city once again the center of Scotland’s political life.

The city also offers plenty of pubs, trendy cafes, vegetarian restaurants, and small boutiques, as well as great clubs. Edinburgh is the U.K.'s festival city and home to the famous International Festival every August. The city hosts other film, music, and art festivals in the spring and summer as well.

A cosmopolitan city with a stellar arts scene, Glasgow offers great culture and endless entertainment possibilities. This city is home to the national Scottish companies of ballet, opera, orchestra, and chorus, and it boasts two repertory theatres and the Glasgow Film Theatre, which runs only limited-release films. Visit Glasgow’s galleries and museums, including the reconstructed home of Charles Rennie Mackintosh, the famous graduate of the Glasgow School of Art.

Glasgow boasts beautifully preserved Victorian buildings and lovely parks and gardens, but it has a young, hip feel. The nightlife in Glasgow is among the best in Scotland.

Belfast, nestled in the valley of the River Lagan, offers a vibrant social and cultural life in a location with spectacular natural views. The whole city is undergoing a revitalization, thanks to the reopening of the Grand Opera House and a number of new businesses moving into the city. Now that the peace process has taken on new life, Belfast vibrates with business and craic (fun).

With its compact layout and revived retail districts, Belfast is a great city for exploring on foot. Victorian and Edwardian buildings lend the city a dignified air, but the large student population gives Belfast a youthful atmosphere.

The city of Brighton and Hove really does have everything: sun, sea, brilliant clubs, great places to eat, fabulous shops, a truly cosmopolitan vibe and an extraordinary atmosphere of tolerance and freedom. And, since students form ten per cent of the city’s population, you can be confident that you’ll find plenty to satisfy your needs. Self-consciously creative, Brighton has a truly diverse cultural scene with a wealth of theatres, cinemas and galleries. From top theatre performances to the variety of experimental productions staged throughout the city, you’ll find something to entertain you. The Gardner Arts Centre on the University of Sussex campus is a well-known venue for dance and contemporary theatre and, back in Brighton, there are plenty of opportunities to catch comedy, cabaret and open-mike nights. Cinema-goers will find plenty to keep them happy. Brighton hosts two multiplex cinemas offering 17 screens for mainstream movies. If art-house cinema is more your thing, head straight to the Duke of York’s, a Brighton treasure and the oldest purpose-built cinema in Britain. The Gardner Arts Centre also shows avant-garde and classic movies. And, in true Brighton style, the beach occasionally plays host to big-screen cult films on summer evenings.

Nottingham is one of the most vibrant and cosmopolitan cities in Britain. With a population of about 270,000, has much to offer from the world's oldest pub and traditional markets to fashionable bars to designer boutiques. In recent surveys, Nottingham was voted the best English shopping center outside of London. In addition, the Nottingham area has more sports facilities per person than anywhere else in Europe. The city has a reputation for contemporary arts, with around 400 practicing artists - more per square foot than any other European city. Nottingham, also known as "Queen of the Midlands", has been home to three of the most significant writers of the 19th and 20th centuries - Lord Byron, DH Lawrence, and Alan Silitoe - as well as Nottingham's Prince of Thieves, Robin Hood.

Few universities can contest the location of Bangor in Wales. It is situated on the North West Coast of Wales, just a ferry ride from Ireland. The Snowdonia mountain range stands tall as a backdrop in Bangor and is a short distance (9 kilometers) away. With the sea on one side and the mountains on the other, it is no surprise why students from over 80 different countries would choose to study at Bangor every year. Walking through the quaint little city of 12,000 residents, one can find that the University buildings and residences are a short walk from the city center, which includes two modern shopping complexes, and a blend of national and local shops. There are also plenty of restaurants, cafe-bars, and pubs. Bangor has a theatre, cinema, community swimming pool, an art gallery, museums, and clubs.