King's College London Summer Programmes – Page 13 – Stories from students and staff on King's summer schools

June 11, 2014

Student Ambassador-Mariam Ohiani

Hi! My name is Mariam and I have just completed a three year course at KCL in Business Management. My time at Kings has been anything but dull, that’s the beauty of studying at a prestigious University centred at the heart of London.

Aside from my course, which I am extremely passionate about, I been involved in the various clubs and societies which led to me becoming Student Ambassador.I joined the Summer School as a Student Ambassador in 2012 and I enjoyed my time on the programme so much so that I joined the programme every year to present.

The Summer School programme is an experience of a life time and helps Students prepare for what lies ahead, giving them a flavour of the University lifestyle. I would encourage students to explore all what London has to offer and to participate in the off-campus activities arranged by King’s.

King’s Summer School is truly the place to be if you want to study in the heart of London, experience cosmopolitan culture, meet people from varying backgrounds and most of all have fun doing what you love

This year I will be working directly with the students this year, which I am ecstatic about. I am looking forward to seeing you all and having fun at this year summer programme!

Mariam Ohiani

May 13, 2014

Sign up for the Global Energy Politics course!

Hey, I am Alexandra Bocse (Alex) and I will act as the academic lead on the course Global Energy Politics at the King’s College London Summer School. I am very excited about this role given my passion for international politics and energy policy. I am currently a researcher in energy governance and energy policy networks at the Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Cambridge. I am also currently teaching International Relations at University of Cambridge. I love working with students, teaching them and implicitly learning from them.

This is a great course if you want to enhance your knowledge of contemporary international affairs. The course will offer insight into the mechanisms governing global politics in general and into the field of energy politics in particular. We will study a wide variety of actors involved in energy policy-making: states (energy importers, energy exporters and transit states), intergovernmental organisations, industry, NGOs; the formal and informal connections between these actors and the outcome of their interaction on the global stage. We will be engaging with issues such as energy security, the geopolitics of energy, conflict over natural resources, the curse of natural resources in resource rich developing countries, as well as the politics of climate change and its implications for global energy policy.

The course includes lectures on cutting-edge topics and interactive seminars. During this course, learning will take place in a very direct and hands on manner. You will meet with representatives of energy corporations, international energy organizations, NGOs, energy consultants and get the chance to ask them questions about their work and their expertise areas. The schedule may include a visit to an energy production facility, as well as a dynamic two-day simulation of political climate change negotiations. This will allow you to place yourselves in the shoes of top policy makers and attempt to solve some of the biggest challenges of our time: increasing pollution, energy resources scarcity and climate change.

You can find more information about the course at: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/prospectus/shortcourses/index/name/globalenergypolitics14/keyword/summer-school.

I am looking forward to meeting you and working with you in July.

May 6, 2014

Re-living Austen’s England…

“I would have every young [person] of your condition in life acquainted with the manners and amusements of London.”

Austen knew all about the importance of sociability and understood well the allure of London: all her most dashing and irresponsible characters are drawn to the metropolis, which becomes a by-word for modernity and excess. London remains a city of an extraordinary magnetism – it gets under your skin with a mixture of delight and trial. It is the very place to learn about the world of the eighteenth century and Regency in which Jane Austen grew up and about which she wrote, not least because traces of that era can still be identified in the modern city and can be recaptured by the Austen enthusiast.

We will immerse ourselves in the culture of the late eighteenth century as we meet the great figures of politics, literature, society, theatre and science, and build an in-depth picture of the world that informed Austen’s writing. By visiting Chawton and Bath, we also re-trace the other major locations that defined Austen’s life and work, a situation that is unique to studying Austen in England.

In addition to building a deep contextual knowledge of Austen’s world, we will also explore some theoretical and critical approaches to Austen in order to help develop a rich critique of her work, particularly in relation to her contemporaries.

This course is all about enjoying the richness of Austen’s world and discovering her England – and, at the same time, sharing the sensations of awe and wonder with her own characters in the experiences of visiting Bath and London for the first time.

Emma Newport

April 29, 2014

GLOBAL GOVERNANCE: INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS IN CRISIS

One only needs follow some of the ongoing ping-pong between the Americans and the Russians regarding Ukraine to understand how defunct International Organisations are and how present the role of the state is. A few questions have arisen with renewed strength and added to a long line of enquiry, such as:

– What is the purpose of the United Nations?
– Why is NATO still around when the Cold War is well over?
– How much can the European Union achieve without hard power (that is an European army of some shape)?

