Where should I study abroad?

Where should I study abroad?

• I am looking at places to study abroad for next year (my 3rd year in college). I am an Architectural Engineering student, and would like to study someplace in Europe. My options are: 1) City University in London - London, England City University has 12,000 students and is located in central London. Its main buildings occupy the leafy and green Northampton Square and the campus is not far from the very up-market and trendy London towns of Islington and Clerkenwell, and close to London's West End. Business studies ranging from accounting to finance and management form one third of City's course offerings. City also offers a broad selection of course options covering sociology including media studies and criminology, psychology, economics, international politics, computer sciences, mathematics and engineering, journalism and music. The university has a range of both international and local contacts with professional institutions, businesses and industry. 2) University College Cork - Cork, Ireland There are many unique academic opportunities and course offerings available at Cork. Traditional Irish dance and music, folklore, and literature are available along with offerings in business, economics, and environmental science. Music is a particular strength at Cork and students with minimal experience are welcome to take courses on traditional Irish music while those with more extensive experience can perform in groups in musical genres as diverse as jazz, African music, and Southeast Asian music. 3) Queen's University of Belfast - Belfast, Northern Ireland The University has earned an international reputation for academic excellence in all branches of engineering, history, physics, music, English, archaeology, and Irish studies. You’ll find outstanding courses in each of these areas, as well as in many other areas of the humanities, sciences, social sciences, law, and education. Along with comprehensive course offerings, you may appreciate that the University houses one of the best music schools in the United Kingdom. If you favor history and politics, you’ll find a selection of unique courses in the politics of divided societies. A typical course load includes three courses per semester that each award five credits, or three courses per fall term that each award four credits. 4) University of Edinburgh - Edinburgh, Scotland The University of Edinburgh, with its ancient and modern buildings, its long and storied history, and its lively student atmosphere, is a very popular choice for study abroad students. Against the backdrop of elegance and striking beauty of the city it calls home, the university hosts a population of over 20,000 students. It offers an extensive range of courses in the arts, humanities, social sciences, science and engineering, languages, divinity studies, education, law, medicine and veterinary medicine, and music. Its primary campus built around George's Square, with its views of Edinburgh Castle and the great craggy rocks of Arthur's seat, is composed of Georgian stone buildings in keeping with the history of Edinburgh's Old Town . The city is a real student town and you can move easily between your classes and life in the city within a matter of minutes 5) Uppsala University - Uppsala, Sweden Even if you do not speak Swedish, you can consider a year or a spring semester at Uppsala. The university teaches a wide range of courses in English. These courses are not taught specifically for foreigners; they are regular Uppsala University courses in which Swedish students are enrolled. You can also take a special Swedish language courses for foreigners to learn the basics of Swedish (although almost all Swedes speak English quite well, so you won't have trouble communicating and getting around). For those of you already able to study in Swedish, an even wider range of courses will be available. Uppsala University has many strengths, but is especially well-known in the sciences. You will take one course at a time at Uppsala, in a manner similar to that employed in the U.S. block system. Courses are of various lengths and types (such as lectures, seminars, group work, laboratory work, and independent study). When you finish a course in one department, you will usually move on to another course in that same department. Each academic department keeps its own calendar for the year. Therefore, it is sometimes difficult to take courses from different departments in the same semester. At the moment, I am leaning towards Sweden, but would like some opinions from people other than my friends and family. Thanks.

• Answer:

  That's all? No more option? No Imperial College (London), no colleges in Germany or CH, no University College (London)? I'd go for City of London or Upsala. LONDON PRO: London itself is a pro (lots of things to do and visit). City of London is not the best college/uni in London, but it is a good university. London is a city where you can see many good examples of old and new architecture. CON: Living expenses in London are very high. You will not learn a foreign language (although I don't think you would in Upsala since most peopl can speak English there). UPPSALA: PRO: Small city (150000) near Stockholm. University of Upsala is over 500 years old and is one of the most prestigious in nothern Europe, but I don't know if it's good for architecture. CONS: Weather. Living in a small city means less to do, but Stockholm is only 70 km away.