Studying Business Management at King’s Pre-University Online Summer School

I studied Business Management during King’s Pre-University Online Summer School in 2021. The Summer School is divided into two major parts: Global challenge and your chosen subject’s program. I chose business management because I am planning to study it at university. After following the detailed steps of applying and writing a personal statement, I was able to attend the Business management program.  

Student engagement

The program is delicately planned to maximise student engagement. Before the start of teaching, there was a welcoming event followed by an introduction process. This quickly helped me to feel involved despite the programme taking place online. The content in my business management program was engrossing and helped me to learn a lot about how to start up a business. During the first week, we focused on creating your business idea, establishing your market, developing your strategy, financial forecasting, start-up capital, marketing plan, growth strategy, supply chain, business culture and HR.  

Intellectually stimulating 

The teaching throughout the course was intellectually stimulating as well as engaging and fun. One example of this was when the tutor told interesting stories related to the subject matter to help the lesson to become livelier and more relatable. After each lesson, we had the chance to apply what we learned in class. During this process, I was able to learn a lot about finance and marketing. For instance, we needed to apply market sizing principles to find suitable funding requests for our business. As a result of all this accumulation of knowledge, our team was slowly building on and refining our final project. The final product is to produce a business presentation in groups that will attract investors. I believe my teammates coped smoothly throughout the whole program. Although we did not know each other before the session, after being dividing into teams, we exchanged our contact details and became friends. This was all inspired by our excitement to share our ideas for starting a business.  

During the global challenge session, we worked as a team to find evidence and resources regarding the cause and impact of food insecurity. I was amazed by the level of teamwork and fascinated by the capacity of human beings to work towards a common goal. Our team decided to complete a presentation on climate change. To produce the final product, we researched and gathered information both during lesson time and outside class hours to find resources such as the stakeholders, the impacts, and the potential solutions.  

Student ambassadors

The programme also includes meeting student ambassadors. This is especially useful for students who want to apply to King’s College London because it provided me with a more complete picture of life at King’s. By the end of the programme, I gained more valuable skills, enriched my academic knowledge, and learned details about the UCAS application.  

Personally, I’m extremely glad that I was able to attend my first university summer school program at King’s College London. This course has helped me develop as a person both inside and outside of the classroom. 

 – Emily Wu, Pre-University Summer School 2021

King’s Pre-University Summer School returns to campus for 2022 find out more online here.

Four Things That Surprised Me About King’s Undergraduate Summer School

As someone with no background in law, I knew I was wading into the deep end when I registered for a module in international commercial law from King’s College London. I ended up being more than pleased with my experience. Here’s what surprised me:  

My classmates were from everywhere. 

I knew I wouldn’t be the only international student, but I didn’t realize just how global the programme would be. A few of my classmates were in the UK, but my module included students from multiple continents. Since many had studied law in different countries, we got to hear fascinating perspectives about how the law and legal professions differ across borders.

The level of my fellow students was super impressive. 

 The module I took was very challenging, but it was made easier by having committed and smart students to work alongside. Discussions during live teaching were always stimulating and clarifying. Students from many different points in their academic careers were all able to contribute substantively. 

The level of the instructors was amazing. 

My course tutors were eminently qualified in their field, both as practitioners and scholars. Rather than only teaching standard texts, as instructors of introductory courses often do, the tutors shared their expertise in their own specialties. We got to learn about cutting-edge research into emerging problems, such as regulation of blockchain currency in international finance. 

The tutors and summer team were able to use online learning technology very effectively. 

While it would have been amazing to study in person in London, I was surprised by how well the online platform worked. It was easy to navigate and kept all course materials organised. Even if the Undergraduate Summer School returns to in-person learning, I expect that the summer team’s ability to facilitate online learning will continue to benefit students. 

I felt nervous going into this programme, but my experience left me with no regrets. I wholeheartedly encourage prospective students to choose Summer @ King’s. 

– Matthew Waterman, Undergraduate Online Summer School 2021

King’s Summer Programmes will return for Summer 2022, find out more and register your interest on our website.

