If your major is English Literature or History, chances are you’ll already know a good deal about England, but nothing beats a first-hand acquaintance. And England’s appeal goes far beyond any single discipline. Chaucer, Shakespeare, and Virginia Woolf may have been English—you can still visit the places where they lived and worked—but so too were Newton, Darwin, and Isambard Kingdom Brunel. The country abounds in sites of historical interest, from stone circles and iron-age forts to medieval castles and Gothic cathedrals.

But England is not all about its history and heritage; the 21st-century nation remains on the cutting edge of business, science, and the arts. It’s part of the European Union and will host the Olympic Games in 2012. Despite its diversity, however, England is small by American standards. Extensive rail and coach systems make it easy to visit other cities as well as the English countryside—the Lake District, Peak District, and Yorkshire Dales—wherever you’re based. What’s more, affordable flights to Europe make for some great weekend vacations.

Manchester, a casualty of the Industrial Revolution—it was once known as Cottonopolis—is now a case study in urban evolution.  Here you will find old textile mills revamped into eateries, shops, and theaters!  The city also has terrific art galleries, including Manchester Art Gallery, the Whitworth, and the Currier. And as the city that gave the world Joy Division, The Stone Roses, and Oasis, Manchester rivals London in terms of its club and music scene. Don’t leave without catching a soccer match at one of Manchester’s two famous clubs, United or newly wealthy Manchester City. If you’re planning a weekend getaway or day-trip, nearby Liverpool (European Capital of Culture in 2008) is a great option, as is the historic city of Chester, which was founded by the Romans in AD 79.

Program Description

With some 27,000 undergraduates, the University of Manchester ranks among the foremost research universities in England.  Manchester can lay claim to 23 Nobel prizewinners among its current and former students and faculty—the world’s first working computer and its first contraceptive pill were both developed here.  It is particularly strong in Natural Sciences, Life Sciences, Engineering, Technology, and Social Sciences. The compact campus has its own museum, art gallery, and professional theater. And the student union sponsors hundreds of clubs as well as a student center that attracts major bands. 

Information at a Glance

• Academics

• Academic Calendar

• Accommodations and Meals

• Optional Excursions

• Program Costs

• Scholarships

• Travel Brochure

For more information about this program, please visit the University of Manchester website.