Semester in Glasgow
Unique Experiences
Explore the City Centre
and its array of restaurants, cafes, and shops
Walk Through History
and take in Glasgow’s culture, architecture, and history
Enjoy Scottish Cuisine
from Haggis (Scotland’s national dish) to delicious seafood
6
Unesco World Heritage Sites
3rd
Oldest Underground Railway
90
Parks and Gardens Throughout the City
Your Destination
Home to renowned art galleries, world-class museums, inspiring street art, leafy green spaces, historic landmarks, and a legendary music scene, Glasgow is considered Scotland’s commercial and cultural epicenter. The city’s particular location between Highland and Lowland Scotland and its distance from Edinburgh, the country’s capital, make Glasgow a prosperous market center. Not only is Glasgow the largest city in Scotland – it’s also the largest economic region of the country, and accounts for a third of Scotland’s business base, research, power, and employment opportunities.
When you study abroad in Glasgow, you’ll quickly discover why this city is considered one of the friendliest in the world. Glaswegians are known for their warm and welcoming hospitality, making this city a lovely place to become better acquainted with Scottish tradition and charm. In addition to befriending locals, you’ll spend your time appreciating Glasgow’s industrial prowess, 19th-century Victorian architecture, dynamic arts scene, and how the city became designated a UNESCO City of Music site. With its tourist-friendly culture and cosmopolitan vibe, your time learning and living in Glasgow will be nothing short of epic!
CIEE wants all our students to feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to succeed while studying abroad. Local CIEE staff have provided details about conditions and cultural attitudes that students with specific identities might encounter in Glasgow.
The Culture
Excursions & Activities
- Go on a guided walking tour of Glasgow’s outstanding historic city center such as the merchant city neighborhood, where wealthy traders had their homes in the 18th century
- Discover unique street art, which is one of the best expressions of Glasgow’s vibrant urban culture
- Visit Glasgow Cathedral, one of the oldest buildings in the city, and learn its fascinating tales
- Visit the Celtic Park Stadium
- Wander around Glasgow Necropolis
- Attend a traditional Ceilidh to see culture in action
- Enjoy live music at Kings Tuts Wah Hut
- Honor Saint Valentine in the Blessed St. John Duns Scotus Church
- Enjoy a picnic in the Kelvingrove Park on a sunny day with local friends
- Admire modern art at the Gallery of Modern Art
- Wander down The Lanes, one of the most hipster attractions down Byres Road
- Cycle along the Forth and Clyde Canal
Academic Projects
Internship: There are plenty of options to earn credit and beef up your resume with international experience in the Scottish working market. Help improve logistics and customer relations, build finance reports in Excel, analyze competitors, develop marketing plans, audit local companies, and more. Students applying for an internship are required to submit additional materials during the course selection process and must obtain a visa
Service-learning Projects: Combine course-based learning with practical, relevant project experience to meet a community-defined need.
Direct Independent Research: Gain credit for completing an individual research course in a field of special interest under the supervision of a local faculty member. The central goal is a substantive paper or written report containing significant analysis and interpretation of a previously approved topic.
Program Blogs
Your Guide to Scottish Slang: Top 10 Phrases You Should Know
If you’re about to embark on a Scotland study abroad adventure, it’s a smart idea to familiarize yourself with the dialects, accents, and even varying languages spoken in this charming... keep reading
Glasgow vs. Edinburgh Study Abroad: Which is Better for You?
Wondering whether to study abroad in Edinburgh or Glasgow, Scotland? We've got you covered as we explore differences in the cost of living, population, featured programs, and more!
Housing & Meals
Housing
CIEE Glasgow offers comfortable housing in residence halls at the University of Strathclyde or in homestays.
Standard Housing:
- Residence halls: Includes a single room in a residence hall on the Strathclyde campus, a 5-10-minute walk to George Square/Queen Street train station, with easy access to many shops and restaurants. Students have access to kitchens on each floor. Some of the rooms have a sink in the room. Bathroom facilities are typically shared with two or three others.
- Homestays: Students will be able to live in a homestay around Glasgow and immerse themselves in the Glasgow culture. They will have their own lockable room, laundry facilities, and freedom to come and go as they please whilst spending time with their host family and learning more about what life is like living in Scotland.
Meals
Residence halls: Meals are not provided by the university although there are plenty of options to purchase meals and snacks from the cafes and restaurants on-site. In the residence halls, students have access to kitchens on each floor and CIEE provides a full kitchen pack for students to prepare their meals.
Homestays: Host families provide two meals per day.
Academics
The Semester in Glasgow program offers a full range of courses at the University of Strathclyde with international and local students, and courses with CIEE on topics such as business and culture courses. Students can enroll in a for-credit internship to gain hands-on work experience in a local organization and real-world professional skills, or propose an independent research project related to Glasgow/Scotland.
