A Semester in Glasgow July 09, 2026

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The classes were difficult because they were much more self-directed than I was used to. Informational resources were ample and the professors very knowledgeable, but there was little to turn in and few things were graded. Consequently, the small number of graded assessments that did matter felt very stressful. The educational rigor varied between classes, as I was taking a couple Level 1 courses and one Level 4 Honours course.

On-site administration of your program

They were attentive and helpful.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I was placed in a flat (university housing) with four other international students from different programs. We each had our own rooms, but shared a bathroom, common space, and kitchen. The flat was perfectly fine beyond some occasional issues with heating, but I plan on staying in touch with my flatmates for as many years as we can manage, as getting to meet them was one of the highlights of my experience. There were some minor details about the flat that I disliked (faucets in the bathroom), but I got used to them by the end of the first week.

Generally my experience did not provide food, and I bought and cooked my own meals. On the Arcadia excursions that I went on, the food provided was good.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

My situation was somewhat different than other students because I had relatives and family friends in the country, which gave me more connections. Even then I didn't feel especially well-integrated - I did make a friend in my classes and joined a (very welcoming!) club at university, so I was talking to local students, but I spent most of my time with the international students I roomed with.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I never had any significant health issues. I registered with a local medical practice at the beginning of the year. Later, when I had a minor infection, I was able to ask for advice online and receive a prescription from the physical office for a nearby pharmacy within a day or two. It seemed very simple and helpful.

I never had problems with safety, but I didn't engage in very risky behavior. The areas of the city I tended to go seemed safe. On multiple occasions, I took public transit by myself late at night without running into danger. I was told multiple times to be especially cautious around football games and not wear colors associated with the Rangers or Celtics, as fans of either team have a (factually-based) reputation for violence during those times, so I would advise to be aware of that.

I really enjoyed my experience. There are choices that I made that I might do differently, but I do not wish to have been somewhere else instead. I have been wondering for several years whether I might want to live in Scotland someday, and even though this was only a very limited experience, I really loved getting to live in Glasgow and explore what parts of the UK I could. I came away not feeling like I had satisfied all my curiosity, but rather that I still had a million things to explore and experience in the country. I also adored the library, and I will miss never going there as a student again.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Select all that apply

• Dorm
• Apartment

Select all that apply

• International Students

Select all that apply

• Local Students
• Americans
• International Students

• In the UK, most museums offer free entry, and they're great.
• I loved living in an interesting, walkable, part of the city.
• The program-hosted excursions were interesting and fun

• I didn't like that the excursions started in Edinburgh, so I had to travel an hour to get there in the morning, but I'm not sure how this could've been changed.
• My Arcadia orientation clashed with the University of Glasgow orientation for international students, so I missed that. I thought this was poorly-planned.
• I should have put more effort into getting a Young Scot Card - I ran into an issue and concluded I was ineligible, but I might have been able to get one anyways.

The Academic or Linguist