University Summer School in the UK

Summer School 2022

A unique residential programme for high school students aged 16-19 at University of York, a top Russell Group university, offering academics-led teaching, rich activity and social events schedule.

International Summer School 3 – 31 July 2022

Academic and social programme

Residential programme inlcludes 16 hours of specialist academic sessions combined with keynote lectures with leading academics. Students will be introduced to academic skills required for successful studies at UK or US university, such as coursework, rules of citation, research and presentation skills, and will participate in employability skills and CV writing workshops.

As part of the programme students will go on 3 full-day excursions exploring cities, landscapes and theme parks in the North of England and 2 field trips that are tied to academic topics learning objectives. In free time students have an opportunity to explore magical medieval city of York and enjoy a whole range of activities on campus led by current university students.

University campus and accommodation

York is regularly named one of the best places to live and visit in the UK. With a population of 200,000, it’s big enough to feel lively but small enough to feel like home. The programme is organised and delivered on the University of York campus, in one of the colleges. The university campus is purpose built and has all the required infrastructure for studies, sport and leisure.

Students stay in single bedrooms with 24/7 supervision with night supervisors and have access to comfortable, well-equipped common rooms. Three meals per day are provided by the university staff and students have packed lunch on excursion days (Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday). All special dietary requirements have to be notified in advance

Price and what's included in the package

The cost of a 2-week university preparation programme is £3,025 and inlcludes all academic sessions, lectures and workshops, study materials, accommodation, catering, excursions and field trips, all transport whilst on the programme, sightseeing and social on-campus activities. Travel insurance is also included in the package and is provided for each student.

Students can choose an optional pre-arrival language programme which is delivered online and will run from 27 June to 1 July 2022. The price of the pre-arrival programme is £500. Airport transfers are not included in the price of the programme and have to be booked in advance. Both individual and group transfers are available on request from all major UK airports.

Unique experience and how to apply

University of York Summer School is one of only 3 university preparation courses in the UK devised and delivered by university itself. Students will gain study skills that will help them get to university, will learn from experts and explore Yorkshire on fun-packed trips. The programme also covers such aspects as, personal statement, CV writing and interview skills.

The programme is open for all secondary/high school students aged 16-19 and is suitable for both native speakers of English and for students who have been learning English as a foreign language. All applicants are interviewed remotely via Zoom by university staff to understand their motivation and to confirm that the programme is the right match for them.

Option 1: Developing Solutions to Environmental Challenges

This stimulating academic option is offered by the Department of Environment and Geography. In this short course, students will learn about pressing environmental issues and the ways in which we are trying to solve them through research, education, policies and innovations. They will participate in discussions about the best ways to solve environmental problems, and what we need to do now to protect and repair our planet.

Option 2: Exploring the World with Psychology

Explore just a small part of what Psychology can tell us within the worlds of technology, health & wellbeing, neurodiversity and prejudice. In this short course, you will learn how technology has changed the way we interact with one another and ask how Psychology can help us to understand these new interactions. Students will take a look at the Psychology behind why people have negative attitudes towards others and what we can try to do about this.

Option 3: Examining Global Social Problems

Governments around the world face major challenges that need to be addressed with urgency. In this course students will look at key social problems challenging contemporary societies and explore their global nature. They will look at the social, economic and political processes underlying the globalisation of social problems and analyse the ways in which institutions and political leaders understand social problems.

University of York Academic Summer School