Through the lens of Geography and Urban Studies, you will have the opportunity to broaden your understanding of sustainability by learning various approaches used in Denmark, the Netherlands, France, Luxembourg, and Germany. The itinerary will focus on regional sustainable development, sustainable urban design, urban planning and politics, housing, environmental problems and policies, conservation, and the significance of the historical development of the selected cities and regions. Exposure to urban and rural landscapes will be maximized with direct observation, instruction, and fieldwork. You will see firsthand examples of sustainable communities, sustainable environmental management, land use, and transit in this 5-week immersive experience across Europe.
Key information
Application information
Have questions?
For program information, please contact:
Aaron Williams at awill@ucalgary.ca
For application and registration support, please contact the Group Study Team at group.study@ucalgary.ca
Other useful links:
Denmark: Travel Advice - Lonely Planet Guide
Netherlands: Travel Advice - Lonely Planet Guide
France: Travel Advice - Lonely Planet Guide
Luxembourg: Travel Advice - Lonely Planet Guide
Germany: Travel Advice - Lonely Planet Guide
Info Session
Program details
Questions about these courses should be directed to the program instructor.
Please note: course descriptions are tentative and subject to change.
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Courses offered
Students on this program are required to enroll in four courses.
All students must enroll in:
UBST 494: Sustainable Cities I (3 credits)
UBST 495: Sustainable Cities II (3 credits)
GEOG 436: Field studies in Physical and Environmental Geography (3 credits)
Students choose one of the following courses for their fourth required course:
GEOG 390: International Field Studies (3 credits)
GEOG 596: Directed Independent Study (3 credits)
UBST 596: Directed Independent Study (3 credits)
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Prerequisites
All courses offered: Consent of the department
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Pre-departure
April TBD, Calgary: Mandatory pre-departure orientation with your GSP advisor
May 1-5, 2023, Calgary: On-campus course work and preparation
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In-field
May 7 - Fly to Copenhagen
May 8-11 - Lectures and fieldwork in Copenhagen
May 12-15 - Lectures and fieldwork in Groningen
May 16-20 - Lectures and fieldwork in Amsterdam
May 21-23 - Lectures and fieldwork in Trier
May 24-29 - Lectures and fieldwork in Paris
May 29 - June 2 - Lectures and fieldwork in Freiburg
June 3-4 - Lectures and fieldwork in Colmar
June 5-7 - Lectures and fieldwork in Avignon
June 8-11 - Lectures and fieldwork in Montpellier
June 12 - Depart for Calgary
Check here for the full detailed itinerary.
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Post-field
All assignments are due upon program completion unless alternative arrangements are made with instructors for GEOG 596 or UBST 596.
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Costs
The estimated cost of the 2023 Sustainable Cities: Learning from Europe Group Study Program is $11,055. This includes tuition, airfare, field trips, local transportation, accommodations and meals.
For the full cost breakdown and payment deadlines, please see the program Student Cost Summary.
Important information regarding deposit payments: Deposits are non-refundable. Deposits secure your space in the program and allows payment for logistical arrangements to be made in advance.
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Funding
Subject to change - Please check back later for updated information.
International Study Travel Grant: Students studying abroad may be eligible for the University of Calgary's International Study Travel Grant. For more information on eligibility, application details and deadlines please click here.
Faculty of Arts Group Study Program (GSP) Scholarships (for GSP participants) and Faculty of Arts Student Study Abroad Scholarships (for other international programs)
IDEAS Funding: Students in the Faculty of Science are encouraged to apply for IDEAS funding. For more information, please click here.
Student loans: If you qualify for student loans, your program should qualify. We are able to provide you with a letter confirming your participation in the program for funding purposes. Please email group.study@ucalgary.ca to request a letter.
Please note that eligibility for student loans is determined by your loans provider.
Click here for more info on funding opportunities!
All students will stay at student appropriate, safe and clean accommodations.
This program is open to undergraduate students in good academic standing from all faculties.
Applications will be considered after your online application, unofficial transcript and other supporting documents have been received by Study Abroad.
Announcements on whether you have been selected to the program will not be distributed until after the November 15 deadline.
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Statement of Purpose
Please tell us why you want to study abroad, why you have selected this particular program (academic reasons, personal interest, career prospects, etc.), how this program will meet your academic objectives and/or complement your degree, how you plan to finance your program and why you should be selected.
The Statement of Purpose is submitted within your online application (max 500 words).
Note: Because the online application will time out after one hour, we recommend that you compose your statement of purpose in advance in Word to check for spelling, grammar and word count, and then paste it into the online application.
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Extra documents
The following documents need to be submitted with your application:
1) Unofficial transcripts
Click here for a step-by-step guide to access your unofficial transcript.
2) Program agreement
Click here to download the program agreement.
Submit the above documents through your online application with your statement of purpose.
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Interview with an Instructor
After your complete application has been received and reviewed by the instructors, you will be contacted by the professors to schedule an interview. Please watch your UCalgary email account including the spam folder and expect to be contacted within several business days.
Please ensure that you have read the Group Study Program General FAQs thoroughly before applying.
Getting started
Program-Specific Info Sessions
Info sessions are scheduled for every Group Study Program. Attending an info session is not required to apply, but strongly recommended as it will give you an opportunity to meet the instructor and learn more about the travel experience.
We also recommend watching Global Learning 101 for general information.
Global Learning Advising
If you have questions about this program, you can meet with one of our Global Learning Advisors by emailing group.study@ucalgary.ca or booking an appointment through the link below.
1. Select "Advising"
2. Select “Study Abroad”
3. Select “Book by Appointment Type”
4. Select your program advisor to view available times.
Academic Advising
Before applying to study abroad, you should ask your academic advisor how a Group Study Program might align with your degree.
After you are accepted, you should ask your academic advisor more specific questions about courses/credits. It’s also recommended to follow up with your advisor again once you return to Calgary.
Start your application
Once you have gathered everything you need, you can begin your application!
Please note: Applications will not be considered complete until all required documents are submitted in full.
The advisor for the program is: David Boggs
International travel presents challenges that may not be found when attending classes on campus. There may be a lack of resources, emergency services, hospitals, accessibility issues and/or demands on the physical and the mental self, all of which can challenge individuals when away from their usual support systems and structures. Adequate preparation is essential.
For this reason, it is imperative that you evaluate all aspects of your own physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual condition against the rigors of the particular global learning program you are selecting. If you are unsure of whether or not this program is a good fit for you and/or if you have any circumstances that could impede your enjoyment of the program, please contact us. Our Global Learning Advisors will be happy to assist in finding the best options for you and arrange any supports or accommodations necessary to ensure your success.
If you have or are seeking a certificate from Student Accessibility Services, you should provide this early to your Global Learning Advisor to ensure that the option that you are seeking can support your needs.
Please note: All participants must adhere to COVID-19 and other vaccination-related requirements for the destinations visited on this program. Failure to do so may have consequences such as being denied access to accommodation/housing, program activities, or to the host country itself.