Student life

Our School

Live Language has been welcoming students to the wonderful city of Glasgow since 2002. In that time, we have helped thousands of students from all over the world achieve their language goals. Student success is our passion, and we look forward to making sure you accomplish your goals too. Our teaching team has 100+ years of experience and use every minute of this experience to benefit you. And our friendly support staff are there to help you with anything else you need while you are in Glasgow. We are here to make sure that living away from home isn’t going to be stressful. You can just relax and enjoy your stay in Scotland’s biggest city.

Student

app

Having fun in Glasgow

Social

Programme

Staying in Glasgow

Getting around

Staying

safe

Getting to the school

Living in Glasgow

Care of under 18s

Testimonials from our students

At Live Language, I can improve my English skills thanks to our well-informed and professional teachers. Furthermore, I can meet and have a good relationship with people who come from all over the world.

Yuang, Indonesia

My English is far better now and most of the credit goes to all the Live Language teachers. I am still in touch with all the teachers and staff members. Thank you so much.

Muhammad, Saudi Arabia

I enjoyed very much the three weeks at Live Language, because they helped me to feel more confident with speaking. I am really satisfied with the teachers and all the staff.

Stefano, Italy

Important information

Your student app

Did you know we have a free student app? The app has all the information you need about your course and the FAQ section helps you with life in Glasgow.

On the app,
· You can check your attendance.
· You can see your progress reports from your teacher.
· You can find important documents related to your course.
· You can message your teacher.
· You can check links for travel.
· You can see things to do in Glasgow.
· And so much more!

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Having fun in Glasgow

Glasgow has the nickname ‘The Friendly City’ and is famous for its culture, museums, music, nightlife and shopping, but most of all for its people.

Glasgow is a small city and it is easy to get around by public transport or on foot.

Our school is located near the city centre and the vibrant West End so all of Glasgow’s attractions are close by. What’s on in Glasgow? is a great website which shows all the events happening in Glasgow. You can search by date or type of activity. Glasgow has many festivals so keep an eye on what is going on at the weekends! And don’t forget to check the People Make Glasgow website. It has a ‘Glasgow on a budget’ section which helps you see the sights for as little money as possible.

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Entertainment and Sights

Glasgow is Scotland’s largest city and has a population of over 600,000 people. One great thing about Glasgow is that easy to walk everywhere. After you have finished studying for the day, there is a lot to keep you entertained. It is the UK’s first UNESCO City of Music and was voted European City of Culture. With so many museums and art galleries, including the European Museum of the Year, you will always have something to do. Glasgow has 4 universities and 11 colleges. With the largest shopping area outside of London, hundreds of restaurants, cafes and nightlife, and great sporting and leisure facilities, there are lots of opportunities to practise your English.

Shopping

Do you like shopping? If the answer is yes, then Glasgow is the place for you! Glasgow is one the largest shopping areas outside of London and you can find both large shopping centres and designer stores. You’ll find something for every need and budget. Here’s a few shopping malls that you shouldn’t miss!
Silverburn
Braehead
Buchanan Galleries
St Enoch Centre
Princess Square

Cinemas

Cinemas
If you are a fan of the movies, Glasgow has plenty of options for you – everything from big, multiscreen complexes to small, independent cinemas. And did you know that The Flash, Indiana Jones and The Batman were all filmed in Glasgow? You might even get to see your favourite movie star in action.
Cineworld
Glasgow Film Theatre
Odeon
Grosvenor Theatre

Music

If music is your passion, then Glasgow is the perfect choice. The live music scene is famous so make sure you don’t miss the chance to enjoy it at one of our many venues.
Hydro
King Tut’s
Concert Halls
Scottish Opera

Exploring Scotland

Scotland is one of the most beautiful countries in the world so make sure you see take the opportunity to see it. One of the best things about Glasgow is that you can easily travel to the areas of spectacular beauty in a short time. While you are studying with us, make sure you take advantage of our prime location. Did you know the historic city of Edinburgh is just 50 minutes away? And why not take a tour? Rabbie’s tours offer fantastic trips. We have worked with them for many years and can highly recommend you book a tour with them. One of our favourites is the trip to Culzean Castle, and don’t miss the chance to visit the Highlands.

Our Social Programme

If you are not sure what to see in Glasgow, we can help. Join the Social Programme and go on trips with your classmates. It’s the perfect opportunity to practise your English outside of school. You can book your place on your student app. Most of the trips in Glasgow are free, but some have an additional cost. Here’s an idea of the price of some of the most popular destinations and activities.

