Residential summer schools

Apply to our virtual or residential programmes to experience what it's like to study a subject you love at university degree level. Our summer schools are FREE and open to year 12 students who attend a state school or college in the United Kingdom and meet our eligibility criteria.

Applications for our 2024 Summer School programme will open in January 2024.

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Overview

Our summer schools are free to attend and usually take place in June or July.

The residential summer schools run over five days and four nights on-campus and our virtual summer schools run over five days. Timetables will consist of lectures, workshops, seminars and tutorials within the subject specialism which will be delivered by our academic staff, who are leading experts in these fields. Participants will also get the chance to speak with our current students and find out all about their experiences of university life.

This is a fantastic opportunity to meet students with similar interests with evening activities planned to relax and unwind from studies and to socialise with new friends, before turning in for the night in our residential halls on campus.

Upcoming events

Please sign up to our mailing list if you are teacher looking to register your students for the next round of summer schools.

We don’t currently have any upcoming events. Check back soon for further announcements.

Who is eligible?

Places on the residential and virtual summer schools will be allocated to year 12 students from currently under-represented groups in higher education who attend a non-selective state school or college in the United Kingdom.

Places will be awarded based on:

  • Meeting eligibility criteria
  • Capacity of the programme.

To apply for the summer schools, students must meet at least one of the criteria below:

  • Students from low participation neighbourhoods (defined as POLAR4 quintiles 1 and 2 by OfS*)
  • Students from an area of high deprivation (index of multiple deprivation (IMD), quintiles 1 and 2*)
  • Students eligible for free school meals in last six years
  • Students who are eligible for a 16-19 bursary (or equivalent)
  • Care experienced young people and those in local authority care
  • Students classified as having a disability
  • Young carers (you care for a friend or relative with a disability, illness, mental health condition or addiction)
  • Students who are forced migrants (e.g. refugees and asylum seekers)
  • Estranged students studying without the support of their families (no, limited or negative contact with either parent)
  • Students who have a parent/carer who has served in the armed forces or reserves
  • Students from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic groups
  • Students from Gypsy, Roma, Traveller, Boater or Showpeople communities
  • Students whose studies have suffered significant disruption due to illness or personal circumstance.

* You can check your eligibility using our postcode checker tool.

If you have any questions or queries, please contact summerschool@surrey.ac.uk.

Testimonials

The summer school for me had been a completely new experience. Throughout the week I have understood [what] it is like to study the subjects I enjoy in the atmosphere of university. I have also gained independence throughout the week by staying in student accommodation which was a new experience for me.

I hope to use these skills in the future to provide me a foundation when I enter further education at university. Overall, a wonderful week full of experiences and I hope it continues to maintain this standard. Residential summer school student 2022
I enjoyed this summer school. The instructions regarding resources such as SurreyLearn and Brightside were easy to follow. My mentor was really friendly which made me feel more open about asking questions and sharing my opinion. I enjoyed the group project and was very proud of my whole group as well as the other groups presenting. Virtual summer school student 2022