Glasgow Study Abroad
Sep 11th, 2011, 06:54 AM
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Glasgow Study Abroad
Hello! I'm an American college student planning on studying abroad in the spring. One of the locations that I'm considering (and leaning most towards right now!) is the university of glasgow in scotland. (my other current choices are dublin and copenhagen)
Just wondering what type of a city it is to live in, as I would be there for several months? I've done a little bit of research and have found some kind of mixed reviews of glasgow. Some people love it and say that Glaswegians are incredibly friendly and welcoming and the city is an exciting, happening place. Others seem to have a less favorable view of Glasgow as a dirty, industrial city with several not well off/ dangerous or rough areas.
Anyone with some knowledge of the area; would you recommend studying abroad for a semester in Glasgow? I would love a city that is not way too touristy where I can really immerse myself, but that is safe and will be a positive experience. Any sort of advice would be GREATLY appreciated as I have to decide and submit my application soon! Thanks!
Just wondering what type of a city it is to live in, as I would be there for several months? I've done a little bit of research and have found some kind of mixed reviews of glasgow. Some people love it and say that Glaswegians are incredibly friendly and welcoming and the city is an exciting, happening place. Others seem to have a less favorable view of Glasgow as a dirty, industrial city with several not well off/ dangerous or rough areas.
Anyone with some knowledge of the area; would you recommend studying abroad for a semester in Glasgow? I would love a city that is not way too touristy where I can really immerse myself, but that is safe and will be a positive experience. Any sort of advice would be GREATLY appreciated as I have to decide and submit my application soon! Thanks!
Sep 11th, 2011, 08:37 AM
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hi Hans - well, it's only partly a joke. Glasgow is a big city with a crime problem to match, but it is as unlikely that you would get caught up in it as it is that you would in any big US city, ie not at all.
however, the series goes give you a feel for how the city looks - poor bits, rich bits, and in-between bits, you get to see some of the scenery of the area [which is lovely once you get out of the city] and you get to hear the accent, which was my real reason for posting the idea you watch it.
as accents go, real glaswegian is at best difficult, at worst impenetrable. the good news is that lots of people don't speak with real glaswegian accents, but lots do. Edinburgh has a much more accessible accent for some reason, and is "prettier", though the centre of Glasgow is very fine.
As I've never been to either of your other choices I can't really help you compare, but lots of people speak well of them both.
however, the series goes give you a feel for how the city looks - poor bits, rich bits, and in-between bits, you get to see some of the scenery of the area [which is lovely once you get out of the city] and you get to hear the accent, which was my real reason for posting the idea you watch it.
as accents go, real glaswegian is at best difficult, at worst impenetrable. the good news is that lots of people don't speak with real glaswegian accents, but lots do. Edinburgh has a much more accessible accent for some reason, and is "prettier", though the centre of Glasgow is very fine.
As I've never been to either of your other choices I can't really help you compare, but lots of people speak well of them both.
Sep 11th, 2011, 09:32 AM
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I love Glasgow- buzzy city with great galleries- check out the Burrell Collection, the Hunterian and the Rennie Macintosh 'House for an Art Lover'. Good food, lots of bars and cafes too.
http://www.seeglasgow.com/
http://www.seeglasgow.com/
Sep 11th, 2011, 02:30 PM
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I think you'd love it. I'm from the east coast and we have a real east-west rivalry thing going here, but it's great for night life, great for shopping, has immensely friendly people, and, most importantly, a superb University- actually two superb Universities, but we're talking Glasgow, not Strathclyde here.
Some people do have strong accents, but they won't mind being asked to repeat themselves..
Most crime (of the "to worry about" sort is on the peripheral estates. I wouldn't think twice about walking down Sauchiehall Street at 11pm on a Friday night- usual precautions apply.
Have a look at this. Different point of view to Taggart
http://scotland4thesenses.blogspot.com/
Some people do have strong accents, but they won't mind being asked to repeat themselves..
Most crime (of the "to worry about" sort is on the peripheral estates. I wouldn't think twice about walking down Sauchiehall Street at 11pm on a Friday night- usual precautions apply.
