4-week Summer School (Credit Bearing)
Subject and course type
- Short course
Want to study a range of exciting classes in London and visit key cultural locations? Here’s everything you need to know about the Kingston University 4-week summer school.
Get a taste for studying abroad
The summer school experience
Running from Saturday 11 July to Saturday 8 August, this 4-week summer school programme at Kingston University is open to international students from around the world. Experience university-level study and British culture first-hand.
Highlights of the course include:
- An excellent range of classes with a great balance of academic teaching and relevant field trips
- Fully accredited classes worth 3 U.S. / 6 ECTS credits each
- A range of fun social events and long weekends for independent travel
- Single-study bedrooms in University accommodation close to the town centre
- A SIM card for use with your mobile phone
- Unlimited travel in London zones 1–6
- Friendly, dedicated Summer School staff
- A full orientation programme and free airport pick-up and drop-off
With more than 20 years' experience of running summer schools, we aim to provide you with a fun, engaging and memorable study abroad experience in an informal and friendly atmosphere. Plus, Kingston is a beautiful, safe riverside town, only 30 minutes from central London, with fantastic cultural, social and shopping facilities.
Please note, all applicants must be aged 18 or over on 10 July 2026. The online application form will give you the option to select the full summer school or the half summer school.
Why choose this programme?
We offer an excellent range of classes, with the option to take one or two. These classes offer a great balance of academic teaching and relevant field trips. They’re fully accredited and worth 3 U.S. / 6 ECTS credits each.
The summer school classes focus on experiential learning in and around the London area. As they are field-trip based, our classes require a lot of walking. So please only apply if you are happy to be on your feet a lot!
If you are taking two classes, you need to select one from group A and one from group B (due to timetabling).
The classes on offer for 2026 are:
- British Culture and Society – Group A
- Live Theatre – Group A
- Creative Writing – Group B
- Harry Potter and the Order of Popular British Icons – Group B
To find out more about each class and download the relevant syllabi, visit our summer school classes page.
Please note, Kingston University reserves the right to cancel a class due to insufficient student enrolments.
- Orientation programme – the orientation programme and welcome reception will give you the chance to meet your fellow students and the summer school staff
- Evening activities – we will arrange some evening social activities during the programme
- Optional weekend trips – there will be two long weekends (four days) during the summer school, giving you the chance to undertake independent travel
- British Culture field trips – if you are not taking the British Culture class, you may still have the opportunity to participate in its field trips (depending on space and your schedule). You will need to pay a fee per trip
Summer school students will be housed at one of Kingston University's Seething Wells halls of residence based in Surbiton. Each student will have a single study private bedroom with ensuite bathroom. There will be a suite of between 5 and 8 rooms sharing a kitchen.
You will benefit from:
- A central Surbiton location, a 15-minute walk along the river (or short bus ride) to the Penrhyn Road campus (where classes take place); Surbiton also has fast train links into central London (16 minutes by train)
- Supermarkets (grocery stores) nearby in Surbiton and Kingston, plus a daily fruit and vegetable market in Kingston
- WiFi internet connection in your halls of residence and on campus. (Bring your laptop, but check that it is dual voltage. You can either buy a new power cable in Kingston or use a plug adaptor. You should not use a voltage converter.)
- The University’s libraries and computing facilities (wireless internet access is available in the library)
- Non-smoking accommodation
- On-site laundry facilities
Bedrooms and the kitchen will be cleaned weekly, although you should keep the kitchens and bathrooms clean and tidy on a daily basis.
We will provide:
- Bed linen (changed weekly)
- One towel (changed weekly)
- Pots, pans, crockery and cutlery, so you can prepare your own meals in the shared kitchen
- Cleaning equipment
You may also need additional electrical items (compatible with the UK voltage system) such as desk fans, hairdryers and straighteners. However, it is a good idea to wait and buy these in the UK, because they must be dual voltage.