Arran Island trip: £36
Loch Ness trip: £55
Edinburgh trip: £20
Stirling Castle: £30
Whisky distillery: £19
Ceilidh (Scottish dance) night: £12
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Staying in Glasgow

If you are planning on studying with us, you may need to find accommodation for when you are in Glasgow. There are many different options out there (see below), depending on what you’re looking for.
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Homestay

If you would prefer to stay with a local family during your stay in Glasgow, we offer half-board homestays where breakfast and dinner is provided for you. Living with a family helps you get to know more about local life in Glasgow, as well as giving you the perfect chance to practise your English.

All host families are inspected to British Council standards, and most of them have been working with us for years. Be prepared to add travelling time to and from our school as the host families don’t live in the city centre. The maximum travel time is 60 minutes. Homestays are very popular so make sure you tell us in advance if you are interested because the places get booked quickly.

Student Residences

For students studying with us between the 19th June and the 1st September we recommend:

Blythswood House, Glasgow

Blythswood House is situated in the heart of Glasgow’s City Centre. Flats are self-catering and consist of a single en-suite bedroom, a communal kitchen and a lounge area. There is free wi-fi and bed linen and towels are included in the price. Additionally, there is a residential laundry area on-site. This residence is a 15-minute walk from Live Language.

For students, the price is £30 per person per night.
In order to book this accommodation, students must get let us know at the the time of booking that they would like this option and we will see if there are spaces available.

For students studying with us between the 1st July and the 8th September we recommend:

Base Living, Glasgow

Base Living is a 10-minute walk from the city centre. Students can request an en-suite room with a communal kitchen and living space or a studio apartment which has a private kitchenette area. There is free wi-fi and bed linen is included in the price. There is a laundry room, bike spaces and a cinema room on-site. As well as this, there is a rooftop terrace and a free gym to use. This residence is a 20-minute walk from Live Language.

For students, the price is £210 for an en-suite room per person per week. The price is £265 for a studio apartment per person per week.
In order to book this accommodation, students must get let us know at the the time of booking that they would like this option and we will see if there are spaces available.

Additionally, students are welcome to book student residences separately and we recommend the following services as a good place to start looking:

https://amberstudent.com/places/search/glasgow-1811024356803
https://www.mystudenthalls.com/student-accommodation/glasgow/
https://www.unitestudents.com/glasgow

Live Language is not associated with these student residencies, and does not inspect them.

Private accommodation

https://www.solastariverside.com/ This residence is available for booking over 4 weeks and you have to be 18 years old or older.
https://www.zoopla.co.uk/to-rent/flats/glasgow/
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/Glasgow-City-Centre.html
https://www.onthemarket.com/to-rent/flats-apartments/glasgow/
https://www.gumtree.com/flats-houses/property-to-rent/uk/glasgow

Live Language is not associated with these directories, and does not inspect them.

Getting around

Getting around Glasgow is easy and you have plenty of choices.

Unfortunately, only student cards from universities, colleges and ISIC are accepted on public transport. Live Language won’t be able to provide you with a student card, but you can apply for an International Student card here. You will need a passport photo and a confirmation of your student status which you can get from reception.

Live Language is a 2-minute walk away from the closest bus stop and a 10-minute walk away from the closest train station.

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Bus

If you travel by bus, buying a weekly or monthly ticket is less expensive. You can download the First Bus app and buy your ticket there.

When you open the app, a map will show you the area near you and the buses arriving at the nearest bus stops. And if you are under 22 years old, you can apply for free bus travel in Scotland. If you have children, you can also get free bus travel for them. All the information you need is in the How to Apply section of this link.

Bikes

Glasgow is committed to having a greener city and there are many cycle paths to encourage people to use bikes. You can buy a reconditioned bike from a great local charity Bike for Good, or you can rent one from Next Bike.

Subway and Train

Glasgow has a underground system called the Clockwork Orange. It’s a cheap and fast way to get round the city. You can buy tickets at the station or online here.
If you are travelling around Scotland, these are travel passes may be of interest. Travel Passes

Staying safe

Our students often speak about how welcome they feel in Glasgow and how friendly people are. Of course, like in every big city, it’s important to be cautious. You can read more about how to stay safe in the British Council’s Safety First booklet.

In the case of emergencies, call 999 to get in touch with the police, ambulance or fire department.

If you need to report lost property, you can complete this form.

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Getting to the school

Glasgow has 3 airports nearby.

Glasgow International Airport:
Taxis are available at the airport 24 hours a day or you can book a transfer through Airports Taxi Transfers. You can also take a bus from the airport. The shuttle bus leaves every 10 minutes and is available 24 hours per day. It only takes 25 minutes to get to the city centre and is £10 (single) or £16 (return).

