Tag: King’s College London Summer School

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Throwback Thursday: King’s College London Undergraduate Summer School

Untitled designMy name is Chih-I. When I was a King’s College London Summer School student in 2010, I was only 19 years old. I decided to spend the summer at King’s for several reasons.

First, I intended to improve my English by fully immersing myself in an English-speaking country. Second, King’s was reported in the year to be one of the top 25 universities in the world. For a student like me who cares so much about the teaching quality and the academic environment, King’s immediately attracted my attention.

Moreover, the campus as well as the accommodation provided were just perfectly located in the city centre: close to Covent Garden, the Strand Campus was also three-minute walk from Temple Station; the accommodation on Stamford Street was next to Waterloo Station, one of the London underground hubs, which enabled me to reach anywhere in the shortest time. Finally, considering the diverse backgrounds of the student group at King’s Summer School, I knew that I would be able to meet people from all over the world, each one with different culture and life experience. This has definitely constituted an ‘added value’ for my King’s Summer School experience.

Although I majored in Law in my home university, I decided to study musicology at King’s Summer School. Studying musicology does not mean to learn to play an instrument, as opposed to what one may think. Musicology is the scholarly research on music, a branch of humanities. In the three-week course, we addressed various issues regarding the interaction among music/art genre/style, political environment, and urban development in London. Outside the course, we went to up to 5 or 6 concerts/shows/musicals in the evening. We then discussed some of the artistic elements in these performances with reference to what we had talked about in the seminars. As for my final essay, I explored the self-identity of different personas in Pucini’s opera ‘La Bohème’ in relation to the socio-economic context in Italy in the 19th century.

The summer school has exerted positive influence on my later life in different aspects. First, it allowed me to know better the higher education system in the UK, particularly in terms of types of supervision and support one student can receive from the professor. It was from that moment that I came up with the idea to come to the UK for my master studies. The experience of living in one of the biggest cities in the world was marvellous, needless to say.

However, the best part of the summer school, in my opinion, was that I have made friends from all over the world: France, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Russia, Taiwan, and the US, to name only a few. I have been able to keep in touch with some of the friends since the end of the programme, and have managed to pay them a visit in their countries, despite the distance. Some of them even helped me enormously with my master thesis. The wonderful fruit of our friendship was something that I did not anticipate before starting the programme at King’s.

Six years later, when I recall the old college days, I cannot help but be amazed by how the Summer School has strung our life together. Thank you King’s for creating such a superb memory in my life!

By Chih-I CHANG
Current MPhil student in Theoretical and Applied Linguistics at the University of Cambridge

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Pre-Arrival Information: Getting From The Airport

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With the first day of the summer school getting closer and closer, we wanted to provide you with a little bit of information on how to get from the airport to King’s College London, using various types of transportation. Don’t worry you can also find this information on our website too. There are a number of airports in London that you may arrive into so please see information on how to travel from each of these…

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London Stansted

London Stansted is a little bit out of London, so is a little trickier to get to and from. From here you can take the Stansted Express straight to Liverpool Street Station, which roughly takes about 45 minutes. You are also able to take coaches from this airport. There are a number of different coach companies that you can book a ticket with, but please be aware that travel times will be longer than a train.

London Gatwick

There are plenty of different options to choose from when arriving into London from Gatwick airport. If you want a train that takes you directly to Victoria Station then the Gatwick Express is the option for you. You are also able to take a normal train (Southern or First Capital Connect) to either Victoria, London Bridge or St Pancras. You can also take a coach from this airport and it is one of the cheapest options.

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London Heathrow

You can take the Piccadilly Line (Dark Blue) of the London Underground from Heathrow Airport all the way into central London. It takes around 45 minutes from and is the cheapest mode of transport from the airport. If you don’t fancy taking a tube you may also book a ticket for the Heathrow Express. It takes only 15 minutes and arrives into Paddington Station. Once here you can take public transport to your accommodation. Another cheap option would be to take a coach from the airport. National Express take you straight from Heathrow to Victoria Coach Station, which is in central London.

