Study Overseas

The State of Michigan is located in Midwest America and is bordered by the States of Indiana and Ohio. Often referred to as the ‘Mitten’ State owing to it’s unusual shape, Michigan has two peninsula’s and is surrounded by four of America’s five Great Lakes: Erie, Huron, Michigan and Superior. Michigan benefits from a balance of large metropolitan areas and beautiful natural landscape. Boasting an exceptional education system and nationally acclaimed universities and colleges, Michigan is a premier study destination.

Michigan has long been known as the automobile capital of the world with car giants General Motors, Ford and Daimler-Chrysler making it their home. However, it’s not just the automotive industry that is thriving. Michigan is strong in life sciences, information technology and advanced manufacturing. Higher education institutions such as the University of Michigan, Wayne state University and Michigan State University offer a world-class education, contributing to Michigan’s highly educated work force and reputation for leading research.

Getting in and out of Michigan is no problem, Detroit Metropolitan Airport is a busy international airport located in Romulus, just outside of Detroit. Known as the ‘Gateway to the World,’ this airport has been extensively modernised and expanded in recent years. However, if you want to explore your surroundings then travel 236 miles from Detroit in an easterly direction and you’ll find yourself in Toronto in neighbouring Canada, or, travel the same distance westwards from Detroit and end up in Chicago, Illinois.

The State’s many beaches and surrounding Great Lakes mean that the people of Michigan enjoy a variety of water sports including boating, fishing, swimming, water skiing and diving. In the summer you can play baseball or go running or play golf on one of Michigan’s many pubic golf courses, more than any other State. Winter offers snow skiing, snowboarding, snow mobile and cross-country ski trails. Whatever the season, Michigan can always provide a multitude of sporting and recreational activities.

Michigan is a State that is particularly strong in sport. University and College teams in Michigan do very well nationally. The Michigan Wolverines of the University of Michigan are comprised of 24 varsity sports teams that compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s Division as do the Michigan State Spartans, the athletic teams that represent Michigan State University. Detroit is home to most of Michigan’s professional sports teams. The most internationally recognised are the Detroit Tigers of the MLB (Major League Baseball), Detroit Pistons of the NBA (National Basketball Association) and the Detroit Lions of the NFL (National Football League).

Great shopping, dining and nightlife can be experienced in Detroit, Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, Traverse City and many more of Michigan’s cosmopolitan cities. Detroit is Michigan’s largest city and 10th most populous in the US with a population of approximately 4,468,966 including the metropolitan area. Besides being known for its thriving motor industry, Detroit is famous for it’s contribution to American music. The Motown sound was founded in Detroit in the 50s paving the way for music legends, Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye and Aretha Franklin. Detroit’s theatre district has the second largest seating capacity in the world and is home to Fox Theatre, the second largest theatre venue in the US. Nearby is the beautiful Detroit Opera House, Gem theatre, Century Club, State Theatre and Second City Comedy Theatre.

The Cultural Centre near Wayne State University features a collection of Detroit’s finest museums including the Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit Historical Museum and Detroit Science Centre. When it comes to nightlife, Detroit has much to offer. Greektown is the city’s restaurant and entertainment district where you will find a variety of international restaurants, bars, pubs and clubs.

About an hour west of Detroit is Ann Arbor, a leafy city with a diverse population and home to the main campus of the University of Michigan. The University is an integral part of the city and boasts an international reputation for education and research. There are a great variety of entertainment venues and restaurants, city parks, botanical gardens, observatories, museums, sports and leisure and much more.

Michigan’s capitol, Lansing, is the political centre of the State and is located in south-central Michigan in the Lower Peninsula. Home to the restored State Capitol Building and Michigan State University, Lansing is an important centre for educational, cultural and governmental institutions in Michigan. The University has the largest land campus in the US featuring three medical schools, two law schools and the Kresge Museum.

FACTFILE

Population: 10,095,643 (2006 estimate)
Nickname: Wolverine State, Great Lakes State, Mitten State,
Climate: Humid continental.
Official Motto: ‘If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you.’
State Song: ‘My Michigan’
State Bird: American Robin
State Animal: Wolverine
State Flower: Apple Blossom

Did you know…

• Detroit is the only city in the US from which you must travel south to border into Canada.
• Michigan has over one million registered boats, more than any other State.
• The Detroit-Windsor international border is the busiest between the US and Canada.

Famous people who have come from Michigan:

William R Hewlett (co-founder of Hewlett-Packard)
Charles Lindbergh (famous pilot)
Selma Blair (Hollywood actress)
Henry Ford (founder of the Ford Motor Company)
Gerald Ford (former president of the United States)
Madonna (pop singer)
Marshall Mathers (Eminem – rap artist)