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Summer Abroad Europe - On Site

Design in Europe

Accommodations  

  • In Reykjavik, you will stay in shared rooms at a hostel with breakfast included.
  • In Edinburgh, you will stay in single rooms in a student residence hallwith fully equipped kitchens.
  • In York, you will stay in single rooms in a student residence suite close to amenities in town.
  • In London, you will stay in single rooms in a student residence hall, where English breakfast is included.

UC Davis reserves the right to change the accommodation location. Should this be necessary, we will arrange alternative lodging. Please note that elevators, air conditioners and other modern conveniences may not be available in all locations.

Meals

During the program, there are a number of group lunches and dinners included during field trips (see syllabus). For the most part, you are on your own for lunch and dinner (breakfast included in Reykjavik and London). You may decide to purchase groceries at the local market on your own or visit nearby restaurants to enjoy regional dishes.

In addition to a welcome meal at the beginning of the program in Reykjavik to help you get to know your instructor and classmates, there is a farewell dinner at the end of the program in London, which will give you an opportunity to say goodbye before continuing your travels or returning home.

Excursions & Activities

The first part of the program will be based in the Icelandic capital city of Reykjavik. We will work closely with the Iceland University of the Arts and visit a design studio during our stay. We will also explore the city and visit Iceland’s Museum of Design and Applied Arts.

The program will then journey to the city of Edinburgh by plane. In the stunning Scottish capital of Edinburgh, we will enjoy the famed Edinburgh castle, Georgian architecture and welcoming spirit.

The program then travels north to the English city of York. We will work closely with local cultural organizations. York is easy to navigate and has some of the finest museums in Britain including the National Railway Museum, and superb examples of Roman, Norman, Medieval and Georgian architecture and design. From York we will take a day trip to the supremely landscaped Yorkshire Sculpture Park, and the picturesque coastal town of Whitby. There will also be opportunities to visit other local design classics such as Castle Howard, or the vibrant cities of Liverpool and Manchester on the weekends. 

Our final stop will be London, capital of British style. Here we will experience some of the best contemporary British design and architecture, and visit behind-the-scenes of world class museums and professional design studios, including the V&A and the Design Museum, and study in the prestigious Central St. Martins School of Art and Design. Study Abroad will arrange travel from Glasgow to York and York to London. The cost of this travel is included in the program fee. You are responsible for arranging your flights to Iceland and the UK. This is not included in the program fee.

Get to Know Your Destination

Reykjavik

"The world’s most northerly capital combines colourful buildings, quirky, creative people, eye-popping design, wild nightlife and a capricious soul. Iceland's capital city is the launching point for nature walks and mountain hikes, but it also offers ample opportunities to take it slow, walk around downtown, and explore art and culture. It's a beautiful city, surrounded by water on many sides, with an historic centre and loads to do.” (Lonely Planet - Reykjavik)

Edinburgh

“Edinburgh is a city that begs to be explored, filled with quirky nooks and beautiful views.” (Lonely Planet - Edinburgh)

York

"No other city in northern England says 'medieval' quite like York, a city of extraordinary cultural and historical wealth that has lost little of its pre-industrial lustre. A magnificent circuit of 13th-century walls encloses a medieval spider's web of narrow streets. At its heart lies the immense, awe-inspiring York Minster, one of the most beautiful Gothic cathedrals in the world. York's long history and rich heritage is woven into virtually every brick and beam, and the modern, tourist-oriented city – with its myriad museums, restaurants, cafes and traditional pubs – is a carefully maintained heir to that heritage." (Lonely Planet - York)

London

"Everyone comes to London with a preconception shaped by a multitude of books, movies, TV shows and songs. Whatever yours is, prepare to have it exploded by this endlessly fascinating, amorphous city. You could spend a lifetime exploring it and find that the slippery thing’s gone and changed on you. One thing is constant: that great serpent of a river enfolding the city in its sinuous loops, linking London both to the green heart of England and the world. From Roman times the world has come to London, put down roots and whinged about the weather. There is no place on earth that is more multicultural; any given street yields a rich harvest of languages, and those narrow streets are also steeped in fascinating history, magnificent art, imposing architecture and popular culture. When you add an endless reserve of cool to this mix, it’s hard not to conclude that London is one of the world’s great cities, if not the greatest." (Lonely Planet - London)

Iceland
United Kingdom

Study Abroad Advisory of Student Risk

Participation in this UC Davis Study Abroad program requires travel to and extended living in a foreign location(s) abroad. UC Davis Study Abroad endeavors to reduce and mitigate risk wherever possible. However, the environments and risks associated with living in these locations are substantially different than those found during a regular course of study at UC Davis. All participants must download and review the following information prior to departure. Any questions should be directed to the Program Coordinator.

Student Experience

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