Internship Opportunities
Gain real-world work experience, grow your professional network, and bolster your resume while interning at NGOs, startups, advocacy groups, and more in Glasgow. Search here for a more detailed list of internship opportunities.
Business and Finance
Business development, recruitment, and human resources.
Law, Politics, NGOs, and Governing Bodies
Government, non-governmental, organizations, and advocacy groups.
Entrepreneurship
Accelerators and tech startups, research, business development, and community management.
Marketing
Agencies and departments of companies.
Life Sciences
Research and development.
Startups, Incubators, Accelerators, and Hubs
E-learning, apps, and e-commerce.
Note: Please keep in mind that securing a spot in any of these opportunities is not automatically guaranteed and depends on availability and the internship host organization's decision. This internship listing is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a contract between CIEE and any applicant, student, institution, or other party. The internships, as described, may be subject to change as a result of ongoing curricular revisions, assignment of lecturers and teaching staff, and program development.
Course Information
Academic Projects
Communication, Journalism, and Media
History, Philosophy, Religion
Literature, Linguistics, and Writing
University of Strathclyde
Please click on the link for the list of classes available to exchange students in your chosen department.
- Architecture
- Strathclyde Business School
- Biomedical Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Chemistry (Chemistry is only able to students for two semesters/full academic year due to the yearlong structure of their classes)
- Computer and Information Sciences
- Design Manufacturing and Engineering Management
- Electronic & Electrical Engineering
- Humanities and Social Sciences
- Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
- Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering
- Politics and International Relations
- Primary Education
- Psychology
- Physics
- School of Law
- Social Policy
- School of Social Work and Social Policy
- Speech and Language Pathology
- Sports and Physical Activity
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences
Pre-Requisites: Some courses may require previous experience as described in course syllabus.
Note: This course listing is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a contract between CIEE and any applicant, student, institution, or other party. The courses, as described, may be subject to change as a result of ongoing curricular revisions, assignment of lecturers and teaching staff, and program development. Courses may be canceled due to insufficient enrollment.
"(GI)" denotes courses that originated at CIEE's Global Institutes and that are offered at multiple CIEE sites.
Scholarships & Grants
CIEE offers scholarships and grants annually to help students like you make your study abroad dream a reality.
Students who apply to this program are eligible for the following scholarships and grants:
- Ping Scholarships for Academic Excellence
- CIEE Gilman Go Global Grant
- MSI Grant
To be considered, submit the CIEE Scholarships & Grants application within your CIEE program application.
Dates & Fees
You get more for every dollar when you study abroad with CIEE, because our high-quality programs include everything from excursions to insurance. There are no hidden charges, and no disappointing surprises when you arrive.
Program |
Application Due |
Start Date |
End Date |
Fees & Housing |
---|---|---|---|---|
Program Spring 2025 19 weeks | Start Date | End Date | Fees & Housing $19,950 |
To help you budget, keep in mind that students are responsible for the cost of international airfare, local transportation, books and supplies, visas, and personal expenses. In addition, your college or university may charge additional fees for study abroad, or may require you to receive a transcript via CIEE's School of Record, which carries an additional fee of $500.
Program Fees
CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.
Participation Confirmation = $300*
Educational Costs = $14,456**
Housing = $5,000***
Insurance = $194
Total Fees = $19,950Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
Meals not included in program fee = $1,663†
International Airfare = $1,250††
Local Transportation = $300
Books & Supplies = $100
Visa Fees = $0†††
Personal expenses = $300††††
Total Costs = $3,613Financial Aid
CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional and MSI grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.
*non-refundable fee
**direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students
***Housing fees listed are for financial aid purposes only and should not be considered a basis for calculation of refunds.
†For groceries if you plan on making your own meals, budget more money if you plan on eating out regularly.
††round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure
†††Unless a student is completing an internship, there are no visa fees for academic programs under six months in the UK for US-passport holders. US-passport holders stay in the UK on a Visitor visa.
††††$100 emergency fund + cell phone expense + toiletries
What's Included
Tuition
Housing
Pre-departure Advising
Advising before you depart to set goals and answer questions
Optional on-site airport meet-and-greet
Orientation
Introduction to your program plus practical information about living in your host city
On-site Staff
Full-time program leadership and support in your city
Cultural and/or Co-curricular Activities
Excursions and/or Study Tours
Travel Protection
CIEE iNext travel protection
24/7 emergency on-site support
Our Staff
Claire Kinloch Anderson
Center Director
Claire is an experienced professional with a strong background in broadcast journalism, working for the BBC, Sky TV, and STV. With an M.A. in Modern Languages from Cambridge University, she...
Calum Williamson
Program Manager
Calum is a seasoned professional in student recruitment and international education, having held key roles at prestigious institutions like the University of St Andrews and the University of Edinburgh. A...