Author: Joana Correia

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Ready, set, apply!

Whether you are still considering applying to our summer school or have started your application with us, we would like to share some tips with you to help you through the process. 

Our admissions team carefully considers each application with the same scrutiny and provides equal opportunities to every applicant. We aim to ensure that all our applicants are wholly committed to making the most of their learning experience at King’s, and so we ask of you to meet our entry requirements. Most participants in our Summer School are non-English speakers from all walks of life. To ensure you feel comfortable and can follow our classes with ease, we will ask you to meet a certain level of English.   

The application process can be long, so please read the application guidelines and have your documents ready to make the process easy. Have a look at the application guidelines here. We want to make sure that you meet our requirements while we have all the information needed to guarantee you support. 

Each programme offers two options, a residential pack (that includes King’s accommodation) and a tuition fee only, so when you apply you should choose the right option for you. If you apply to tuition only programme and now you would like to stay in our accommodation, please get in touch with us through King’s Apply account and we will transfer you onto the residential programme.  

Last but not least, the deadline for applying is on 31st May, but early applications are recommended. 

If you have any questions, our lovely admissions team can be reached on summer@kcl.ac.uk or if you have already started your application, you can message us through King’s Apply.  

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Calling all computer science students

Some exciting news to begin 2019 is the launch of the new Software Performance Engineering (SPE) two week short-course. Based on real-world industrial case studies, students will study three aspects of SPE: 

  • The theoretical foundations of software performance: how to model, test, analyse, and predict it; 
  • Tool support helping model and analyse the performance of new software products; and 
  • Methodological considerations, especially how to integrate a systematic SPE discipline into modern-day agile development practices.

We spoke with SPE Senior Lecturer, Dr. Steffen Zschaler, from the Department of Informatics at King’s College London who expressed his excitement about the course. 

 ‘Software is ever more important to every aspect of our lives. Issues with software performance can have huge impacts on people’s lives—for example, people have had their wedding plans thrown into disarray because failure of card-payment software system meant they couldn’t pay providers. Still, we continue to see reports of new high-level failures at a regular rate. Join us to learn how you can apply a systematic performance engineering process to avoid many of these problems in your own software development.’ 

Applicants should be current Computer Science students who have completed at least one year of study. The programme will run for two weeks, from 1-12 July and it is an opportunity for students interested in this field to further develop their knowledge.  

Do you want to know more? Please visit our website for more information about the programme.

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A taste of University life

Applying for university can be a daunting task. It helps to be well informed about your options by speaking with your career adviser, attending university open days and chatting with current university students about their experience.

If you want to take it a step further and discover what the life of a university student in London is really like, our Pre-University Summer School is for you. Designed for high school students in their final 2 years of study, it lets you study a subject at Undergraduate level for two weeks. So, if you’re unsure about what you want to study after high school, why not ‘try before you buy?’ It is also an opportunity to meet students from around the world and add studying at a globally-renowned and research-led university to your CV or resume.

Our Pre-University Programme Manager, Mina Chakmagi, agrees that the benefits of the programme go beyond the classroom.  

‘I love seeing just how much students gain from the Pre-University Summer School. It’s not only a chance to get a taster of their chosen subject at undergraduate level – a lot of the feedback I’ve received from students is about increased levels of confidence, independence, improved team-working and presentation skills and cultural awareness. These are all important skills to be able to draw on when making the transition from high school to further study and future careers. I would encourage anyone considering such a programme to apply and see for themselves what an enriching and fun experience it is.’

But don’t just take our word for it, here’s what Nina from the USA who studied The Human Body with us in summer 2018 had to say;

“This was one of the most memorable experiences of my life; the two weeks were filled with unforgettable explorations of London, friendships that will undoubtedly last a life time, and opportunities for learning both in and out of the classroom. Our professor was very knowledgeable and encouraged a classroom environment in which any questions and discussions were welcome. I entered the program with an interest in medicine, and after taking the class I could not be more certain that pursuing a medical career is the right path for me. London feels like a second home now, and I remain in touch with the brilliant people I met there. As I begin the application process to university, I realise how much King’s prepared me for future academic endeavours, and I am so glad that I participated in the programme.”

Want to know more about our summer school? Visit our website for detailed information. If you have any questions, please get in touch with us at summer@kcl.ac.uk.

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What can I study at Undergraduate Summer School?

The number one question we get asked is ‘What can I study at Undergraduate Summer School?’ so we thought we would give you the answer here!

You can choose from 15 modules, in each session, taught by our faculties and covering various areas such as:

Please visit our website to see the full list of modules available.

King’s faculty and staff ensure you experience our globally-renowned, research-led teaching through interactive seminars, lectures, group discussions, off-campus excursions and guest speakers across all modules.

So, if you love languages and have always been fascinated by the origins of some languages maybe Ancient Greek or Latin are the modules for you. Or, if your passion is in the arts and you would like to explore all the culture that surrounds London perhaps Museum of London: Curating the City is for you. Maybe you are thinking more globally, and this is just one of the many international experiences that you want to have. In that case, International Business, International Relations or International Commercial Law might be the modules that will open your horizons worldwide.

Finally, this is a great opportunity to get a taste of what University life in the heart of London is really like. If you are considering further studies in the UK or at King’s, why not try before you buy?

If you have any more questions you can always email us at summer@kcl.ac.uk

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Chase away the winter blues

Are you affected by the ‘winter blues’? We hear you! So, let’s focus on summer once more.

We are very excited to announce that applications for 2019 King’s Summer School are now open.

If you have ever thought about studying at a world leading University in the heart of London, now is your chance.