I tend to support those arguing that a globalised and strongly interdependent world cannot rely on the role of nation states alone and that strong International Organisations have a pivotal role to play. In the first instance, they ensure that smaller states are represented, whereas if we lived in condition of anarchy, only the strongest states would benefit. Secondly, in negotiating treaties and treaty reforms, International Organisations can balance out the interests of weaker states against those of hegemonic such. This is especially relevant to better (scarce) resource allocation and distribution in order to attain larger objectives, such as poverty eradication, global health outreach, global access to education, and greater gender equality, cultural, ethnic and religious tolerance. Precisely the reforms required of International Organizations in order to better respond to such challenges are studied in depth in the Summer School course ‘Global Governance: International Organisations in Crisis’. We focus squarely on key institutions, which are however dated in the context of the new millennium. The United Nations is a prime candidate for reform by unanimous consent. Founded on the principle of inclusion at the end of the Second World War, its present fabric is no longer consistent with the shift in power East and South. In the fourth wave of globalisation, which we are living through today, we ask the following questions amongst others: Is the Security Council viable? Under what conditions may either of India, Brazil, Germany or Japan gain a seat? Is Ukraine a testimony to the return of hegemonic stability or symptomatic of the emergence of a new global order about which we know very little? What is the place of regional organisations, such as the European Union in this?

London is uniquely suited to exploring such topical issues, being the seat of a vibrant diplomatic community and many think-tanks dedicated to research and debate of these key themes. It further houses the headquarters of the United Nations IMO, which students will have the opportunity to visit. Furthermore, it is in close proximity to those international organisations and institutions situated in Paris (OECD) and Brussels (EU). In previous years the course has undertaken trips to Paris and Brussels.

Dr. Diana Bozhilova AKC
Visiting Research Fellow
Centre for Hellenic Studies
Tutor, Summer School and International Programmes
King’s College London
Strand WC2R 2LS

April 25, 2014

‘A History of Revolutions: From the French Revolution to the Arab Spring.’

This is my first year to work with the Summer School. Although I have taught Modern European History for four years at King’s College, I am very excited at the prospect of teaching a truly global module with the course ‘A History of Revolutions: From the French Revolution to the Arab Spring.’

Myself and my colleague, Giuditta Fontana created this course with an international audience in our minds. Too often revolutions are studied separately in different academic departments, yet we felt that it is time that a course addresses the contemporary phenomenon of revolutions since we are living in historic times where revolutions and insurrections from Egypt to Ukraine are common day appearances in the news. Each of our international students will be able to contribute to the course by sharing the history of the country they come from, thus making it truly global.

KINGSSS13_ 041 We are lucky that our course will take place at the Strand Campus, a prime location in London. With this advantage, we have access to the Imperial War Museum, the British Library and the extensive historical archives in King’s College. Both myself and Giuditta are very excited to announce our collaboration with the Archives Centre at Kings: they are helping us to develop a workshop on revolutionary propaganda, including exclusive access to documents on the British Fascist movement and India’s transition to from colonial rule to national independence.

This is a wonderful time to be studying the underlying causes of revolutions and their course in historical and contemporary perspectives. We will be examining the politics, culture and society of Europe and the Middle East over the past two centuries, and how revolutions have defined the unique development of these two diverse continents. Whether you want to understand the Russian revolution or the Arab Spring, we hope you are ready to take up the challenging and complex world of revolutionary history.

I look forward to meeting you all.

Gillian Kennedy

April 17, 2014

“London always comes alive when the weather gets warm and sunny”

London always comes alive when the weather gets warm and sunny, and this is making me excited for my upcoming Summer School course, ‘London and the British City: Past and Present.’ The sunshine and long Spring days lend themselves to walking around this historic city, and each walk reveals a new layer and a myriad of surprises, even on streets that are familiar. Students on the upcoming course will be encouraged to find their own surprises and hidden corners of London to claim as their own, as so many have done in the past. They will walk the streets of kings and queens, Dickens, Wilde, and Shakespeare. London has long had the ability to bemuse and inspire; to perplex and also trouble. London challenges and sometimes makes one uncomfortable, with history and a loud, sometimes jarring contemporary city existing side by side. Each walk through London is rife with contradiction and paradox: Ferraris and Ferragamo next to homeless sleepers; pollution next to pristine parks; glassy, new spaces of the modern economy next to shabby, forgotten landscapes and pubs. A bus full of 50 people, each from a different country, speaking a different language. Unable to communicate, perhaps, but Londoners, each one. Such is the wonder, and complexity, of modern London.