London City Airport

London City Airport is actually within London, which makes it very easy to get to King’s from here. You will need to take the DLR (Dockland Light Railway) from this airport into central London. To get to Waterloo from City Airport you will have to take the DLR to Canning Town. At this station swap to the Jubilee Line (Grey) and you will be able to take a tube straight to Waterloo station.

If you have any other questions about transportation from the airport please do contact us at summer@kcl.ac.uk. We look forward to seeing you soon.

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The EU In/Out Referendum

This blog entry takes a critical look at the UK in/out referendum on the European Union, now a mere six weeks away, through the lens of Political Science. Questions about the meaning of security and sovereignty are raised, offering a measured review of expectations and outcomes. The blog shows the breadth of the referendum question and allows the curious mind to glimpse more behind the grinding rhetoric of the opposing campaign sides.

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My time at the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Summer School

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As a final year medical student I was due to spend Summer 2015 on an elective in Belize. When this fell through at the last minute I ended up doing my elective in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at St Thomas’ Hospital. Following this I was invited to be a mentor in their summer school alongside 5 other final year students.

The summer school took place over five days, with each mentor being assigned four students. On the first day of the summer school we mentors taught the students basic obstetric and gynaecological examinations and skills. The students were then given a timetable for the rest of the week where they would attend clinics and theatre to get an idea of the specialty. In addition to their time spent in the hospital, we asked the students to prepare a very brief presentation on something about the course that they had found particularly interesting. The students presented these to the mentors and course organisers on the final day of the course and we had a small ceremony where they received certificates for their participation.

The course proved to be a valuable experience for both students and mentors. As mentors we got to experience what it feels like to be responsible for a group of colleagues, trying to ensure that they got the best learning experience they could. This wasn’t always easy due to the busy nature of obstetrics and gynaecology, but for the most part we managed to make sure everyone got to experience all areas and had an enjoyable time.

It definitely made me personally appreciate how much work goes into organising our medical course and develop a new respect for the people who do so. For the students, the course gave them an excellent insight into a new specialty, with the chance to practice skills that most don’t get the chance to learn until 4th year and the opportunity to practice their presenting skills which are a big part of medicine.

Overall the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Summer School proved to be one of the things that turned my makeshift elective in the UK into a really enjoyable and worthwhile experience I would highly recommend it to both those interested in being a student or a mentor.

By Isabella Fernandes

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What is great about teaching on the Summer School?

UntitledThe Summer School should be fun. But also achieve interpersonal growth and fire up passion for higher education. Still further, amidst the busy lives of young people, it should bring about such outcomes with speed and panache; most certainly, it should be a substantive variation on information available via Wiki, FB, Twitter, et cetera. So, what is it like to teach faced with such challenges?

I teach Politics and International Relations and my experience has shown that the humanities encourage creativity. I still want students to read without worry they’d be called nerds if they do so also over the summer. A vital tool of Summer School teaching is the practice of the subject. My students partake in daily strategy games, such as negotiations and simulations, like the United Nations Security Council Reform Group; international trade games; smart city building exercises, and the rest.

My own expertise is key to inspiring and supporting creativity. It comes from constantly researching the subject matter of political science. A great enabler of this is seeing students as a lively focus group that literally takes the pulse of the course through their seminal comments and feedback. Because I teach international students in London and then also take Politics and IR ‘on the road’ to India, my students cover between them a substantive portion of the globe and bring together a myriad of views and expectations. Making sense of the world is about acquiring a key skill, which is the ability to separate information from knowledge. One of the most memorable sayings I heard, whilst lecturing in India, was: “Google cannot find your slippers in the Temple” (which in Hindi translates into something like: Google Apni Chappal Mandir Se Nahi Dhoond sakta.) Indeed, my students often find that social media is a phenomenal way to exchange beacons, whilst the Summer School enables the connection of a great series of these to create a whole and gain a different (critical!) understanding of the world altogether.

In my next entry, I will offer a practical example of this, focusing on the forthcoming UK in/out EU referendum, now only weeks away!