Edinburgh International Airport:
The cheapest way to get from the airport to Glasgow is by bus. There is a non-stop service from the airport to Glasgow city centre and is around £15 for a single. You can find information on the Citylink website.
Taxis are also available on the ground floor of the multi-storey car park but this is an expensive option.

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Living in Glasgow

We understand how difficult it can be to navigate a new home. You may need help getting access to a GP. See below for all the information you need.

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Healthcare in Glasgow

Hopefully you won’t need any medical help when you are in Glasgow, but here’s the information you need to be prepared.

You can find details of the healthcare services available in Glasgow at NHS services. It includes everything from doctors, dentists to emergency departments. You need to pay for treatment if you are studying for less than 6 months, so we strongly advise you to take out a private health insurance policy before you arrive to cover medical expenses.
If you are studying for longer than 6 months, you will have to pay an immigration health surcharge as part of your visa application. This means you will not have to pay to use NHS healthcare services, but you must remember to take your BRP card to the hospital and doctor’s surgery.

You should register with the closest GP to your postcode and you can find your local surgery in this GP directory. To register, you may need a letter to prove you are a student living in the UK. You can get one from reception or check the Documents section of the app as you may already have it.

Opening a bank account

It is a good idea to check if your bank in your country has a partner bank or branch in the UK first. If not, you will need to open a bank account. You will need:
o    your passport or BRP card.
o    proof of your student status – you can get this from reception.
o    proof of your address in Glasgow – an electricity or gas bill is usually best.

The following banks are popular with our students.
Santander: 84 Argyle Street, Glasgow, G2 8BQ
HSBC: 2 Buchanan Street, Glasgow, G1 3LB
TSB: 52-60 St Vincent Street, Glasgow, G2 5TU

If you are coming to the UK for less than 6 months, you will not be able to open a traditional bank account. Instead you can open an online bank account, for example Monzo or Revolut. You can also transfer money with Western Union or PayPal.

Council tax

If you are a renting a flat during your time in Glasgow, you may get a bill for council tax. You can apply for an exemption, so you don’t have to pay the bill if you are a full-time student. To qualify, you need to study more than 21 hours per week and be on a course that is at least 24 weeks long. You can also apply if you are under 20 years old and are studying for at least 12 hours a week for a minimum of 3 months.

You can apply online for an exemption. Just come to reception and we can give you the form you need to complete your application.

Emergencies

While we hope you will not have any emergencies while you are here in Glasgow, we understand that these cannot always be avoided. Here are the most important contacts:

– If you need an ambulance, please dial 999.
– If you need to contact the police, there are two options:
· In emergencies, please dial 999.
· For non-emergencies, please dial 101.

Care of Under 18s

If you are under 18 years old, we like to make sure that you are well-looked after in the school. This is called safeguarding and it means there are extra checks we perform while you study with us.
First of all, we ask for your parents / guardians to complete a detailed consent form before you arrive. While you are in the school, all staff will know that you are under 18 and be looking out for you.
Students aged 16-17 are not supervised outside class and have to travel independently to and from the school.
If you have any problems, no matter how small, we have staff who are specially trained to deal with the issues you may have. You can download our full Safeguarding Policy here.

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This is what makes us different
Hear from our students.

Yuang, Indonesia

My English is far better now and most of the credit goes to all the Live Language teachers. I am still in touch with all the teachers and staff members. Thank you so much.

Muhammad, Saudi Arabia

I enjoyed very much the three weeks at Live Language, because they helped me to feel more confident with speaking. I am really satisfied with the teachers and all the staff.

Stefano, Italy

Live Language has a good location and people are very kind. It’s a very small school, so we can know each other very well. I have made many friends from many countries.

Yukari, Japan

Our teacher has been absolutely fantastic. I cannot praise her more highly. She has been patient with us but with the correct balance of challenge to keep us working hard!

Alex, Colombia

My lessons were very interesting, we are learning in different ways and thanks to that, I feel more confident now than before.

Our School

Student

app

Having fun in Glasgow

Social

Programme

Staying in Glasgow

Getting around

Staying

safe

Getting to the school

Living in Glasgow

Care of under 18s

Testimonials from our students

Yuang, Indonesia

Muhammad, Saudi Arabia

Stefano, Italy

Important information

Your student app

Having fun in Glasgow

Our Social Programme

Staying in Glasgow

Getting around

Staying safe

Getting to the school

Living in Glasgow

Care of Under 18s

This is what makes us differentHear from our students.

Yuang, Indonesia

Muhammad, Saudi Arabia

Stefano, Italy

Yukari, Japan

Alex, Colombia

Loreto, Spain

This is what makes us different
Hear from our students.