Category: Overseas Summer

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(Summer) Time of your life

Summer has started in London and the temperatures this week are reaching 29 degrees. The Undergraduate Summer School will start next week and everyone in our team is working hard to make sure that you will have an unforgettable experience at King’s. By now, you probably have mixed feelings; excitement, worry, enthusiasm and a lot of other emotions. Some of you are travelling alone, some are coming from far away and some are leaving your countries for the first time. But you are not alone, we can guarantee that most of your fellow students are feeling the same way and you will see that once you get here and meet them.

This is a fantastic opportunity to learn from the academics of one of the top universities in the world, expand your knowledge in the subject area that you have chosen and experience the British education system. It is also a chance to explore London, meet people from other countries, get exposed to other cultures and get out of your comfort zone.

Studying abroad is a way to get inspired and to think about what you would like to do in the future. Most people who experienced studying or living abroad are likely to repeat the experience. It can have an impact on your future and certainly in your outlook on the world.

Remember that not everyone has this opportunity; to meet people from other backgrounds, cultures and countries, so make the most out of it!

Why not to take the first step to meet someone? If at any point you feel lonely, insecure or scared just get in touch with someone in our team and we will be here for you.

Now review your packing checklist, do some research about your subject and get ready to fly in to London.

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All you need to know about London

Public transport
Getting around London can seem really daunting at first, but don’t worry, you’ll soon get used to it. The first thing you should do when you get here, is purchase an Oyster card (unless you are a Pre-University Summer School residential student). This works on a pay-as-you-go basis, so all you need to do is top up at a machine (in a tube or train station) or online, when your balance is running low. Another way to pay for travel is to use a contactless card, which costs the same amount as using an Oyster. This means you have the added benefit of not having to worry about topping it up!

Both Oysters and Contactless cards are really simple to use on public transport. On the tube, trains and DLR, make sure you ‘touch in’ on the yellow reader at the start of your journey and ‘touch out’ at the end of your journey. If you’re taking the bus or the tram, you will only need to ‘touch in’ on the yellow reader once when you board. Also make sure you download a mobile app such ‘Citymapper’, as it is really useful for working out a route between two places.

Coffee and Culture
London is bursting with cool, quirky coffee shops and cafes, and some of the following parts of town are a great place to start: Neal’s Yard in Covent Garden, Pop Brixton, Brixton Village, Hoxton and Shoreditch. If you’re looking for other ways to spend your free time, head to Peckham, specifically Rye Lane for a unique and trendy part of London that is far off the beaten (and touristy) track! There’s also Richmond Park in South West London, a beautiful expanse of green space which is only 35 minutes from Waterloo on the train. The Southbank Centre, Somerset House and The Store Studios are all in walking distance of the Strand Campus and often have exhibitions and events on during the summer. 

Sight-seeing
Don’t forget about all of London’s famous sights. Just walking across Waterloo Bridge will give you an amazing panoramic view of some of them, but make sure you explore them properly. The London Eye, Trafalgar Square, St. Paul’s Cathedral, The Shard, London Bridge, The Tower of London and Tower Bridge are all close to two of King’s campuses – the Strand Campus and Guy’s Campus. Other unmissable sights in London include Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, The Houses of Parliament, Hyde Park and Regent’s Park.

Download the King’s Mobile app if you are already enrolled on the Pre-University Summer School and the Undergraduate Summer School. This app will provide information about summer accommodation, social and sports activities, advice and tips on your stay in London, as well as FAQs. To download the app, click here.

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My Summer at King’s: Vedika Kedia

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King’s College London Summer School is an appropriate opportunity for someone like me looking to discover, International Relations (IR). The course curriculum involves introducing basic concepts of power, democracy in IR and evolves to further nuanced study of the failed states, conflict regions and role of institutions like the United Nations. What made the course even more palpable were the class discussions, role-plays and other class activities. It gives an in-depth understanding of the perspectives of different stakeholders. Keats portal offers an access to a wide range of online material to further analyse any topic of interest. It significantly aids the course of study particularly during assignments.

The diversity within the classroom also fuelled the discussions. My peers belonged to various disciplines like History, Law, Journalism, Commerce and Mathematics. Through the short tenure of the course, we explored the concepts taught through the lenses of different stakeholders. The complexity of policy making in IR was evident through role-plays. In a scenario where groups have high stakes it is difficult to arrive at a consensus. In addition, being in India, we also discussed the impact of different policies on India and its take.