Our summer school programme includes:
- Unlimited travel in London, zones 1–6
- Friendly, dedicated summer school staff, on hand to ensure participants have the experience of a lifetime
- A full orientation programme
- Free airport pick-up and drop-off on the designated days
- Access to Kingston, a beautiful riverside town, just 30 minutes from central London, with fantastic cultural, social and shopping facilities
- Access to Surbiton, a suburb with a fast London train link and a selection of shops
- A fun, engaging and memorable study abroad experience in an informal and friendly atmosphere
Costs
The cost of the 4-week summer school 2026 programme is:
£3,695 sterling per student for one class or
£4,295 sterling per student for two classes.
This price includes:
- Group transportation to your accommodation from Heathrow or Gatwick airports on designated arrival day
- Return group transportation to Heathrow or Gatwick airports on designated departure day
- Tuition fees, field trips and entrance fees for class visits
- 28 nights' accommodation in single-occupancy bedrooms with ensuite bathroom and shared kitchen facilities
- Library and computing facilities, including email and internet access
- A travelcard for one calendar month, giving unlimited travel on the underground, buses, overground and trains throughout Greater London (zones 1–6)
- A calendar of social events
- Orientation programme, including a walking tour of Kingston town and the University and lunch at a local pub
- Enrolment at Kingston University and certificate of credits earned on completion of the programme
The price does not include:
- Roundtrip airfare and/or other travel costs for getting to the UK
- Local travel outside Greater London
- Food and beverages (unless specified)
- Accommodation for friends and family of students
- Costs of additional travel at weekends
All amounts are payable in pounds sterling and can be paid by inter-bank transfer or by credit card. In the middle of May, we will invoice you for your fees. Your fees must be paid in full by the middle of June 2026.
- if you withdraw before 15 May 2026, there is no charge
- if you withdraw after 15 May 2026, before arriving at Kingston University, you will receive a 100% refund of fees, less a £500 administration charge
- if you withdraw after arriving at Kingston University
- you will have the option to switch to summer school [2027] at no additional cost, or to receive a 90% refund of fees less a £500 administration charge, if you withdraw prior to the first day of classes (13 July 2026)
- you will receive a 75% refund, less a £500 administration charge refund, if you withdraw after the first day of classes (13 July 2026) but before [16 July 2026] (the end of the first full week of teaching)
- you will receive no refund if you withdraw after [16 July 2026]
- If you decide to withdraw prior to arrival due to a class you wanted to take being cancelled, you will receive a full refund
Kingston University is not able to administer any financial aid/scholarships that summer school students would normally receive through their home college or university.
Students from the US, in receipt of Financial Aid, must check with the Financial Aid Office at their home institution about the procedures while studying abroad.
Summer school scholarship
There are two scholarships available for the 4-week Kingston University summer school. One for £800 off fees and another for £300 off fees.
Scholarship students must take two classes.
For more information about the scholarships and application process email our Summer School team.
How to apply
The online application form for our 4-week Summer School is now open.
The deadline for submitting applications is on 30 April 2026.
You will need to upload a copy of your university transcript, a digital photo and a copy of your biometric passport page. If you do not yet have all the documents you can return to your application to upload them at a later date. Please keep a copy of your email with your applicant reference number if you need to return to the application to add documents later.
What happens next?
In May, once we have approved your application and you have accepted your place, we will email you with an invoice and ask you to make the full payment online by credit card.
Contact us
If you have any questions about Kingston University's 4-week summer school, email the Summer School Manager, Cath Kuppan.
Study Abroad International Learning (SAIL) Office
Kingston University
Ground Floor, Yorkon Building
Kingston Hill campus
Kingston upon Thames
KT2 7LB
United Kingdom
Email: [email protected]
Please note, this email is only for the international summer school. If you are interested in other Kingston University open short courses, you must complete their contact form to start correspondence, as these are run by other departments in the University.
