Better to Study Abroad in Scotland in Fall or Spring?
 

I plan on studying abroad for a semester at St. Andrews University in Scotland next year. I need help deciding whether it would be better to do so in the Fall or Spring. The fall semester runs from 9/18 to 12/18 and the spring semester from 2/5 to 5/23. I'm not too keen on cold whether unless it is accompanied by snow, if that helps. I love beautiful scenery and I'm a runner so whichever season provides the better days to train might be helpful as well. Any information you can provide me about the location is greatly appreciated!

Kelly

Sites like wunderground will give you the past temps/precip at these times of year.

Weather in Scotland in so variable, that it's quite hard to say....however the days will be getting longer in the Spring, so that might be better.

Scotland will be cold and often therre won;t be snow.

(Not sure where you're from or what you mean by "cold" but one year we were there in July and it was in the high 40's raining and windy. We had come from London 4 days before where it had been about 80.)

I'm from Virginia so cold for me is probably 30 degrees. My main interest is which time will be most picturesque and engaging. I'll only have 3 months or so to spend in Scotland so I want to experience the most I can in the area of Fife in that short of an amount of time.

It isn't the cold that's the problem - it's the damp.

Personally I'd go for the autumn term as there's more happening in Edinburgh then and the weather is GENERALLY better than in February / March. Plus at that time of the year there's plenty of other new students

KellyJean, am I reading it right that the Spring term is until May the 23rd?

Yes, the Spring term is until May 23rd.

"Spring term is until May 23rd"

End of discussion, we have had some of our best weather over the past 5 years in late April, May. July/August have been a little grey recently.

It could be wrong but I am sure we made above 20oC last May. Shocking! people died of the heat in their droves!

What I was thinking and the days are getting lovely and long at that time of year.....

I'd go for the spring term. You'll get some cold weather whichever term you choose, but I really like spring time in Scotland.

I'd go for srping if I had the choice.

Both would be fine -- there will be cold temps at the beginning of Spring term and at the end of the Fall term so you can't really avoid that either way.

But --- On May 20 there are 16 hours 36 minutes of daylight in Edinburgh, while on Dec 15 there are 7 hours of daylight. The days will get progressively shorter during the fall term; longer during Spring.

Mid April - 14 hours: Mid Nov 8 hours. In Nov/Dec most of your running would be in the dark (assuming you are in classes during normal hours).

If you want lots of outdoors time and scenery, Spring for sure.

Go for the Spring. After all, even if December/February and November/March are roughly equivalent weather, at least the weather will be improving and getting warmer during your Spring semester and not getting increasingly less welcoming as your time winds down in an Autumn semester. The first month or so may have suck weather, but it will get better, and you can spend your time actually studying either in class, in pub, etc.

I don't know if you can avoid the damp in Edinburgh. It's like avoiding high fuel prices in the UK or EU if you're car-dependent -- not gonna happen.

I would guess flights would be cheaper in the Spring. By mid December everyone is trying to get home (or to sun.)

I agree with Alanrow. Go in the Fall.

I studied abroad in Stirling and it was still damp and very chilly in May. I think you will have a better expereince in the Fall. You can take advantage of the beautiful fall weather - still warmish in Sept. and be with other new students.
Enjoy your time there - I love Scotland!!

I don't think it matters that much one way or another, but having studied in France (Montpellier) during the fall semester, I would personally opt for the springtime. I mean, it can be cold and rainy in Scotland at any time of year, but at least you have the potential for some nice weather and longer days in May. Speaking from experience, it's a bit sad to end your stay during the dark, cold days of winter. Late May would also be a fabulous time to get in a little traveling after your term has ended if you have the time.

annesherrod: True, September is usually nice. But then one will have to deal w/ Nov and Dec and the very short days.

Honestly there is no bad time, but for a runner from the mid-Atlantic states, the short daylight could cause a bit of cabin fever IMO.

Really you can't predict the weather in Scotland (I've lived here for 10 years) but you can predict the day length. If you arrive in Sept and leave in Dec you will arrive 3 months before the shortest day and leave around the time of the shortest day. If you come in Feb and leave in May, you arrive 6 weeks after the shortest day and leave 5 months after.....just much pleasanter and more conducive to being outdoors and training.

We could hammer this subject to death but if you leave in May, you leave on a high. Weather on the up, lighter nights etc.

Leave in December and you may take far different feelings home with you.

We have in the past been to Italy many times in October.

Sometimes one bad bad of weather on the last day leaves you with a different memory of the whole week.

Just to clear something up first, for those that are under the misconception that St Andrews Univerity is in Edinburgh - it isn't. The clue is in the name - it's in the small town of St Andrews, Fife (about 1.5 hours journey north of Edinburgh). The fact that it is a small town (population about 14,000) is significant to your choice. I spent four years studying there and saw the full cycle of weather, exams, student events etc. There's a bit of a trade-off to be made. Autumn/winter can be a bit grim weatherwise as the days are normally short, damp and very windy. The town is also very quiet and rather dreary looking in bad weather. On the plus side, each new intake of students are getting to know each other and there are plenty of events for newcomers (including the notorious Raisin Monday).

The spring weather on the other hand is usually better and brighter (though I do remember a heavy snowfall one Easter). The old stone buildings occupied by the university look very photogenic in the Spring sunshine. IMO, May can often be one of the most attractive months of the year to be in St Andrews, though the enjoyment is tempered for most students due to its coincidence with the main exam period!