About Manchester
At once ruggedly industrial and rigorously literary, Manchester is a city that is in all ways dynamic. You’ll come across sports fanatics (Go United!), indie rock bands, street preachers, students, and tons of young professionals who are attracted to the city for its growing opportunities (especially in the tech sector) and its relatively affordable housing. The most linguistically diverse city in all of western Europe, one can snatch snippets of up to 200 languages being spoken here in a single day, and roughly half of the city’s population is multilingual. Manchester is a nightlife nirvana, with a plethora of eclectic restaurants, bars, music venues, cinemas, and clubs. Festivals frequently pass through this international hub, and one that isn’t to be missed is Parklife, the largest metropolitan music festival in the UK, held at Heaton Park in June.
Where is Manchester
53.4807593, -2.2426305
What to do in Manchester
- Old Trafford: Catch a football game with Manchester United players at the expansive stadium that also offers a museum and behind-the-scenes tour.
- Record stores: Save space in your suitcase for some vinyl from world-renowned stores in the city that birthed Oasis, The Smiths, and M People.
- Chill Factore: Ski or snowboard the United Kingdom's longest indoor ski slope, climb a rock wall, or take classes to learn how to do all three.
- The Lowry: Satisfy your inner culture vulture, sports fan, and shopaholic at the waterside hotspot filled with theaters, restaurants, and shops.
- Town Hall: Learn about Manchester with a tour of the building's gilded, spiral staircases, artwork, and clock tower that punctuates city's skyline. You may recognize it from the films Sherlock Holmes and Victor Frankenstein.
Media Gallery
The opportunity to study abroad made me a more confident person. I'm no longer afraid to explore or live in new places because I know I can adapt and live like a local. My world has opened up after three valuable months abroad, and this program reaffirmed my decision to major in International Studies. It helped me connect with new cultures and convinced me that I want to pursue an international career path.
As a UCEAP alum, I move forward with a greater devotion to my studies, a more acute understanding of history, knowledge about how to conduct productive research, and the ambition to pursue a career as a historian and researcher.
I can confidently say that this experience was invaluable for helping me realize my career goals in ways I could not have imagined. As someone pursuing a career as a museum professional, I knew that London and Paris would have a lot to offer. What I did not expect was the sheer volume and diversity of museums in either city. Of course I looked forward to the British Museum and the Louvre, but exploring lesser known museums allowed me to consider all the different purposes museums serve and how their presentation, content, and visitor engagement can reflect those purposes. My definition of what museums can or should be has dramatically expanded in a way that I am eager to explore.
Through this internship and the help of my supervisors, I learned how to navigate the work culture in London and develop an entrepreneurial and growth mindset.
