A summer school is a short academic programme, held over the summer months, where you can study overseas in a specific subject area involving taught classes, assessment and cultural visits.
The length of the programmes vary, however, they are normally 1–8 weeks in length.
If you have completed at least one semester of undergraduate study at Westminster, you are likely to be eligible to take part in a summer school. Please check the host institution's requirements to attend, as these will vary between each summer programme.
We have researched many opportunities worldwide that are available for you to take part in. These will be promoted on Blackboard when applications are open (usually in January or February). The list on Blackboard is not exhaustive, but we hope it will provide some inspiration if you are looking for ideas. You are also welcome to source your own summer school opportunities to ensure you find the programme that is right for you and your interests.
Please note: there will be programme costs involved and it is the student’s responsibility to ensure they can cover this. The student must be able to attend any referral/deferral exams during the summer period, and the summer school must not interfere with any completion of these exams. Final year students may also wish to consider the date of their graduation.
As these programmes are offered as an independent programme, credits will not be transferred back to Westminster.
If you are due to undertake a summer school abroad, you may be eligible to apply for funding support via the Global Experience Bursary.
Read more about the Global Experience Bursary
How to apply
Entry requirements and documents
The entry requirements may vary and you will need to read the entry requirements for the specific summer school you plan to attend. Most of them will require your most recent transcript of academic records, personal statement, academic reference and a copy of your valid passport ID page.
We may request a personal statement as part of your application.
Costs
For students who are studying at one of our exchange partner institutions, tuition fees are sometimes waived, however this isn't always the case. Fee waived summer schools will be clearly marked as such on Blackboard. You will need to pay the tuition fees for other summer schools.
For all institutions, there may be administrative or programme fees – we recommend that you check with the institution for the details about the opportunity.
Application deadline
The application deadline will vary depending on the institution. Most of them tend to be in April/May time period but often if you apply early, February/March, you may be eligible to receive an early bird discount towards your tuition fee or programme fee.
For more information about summer schools and how to apply contact the Student Mobility team.
Benefits of attending a Summer School
Experience
Studying abroad over just a few weeks! Most of the courses will be between 1-8 weeks long. You will not be committed to a full semester or year studies but will still be able to experience living and studying in another country and culture.
Networking
Studying abroad is really a great way to meet new people and forge lifelong friendships. It is an excellent opportunity to network with like-minded people, and could open up career opportunities.
Employment benefits
7.8% of undergraduate students study work or volunteer overseas as part of their degree (Universities UK International, 2019). Research has shown that employers worldwide value graduates with global competences and international cultural awareness. Studying abroad can add something extra to your CV that your peers may not have, and will give you an advantage when applying for jobs.
Personal benefits
Studying and living abroad can be a very daunting experience, however many students come back with more self-confidence and with a new approach to learning. Living in a new place by yourself can be overwhelming at times, and it will test your ability to adapt to diverse situations and problem solve. It will also be a chance for you to develop and cope independently in another country and culture, which will help you become a global citizen.
Language
All your teaching will be done in English, unless you are on a language programme. However, if you are studying in a country where the first language is not English, you will be able to learn the local dialect or practice what you already know!
Have fun!
Studying abroad is an exciting time for any student. We encourage you to take full advantage of what it has to offer both academically and socially and most of all, we want you to have a great time!