Summer Schools
Specialist subjects and English language study at a gold-rated UK university
Give your students an educational holiday in England
Create your educational holiday programme with us, and offer your students English language and cultural study in the historic seaside city of Portsmouth.
Or offer a specialist workshop that combines English language study with Engineering, Health, Sports Science, Humanities, Business or Pharmacology.
Contact us on uksummerschools@port.ac.uk to set up your summer school.
Why choose summer school in Portsmouth?
Sending your students to summer school with us means they'll:
- Study at a Top 150 young university (Times Higher Education University Rankings 2019).
- Explore UK culture, through learning sessions in the university, and through cultural excursions beyond our campus – supported by our dedicated cultural team, who work to make all students feel at home and enjoy their time with us.
- Study close to miles of beautiful beaches and parks, in a friendly university. Our location on England's south coast means we have warmer springs and summers – and milder winters – than the rest of the UK.
- Enjoy an environment where student satisfaction is high: our students are more satisfied with us than students at most other UK universities (National Student Survey, 2022).
- Study at a university whose teaching was ranked Gold by the UK Government's Teaching Excellence Framework – one of only four on the south coast to achieve a gold rating.
- Learn from the same team of English-language tutors who deliver our pre-sessional English course, accredited by the British Association of Lecturers in English for Academic Purposes (BALEAP).
How they'll spend their time
When your students arrive, they'll have a transfer from their London airport, and we'll return them at the end of their stay. In between, they'll learn what it's like to study in a UK university, and explore UK culture with day trips to local tourist hotspots like the Historic Dockyard, London, Windsor Castle and Oxford.
They'll spend time developing the skills to shine in seminars, debates and assessments. And they will have free time to explore Portsmouth – the UK's only island city.
A typical day
On a typical day, your students might spend the morning learning about how to present their case in a higher education debate or seminar, then take part in a workshop to improve their personal statements, before spending the afternoon in team games. Or maybe they'll learn about the casual language used outside the classroom, while discovering British cuisine. There's a day trip on each Wednesday – London and Windsor Castle are our current excursion plans.
Please note: This schedule is provided as indicative content. Some lessons may be adjusted where appropriate. Trips are subject to availability. If a trip can't run, a suitable replacement will be provided.
Specialist programmes
We can deliver specialist summer schools, offering bespoke sessions to your students' needs, delivered by subject lecturers who will draw on their research and industry experience to deliver high-quality teaching in your chosen subject.
Contact uksummerschools@port.ac.uk to talk to us about developing a programme tailored to you.
Specialist Programmes
On our Business Summer School, your students will develop their English language skills, while also engaging in sessions hosted by our Faculty of Business and Law. Cultural experiences on the programme will also focus on business.
Sample programme
Week 1
Sunday
- London airport pickup and transfer to Portsmouth
Monday
- Welcome and Orientation
- Exploring British traditions workshop
- Tour of Portsmouth and fish and chips dinner
Tuesday
- Introducing university study
- Creative Thinking in Business workshop
- Preparing for sightseeing in London
Wednesday
- Day trip to London
Thursday
- Introduction to seminars and debating
- Personal statement workshop
- Use of marketing in business – brand development
Friday
- Exploring cross cultural issues
- Free afternoon
Saturday
- Day trip to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
Week 2
Sunday
- Free day
Monday
- Design and deliver a presentation
- All about the UK quiz
- Trading in a Pit Market – Economics & Human Behaviour
Tuesday
- Everyday language and British cuisine
- Note-taking skills and lecture skills
- The Value of Accountancy in Business
Wednesday
- Applying what we have learnt – Visit to UK based company
Thursday
- Group work and rehearsal
- Team games
- Team building
Friday
- Group poster presentation
- Farewell lunch
Saturday
- Return transfer to London airport
On our Drama and Performing Arts Summer School, your students will develop their English language skills, while also engaging in sessions hosted by our Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries. Cultural experiences on the programme will also focus on the dramatic arts.
Sample programme
Week 1
Sunday
- London airport pickup and transfer to Portsmouth
Monday
- Welcome and Orientation
- Exploring British Theatre history
- Tour of Portsmouth and traditional pub dinner
Tuesday
- Warm-up exercises that participants would experience in a rehearsal room
- Preparing for cultural visit to Theatre
Wednesday
- Day trip including Theatre visit
Thursday
- Introduction to seminars and debating
- Introduction to acting techniques based on a Stanislavskian approach or Emma Rice's actor-as-storyteller
Friday
- Exploring cross cultural issues
- Voice work exploring breath, sound, resonation, articulation and making meaning
Saturday
- Day trip to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
Week 2
Sunday
- Free day
Monday
- Introduction movement work based on the teaching practice of Jacques Lecoq and Phillipe Gaulier
- Theatre History
- All about British Theatre quiz
Tuesday
- Everyday language and subject-specific language of Theatre
- Theatre for young audiences
- Theatre visit
Wednesday
- Acting for camera techniques
- Theatre criticism and analysis (discussing Tuesday's Theatre visit)
Thursday
- Preparing audition piece or presentation
- Rehearsal
Friday
- Presentation/audition piece performed
- Farewell lunch
Saturday
- Return transfer to London airport
On our Early Years Learning Summer School, your students will develop their English language skills, while also engaging in sessions hosted by our Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. Cultural experiences in the programme will also focus on early years learning.