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Meet The Team

 

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Hello from the entire Summer Programmes Office! It’s been an exciting few months for us here in London, what with welcoming a number of new team members and receiving your applications to our various summer programmes. So we thought we would introduce ourselves to you all and to let you know, if we had the chance, what Undergraduate Summer School module we would study and why…

“The Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine has a history of nurturing some of history’s best scientific minds. From the discovery of the structure of DNA, vitamins and beta blockers to the pioneering work on end of life care, researchers at Kings have made life changing contributions to the field of Biosciences. This module is a chance to be taught by scientific heroes”.
Dr Sarah Williamson, Director of Summer Programme

“They all sound so wonderful I think it would be so hard to choose – all of them academically intensive, yet challenging and thought provoking. And I love the fact you get to use London as a classroom”.
Ian Fielding, Deputy Director Summer Programmes

“I’m a great fan of TV Crime Dramas like CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Silent Witness and Waking the Dead, so it would be great to uncover the fact from the fiction in terms of the real world of forensic science. Studying Forensic Science would also give me an excuse to return to my sartorial heydays of wearing a long white laboratory coat and protective eye goggles on a daily basis. I would also pick the Entrepreneurship module because essentially it is all about creating value and identifying opportunities. The module is very ‘market’ focused and would give participants the chance to identify their entrepreneurial potential, explore their creativity and develop a range of skills and knowledge that could be applied in any professional contexts”.
Michael Bedward MBA FHEA, Teaching Fellow (Short Courses)

“I remember studying Latin at school for seven long years. When I once had the chance to sit in on an Intensive Latin Summer School class during its second week I was amazed by how much vocabulary the students knew and about their cultural insights too. It is hard to thoroughly learn a new language from scratch when you are busy. That’s why I would take the very intensive and well structured Ancient Greek course on the Undergraduate Summer School”.
Dr Alexander Heinz, Academic Convenor Summer Programmes

“I would choose the Consumer Behaviour module because I am fascinated by what motivates people to make purchase decisions, and how technology keeps changing and shaping their behaviour”.
Miriam Menkarius, Senior Marketing Officer Summer Programmes

“I love reading and learning about different aspects of psychology which makes the module, Profiling and Psychology of Terrorism, really interesting to me. I’ve sat in on a couple of these classes and the tutor really knows her stuff, bringing in exciting guest speakers who are inspiring and relevant to this field”.
Laura Carseldine, Summer Programmes Manager

“For me, spending the summer studying plays and visiting theatres would be a dream come true so I would choose Theatrical London.  I think it would be fascinating to learn more about London’s illustrious theatrical history and to build my knowledge of the key plays and cultural spaces that define it.  The close proximity of King’s to London’s theatre district also means there are plenty of opportunities to see the latest productions, from West End shows to fringe theatre events.  Sign me up now!”
Zoe Hamilton, Summer Programmes Manager 

“I would choose the Public Health module as I am fascinated by how health care professionals plan and deliver health services in conflict and non-conflict zones. The current migrant crisis has created places such as the ‘Calais Jungle’ which have no government co-ordinated support infrastructures which are fertile ground for the breakout of epidemics. Public Health professionals are able to put in place simple and basic medical practices that could avoid the spread of disease.”
Fahema Ettoubi, Summer Programmes Officer (Admissions)

“Reading has always been a big part of my life, particularly during my childhood, so the bookworm in me would definitely choose the  Wonderland: 100 Years of Children’s Literature module. The opportunity to study some of my favourite pieces of children’s literature from a historical, political and moral stand point would be extremely captivating and getting to do all this in the heart of London is such a great experience. Something I wish I would have done during my studies'”.
Sage Fitzpatrick, Summer Programmes Officer (Operations, Marketing and Events)

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Our Summer School Experience

Pre Arrival

March is an exciting time of year for the Summer Programmes Team. Spring has finally come to London and we’re receiving lots of great applications to our Undergraduate Summer School.