Spring is also a great time to venture beyond London and explore Britain’s Green and Pleasant Land. When one leaves London, it can be like leaving one planet and entering another. There are towns and villages little-changed since the industrial revolution, left behind by contemporary life. There are inventive vibrant provincial cities like Manchester and Leeds, able to reinvent themselves, while just miles away stand abandoned mills and ghostly smokestaks. Beyond the Borders lies the land of Scotland, at once crucial to Britain’s modern and historical identity and yet immediately different, facing a crucial juncture as voters there prepare to determine whether (yes) to become independent, or (no) to remain in the Union with England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

What an exciting summer, then, for students to come to King’s College London and learn about British cities and the role they play, have played, and must play in the world. London will be, in Shakespeare’s world, a stage – and all of its inhabitants like players, for students to observe and (for a short time), become a part of.

I look forward to welcoming students to London and with them, beginning our three week exploration.

Jason Luger

Tutor

London and the British City: Past and Present (Leading, Inventing and Reinventing).

March 28, 2014

NEW MEMBER OF STAFF: MEGAN LIVERSEY

Let me start by introducing myself, I’m Megan and I’ll be helping out with the Summer School this year, so any enquires you have, whether that be information about the courses or even tips on great places to visit in London, send them my way.

It has been a great month to start working at Kings, as with the sunny weather, I have been able to eat my lunch outside, listen to the hustle and bustle of the students and explore the local area.

With Somerset house being a stone’s throw away I have already had a stroll around the beautiful grounds and got to see the free Derreck Jarman (A former King’s student) exhibition. There will be many events going on at Somerset House this summer so I would recommend students to visit in their free time. The Summer Series has just been announced for 10 – 20 July 2014, where you can get tickets to see some unmissable live music acts in the attractive surroundings of Somerset house.

It’s amazing that the vibrant South Bank is a 10 minute walk across Waterloo Bridge. The South Bank has lots of places to eat, drink and see. I recently watched the sunset while sitting outside the BFI bar and then went inside to see a late night movie. Whether you want to see a theatre production at the National theatre or just watch skateboarders do their thing, the South Bank is defiantly worth a visit. The Timeout London website is not only great to keep up to date with events going on at South Bank but it is great to get tips of things going on all over London.

With Summer School accommodation close to campus, you are in the prime spot to visit the above places and many other famous London landmarks such as The Houses of Parliament and St Paul’s Cathedral.

If I was to study at the Summer School, the courses combining London with a subject would be most appealing to me as I believe it would add to the experience of studying in the city. These courses include, Museum of London: curating the city and Victorian London: high culture & low life. What is extra exciting is that these courses are in collaboration with The Victoria and Albert Museum and The Museum of London and you will gain behind the scene access to the world famous museums.

King’s College London is a wonderful place to work and will be an even more wonderful place to study and I’m sure that the staff and students will make you feel as warm and welcome as they have made me feel.

Looking forward to meeting you all!

Megan Liversey

March 20, 2014

MY SUMMER SCHOOL EXPERIENCE:JUUSO SALLINEN

“Sunshine reflecting on the beauties of London that have been hidden over the long cold winter, students from all over the world still crawling at the café, debating the last lecture they just had, and that rigorous, yet friendly, unusual academic atmosphere.

This is all what sums up my experience at the Summer School module on Media, Gender & Culture at King’s: one of my best formative experiences so far. Not only was the course itself a great opportunity to further focus on my personal interests and explore disciplines that were not offered by King’s during the first year, but it was also a fantastic way to get to know people from different parts of the world in a setting that is very unlike the regular King’s classes. Our professor was extremely engaging, the content she offered was of exquisite quality and the balance between theory and practice was just about right, demonstrating that academy and activism can, or perhaps should, mix together with brilliant outcomes. However, thanks to the variety of modules offered at King’s Summer School, students with an interest in more theoretical subjects are not let down and are able to choose a course that matches their specific preferences.

The teaching dynamic was also different to regular King’s classes: during the intensive 3-week period, with more in-class hours than any of my other academic modules, we were provided with the opportunity to truly concentrate on one topic and immerse ourselves into the relevant issues. Also, in case you have excess time, Summer School organizes various events and trips which means that you will have the opportunity to relax and strengthen the relationship with your coursemates. Most courses even include trips to different London locations which will enable you to visit spots of the city you perhaps haven’t had the time or the chance to see during the busy academic year.

Personally the Summer School has been one of the experiences I’ve had since I arrived at King’s: I gained a deeper knowledge of what I intend to do after my degree, my grades have gone up considerably after the course thanks to the close teacher-student relationship we all experienced, and I became more aware of social problems both within Britain and Europe as well as in places such as Taiwan, India and Russia. It is a perfect fit for Liberal Arts students, and I would highly recommend give it a shot and take on a module there … if you just have the time!”