Have a look at this. Different point of view to Taggart
http://scotland4thesenses.blogspot.com/
Sep 14th, 2011, 02:11 AM
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I'm several decades removed from student life, but a quick Google produced these:
http://push.co.uk/University-of-Glasgow/
http://www.whatuni.com/degrees/revie...wcategory.html
http://www.thecompleteuniversityguid...ities/glasgow/
http://push.co.uk/University-of-Glasgow/
http://www.whatuni.com/degrees/revie...wcategory.html
http://www.thecompleteuniversityguid...ities/glasgow/
Sep 14th, 2011, 02:32 AM
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I think Glasgow would be a great place for a student – vibrant, trendy, great nightlife, large student population, better shopping than Edinburgh. Not so keen on the weather, but then you don't go to Scotland for the weather...
Much of the perceptions of Glasgow being grim, poor and crime ridden are rather outdated. Like many former industrial cities it's had a bit of a renaissance, with former industrial districts turning into hip loft-apartment land, ala lower east side Manhattan.
Much of the perceptions of Glasgow being grim, poor and crime ridden are rather outdated. Like many former industrial cities it's had a bit of a renaissance, with former industrial districts turning into hip loft-apartment land, ala lower east side Manhattan.
Sep 14th, 2011, 07:43 AM
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If you haven't already looked at this site you might find it useful:
http://www.gla.ac.uk/studentlife/theglasgowexperience/
The link for 'the city of Glasgow' should answer your last question
http://www.gla.ac.uk/studentlife/theglasgowexperience/
The link for 'the city of Glasgow' should answer your last question
Sep 15th, 2011, 02:05 PM
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I'd take Scotland over Ireland any day and twice on Sundays, so Glasgow over Dublin, easy. And I've not been: I've been to Edinburgh and parts east and know full well how great that part of the country is. If you're going to be in Scotland during the spring semester, though, you have additional opportunities such as going to Islay during the spring for a research field trip (there has to be a class on this somewhere) on whisky tasting, and wandering the whole west coast when the puffins and other northern seabirds flock to the islands.
Glasgow is also home to the MOST OVERHYPED SPORTS RIVALRY IN EUROPE: Celtic v. Rangers, which has relevance to Scotland but nowhere else in Europe because the Scottish Premier League is somewhere around the top third of England's League One (maybe the Championship's drop zone). Still, the old Protestant/Catholic hatefest is fun if you stay out of the way (remember C is for Catholic: Celtic is a Catholic icon, Rangers is Protestant).
And Glasgow is also thisclose to Edinburgh - about 70 miles tops. So if you don't like Glasgow (and from all I've heard, as a uni student and considering the city's strenuous and successful efforts to rehabilitate itself from its industrial hellhole reputation from years past) you're exceedingly close to a great city to visit on weekends.
Now, if you've decided on Glasgow (as you should), go to www.brookmyre.co.uk and look for the glossary - it'll help with your Scottish slang. His books are generally good too (I've read about nine of them, I think).
Finally, unlike Copenhagen, Glasgow doesn't routinely serve lutefisk. Say what you want about haggis, at least the Scots don't drench it in lye for days on end. Another point in Glasgow's favor (that and the fact that Denmark is hideously expensive, the UK is cheap by comparison).
Glasgow is also home to the MOST OVERHYPED SPORTS RIVALRY IN EUROPE: Celtic v. Rangers, which has relevance to Scotland but nowhere else in Europe because the Scottish Premier League is somewhere around the top third of England's League One (maybe the Championship's drop zone). Still, the old Protestant/Catholic hatefest is fun if you stay out of the way (remember C is for Catholic: Celtic is a Catholic icon, Rangers is Protestant).
And Glasgow is also thisclose to Edinburgh - about 70 miles tops. So if you don't like Glasgow (and from all I've heard, as a uni student and considering the city's strenuous and successful efforts to rehabilitate itself from its industrial hellhole reputation from years past) you're exceedingly close to a great city to visit on weekends.
Now, if you've decided on Glasgow (as you should), go to www.brookmyre.co.uk and look for the glossary - it'll help with your Scottish slang. His books are generally good too (I've read about nine of them, I think).
Finally, unlike Copenhagen, Glasgow doesn't routinely serve lutefisk. Say what you want about haggis, at least the Scots don't drench it in lye for days on end. Another point in Glasgow's favor (that and the fact that Denmark is hideously expensive, the UK is cheap by comparison).
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