Events for students in Europe

Painter at the Court of Milan is the most complete exhibition of da Vinci's rare surviving paintings ever shown. Held at the National Gallery, this features the Renaissance artist's development as a painter in the late-15th century.

The Lerwick Up Helly Aa is a magnificent fire festival, incorporating the burning of a Viking galley and a torchlit parade. Nearly 1000 people dressed as Vikings or in other fancy dress take to the streets for this community-defining event.

The Falls Festival is a live music, arts and camping extravaganza held around New Year's Eve at the Falls Festival Farm in the Otway rainforest. An Australian institution, it entices worldwide visitors to embark on an annual pilgrimage of summertime escapism.

See in the New Year at one of France's most popular ski resorts. Fireworks, lasers and mulled wine are all part of the celebrations in Les Deux Alpes. Don't miss the spectacular torchlit ski procession starring local ski instructors.

Bustling Aberdeen Country Fair takes place in the city centre every first and last Saturday of the month and specialises in the finest local produce.

Catch live American gospel music this Christmas at the annual Caja Madrid Gospel Festival. Talented choirs from Madrid and the USA perform lively concerts at La Casa Encendida and Teatro Fernán Gómez.

The International at Cheltenham Racecourse is a two-day meeting that features one of the season's most valuable hurdle races on Saturday. The combination of top-quality racing, a weekend in the Cotswolds and a terrific atmosphere sum up the Cheltenham experience.

Corsica's Chestnut Festival (Fiera dia Castagna), held each year in Bocognano, draws crowds of up to 30,000. Its official aim is the promotion and development of local agriculture but, in practice, it's all about sampling chestnut biscuits, jam and sweets.

Get your glad rags on and get ready to party as the Colours bandwagon rolls into town and pulls into the Arches on the second Saturday of every month.

Dating from 1786, the Fira de Santa Llucia is a Christmas fair held every December outside Barcelona Cathedral. Around 300 market stalls sell seasonal goodies, while nativity scenes, musical parades and exhibitions add to the fun.

The Great Wines Fair (Le Grand Tasting) at the Carrousel du Louvre introduces some 20,000 visitors to the world's finest wines with a lively programme of tastings and conferences. Over 100 châteaux are represented, both established names and worthy newcomers.

Welcome the New Year in with this traditional Hogmanay Gala at Glasgow's Royal Concert Hall, with the Orchestra of Scottish Opera, baritone Richard Morrison and soprano Joanne Boag. With popular classics and lots of Scottish melodies it's an anuual "riotous celebration."

Each year on Immaculate Conception Day the Andalusian town of Luque announces the coming of Christmas in its own special way. Locals parade through the streets playing earthenware drums called zambombas and singing Christmas carols.

Every month, Noyon's principal streets and the Place de l'Hotel de Ville are taken over by the Marché de Franc, a large provincial market which sells fruit, vegetables, seasonal flowers, wine, champagne and clothes.

Oddsocks returns to Alnwick Playhouse with a rollicking version of Hamlet performed in pantomime style. Get ready for lots of laughter, music by Jamiroquai guitarist, Rob Harris, and even a special effects performance by the one-and-only Paul Daniels.

Temple Bar's Chocolate Festival lures chocoholics in for samplings, tastings and total immersion into chocolate discovery.

On the first Wednesday of every month, Plymouth's Barbican Theatre B Bar hosts The Comedy Club, a stand-up night featuring up-and-coming and renowned comedians from the UK and overseas.

The world's best female tennis players descend on the Sportpaleis just outside Antwerp for the Thomas Cook Diamond Games. Watch the likes of Kim Clijsters, Patty Schnyder and Venus Williams give their all.

The Barcelona International Jazz Festival annually presents an eclectic line-up of performers at at venues across the city, including the Palau de la Musica Catalana and L'Auditori. Big band, bebop, gospel and Latin-jazz all feature on the programme.

Conducted by Richard Cock, the Symphony Choir of Johannesburg and the full Johannesburg Festival Orchestra kick start the festive season with the Christmas Concert for the whole family. The two-hour show is held at Johannesburg Linder Auditorium.