February 28, 2014February 28, 2014

My Summer School experience: Anton Kryvoshlykov

‘My remarkable journey with King’s College started in November 2010, when I was a foundation student in Queen Mary University of London. I attended a University Fair and came across the King’s College London Summer School prospectus. Upon finishing my IFP programme, I accepted an offer from the Law School in Southampton University. I had little knowledge of the peculiarities of the English legal system and of what common law is in general, consequently, I have decided to get some background before engaging into actual law studies, and by that time it was clear to me that King’s is the place to be if you want to do Law. I applied for two sessions: An Introduction to English Legal System and European Union Law, the latter being a compulsory module for all the major UK universities. As it turned out this decision was one of the most crucial in my life.

The first thing to strike me was obviously the position of the campus, centered at the heart of London, surrounded by major political and legal institutions such as Westminster, Royal Court of Justice and Inns of Court, the location truly provides the spirit of vibrant political and academic community with fundamental constitutional cases decided just across the street. Moreover, living in King’s accommodation in Stamford Street, while having classes in the Strand Building, I enjoyed the picturesque walk across the Waterloo Bridge every day.

Fleet Street in London. Picture: Ingrid Raussman.

King’s College is well known for its academic excellence and I was fortunate enough to experience it first-hand. The first session, An Introduction to English Legal System, provided me with the much-needed explanation of the basic concepts of English law, and legal systems in general. The programme successfully combines the academic analysis of the law as well as its practical side (so it’s not just dry discussions all day long) with visits to all main legal institutions including the Supreme Court, Royal Court of Justice and Old Bailey. I would like to highlight the admirable devotion of the course leader, Dr. Thomas McManus, who offered an unparalleled guidance and insight into the legal profession, being a practitioner, himself. The course denoted to the Study of the EU law was an important experience as well, providing a valuable overview of the differences in approaches to the law-making between the UK and the European Union. This programme also included lively discussions on a large variety of topics ranging from the specific EU Directives to the more abstract issues such as the position of human rights within the Community Law. Generally the both sessions were more than useful experience for my future studies in Law.

The knowledge I have acquired in Summer School gave me a sufficient head start in the Southampton Law School, where I proved myself as a strong LLB student. However I was so fascinated by the manner of teaching in King’s that I have decided to reapply for the first year again. I cannot possibly describe my feelings when I have received a UCAS update stating that King’s College of London had given me an Unconditional Offer. So in 2013 I entered the main hall of Strand Building as a proud King’s student.

My journey continues, and this summer I am planning to once again join the ranks of the Summer School Students, undertaking the session in Secrets and Spies: Modern Espionage and Intelligence, hoping that it will provide the necessary introduction to the subject to study as a MA student (Intelligence & International Security).

January 31, 2014January 30, 2014

Applying to our Summer School: hints and tips

Applying to an academic course can sometimes feel like an intimidating process, but the reality is far from that. Applying to our Summer School is a really simple process that takes just a few steps.

You can read a guide on how to apply for our Summer School on our website, but below are some of the most common questions we get asked in the office.

Why do I need to make a first and second choice when picking my course? Can I only pick one?

Of course we wish all the courses that we offer to our students would run each summer. However all courses need to attract a minimum number of students in order to run, and this combined with last minute events can cause courses to be cancelled. When you apply to our Summer School you are always asked to chose a first and second choice course, in case your first choice does not run.This means that when you are accepted by the admission panel, you are accepted onto the Summer School itself and not a particular course.

We confirm all courses running by the end of May, and if your first choice course does not run, you will automatically be allocated your second choice. You will have a period to make a decision on whether you want to leave the programme and be refunded – full details and dates are in our Terms and Conditions – or continue on with your second choice.

Why do I need an English language certificate?

If your first language is not English and you do not attend an English speaking university, you will need to provide us with proof of your language ability. All our courses are intensive and taught in English, and are not designed to act as substituent English language classes. The certificates we accept can be found here on our website. If you have another English language certificate that you feel proves your ability, please get in contact with us.

What kind of transcript do you expect?

Your most recent available transcript. You should speak to your home university about providing you with this. If the most recent transcript you have dates from the previous academic year then that is fine. If you are at all worried, we recommend attaching your high school grades if possible.

What should I write in my motivational statement?

Your motivational statement does not need to be very long. We are looking for the reasons why you are applying, what you think you will bring to the course and what you wish to get out of the experience. Please also include any other information you feel is important for us to know.

What else should I know?

Once you submit your application you need to pay a nonrefundable application fee. You can pay your fee using a credit or debit card. Once you make the payment, please don’t click away from the page or refresh as this can block the payment. If you do experience any issue with the payment, contact your bank to confirm they are allowing the payment before contacting us.

You will receive an answer regarding your application within 7 working days of submitting your application.

Don’t be tempted to apply without all your documents. Applications missing documents won’t be processed.

If your file is too large to upload, please try resizing it before attaching. Alternatively you can email this to us.

And finally remember if you have any questions, we are always here to help!