Category: Uncategorized

Posted on

Summer in Berlin

Studying abroad is bound to be a life experience. It takes you out of your comfort zone, it challenges you and it teaches you to be more open. It also gives you the incredible opportunity get other points of view and explore another culture.

Every year, we welcome students from all corners of the world in London, but likewise many of our students also get the opportunity to go abroad.

Recently, 50 King’s students travelled to Berlin and explored German culture and history. It was an interactive, skills and knowledge-building programme, where they were intellectually stimulated and personally empowered. They were encouraged to think about their personal agency and the impact in their communities.

Here are some highlights of a memorable week.

 

Posted on

Before you arrive checklist

In a month’s time, some of you will be en route to one of the most exciting cities in the world – London! For some of you this might be the first time in the UK and for others you might have visited the city already before. Whether you are joining us for the Pre-University Summer School or the Undergraduate Summer School, we hope you find the below information useful.

After you enrol on the Pre-University Summer School or the Undergraduate Summer School, you can download the King’s mobile app. This app will provide you with information about summer accommodation, social and sports activities, advice and tips on your stay in London, as well as FAQs.

For those students arriving to London by plane, there are several different options that you can choose from to get to King’s. In this blog post we’ve provided you with details on how to travel into the city from the main London airports using trains, coaches and the underground.

Getting around London can be confusing at times. The Transport for London (TfL) network is huge and is comprised of the London Underground (colloquially known as the ‘Tube’), buses, trains, river transport, trams and even a cable car. We found this light-hearted, useful guide to using the London Underground, which you might find helpful.

Most Londoners get what is known as an Oyster card as this is cheaper than buying single tickets for every journey. You can use this by topping it up with money and paying for journeys individually or, if you’re travelling around London regularly (i.e. you’re using public transport most days) then you can buy a weekly, monthly or annual travelcard and upload it to your Oyster card.

Oyster cards work on most forms of London transport, though fares are higher for riverboat services and the Emirates cable car. They should also work on local train services within the London area. Many people cycle in London, and you can now hire what the locals call ‘Boris Bikes’ for a small fee. You need to be careful if you cycle in London that you take safety precautions and ensure that your bicycle is secure.

Classes for the summer school are either the morning or afternoon, leaving you with free evenings and weekends to take part in our exciting social and sports programme or explore the city on your own.

There is a whole host of things to see, do and eat whilst in London. Tune in to our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram each week for tips on where to get the best coffee in the city,  free places to visit in the city and where to grab a cheap eat around London.

For more pre-arrival information for the Pre-University Summer School click here, and for more pre-arrival information for the Undergraduate Summer School click here .

 

 

Posted on

The Human Body

Anatomy and human physiology degrees are for those who are fascinated by the science of medicine. The Pre-University Summer School is offering a new course this year called the Human Body where you can learn about the structure of the body and how it functions.

You will gain an understanding of the cause, diagnosis and treatment of different diseases, and how they affect different parts of the body. You will also learn how these systems adapt to the different characteristics of hostile environments, such as temperature extremes, mountain altitudes, airplane cabins, space microgravity conditions, and future habitats on the Moon and Mars.

At the end of this course, you will walk away with excellent knowledge of how the body works, and relevant knowledge to support future study in the field of biomedical and life sciences.

The course will be running in both session one (9 – 20 July 2018) and session two (23 July – 3 August 2018). The application deadline is 15 May 2018, and early application is advised. For more information, please check our website.

When you enrolled on the Pre-University Summer School , you can download the King’s mobile app which provides information about summer accommodation, social and sports activities, advice and tips on your stay in London, as well as FAQs. This app will help you in your student journey and will allow you to have offline access to all pre-arrival information.

Posted on

Bringing Ancient Languages into a Modern Classroom

Who isn’t fascinated by the languages of the past? Whether you’re hoping to go on an Indiana-Jones-style adventure, read ancient sacred texts, learn from the past or simply hope to learn modern languages more easily, learning an ancient language such as Ancient Greek or Latin may be your answer.

The Undergraduate Summer School is offering modules in Ancient Languages, running in Session one (2 – 20 July 2018) and Session two (23 July – 10 August 2018).

Ancient Greek (Intensive Beginners)
This is a beginner-level intensive module that gives you the opportunity to translate basic English into Greek, and to read very simple texts in Greek. This course is ideal for students who are interested in the Hellenic world, and want to study for a Masters or Doctoral degree thus acquiring an essential skill for future research.

Latin (Intensive Beginners)
This beginner-level intensive module gives you a chance to translate basic English into Latin, and to read very simple texts in Latin. It is appropriate if you’re an undergraduate student who would not otherwise have the chance to learn Latin from scratch, a mature student and for anyone with an interest in the Roman world.