And just before we begin welcoming a new cohort of students, we thought we would share with you some thoughts past students have had about studying at the King’s College London Summer School…

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“Getting to go behind-the-scenes at the Museum of London in Curating the City has illuminated the process by which curators tell stories through objects. This study of material culture will enhance the way in which I think about texts as objects to be scrupulously analyzed. My tutor was not only kind and relatable, but also passionate about the subject matter and engaging as an instructor…”
Anna Mukama, Summer School 2015

Untitled design 3“I have been involved with King’s Summer School for the past 3 years, doing courses ranging from History of Medicine to Neuroscience. I daresay that I am a veteran in terms of King’s Summer School, and what really kept me coming back were the impeccably planned lessons and the wide range of experience that the lessons bring for me.” Hsiu Yen, Summer School 2013-2015

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“My experiences at King’s Summer School are certainly ones I will never forget, to say the very least. Coming here, I didn’t have many expectations, but I have learned far more than I could’ve ever imagined. I have learned about London, and the UK as a whole, both in and out of the classroom.”
Samantha Birk, Summer School 2013 

 

Untitled design 4“When I was accepted to study International Human Rights Law at King’s College London, I was so humbled because it was an opportunity to study at a world-renowned university and in the centre of a global metropolis in a cohort of other like-minded yet diverse people…I am so grateful to have been a part of this incredible experience. Every day of Summer School has, without a doubt, helped me to grow and pushed me to better myself. ”
Jordan Soresi, Summer School 2015

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“I think if there’s one thing that the King’s Undergraduate Summer School has done for me, it’s broadened my perspectives. The various performances, galleries and historical sites we visited on our city walks provided the perfect backdrop for our learning and really helped me understand my course content on a deeper level… The insight and encouragement I’ve gained from my teachers and other students alike have really been invaluable…”
Lauren Reid, Summer School 2015

And this is just a handful of our happy Summer School students. So if you’re looking to have a memorable summer, studying in the heart of London submit your application to our Undergraduate Summer School now.

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New Staff Member: Sage Fitzpatrick

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Hi everyone, I’m Sage and I’m the new Summer Programmes Officer for the Summer Programmes team.

Spending the summer studying at King’s College London is such an exciting opportunity and is an experience you definitely should be looking forward to. For some of you though it may be the first time you’ve ever travelled abroad and spent an extended time away from home. But don’t worry, I’ve been in your shoes before, so if you have any questions about the summer school, or just general questions about what it is like living in London, please let me know.

As I write the weather in London is being it’s traditionally un-predictable self, but even so I’ve been making the most of the campuses close proximity to Somerset House and central London and spending my lunch breaks exploring. Just a short walk across Waterloo Bridge- which offers stunning views of Big Ben, the London Eye and The Shard, is the Southbank. It has lots of things to see, including the colorful Southbank Skatepark and the Southbank Centre Book Market, which is one of the only outdoor second-hand and book markets in Southern England.

Whilst studying at King’s this summer you’ll use London as a classroom and will get to see the city from an entirely new perspective, which is great fun. And in your spare time you may also want to spend some time visiting some other areas too. I would definitely suggest Brick Lane, which is great for street art, curries and vintage clothing, as well as Camden, which has a number of great markets and lots of interesting places to eat, drink and shop.

If you want to keep up to date with the goings on in London I would recommend checking out the Time Out London website, as well as The Culture Trip. Both can give you some great ideas on things to do and places to visit whilst you are in London.

London really is a great place to live and study and you should all be super excited about the prospect of this. If you haven’t already applied good luck with your applications and for those who already have a confirmed place with us I look forward to meeting you all soon!

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Undergraduate Summer School 2016: Applications Now Open

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Hi I’m Fahema the Summer Programmes Officer (Admissions) here at King’s. I’m excited to announce that applications are now open for the King’s College London Summer School for 2016.

If you wish to spend an exciting summer in London with us, get applying now. And don’t worry, submitting an application is easy- as long as you follow our guidelines…

General Application– for new applicants who are not studying at King’s or one of its partner institutions.
Application for King’s partners, alumni & current students (Except Liberal Arts students who can download a form off our website)
Application for Ancient Languages modules

We’ve also got a helpful application video, which gives you a step by step guide on how to apply for our summer school.

Our application deadline is 31 May 2016. Please do remember that our modules are allocated on a first come first served basis, so get your application in early to avoid disappointment.

We are very much looking forward to welcoming you to King’s this summer!