Picking a university without ever really experiencing it is a bit like renting a flat only by seeing images but never having stepped a foot inside it.
You make your choice based on rankings, the university website, or at best an open day a campus visit if the university is close by.
Pre-university summer schools are a great way to actually get a university experience before you commit. If you are considering your study options, they are worth having a look at!
Key takeaways:
- Through summer schools, you get to know a subject or university before applying, which makes them a practical tool for choosing the right university.
- Having attended a summer school may strengthen your application by showing you’re motivated and familiar with the subject.
- Costs for pre-university summer courses vary a lot, ranging from around €1,500 for shorter programmes in Europe all the way to over $10,000 for residential courses at prestigious US universities.
- Start looking early: many programmes open applications in early spring and fill up quickly, especially popular ones in the UK, US, and Europe.
What is a pre-university summer school?
A pre-university summer school is a short academic programme, usually one to four weeks long, that gives you a taste of university life before you apply anywhere.
It takes place during the summer break, so it will not clash with your own school schedule.
Universities offer them across a wide range of subjects, from medicine and law to creative writing, or data science. There is almost no subject for which you can’t do a summer course.
During the course, you attend lectures and participate in workshops or group projects with international students, and you will get a course certificate at the end.
Worth knowing: I think that a summer school also gives you a first impression of the less obvious parts of studying, such as dealing with administrative tasks or reaching out to university offices about programmes or fees. This will be part of your studies, so it’s great to learn this early on.
What you gain as a student from a pre-studies summer course
Here are the main benefits of summer schools:
- Real academic setting: by experiencing a real academic setting for some weeks, you will find out quickly whether something really interests you or not.
- Campus life: you will experience what studying at that university actually feels like, from the rhythm of your day, the social life to how approachable the lecturers are.
- Experience abroad: if you go abroad for it, you also get a ‘study abroad in a nutshell’ type of experience, which I think shouldn’t be missing from anyone’s study life.
- Admissions impact: summer schools may improve your admission chances. Many universities, such as University College London, mention that they are looking for students that show some engagement outside of school.
Now let’s get to the main downsides of summer schools:
- Costs: the course fees vary widely and some may be above your budget. We’ll get into the details about costs later in this article.
- Logistics: a summer course means there will be additional administrative and organisational tasks for you to handle during that summer break. You need to organise travel, housing, or organise around family holidays.
- Spoilt for choice: You can’t visit every single university you are curious about, or some of your favourite programmes may overlap, so at some point you do have to pick.
- Competition: At prestigious universities, there is a high demand for summer school spots, so applying early and with a good motivational statement is important to get in.
Summer schools also stay useful throughout your studies as a way to earn extra ECTS or to pick up skills your main programme does not cover. During my studies, I visited several summer schools and wouldn’t want to miss these experiences.
Worth knowing: Are you looking for more applied experiences rather than purely academic ones? Then you might want to consider doing an externship or an internship. These can be done at any point before or during your studies and are a great way to get a feel for a certain job field.
What makes a good summer school?
To pick a high-quality summer school, it is important to check that the following is provided by the course:
- A clear overview of the learning outcomes
- Qualified instructors listed
- Transparent information about the course fees and housing options
- A contact email specifically for summer school inquiries
If in doubt about anything about a class, I would always recommend contacting the university through the given summer school contact and see what response you get. If you get a helpful response, chances are that their academic environment is very supportive.
Another extra tip is to check online for reviews of past participants. This gives you a good impression of what the course may be like.
How to choose the right summer school
Before you start browsing programmes, it helps to be honest with yourself about what you are actually looking for. A few questions to start with are:
- What subjects interest you?
- Are there specific universities you are already considering for a full degree?
- Do you want to stay in your own country or go abroad?
- What is your realistic budget, including travel and living costs?
Once you have a rough answer to those, here are some practical first steps for choosing a summer school:
- Start early: most universities publish their offerings by the end of winter, with applications opening in spring.
- Make a list: browse through various programmes and subjects and collect a list of possible courses and when they take place.
- Check the practical details: look into age limits, whether a visa is needed for the destination country, what accommodation and supervision arrangements there are for students under 18, and know the full cost of attendance, including anything not covered by the course fee.
- Consider applying to more than one: popular programmes can fill up fast, so having a backup can save you from missing out entirely. Just keep an eye on application fees and deposit deadlines for each one, since these are not always refundable.
- Know the cancellation rights: just in case plans might change, read up about cancellation and refund policies of the chosen programme.
Worth knowing: Some universities, such as in Europe. also offer winter schools during December or January breaks. These can be a great pick and competition for spots is often a bit lower.
Best destinations for summer programmes
The UK and US host some of the most well-known summer programmes, at prestigious universities like Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, or Yale. These universities have a strong reputation and are usually excellent from an academic perspective. But, as you can already imagine, they are also among the most expensive.
European universities also offer a wide range of programmes, and increasingly in English. Not every university offers the same programme each year, so you’ll need to browse for your specific summer what courses are available.
There are some elite universities, which may cost more, but generally the course fees are much lower in Europe than in the UK or the US.
In Asia, Singapore and Japan in particular have built up summer options, often with a focus on business, technology, or area studies. Depending on where you are from, it can be a good experience living in an Asian culture before you decide to study there.
Universities in Oceania, such as in Australia and New Zealand, also offer summer programmes. However, as these programmes coincide with the shorter winter break in the northern hemisphere, the academic calendars are often difficult to combine.
What are the costs of a summer school?
So, what costs do you have to budget for a summer course?
- Course fees
- Housing costs
- Living costs (food, activities, etc.)
- Travel expenses
Course fees for pre-university summer schools vary a lot depending on where you go and can range from 1,000 to over 10,000.
- At smaller European universities, two-week programmes can start at around €1,500 to €2,700, while well-known UK universities like King's College London or the University of Edinburgh often charge between £5,000 and £6,500 for a two-week residential course, including accommodation and meals.
- In the US, prices tend to be even higher: Harvard's Pre-College Program costs around $6,100 for two weeks, and some longer residential programmes there go well above $10,000.
Most pre-university programmes include housing as part of the course fee, since the majority of students like you are still in high school and need supervised accommodation. For accommodation, details like meal plans or single vs. shared rooms can make your stay cheaper.
There may also be other ways to reduce what you pay. Some host universities offer fee reductions or other financial help directly through the summer school. So if cost is a barrier, it is always worth getting in touch and asking. The worst they can say is no.
Conclusion: make a better study choice through a summer course
A pre-university summer school is a short and fun commitment which can show you what a university actually feels like from the inside, and help you decide on a subject.
It also gives your motivation for studying a real boost, as you’ll get a first glimpse of student life sharing these weeks with other students from all over the world.
If you want to start figuring out what subjects or fields of study actually interest you, check out Studyportals to find the study programme and career that suits you. Happy browsing!