Ancient Greek (Intensive Intermediate)
This is an intensive module that will give you the opportunity to build on your very basic knowledge of Ancient Greek, and to read simple texts in Greek. It is ideal for undergraduate students who would not have the chance to improve their Greek.

Latin (Intensive Intermediate)
This intensive module gives you a chance to expand your knowledge of Latin, and to read simple texts in Latin. It is ideal if you intend to study for a Masters or Doctoral degree thus acquiring an essential skill for future research.

Bursaries are available for students from any university or background from the Department of Classics at King’s College London. Visit this webpage for more information. Applications to the Undergraduate Summer School close on 31 May 2018.

Posted on

A Summer Adventure in History and Literature

If you are hungry for finding out about the past and if you have a fascination with language or the way that the stories we tell shape our culture, a History and Literature course may be perfect for you. If you still need some persuading, why not look at this list of reasons to study History and Literature:

1. Transferable skills
Studying History provides a student with skills which are not confined to the study of the past. On the other hand, whatever people may think about Literature, it isn’t just about reading books. This course will allow you to learn valuable analytical skills, and the ability to analyse and then prioritise information that is vital to decision making. This not only provides a skill set for a student, but it also keeps career options open.

2. It is relevant
There is a stigma attached to History that it is based entirely in the distant past, but this does not account for the huge amount of modern history which is studied in such depth. We can also use classical literature to understand and improve our history. Be it poetry, novels, plays or other literary works. In order to make sense of current affairs it is important to study the past, as everything which is happening around us has been influenced by, and is a direct result of, that which preceded it. In this way, the study of History and Literature is explicitly relevant to us.

3. It is an investment in your future
If studied, a degree in the subjects of History or Literature can be an impressive and attractive feature on a CV. The widespread demand for good communication skills means History and Literature degrees offer lots of potential career paths such as academic librarian, archaeologist, archivist, arts administrator, film director and much more!

The Pre-University Taster course in History and Literature is running from 6 – 9 August 2018, and is led by academics from the Faculty of Arts & Humanities. Students will explore lives, key themes and events connected to London from a historical and literary perspective. Alongside daily classes, students will have the chance to extend their learning beyond the classroom with a course excursion to a relevant archive or museum. The application deadline is 15 May 2018.

Posted on

Kick-start your Future in Science and Technology

Science and Technology are closely linked aspects of society, and the developments in both of these fields are essential for the overall progress of humankind.

Science comprises a wide variety of fields ranging from chemistry to relatively advanced fields like space exploration, human genetics, and cloning. Scientific study attempts to explore and understand the physical world and tries to analyse the occurrences in nature and gain more knowledge through experimentation.

On the other hand, the importance of technology lies in its manifold benefits to society. The advancement in this field has revolutionised human life. It has provided an impetus to the computer and the telecommunication industry. The developments in communication technology have made the world a smaller place. The Internet serving as an excellent communication platform has made the world flat.

The Pre-University Summer School offers a course in Science and Technology to prepare students who are considering an undergraduate degree in science, engineering or related subjects. Led by academics from King’s Natural and Mathematical Sciences faculty, students will study fundamentals of chemistry, physics and engineering to build their theoretical and experimental understanding of each discipline in the modern world.

The programme will run from 9 to 20 July 2018 and the application deadline is 15 May 2018.

Posted on

Undergraduate Summer School Modules in Maths and Engineering

Applications are now open for our Undergraduate Summer School in Maths and Engineering.

In Session One (2 – 20 July 2018) we will be running the Applied Maths: Understanding Engineering through Numbers module. This module is aimed at university students who are keen to improve and strengthen their knowledge of applied mathematics. The focus of this module will be on the application of mathematical methods to a variety of real-world problems from physics and mechanics. Previous mathematical and physics education will be expected. The course will be taught by Dr Jordi Alastruey-Arimon and Dr Peter Charlton from the Biomedical Engineering Department here at King’s.

Dr Peter Charlton explained his insight into the course: “The Applied Maths module provides an introduction to the mathematical techniques which are used to solve engineering problems. Students are given opportunity to put the techniques into practice by tackling real-world engineering problems, including a special focus on clinically-relevant problems in the field of biomedical engineering.”

In Session Two (23 July – 10 August 2018) you will have the opportunity to study Engineering: Creating Technologies that Help People. During this module you will engage in a project which aims to deliver a technical solutions to a challenging task, set by local community groups and NGOs working in sustainable development projects. You’ll learn how to undertake these projects, from the initial planning stages to the delivery of an appropriate sustainable solution, whilst learning to manage your time and resources. Dr Jamie Barras from the King’s Department of Informatics will be teaching this module. He has recently written an article about the module for our SummerTimes blog, which you can read here.

These modules are often taken for credit towards degrees at other institutions, and are examined to university standards. To receive credit for King’s summer classes, contact your home institution to ask them to award external credit.