Sample programme
Week 1
Sunday
- London airport pickup and transfer to Portsmouth
Monday
- Welcome and Orientation
- Exploring British traditions workshop
- Tour of Portsmouth and traditional British pub dinner
Tuesday
- Introducing university study
- Introduction to Early Years Learning in the UK
- Preparing for sightseeing in London
Wednesday
- Day trip to London
Thursday
- Introduction to seminars and debating
- Personal statement workshop
- Outdoor play and learning – Early Years Foundation Stage
Friday
- Exploring cross cultural issues
- Free afternoon
Saturday
- Day trip to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
Week 2
Sunday
- Free day
Monday
- Design and deliver a presentation
- All about the UK fun quiz
- Contemporary issues and perspectives in Early Years Learning
Tuesday
- Everyday language and British cuisine
- Note-taking skills and lecture skills
- Careers and opportunities in Early Years Learning
Wednesday
- Day trip to Oxford
Thursday
- Critical thinking
- Group work and rehearsal
- Trip to UK Early Years Learning setting
Friday
- Group poster presentation
- Farewell lunch
Saturday
- Return transfer to London airport
On our Education Summer School, your students will develop their English language skills, while also engaging in sessions hosted by our Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. Cultural experiences in the programme will also have an education focus.
Sample programme
Week 1
Sunday
- London airport pickup and transfer to Portsmouth
Monday
- Welcome and Orientation
- Exploring British traditions workshop
- Tour of Portsmouth and traditional British pub dinner
Tuesday
- Introducing university study
- Introduction to Education
- Preparing for sightseeing in London
Wednesday
- Day trip to London
Thursday
- Introduction to seminars and debating
- Personal statement workshop
- Teaching methods
Friday
- Exploring cross cultural issues
- Free afternoon
Saturday
- Day trip to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
Week 2
Sunday
- Free day
Monday
- Design and deliver a presentation
- All about the UK fun quiz
- Contemporary issues and perspectives in Education
Tuesday
- Everyday language and British cuisine
- Note-taking skills and lecture skills
- Careers and opportunities in Education
Wednesday
- Day trip to Oxford
Thursday
- Critical thinking
- Group work and rehearsal
- Trip to UK educational establishment
Friday
- Group poster presentation
- Farewell lunch
Saturday
- Return transfer to London airport
On our Engineering Summer School, your students will develop their English language skills, while also engaging in sessions hosted by our Faculty of Technology. Cultural experiences in the programme will also focus on engineering.
Sample programme
Week 1
Sunday
- London airport pickup and transfer to Portsmouth.
Monday
- Welcome and Orientation
- Exploring British traditions workshop
- Tour of Portsmouth and traditional British pub dinner
Tuesday
- Introducing university study
- Introduction to Engineering
- Preparing for sightseeing in London
Wednesday
- Day trip to London
Thursday
- Introduction to seminars and debating
- Personal statement workshop
- Engineering Structure and Design
Friday
- Exploring cross cultural issues
- Free Afternoon
Saturday
- Day Trip to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
Week 2
Sunday
- Free Day
Monday
- Design and deliver a presentation
- All about the UK fun quiz
- Innovation in engineering
Tuesday
- Everyday language and British cuisine
- Note-taking skills and lecture skills
- Careers and opportunities in engineering
Wednesday
- Day trip to Oxford
Thursday
- Critical thinking
- Group work and rehearsal
- Trip to uk engineering company/institution
Friday
- Group poster presentation
- Farewell lunch
Saturday
- Return transfer to London airport
On our English Culture and Academic Skills Summer School, your students will engage with English traditions and culture, alongside their study of English language and academic skills.
Sample programme
Week 1
Monday
- London airport pickup and transfer to accommodation
Tuesday
- Welcome and Orientation
- Exploring British traditions workshop
- Tour of Portsmouth and traditional British pub dinner
Wednesday
- Introducing University study
- Exploring British customs workshop
- Prepare for sightseeing in London
Thursday
- Day trip to London
Friday
- Introduction to seminars and debating
- Personal statement workshop
- Exploring cross-cultural issues
- Team games
Saturday
- Day trip to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
Sunday
- Free day
Week 2
Monday
- Design and deliver a presentation
- All about the UK fun quiz
- Afternoon Bowling trip
Tuesday
- Academic writing skills
- Note-taking skills and lecture skills
- Team-building
Wednesday
- Day trip to Oxford
Thursday
- Critical thinking
- Group work and rehearsal
- Team games
Friday
- Group poster presentations
- Farewell lunch
Saturday
- Return transfer to airport
On our Pharmaceutical Science Summer School, your students will develop their English language skills, while also engaging in sessions hosted by our Faculty of Science and Health. Cultural experiences in the programme will also have a pharmaceutical focus.
