Summer in Scotland at the University of Stirling blends the best of Scotland's internationally respected educational heritage with the philosophy and structures of the American liberal arts system. The academic calendar is very similar to that in the US, and you will be able to find the classes (aka modules) you need. Stirling has been ranked among the top British universities for teaching and career placement, so you can be sure that your courses will be challenging and practical.
Study in Scotland for a 4 or 8-week block (each session is 4 weeks, and 8 weeks if you do both) in the subject areas of business, English, film and media studies, history, politics, or religious studies. With the 8-week program, you may also choose an internship module. Subject selection is first come, first served, so the earlier you apply the better.
Each module has both classroom and field trip components, and each is assessed by exam, essay, presentation, fieldwork, or a combination of those. You’ll get a full University of Stirling official transcript at the end of the program.
Each module is worth 3 US credits. During a 4-week block you can take 2 modules/6 credits, and during an 8-week block, 3–4 modules/9–12 credits. This flexibility should accommodate your individual and school requirements.
Experiential Learning
On CIS Summer in Scotland, out-of-class study is an integral part of each course. Depending on the subject studied, field trips may include the Scottish Parliament, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, Eilean Donan Castle, and readings at the Macrobert Arts Centre. You can go on these trips even if you’re not taking the associated classes—they’re included in the program fee.
The Internship Module
Internships are offered in 5 areas: sports, the environment, politics, the charity/not-for- profit sector, and marketing. The number of places on the internship module is very limited, and it’s first come, first served—the earlier you apply, the better.
This 3-credit module is offered only during block 2 of the summer school, and only if you enroll in both block 1 and block 2. It comprises about 140 hours over the 4 weeks, plus about 10 contact hours with the University of Stirling’s Career Development Centre before, during, and at the end of the internship. Please note that the internship module requires a Tier 4 visa.
GPA Required: 3.0. If you find your GPA is lower than the requirement, do not despair! Use the "Contact An Advisor" button on this page or call us to let us know your situation. We'll do all we can to find the right program for you.
How to choose your courses
Now for the fun part! As part of the application process you will be required to complete the CIS Course Selection Section of the CIS Application. The following instructions will guide you through the steps of choosing your courses.
Course load: 2–4 modules, aka classes (6–12 US credits)
Course approval: It is best to get 4–6 classes approved before you go abroad. This way you will have plenty of classes to choose from and some flexibility in setting up your schedule. You should also consider filling your elective requirements.
Class descriptions and catalog:
Click here to view the courses (modules) and course descriptions for blocks 1 and 2.
Helpful information
If you plan to study at Stirling for 1 summer session (4 weeks), you will enroll in 2 courses. If you plan to study for 2 summer sessions (8 weeks), you can enroll in either 3 or 4 courses. If you are interested in the internship module, indicate the course code and title, “ISS9IN Internship for International Summer School,” and your preferred subject area: sports, the environment, politics, the charity/not-for-profit sector, or marketing.