You can submit an application for the Undergraduate Summer School now, and will have until 31 May 2018 to do so. If you have any questions about the programme please email us at summer@kcl.ac.uk. Alternatively, follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram for up to date information about the Summer Programmes Team.

 

Posted on

King’s & Stemettes Inspiring A New Generation of Women in STEM

Summer Programmes is proud to announce a collaboration with Stemettes, an award-winning social enterprise focused on providing confidence, inspiration and guidance for young women looking to pursue subjects and careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

Female representation in STEM fields is low worldwide. In the UK, only 21% of the STEM workforce is female, and stereotypes about gender differences in STEM fields become entrenched in girls’ minds by the age of six.

To inspire girls in the UK and Ireland to dive into STEM, Stemettes was co-founded by Anne-Marie Imafidon in 2013, and since then over 17,000 girls have attended their events, and 95% of those girls have reported an increased interest in STEM fields thereafter. Although they’ve already had a significant impact in bringing more girls into STEM, they have aimed to reach two million more by 2025, and to see a STEM workforce with greater female representation.

Building on the Women in STEM initiative at King’s and our belief that girls and young women should be encouraged to pursue degrees and careers in STEM, we are delighted to be offering 10 tuition-fee scholarships this summer to enthusiastic and motivated students nominated through Stemettes. These students will ensure that 50% of our intake for the Engineering course is female. The course is part of our Pre-University Taster programme which is designed to prepare high school students for university life and offers a variety of subjects in addition to engineering such as law, politics, history and literature and science. It willrun from 6-9 August 2018 and applications will close end of May 2018.

For more information on Stemettes visit their webpage. In addition, further details about our Pre-University Taster can be found here.

Posted on

Summer Education Abroad- Berlin

Berlin’s combo of glamour and grit is bound to mesmerise anyone keen to explore its vibrant culture, cutting-edge architecture and tangible history. It is the capital of Germany and one of the most celebrated and renowned cultural epicenters in Europe.

This course is designed for King’s students studying a range of different subject areas. Students will discover the city of Berlin and explore how citizenship shapes how cities and communities are built and rebuilt through history. By joining this highly interactive, skills and knowledge-building programme, they will be intellectually stimulated and personally empowered.

We will be running two sessions in consecutive weeks, with 25 places on each course:

  • Session 1: 11 – 15 June 2018
  • Session 2: 18 – 22 June 2018

Participation in this programme is fully funded as part of the commitment to King’s institutional strategy to support the brightest minds regardless of background. King’s will cover all course-related content, economy return flight to Berlin, any local travel related to the programme and affordable accommodation in the city centre. Please see here for further information about funding eligibility.

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.

The course will be led for the second time by Aida Baghernejad. She explained her thoughts in the upcoming Summer Times blog; “This course introduces you to dynamic people who have taken their life and their destiny into their own hands. It’s all about personal agency and responsbility; about not only dreaming of a utopia, but actually just creating it yourself.”

The deadline for applications is midnight on Sunday 25th March 2018. Students can apply online here. Please see the webpage for further application guidance.

Posted on

King’s Summer Scholarships

Given our partnership with UNHCR, King’s Summer Programmes is proud to be offering ten tuition fee scholarships to forced migrants from the UK and around the globe. These scholarships are for students wishing to study on any one of the following programmes: 2018 Undergraduate School, 2018 Pre-University Summer School, 2018 Pre-University Taster.

The term `forced migrant` is used as an umbrella term for the following immigration backgrounds:

  • Asylum seeker is someone who has lodged an application for protection on the basis of the Refugee Convention or Article 3 of the ECHR.
  • Refugee is a former asylum seeker person who has been granted refuge in a country other than their home country. They have been able to prove that if they are returned home, they will be prosecuted because of their race, religion, nationality, social group or political opinion.
  • Humanitarian Protection is given to people, if sent back, would face punishment due to a previously not mentioned case.
  • Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Child status is given in unique cases for children arriving to the country separated from their parents, for a limited period of time, usually until they turn 17.5.
  • Limited Leave to Remain (previously Discretionary Leave to Remain) is given for applicants with unique cases to remain in the UK for a limited period of time
  • Long Residence Status can be granted in case of demonstrating continuous residency in the UK for several years (sufficient length depends on age).

According to UNHCR statistics, only 1% of eligible refugees have access to higher education, compared to 36% of global youth. Higher education is a priority for UNHCR and forms an integral part of their protection and solutions mandate. The King’s Summer School is pleased to be involved in this partnership and welcome students to apply.

The deadline for this scholarship is 1 April 2018.  All scholarship applicants need to apply for the programme in the usual way and must fulfill our standard academic criteria. For information on how to apply for this scholarship please read the guidelines here. Good luck!