About the University of Stirling's International Summer School

Located just outside the city of Stirling on a gorgeous campus with lochs, swans and tremendous natural beauty, the University of Stirling is within an hour of Edinburgh and Glasgow, and their International Summer School (ISS) is open to students from around the world.

This  program presents a unique opportunity to sample student life at the University, whilst gaining credits towards your degree programs at your home institution.

The University of Stirling's International Summer School offers you the opportunity to:

• Live and study in Scotland,
• Improve your writing and research skills.
• Offer you the opportunity to take part in fun excursions to St. Andrews, Edinburgh and Glasgow as part of the program

 

Your experience on in the University of Stirling Summer Program will:

• Integrate you into Scottish society and the Scottish educational system,
• Make you a better student,
• Expand your outlook on the world,
• Build your self-esteem and self-confidence,
• Greatly enhance your career prospects.

                   

Housing & Orientation

Housing:
For the 2020 term, all International Summer School students will be housed in Juniper Court on campus. The residence building is split into 5-10 bedroom flats/suites. All bedrooms are single occupancy and include a private bathroom. Bedding is also provided as the mattresses are 3/4 sized. Students will share kitchen facilities and common spaces with their flatmates. Each kitchen is equipped with a stove, refrigerator/freezer, microwave, toaster, and kettle, and each living space includes a TV. All suites have WiFi and students will have access to laundry facilities. 
 

               

Orientation:
Before departing for Scotland, the International Summer School provides all students with a comprehensive Student Handbook. This usually includes summer dates and module timetables (course schedules), as well as different tips to help you prepare for your time abroad. Upon arrival, students are picked up from the designated airports and brought to their on-campus accommodation. There is a Welcome Reception where students can meet their fellow classmates, followed by a full orientation program. This includes a "Welcome Pack," a tour of campus, an introduction to the library and other campus facilities, and a shopping trip into town.

Cost

Fees for the Scotland: University of Stirling's Summer 2019 Programs:

Undergraduate Summer Program Costs

$4,975.80 (Estimated - 6 Credit Program)
$8,282.16 (Estimated - 9 Credit Program)
$9,373.84 (Estimated - 12 Credit Program)
 

INCLUDES:

• Program Acceptance Fee
• Tuition (6 Credit, 9 Credit or 12 Credit)
• Various campus fees (college fee, technology fee, etc.)**
• SUNY International Health Insurance*
• Pre-departure orientation materials
• On-site orientation program 
• On-campus housing 
• Airport pick up/drop off service
• Course excursions and social activities
• Brockport's Study Abroad Office Services

DOES NOT INCLUDE:

• Transportation to/from Edinburgh or Glasgow
• Textbooks
• Meals 
• Passport
• Local travel
• Miscellaneous expenses
• Tier 4 VISA (only for students participating in an internship)

Financial aid applies towards fees.
The actual amount students spend, will vary upon their style of living, spending habits, entertainment preferences, and travel choices.

*The SUNY International Health Insurance is mandatory and will be included on the student's Brockport invoice. 
**Varies depending on the SUNY campus at which the participant pays tuition.

Courses and Credits

The program is structured in two 4-week blocks. Students may choose to participate in one or both blocks. If students participate for one block, they must take two modules (courses). If students participate for two blocks, they may take 3 or 4 modules (courses). A part-time internship is also available, which requires students to participate in both blocks. A key feature of the Stirling International Summer School is the out-of-class study which is a central part of each course. Classes for academic study are usually held Monday through Wednesday, with excursions planned for Thursdays and Fridays. 

Block One: June 6 - July 4, 2020

• Brief Encounters: An Introduction to Writing Short Stories Celtic Religions
  Realize your creative potential by producing an original and stimulating piece of short fiction. The module includes a live reading at a leading local arts center, where students will have the chance to share the stage with a prominent Scottish writer.
• Education and Learning: A Scottish Perspective 
  Learn about the Scottish Education System and visit a local school to observe Scottish education in action.
• Data, Tools, and Methods: Making Sense of our Society
  An introduction to methods and tools for the understanding, analysis and manipulation of social data. Students will learn about social network analysis, sentiment analysis and topic modelling. 
• Religion and Conflict
  Exploring the relationship between religion and conflict, this module gives a critical perspective on why some religions struggle more than others with the nature of conflict. This module includes a guided visit to Stirling Castle.
• Royals and Rascals: Contemporary Studies in British Journalism 
  Explore fundamental ethical principles and press freedom. Excursions to Holyrood Palace and Scottish Parliament are included.
• Scotland on the Screen 
  Explore images of Scotland in film and television, in the context of Scottish history. Topics such as: Scotland in Hollywood and Film-making in Scotland are covered. Students will have the opportunity to visit a celebrated screen location or meet a Scottish filmmaker.
• Scottish Wars of Independence c.1286-1371 
  Learn about some of the most iconic wars in Scottish history. Students will take a field trip to Bannockburn Battlefield, with an opportunity to recreate the battle with the center’s new, interactive, battle-simulation technology.
• Celtic Religion
  Students can build on their critical thinking skills in relation to the concept of religion, whilst exploring more recent trends. The goal is for students to have a greater understanding and appreciation of Celtic religion and mythology from Ireland, Scotland and Wales at the end of the course.
• Aliens and Earthling: Science Fiction Literature
  This module introduces students to the diverse literary traditions and political, national, and gender identities in Science Fiction texts.

