As a school that prides itself on how many students study abroad, Colgate University offers its own study groups that travel all around the globe. Regardless of their major, almost every student can find a program that aligns with their interests. For around 15 students, Colgate’s study group in Manchester, England, checks all the boxes. Accepting students of all disciplines, it provides the opportunity for exploration into other subjects that may not be highlighted through Colgate courses, allowing for new experiences both in the classroom and throughout Europe.
Manchester, home to almost 3 million residents, allows students to get a taste of European city living while still maintaining the smaller-city feel. Though it’s not as small as our dearly beloved Hamilton, it is a much more manageable city for first-time European residents to adjust to compared to more major cities. Junior Lauren Walker felt that Manchester was the perfect temporary upgrade from Colgate’s small-town setting.
“I wanted to be in a city that was bigger than Hamilton, but didn’t feel super overwhelming like a city as big as NYC,” Walker said. “I know Manchester doesn’t usually come first to mind when thinking of the United Kingdom, and I liked that it was a little less touristy than a bigger city like London.”
With the flexibility and opportunity that Manchester provides, the program is open to students across all disciplines and supports a plethora of academic interests. Unlike some Colgate study groups, which require two out of your four abroad classes to be taken with a Colgate, this program only requires one. Because of this, students are able to take three courses with students and professors from the University of Manchester, broadening their understanding of the world and chosen course topics not only through content, but through their peers and leaders that they otherwise would not have the opportunity to work with.
Junior Valentina Mejia reflected on this opportunity which has allowed her to learn a great deal under the Director of LGBTQ+ Studies and Professor Danny Barreto while still working on her major through Manchester’s classes.
“It’s really useful if I want to finish my major in time and I think it allows me to explore a foreign education much more,” Mejia said. “Also I’ve heard nothing but good things about Barreto and I really wanted to explore queer life abroad as both a queer person and someone who works with queer people on campus.”
With the freedom to choose their third Manchester course, these students are able to easily continue fulfilling their major requirements while getting exposure to new ideas and ways of learning, in not only in the classroom but also their residences. All study group students are placed in their own single bedroom, along with one other Colgate student and eight Manchester students. It is a perfect balance between comfort and forming new relationships, and is something junior Molly Crist appreciated within the program on top of its location and flexibility.
“I would recommend someone who wants to be a part of a Colgate study group and be able to travel around Europe while being in a city that’s fun but not too overwhelming,” Crist said. “I love Manchester because the people are super nice and I feel like I have been able to explore a lot and get to know the people really well.”
With such a strong balance between academics and immersion, the Colgate study group in Manchester is an incredible opportunity. Open for all juniors to apply, it emphasizes a smooth transition into European life, allows for easy travel both with the group and independently and is open to all interested students. As Mejia explained, it is a unique opportunity to travel, learn and grow.
“I truly never thought that I would be able to travel the world like this and experience the things I have,” Mejia said. “Being the first in my family to not only go to a private college let alone go abroad, Europe has been a personal honor, and any student who has had a similar experience to mine should take the opportunity to continue on our trajectories and show that we can amount to all these great things.”
Regardless of background, discipline or comfort zone, it is worth giving the Manchester study abroad program a look.