Pei’s summer at King’s

Summer at King’s has been a truly remarkable experience for me. I have never studied out of my own country before, hence, this really allowed me to immerse myself into a totally different academic culture. From the start, I had intended to study literature in London as I felt that the city was brimming with literary resources and history. What made me choose King’s College was the variety of unique courses and the availability of information on them. These helped me to decide whether I was truly interested in committing to the course over my summer holiday.

The course I chose was Wonderland: 100 Years of Children’s literature, which caught my eye due to the diverse range of interesting topics covered. I loved how the course did not shy away from discussing controversial topics such as Psychoanalysis of the author and Gender Theory. In class, everyone was supportive and encouraging, despite being from different backgrounds and countries. I felt comfortable enough to speak up in class as I knew that others would not laugh at me but instead build on my answers.

However, Summer School at King’s was not only about studying, I managed to attend lots of events and make a lot of new friends there too! We had lots of fun exploring the city together, everything was only a walk away since King’s was located conveniently in the heart of London! The school even arranged fun social events for us such as the Harry Potter Walking Tour and the trip to Greenwich.

 

I loved the fact that there were so many Galleries and Theatres around. We could literally pop into theatres for matinee performances right after class. It was a bonus being able to use the Student Discount to get tickets for many ticketed activities around London.

 

Truthfully, I had gone over without much expectations on meeting new friends. I was afraid that people would end up being too cliquey. I ended up being proved wrong as everyone that I met there was so warm and welcoming. Even the locals in London were very friendly! Every interaction I had in King’s ended in a new friendship. Words cannot express how happy and thankful I am to have been given such a wonderful opportunity to meet so many different people and expand my view of the world!

 

 

Pei Wen

London Calling

This week London was (unsurprisingly) named the best destination in the world by the 2019 TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice awards. London is also the number 1 student city in the world for university students, according to QS Higher Education Group.

It’s an iconic city full of history and art, endless restaurants, bars, coffee shops and free museums. There is so much to see and do in London, you will never be bored! ‘Diversity’ is the best word to describe the city that has people from all corners of the world. This city will open your horizons, makes you see things from a different perspective and allow you to meet people from around the globe.

London is also home to big dreams and endless job opportunities meaning most students choose to stay here after graduating.

Our summer team is a mix of nationalities. Here’s some thoughts about London from the team:

‘Moving to London was the best life decision I ever made. This city is so, fun, vibrant and dynamic. From food markets to West End shows and music gigs there is always something to do. One of my favourite things about London is the cultural diversity. I have been fortunate enough to make friends with people from all over the world who live here in London. If you are considering moving to London, I say stop thinking and do it – it may be a big city, but it’s full of welcoming, cheerful Londoners.’ – Jen Ahern (from Australia)

 

‘Living in London is a life experience! An experience that makes you grow personally and professionally, it teaches you to be respectful, proactive and independent. It’s a city full of opportunities that moves at a fast pace but at the same time teaches you to appreciate the simple things in life, such as a walk in the park and even your own country ‘. – Joana Correia (from Portugal)

 

 

‘London is a city that has become the home for people from around the world. I have always felt very welcome in London because of it. At the same time it isn’t a city whose identity isn’t also undeniably English and quintessentially British. Wherever you are in London, you feel the character, the history, the heartbeat of this fantastic place’ – Alexander Heinz (from Germany) 

 

 

‘Having been born and bred in this great city, I could never dream of leaving. For me, London is less a about tea, scones and old buildings like the old caricature always goes, but is instead more of a fast-paced, trendy, diverse and incredibly welcoming city. London becomes home for everyone who visits, and will always be open. – Neil Vadgama (from the UK)

 

Our summer programmes are an opportunity to experience London not only from a student perspective but also from a Londoner point of view (the only difference is that if you stay in King’s accommodation you will not experience the London commute – you can thank us later.)

If you haven’t started your application move to ready, set, apply. London is calling!

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.

A taste of King’s

This summer, we welcomed more than 100 students on the Pre-University Taster summer programme where they explored subject areas such as Business, Law, Science, Engineering, History and Literature.

