Description

Cheltenham is an attractive and peaceful town of 110,000 inhabitants, situated in the county of Gloucestershire, in the picturesque Cotswolds, an area of outstanding natural beauty, which annually attracts six million tourists from all over the world. Cheltenham is centrally located, and not far from much larger cities such as London (two hours), Birmingham (40 minutes), Bristol (40 minutes) and Oxford (40 minutes) with direct rail links to all.

Cheltenham has an atmosphere and culture all of its own, mainly due to the many festivals that are held here every year. Its size and diversity make it the perfect place to enjoy being a student:

- Festivals of Jazz, Literature, Music, Science, Cricket and Folk Music
- Two indoor shopping centres and many shops
- Over 35 restaurants, 25 coffee shops and 85 pubs and clubs in the town centre
- Eleven screen cinema complex
- Seven screen Odeon Cinema in town centre
- Cheltenham Racecourse
- Elegant Regency architecture

The city dates back to Saxon times, but became "established" by the visit of King George III to the Cheltenham Spa in 1788. Modern businesses and the presence of a 7,000-strong student body at the University of Gloucestershire keep Cheltenham youthful and energetic. For these reasons, it is the ideal location for a well-rounded study-abroad experience.

Gloucester
Famous as one of the earliest Roman cities in the UK (the Romans called the city 'Glerum') Gloucester has a population of 109,000 and attracts thousands of visitors each year to its medieval Cathedral and well-preserved 18th century docks. It offers a wide range of arts and cultural opportunities, from the annual Cajun and Blues Festivals to art-house cinema, outdoor theatre and dance performance and classes with live bands performing during the summer.

Gloucester has a great deal to offer with something for all tastes. In many ways it offers the best of both worlds; providing the culture and diversity of a small city, with the peace and quiet of the countryside only minutes away.

- Great shopping
- Rich in history and architecture
- The Guildhall for music, dancing, cinema, theatre and live comedy performances
- Live band performances during the summer at Gloucester Docks
- Brand new leisure centre with swimming pool and gymnastic arena
- Indoor tennis, climbing and ski centre
- Gloucester Rugby Club

Cheltenham Quick Facts
- Though Cheltenhams population is approximately equal to the nearby city of Gloucester, it is not considered a city as it has no cathedral.
- Cheltenham possesses the only naturally alkaline water in Britain - George III and the Duke of Wellington both bathed there. Today, tourists can enjoy the effects of the waters at the town hall.
- Cotswolds means sheep enclosure in rolling hillsides, this is accurate as sheep graze on more than 800 square miles of countryside in the Cotswolds region.
- Cheltenham, Pennsylvania, northwest of Philadelphia, is one of Cheltenham, Englands twin towns. Others include Annecy, France; Gottingen, Germany; Sochi, Russia; and Weihai, China.

Highlights

With so many study abroad options available, it might be difficult to know what makes BCA Cheltenham different from others. Here are some points to consider when choosing the program thats right for you.

Off the Beaten Path
- BCA believes in study center sites that are slightly off the beaten path so our students mingle and meet local students and those from other countries, rather than just other Americans.
- Cheltenham is an attractive and peaceful town of 110,000 inhabitants, situated in the county of Gloucestershire, in the picturesque Cotswolds, an area of outstanding natural beauty, which annually attracts six million tourists from all over the world.

Expert Resident Director
- Full-time, on-site director, Denise Kendry started as Resident Director in Cheltenham in July 2006. She has worked at the University of Gloucestershire since 1988 and teaches Strategic Management at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. During her time in Cheltenham, Denise has been in charge of the MBA and other Masters programs, managing both domestic and international cohorts of students. In addition to her role as Resident Director, Denise works as International Student Coordinator for the Business School. She is interested in cross-cultural learning and equipping students with global competencies.

University of Gloucestershire
- At the University of Gloucestershire, BCA students are immersed in the university alongside English students.
- Like many universities in England, Gloucestershire is separated into several campuses located throughout Cheltenham and the nearby city of Gloucester. There are four main University campuses: three in Cheltenham (Francis Close Hall, The Park and Pittville) and a fourth campus (Oxstalls) in Gloucester.
- With the appropriate prerequisite courses, students are able to take almost any class offered at the university - which means you might take European Policy (an environmental course) or even Hollywood Genres (a film course).

BCA Orientation
- Get acquainted with the city and university with a mix of cultural, social and academic activities including registering for classes and academic advising from the resident director

Excursions and Activities
- The Cheltenham Gold Cup, one of the most famous steeplechase horse races in the British Isles, takes place in the spring. Visitors, including royalty and noted celebrities, travel from all over the world to watch the three-day event.
- During orientation, you will take exciting trips to sites such as Oxford, Warwick and Bath.
- Throughout the semester, the director will plan a series of themed events for small groups of students interested in theater performance, environment and conservation.

Extra Educational Opportunities
- Attend BCAs U.S. - European Student Conference on European - U.S. Relations (spring semester only)
- In addition to selecting classes from the extensive university catalog, BCA students may opt to design a "Community and Personal Development Project" that allows them to explore a topic of interest in depth. This project is completed independently or in a group, and students submit a paper and make a presentation on their findings to the resident BCA director.
- Volunteer or Service learning work is also available to students who are interested.

Degree Level

Bachelors Degree (Undergraduate)

Subject Areas

Cost in US$:

Please visit our website for details

Program Fees Include:

- Tuition
- Housing
- Meals
- Excursions
- On-site resident director assistance
- Volunteer and internship opportunities
- On-site group activities
- Seminars and guest lectures
- University services
- BCA courses taught by host institution's professors and/or resident directors
- Personal advising
- BCA International Student Conference (spring semester only, for students studying in Europe)
- Cultural and university orientation
- Intensive language training
- Academic transcript
- International SOS Membership

Experience Required

no

This Program is open to

American Participants.

Scholarships are Available

There are hundreds of scholarships available. Please be aware of application deadlines as it may be necessary to apply for scholarships well in advance of when you intend to study abroad.

Application Process Involves

• Letters of Reference
• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Transcript

Typically The Application Process Time is

2-3 weeks

BCA Study Abroad's Mission Statement

BCA is one of the nation's oldest independent organizations committed to promoting international understanding and academic excellence through college study abroad programs for U.S. students.

Year Founded

1962