This year London was ranked as the best city in the world for university students, according to QS higher education. It is, arguably, one of the most exciting cities in the world, with rich culture and history and endless number of restaurants, museums, exhibitions, shops and experiences. London is renowned for being a diverse and global city, welcoming people from all corners of the world, and it’s waiting for you!

If you are in the final two years of high school, you can join our Pre-University Summer School, an intensive two-week programme that will give you a taster of university in your area of interest. We will run Session One from 1 July to 12 July 2019 and Session Two from 22 July to 2 August 2019.

If you are studying at a degree-level or have finished your degree, you can join our Undergraduate Summer School for three weeks. We will run Session One from 1 July to 19 July 2019 and Session Two from 22 July to 9 August 2019.

Both programmes offer a wide range of subject areas to choose from and you are welcome to attend one or both sessions. Residential and non-residential options are available.

Please visit our website for full information about what you can study, entry requirements, fees, accommodation and the application process.

We hope that you will come and join one of the largest summer schools in the UK. Applications open until 31st May 2019.

See you soon.

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Ciao Milano

Higher Education institutions across the world encourage their students to expand their knowledge and gain experience outside the classroom. Throughout the year they organise events and often invite external guests to facilitate that interaction.

Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, one of our partner universities in Italy, has recently hosted an International Day for their students and invited institutions from different parts of the world to attend. The event is held to encourage their students to have international experiences such as summer schools, internships, language courses and volunteering.

It was our great pleasure travelling to Milan to participate at this fantastic event and meet so many people interested in our Summer School.

The event wouldn’t be the same without our lovely student ambassadors and alumni who did an amazing job helping us with the enquires of many students. Who better than our alumni to talk about Summer at Kings? Plus, it was great to see them again, now in their country and see their passion and enthusiasm about their Summer at King’s.

Does your School, College or University have an international day coming up? If yes, we truly encourage you to go, explore and make the most of all the opportunities available. International events are a great way to discover new opportunities. 

Go and explore the world, make unforgettable memories and get out of your comfort zone.

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(Re)start

Life is more exciting out of your comfort zone, when you challenge yourself, when you dream big and do your best to achieve your goals. Our Summer School is designed to do exactly that – educate, challenge and inspire you.

What are your intentions for this new academic year? What are you committed to do? What is your plan to keep your motivation through the year? Take time to reflect and plan.

That’s exactly what we are doing here at King’s. Watch this space for some exciting updates and the launch of our Summer School 2019.

In the meantime, good luck with your studies and start dreaming about London in the summertime!

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Farewell to a fantastic summer!

The summer holidays have come to an end and a new academic year has started.

Hundreds of students, from over 90 nations joined us this summer and had an unforgettable life experience.

After a sunny and warm summer, it is now time to focus on studies again.

But it is not a new start only for students, our team is already planning 2019 summer. At King’s our team works with research colleagues all year to design summer programmes that give access to pioneering research that is destined to have a truly global impact on communities, wherever they are located in the world.

To the students who attended our Summer School, we hope your experience keeps you inspired throughout the year. And to all university students – we wish you a fantastic academic year.

Until next summer…

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My summer at King’s: Nia Sam

When choosing what to do during my last summer of high school, I knew that I wanted to do something that was meaningful and not just spend it as I had done previously – unwinding on vacation for eight weeks. At first, I wasn’t too sure how I exactly wanted to spend it, but I did know that I wanted to spend my summer doing something that would enhance my abilities academically before entering into my last year of my IB.

I moved from London to Singapore five years ago and I saw the summer programme as an opportunity to revisit my home country alone, and have a chance to experience what it was like to live in London again five years later, but this time as a student.

What made King’s College London’s Summer School different was that it was all about giving students the experience of an undergraduate course of their choice, but also the experience as a university student living in London. I chose the Business Management course as it the subject I want to study in university, so I felt like this was an opportunity for me to ensure that it was everything I had expected.

When I first arrived at my accommodation, I was greeted by so many other eager students that I instantly began to make friends (many of whom I am still close with today) and began to feel a lot more comfortable than I initially expected.

The university offers you two weeks filled with undergraduate-level content, with varying teaching styles. We had lectures in the morning followed by seminar sessions in the afternoon, and within the two weeks, each course had two different course-specific excursions. We had the freedom to hang out at our own leisure, as long as we adhered to the curfew, which was a great aspect of the summer school because it offered students a lot of independence to make their own decisions. The closing event party was held at the Bush House roof terrace, which had a panoramic view of Central London. After singing at the talent show, I had the opportunity to perform again at the closing event party which I really enjoyed, as music is one of my passions.

Attending the programme gave me the chance to experience what studying at university felt like, but more specifically what it is like to study at King’s. I feel a lot more prepared to go to university in 2019 and reassured me that I am choosing the right course. It offered me both an ample amount of academic and social opportunities to participate in.

I would recommend it to anyone, whether you plan to study in the UK or are still unsure as to which courses you wish to study when you eventually go to university. King’s will offer you a fantastic experience both academically and socially.

My summer at King’s College London was by far the best summer experience I have ever had.

Nia Sam

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Every summer has a story

Another Summer Programmes season has come to an end.

From now, those who studied with us are King’s alumni and part of the family so please keep in touch with us. We would love to know how your experience at King’s was.

What impact did it have in your life? Did anything change in your personality? Do you feel inspired to study or work abroad in future? What is your summer story?

Please share with any memories, stories and photos with us via email summer@kcl.ac.uk or tag us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. Please don’t forget to complete the surveys that we sent, your opinion is very important to us.

Thank you all for coming and spending the summer with us.

A special thank you to our team and tutors who worked hard over the summer to provide a good experience to everyone.