ABSTRACT
The ‘globalhood’ is a conceptual label that has been used to describe parts of cities that are very popular with global tourists, often characterised by high levels of short-let/holiday rentals. In these neighbourhoods locals can feel overwhelmed by visitors. This article extends the concept of the globalhood to those areas of cities that play host to populations of thousands of students from around the world who are attracted to study at universities outside of their home country. Using the St Vincent’s Quarter, Sheffield, as a case study of the globalhood, this article explores the factors that led to its creation over the first two decades of the 20th century. In identifying the student globalhood, it posits that this type of neighbourhood should be considered when formulating an understanding of the urban morphology of cities in the UK and around the world where globally attractive higher education institutions attract large numbers of internationally diverse students.
Notes
1 The discrepancy in the numbers of Chinese students from HESA data is due to the fact that I have included students from Hong Kong as Chinese but Onward have not.
2 Personal communication from a member of the GA Governing Body in the 1990s. When the GA moved in 1997 the area was rather disreputable.
3 Personal communication with the owner of a local workshop.
4 During interviews with PBSA owners and financiers in Sheffield, I transcribed the phrase ‘A wall of global capital’ on four occasions.
5 This figure is based on the average international spend of tuition fees, accommodation and living expenses being £30,000 per year per student.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Carl Lee
Carl Lee is studying for a PhD in the Department of Urban Studies and Planning at the University of Sheffield, and is an Associate Lecturer in Social Science at the University of Sheffield International College, Sheffield, UK (email: [email protected]).