Block Two: July 4 - August 1, 2020

• Crime and Justice in Scotland: The Criminal in Scottish Society 
  An introduction to criminology with a visit to the Surgeon’s Hall in Edinburgh. Students will discuss the criminal case of Burke and Hare, and the inspiration behind Arthur Conan Doyle's Detective Sherlock Holmes.
• International Relations 
  Explore contemporary issues and debates that shape world politics. A day trip to St Andrews is included, where students will tour Scotland's Secret Bunker - an underground compound built to safeguard Scotland during the Cold War.
• Monsters and Vampires: The Impact of British Gothic on Contemporary Popular Culture 
  Find out how gothic figures and texts have influenced contemporary culture. A visit to Edinburgh Dungeon and a gothic themed bar are included.
• Scottish History: The Jacobites 
  Explore the nature of Jacobite support and its impact on wider British history. A trip to Killiecrankie, a key site during the first Jacobite rebellion of 1689, is included.
• Witchcraft in Early Modern Scotland 
  This module examines the phenomenon of witchcraft as part of early-modern culture, as well as its prosecution.
• Scotland the What? Contemporary Scottish Literature and Identity
  This module examines a range of cultural debates concerning language, class, and democracy in Scottish writing. An excursion to the Scottish Parliament building and Scottish Writers Museum in Edinburgh is included.
• Junkies and Jezebels: Scotland and Gender
  This module introduces students to Scottish literature through the lens of gender and sexuality. Examining contemporary Scottish texts and the work of key critics, it offers detailed understanding of how identity politics have impacted Scotland's literature and culture.

Credits:

Internship

Students also have the option of participating in a full-time, unpaid internship during Block 2 of the International Summer School. In order to comply with United Kingdom VISA requirements however, students who participate in an internship will also need to attend Block 1. Students will earn 6 U.S. credits from the two modules in Block 1 and 3 U.S. credits from the internship in Block 2. Specific hours will vary by employer, but students can expect to work around 35 hours per week, Monday-Friday. The University of Stirling also offers several hours of "classroom" time each which to provide students with additional support. Students are assessed by their performance at the internship as well as several small assignments throughout the program. This includes the submission of 3 journal entries, a 5 minute presentation on their experience, and a final report of around 2,000 words. 

In the past, students have been placed at the following locations:

• ​Basketball Scotland
• Creative Stirling
• Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration
• Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders' Museum
• Forth Valley Disability Sport
• The Conservation Volunteers
• Marketing at the University of Stirling Management School

View what previous students thought of their internship experiences, here!

Student Life 

Social Program

Throughout the program, the University of Stirling hosts different social activities to balance out student's academic studies. Past activities have included golf lessons on campus, Scottish dance lessons, nature walks, and karaoke nights. Day trips to Edinburgh, Glasgow, and St Andrews are also arranged and are included in the program cost. Finally, each block ends with a 'Farewell Ceilidh', which is a traditional Scottish country dance.

Campus Facilities

During the International Summer School, students will have access to the University of Stirling's state of the art sport facilities. This includes an on-campus golf course and other athletic fields, an Olympic sized swimming pool, a fitness center and outdoor track, and several tennis and squash courts. The University of Stirling also boasts its own cinema theater in the Macrobert Arts Center and recently unveiled its fours-story library in the Andrew Miller Building. 

Videos and Links

Take a Virtual Tour of campus or the city of Stirling, by clicking here!
 

See what SUNY Oneonta student, Shane Digan, had to say about his time at the International Summer School in this video! 

Dates

Estimated Summer 2020 Dates
Only running for Session 2: July 4, 2020 - August 1, 2020

Important note: Please do not book your travel arrangements until you have received the official Travel Memo from your program advisor.