I comprehended the significance of evaluating the contextual variables. On doing so, I understood the uniqueness of each conflict and realised the futility of one–size-fits-all policies. I also learnt the importance of studying the history of a particular group or nation to assess its current position. History forms an important part of IR as many policies are framed keeping the nation’s past experiences in mind.

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The module has equipped me better to read between the lines. Knowing the IR theories, I can now better analyse the motives behind different IR policies and try to understand its impact. I came across new friends and a reliable guide in form of my professor.

Our Professor guided us vehemently throughout our course. She was always available on mail or in person to clear our queries promptly. At no point neither KCL nor the professor took the module in low intensity which clearly shows their high commitments level. This course was treated at par with any module during the usual graduate term in London. There could be many reasons to sway away, being it just a summer school, a short non – graduating course, geographically far away from main London campus and moreover no student opting for credit transfers. But it was all professionalism at work.

In a nutshell, I would describe the King’s College London, Delhi Summer School to be a memorable intrinsic didactic experience.

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My Summer in Berlin with King’s- Maxine Yu

Untitled designThis summer I was lucky enough to go to the amazing Berlin with King’s. It was an experience packed with excitement, fun and wonder. Every day was filled with activities that brought us closer to the history, culture and the people of Berlin.

I particularly enjoyed the bike tour around the city, although I had somehow managed to crash a stationary bike, we were taken on a journey of Berlin’s most iconic buildings and structures. The relaxing feeling of the wind blowing in my hair and the slightly panicked feeling of biking on the opposite side of the road, combined with astonishing views was what made it a unique and special experience for me.

Of course it wasn’t just the places we saw that made this trip such an experience, it was also the wonderful people that we met. Journalist and Editor, Gerd Appenzeller that told us about the reconstruction of Berlin, Integration Commissioner, Katharine Niewiedzial whom spoke to us about Berlin’s migration policy and Berlin’s most popular blogger, Mary Schweppes and her adorable dog that discussed Berlin as a European centre for the worlds young.

Not only did we get to learn about Berlin but we got to fully experience it, the food was delicious and it really brought us closer to Berlin as well as to each other. Whether it was the cutest bagel cafe, the sausages in the street stalls, or waiting in line for 2 hours for the world’s best kebab, some of my fondest memories were when we were relaxing and having fun as a group.

From the funny traffic lights to the unforgettable memorials, my favourite moment was when we were walking down the East Side Gallery at sunset, admiring at all the skillful street art. Watching the blazing sunset by the river, and taking a thousand pictures with everyone, it was a perfect last night in Berlin.

I had made some unbreakable friendships, travelled in time, from before World War II to modern day Germany, and made memories that I will cherish and never forget.

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Berlin Summer Study Visit- Update

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We wanted to give you an update on our Berlin Summer Study Visit, which will be running from 3-7 July 2017. Details on the itinerary and accommodation have now been confirmed, and what’s more we have now streamlined our application process.

The study tour will use excursions, museum visits and discussions with Berliners to offer expert insight into both Berlin’s past and its present, enabling participants to profoundly experience this dynamic city whose future will influence the development of the Western world. Itinerary highlights include:

  • Walking city tour of 19th century Prussian Berlin
  • Lecture delivered inside the 1936 Olympic Stadium looking at the impact of Nazism on Berlin
  • Visit to the Holocaust memorial and a study of the fates of the Berlin Jewish community post-1945
  • Study of ‘two Berlins’ during the Cold War and how attempts have been made to reconcile these two identities and economic realities since reunification
  • Talk and Q&A on the 21st century Berlin migration policy and challenges/opportunities with Berlin City policymakers
  • Visit to a local start-up firm to highlight Berlin’s latest incarnation as a centre for the world’s young and creative communities

Students who are interested can now book their place on the study visit using the King’s estore, as opposed to the online application form that was detailed previously. This means it is quicker and easier to reserve a spot on this exciting programme. Registration will now close on 2 June 2017 and we advise early booking in order to secure a place, as spaces are limited. King’s students are able to apply for funding for this programme. Please see the Study Abroad Awards page for more information on how to do so.

If required students can book accommodation ( at an additional cost) at the Circus Hostel. This hostel is conveniently located in the Mitte district, which is a one minute walk from Rosenthaler Platz Metro station. If you would like to book accommodation for the Summer Study Visit to Berlin, please do so via the e-store.