Sample programme
Week 1
Sunday
- London airport pickup and transfer to Portsmouth
Monday
- Welcome and Orientation
- Exploring British traditions workshop
- Tour of Portsmouth and traditional pub dinner
Tuesday
- Introducing university study
- Introduction to Pharmaceutical Science
- Preparing for sightseeing in London
Wednesday
- Day trip to London
Thursday
- Introduction to seminars and debating
- Personal statement workshop
- Pharmaceutical analysis
Friday
- Exploring cross cultural issues
- Free afternoon
Saturday
- Day trip to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
Week 2
Sunday
- Free day
Monday
- Design and deliver a presentation
- All about the UK quiz
- Innovation in Pharmaceutical Science
Tuesday
- Everyday language and British cuisine
- Note-taking skills and lecture skills
- Trip to pharmaceutical company/institution
Wednesday
- Day trip to Oxford
Thursday
- Critical thinking
- Group work and rehearsal
- Team games/team building
Friday
- Group poster presentation
- Farewell lunch
Saturday
- Return transfer to London airport
On our Photography Summer School, your students will develop their English language skills, while also engaging in sessions hosted by our Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries. Cultural experiences of the programme will also focus on photography.
Sample programme
Week 1
Sunday
- London airport pickup and transfer to Portsmouth
Monday
- Welcome and Orientation
- Exploring British traditions
- Introduction: 'Techniques, concepts, practices'
- Setting the first brief 'Picturing Portsmouth'
- Camera induction workshop
- Tour of Portsmouth and traditional pub dinner
Tuesday
- Introducing University study
- Talk: 'Ways to visualise the City'
- Exploring the City in groups (independent working; responding to brief)
Wednesday
- Day trip to London
Thursday
- Personal statement workshop
- Photoshop workshop: Basic photography adjustments/thoughts on editing
- City exploration: Beginning to develop a body of work
Friday
- Exploring cross cultural issues
- Viewing work/discussion: 'Achieving coherence and establishing content'
Saturday
- Day trip to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
Week 2
Sunday
- Free day
Monday
- Introduction to digital printing
- Design and deliver presentations
- All about photography and the UK quiz
Tuesday
- Writing an artist statement
- Viewing work and consolidating projects
- How to edit and present work
Wednesday
- Digital printing workshop: 'Printing for portfolio'
Thursday
- Final day of shooting
- Project printing
- Finalising project and statement workshop
Friday
- Presenting/exhibiting your project
- Farewell lunch
Saturday
- Return transfer to London airport
On our Sports Summer School, your students will develop their English language skills, while also engaging in sessions hosted by our Faculty of Science and Health. Cultural experiences in the programme will also have a sporting focus.
Sample programme
Week 1
Sunday
- London airport pickup and transfer to Portsmouth
Monday
- Welcome and Orientation
- Exploring British traditions workshop
- Tour of Portsmouth and traditional pub dinner.
Tuesday
- Introducing University study
- Anatomy and Physiology in Sport
- Preparing for sightseeing in London
Wednesday
- Day trip to London
Thursday
- Introduction to seminars and debating
- Personal statement workshop
- Coaching skills: Football
Friday
- Exploring cross cultural issues
- Free Afternoon
Saturday
- Day trip to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
Week 2
Sunday
- Free day.
Week 2
Monday
- Design and deliver a presentation
- All about the UK quiz
- Coaching skills: Cricket
Tuesday
- Everyday language and British cuisine
- Note-taking skills and lecture skills
- Sports based team building
Wednesday
- Trip to Oxford
Thursday
- Critical Thinking
- Group work and rehearsal
- Trip to Portsmouth Football Club
Friday
- Group poster presentation
- Farewell lunch
Saturday
- Return transfer to London airport
Accommodation
Student accommodation is included in the cost of your summer school.
Normally, students stay in one of our halls of residence. Each will enjoy a single room in a flat of five self-contained bedrooms, with a shared kitchen and bathroom. Each hall has a reception where staff will be able to help your students with any questions or issues that arise during their stay.
It's also possible to arrange rooms with host families, subject to availability.
Entry requirements
To join one of our summer schools, students must:
- Have a student visitor visa (if from outside the EU)
- Be aged eighteen or over at the course start date
- Speak English to intermediate level
Contact us
School of Languages and Applied Linguistics
University of Portsmouth
Park Building
Portsmouth
PO1 2DZ
United Kingdom
Accreditation
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