Summer schools

Summer Schools

Breaking personal barriers, breaking academic barriers and building a fairer community.

What will you remember about the last few turbulent years? Whilst an infamous virus breached the species barrier and wildfires raged across US state borders, humans too were breaking barriers. From demanding an end to racially motivated violence through the Black Lives Matter movement to ensuring that exam grades were given on the basis of potential, not postcode, we have shone the spotlight on inequality. As a result, extraordinary people have overcome obstacles we never thought possible.

Please note our Summer Schools will not be running in 2023 but will be back in 2024.

Our residential summer schools explore the theme of ‘Breaking Barriers’ and encourage participants to join us in our pledge to build a fairer world.  You will have the chance to experience what it is like to be at university, living in student accommodation for four days and experiencing different aspects of student life, from cooking for yourself to participating in sports and social activities and making new friends.  Alongside this, you will explore how learning happens at university and will build your own skills through our Breaking Barriers activities.

The summer school is divided into three sections:

Breaking personal barriers 

Where is your ‘glass ceiling’? What barriers might you face and how can you overcome them? How does knowing yourself and understanding others help you to succeed?

Breaking academic barriers 

Taster sessions from our research themes such as  ‘Future Human’ and ‘Migration and Movement’, will break down traditional boundaries between subject areas and highlight some of the differences between learning at school and at university. Does breaking down academic barriers help us to overcome the global challenges we face?

Building a fairer community  

Using your knowledge of different subjects you will creatively explore solutions to the inequalities which create barriers in our communities. Student ambassadors from a range of subject areas will support you to develop your vision for the future, in a form of your choice. This may be a podcast, a video clip, a poster, an essay… The options are endless! At the end of the summer school we will showcase these visions of the future in our digital time capsule, to enable future generations to understand and measure the progress made towards reducing inequalities in our communities.


Breaking Barriers

Let's make this a year to remember for all the right reasons

Watch the video

Why apply?

The University of Kent has lots of experience running summer schools to introduce students to university life, to help them understand their options and make the choices about the next steps in their educational journey. We also want to give participants the chance to build skills to help them succeed.

The Summer Schools provide the space and the support for participants to think deeply and to try new things, the chance to meet new people, to ask questions, and to express their opinions.

The Summer schools are run on the University of Kent's Canterbury Campus.  Students live in University accommodation for the duration of the residential.

What is the cost? 

The summer school is free of charge, including  accommodation, meals and all academic sessions including activities and prizes!  Support with the cost of travelling to the campus may also be available.

Who can apply?

The Summer Schools are aimed at students in either year 10 or year 12 who:

  • Are keen to work across different subject areas 
  • Are happy to work in a small team
  • Would like to develop the knowledge, skills and experience to stand out in their job, sixth form, college and / or university applications 

Priority is given to students at the University’s partner and KMPF schools and colleges.

The next summer school will be held in 2024.