If you have any questions about the programme please email us. Alternatively follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram for up to date information about the Summer Programmes Team.

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Summer Symposium with Unilever

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Building on the success of the Diet and Health symposium in 2016, King’s Summer Programmes is arranging a Summer Symposium on Healthspan and Wellness, taking place on Tuesday 13 and Wednesday 14 June 2017, in partnership with Unilever R&D Bangalore.

Speaking about the symposium, King’s College London convenor Dr Richard Siow says, “The symposium has been developed through a research collaboration between King’s College London, and Unilever, the global-leading consumer goods company with world-class industrial research facilities in India, the UK, the Netherlands, the USA and China. King’s has a long and distinguished pioneering tradition in health and nutrition-related research.”

This symposium will enable participants to appreciate the molecular, biochemical and physiological basis of healthy ageing through academic and industrial research insights to better define lifestyles for maintaining healthy ageing in different populations. The unique masterclass format provides an opportunity for academic experts, early career investigators, health professionals and industrial research scientists to share ideas and develop unique insights. Discussion of up-to-date topics informed by recent experimental scientific research, will enable participants to consider both the biological processes and the social impact for underlying local and global issues in healthspan and wellness.

During the two-day symposium, there will be a number of talks taking place around the subjects of healthspan and wellness. You can find a draft timetable of the programme on this webpage. Dr Siow and Professor Wolfgang Maret from King’s College London, along with keynote speakers namely Professor Uptal Tatu from the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore, Dr Colin Jamora from the National Centre for Biological Sciences in Bangalore and scientists from Unilever R&D Bangalore, have a wealth of research expertise in the field of healthspan and wellness which will provide participants with unique insights in these fields.

Amy Kanagaratnam, a post-graduate student who attended last year’s symposium says, “I would definitely recommend this symposium to future students, it is a great experience and networking has allowed me to identify future job opportunities that may be available in a well-known company such as Unilever.”

If you are interested in attending the symposium, you have until Friday 9 June 2017 to register. The fee for the two-day symposium is £86 (approximately Rs. 7,000) and you can register here.

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Pre-University Summer School in the USA

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New for summer 2017 is our Pre-University Summer School in the USA. This commuter programme is a unique experience designed for 16-17 year old students (typically in their last two years of study), which aims to provide higher education experience in a senior high school environment.

Teaching will take place in our partner school, Brooklyn Friends School in New York and will run from 7-18 August 2017. Students will have the opportunity to study one of two exciting modules- Into Space: Exploring Space Through Science and Politics and International Relations: From Grassroots to Global Impact.

The Into Space course will provide students with an overview of the physics and astronomy behind manned spaceflight, as well as the science needed to make leaving Earth possible. And the Politics and International Relations course will focus on the core aspects of studying Politics at this level, whilst examining political challenges when responding to current global issues.

The fee for the programme will be £1660 which is approximately $2000. This fee includes tuition, relevant course excursions and a certificate of attendance. There will also be scholarships available for this programme and more details will be announced on our website soon.

You can submit an application for the Pre-University Summer School in the USA now and you will have until 23 June 2017 to do so. If you have any questions about the programme please email us. Alternatively follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram for up to date information about the Summer Programmes Team.

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Summer Study Visits- Berlin: City of Reinvention

Berlin

New for the King’s Summer Programmes Team this year is our first Summer Study Visit to World Cities. This July spend five days with us in Berlin to explore this ‘city of reinvention’.

Undergraduate students from any subject area are welcome to apply for this programme and will become immersed in the unique history, culture and economy of the city. Through museum visits, excursions and discussions with local Berliners, students will receive expert insight into the past, present and future of Berlin.

One such discussion will take place in the 1936 Olympic Stadium, where you’ll discover the architectural and structural changes that Hitler had planned in order to redevelop Germany during the Third Reich. During this study visit you’ll also focus on Berlin’s 21st Century reinvention as a creative start-up hub- with a trip to an exciting collaborative working space.

The fee for the programme will be £750, which includes tuition and course-related excursions. There is also a one-off application fee of £40 when applying to this programme. Information and costs for accommodation will soon be available, so please do check the website for this.

You can submit an application for this Summer Study Visit now, and you will have until 31 May 2017 to do so. If you have any questions about the programme please email us. Alternatively follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram for up to date information about the Summer Programmes Team.