Our Science students visited the Science Museum with their tutor, Professor Thais Russomano and our Law students had a tour of the Royal Courts of Justice located five minutes away from our Strand campus when they were not in class learning about international human rights laws.

The Business students discussed entrepreneurship, marketing and operations and the History and Literature students explored London through an interdisciplinary lens combining themes from both subject areas. Meanwhile, the Engineering students built educational tools out of Lego with Dr Jamie Barras.
In addition to their classes, the students also had a chance to attend personal statement workshops, admissions talks as well as sessions led by the respective faculties and departments at King’s. They all received a certificate of participation at the end of the week and what we hope is a better understanding of what it is like to study a certain subject at university level. See you in the summer of 2019!

Undergraduate Social ‘n Sports

So, you have accepted your offer to join the King’s Undergraduate Summer School, and you now probably have an idea of what you are going to study, where you are going to live and how much your workload will be. This is the perfect moment to start thinking about how to spend your free time. You probably want to go sightseeing or attend a musical or have some fish and chips.

We have put together the below social activities that you can enjoy during the Undergraduate Summer School programme.

Oxford and Windsor Day Trip

Oxford is known for its beautiful canal, pedestrianised central business district and fascinating architecture. In Windsor, you can visit the largest and oldest inhabited castle in the world and the Queen’s favourite weekend home.

For further information and to book tickets, please visit the links below:

Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre Trips

To celebrate some of the greatest works of William Shakespeare we will be offering our students the opportunity to attend a performance at The Globe Theatre where Shakespeare’s plays are performed like they were in his time.

Session one students can attend a live performance of Hamlet (10 July 2018 at 7:30pm), and  Session two students can attend Othello (1 August 2018 at 7:30pm).

Harry Potter Studio Tour

Step across the threshold of the Great Hall, walk down Diagon Alley, visit Number 4 Privet Drive, board the night bus, and take a photo on Hagrid’s Motorbike.

For further information and to book tickets, please visit the links below:

  • Session one : 7 July 2018 – Tour 1 at 10:45am, or Tour 2 at 11:15am
  • Session two: 28 July 2018 – Tour 1 at 10:45am, or Tour 2 at 11:15am

Gym Membership and BeActive

King’s Sport and King’s Summer Programmes are delighted to be offering gym membership packages to summer students. Membership includes full access to the fitness equipment and access to a variety of group fitness classes such as yoga, pilates and spinning (booking required). Here is an example timetable. If you wish to purchase a gym membership, please do so via the e-store.

In addition to this, A BeActive programme is available to all students, which consists of:

  • Weekly Table Tennis sessions
  • Weekly GoodGym Run – a chance to work out and volunteer in the community at the same time
  • Bi-Weekly Rave Runs

We look forward to seeing you this summer and hope you are also excited to be joining us on the King’s Undergraduate Summer School!

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 FacebookTwitter 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 .

 

 

All about the Law

Deciding what course to take at university is no easy task. That’s why studying a Pre-University Taster course in Law may help students with their decision-making process.

Most students will choose law because they are interested in pursuing a career in the legal profession. Law is a demanding course and training places for solicitors and barristers are highly competitive and limited. However, for those with the right aptitudes and motivation, the rewards of a legal career can be great, both in terms of salary levels and personal development. Unfortunately, getting into the legal profession is very challenging; so many students do need to consider other options.

Happily, not only will a law degree provide you with access to a variety of legal careers, it will also give you an excellent springboard into a wide range of other professions. More than half of all the graduate jobs do not require any particular degree and a good Law degree will allow you to present plenty of important skills to future employers.

Through your analysis of case studies and other work on this course, you will become highly skilled in researching and assimilating large amounts of information and complex data. These are important skills in a vast range of professions in commerce and industry. You will develop very strong oral and written communications skills, which are needed by all employers these days. You will learn to approach tasks in a clear, reasoned and logical way, and you will become an effective problem solver.

This course will run in from 6 – 9 August 2018. For more information, please check our website, or email us at summer@kcl.ac.uk.

 

 

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.