Bespoke Summer Schools

Design your own summer school with Kingston University

We can develop a bespoke programme specifically to suit your individual group.

We can adapt your summer school from our existing portfolio of summer schools and short courses, adjusting the time, length and content of any of our existing courses to meet the needs of your group.

Or we can work with you to create a new course to meet your group's specific needs. We can even accommodate your group outside the summer months if this works better for you.

Our bespoke residential programmes include teaching, self-catering accommodation, transport to and from the airport (provided all participants arrive on the same flight), and transport to and from field-trip locations.

We can offer:

a dedicated team to help design you a tailored package
tuition from specialist academic staff
relevant field trips
English language tuition
visits to tourist attractions in London and surrounding areas
social events

We also partner with other institutions and universities to host or co-host tailor-made Summer School courses or continuing professional development (CPD) courses.

Our specialist areas for bespoke programmes

We can create a programme based on the unique interests and learning needs of your group.

Our specialist areas include:

Art and Design
Computer Science
English Language
Fashion
Business, Marketing and Finance
Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Creative Writing
The Business of Sport

However, the above is not an exhaustive list of possible courses. If you are interested in other subjects not listed above, contact us (details below) to discuss your requirements.

Student working outside on a bench, it is a sunny day and there iare large, green trees in the background.

Kingston Business School: Bespoke programmes

Kingston Business School has a reputation for high quality teaching and research and is located on our fantastic Kingston Hill campus.

Kingston Business School can design courses for groups in a number of general or specialist business areas, including:

international business
entrepreneurship and innovation
human resources
marketing
accounting, finance and strategy

The programmes from Kingston Business School are designed to give groups an academic and practical insight into businesses. As well as classroom-based sessions, we can provide:

guest lectures with influential and knowledgeable people from industry
visits to businesses in different industry sectors
a cultural and social programme

Kingston School of Art: Bespoke programmes

Kingston School of Art is part of Kingston University and one of the top institutions in the United Kingdom for fashion and design.

Kingston School of Art can custom-design courses for groups in a range of specialist areas, including:

fashion
furniture and product design
fine art
film making
illustration and animation
interior design

Programmes are carefully designed to provide the group with a rich and rewarding experience. As well as classroom-based lectures, studio sessions, and projects, we can provide visits to art galleries, exhibitions, museums and design studios.

Two students and a lecturer working at desks in a sun filled workroom.

Case studies

International Business and English Language for Shanghai Business School (China)

Shanghai Business School asked us to develop a two-week programme for a group of their students. After a successful initial programme, we have now been working with Shanghai Business School for several years.

Each year, we develop a programme around International Business and English Language, with a focus on a number of different business areas, including finance, marketing, strategy and law.

As Shanghai Business School has also requested that the programme have a social and cultural aspect, we’ve provided their students with the opportunity to visit different businesses in London. This gives the students an opportunity to visit iconic sights and understand more about London's history and culture.

Shanghai Business School’s students always speak very positively about their experiences at Kingston University, with many hoping to return for postgraduate study.

International Business and English Language for King Abdulaziz University (Saudi Arabia)

King Abdulaziz University initially approached us in 2013 to provide an eight-week programme for 30 students, covering international business and English language. They were also looking for a cultural programme, including visits to interesting places in London.

The initial programme was so successful that they continued to send cohorts of students in the summer. In 2017, we also hosted a group of MBA students, who came to study entrepreneurship and innovation for a week as part of their programme.

Foundation arts workshop for AIP Guangzhou (Academy of Fine Arts, China)

Kingston University and the Academy of Fine Arts in China worked together to create a five-day foundation arts workshop for a group of their visiting students.

The programme included tuition in architectural/3D drawing, concept boards and experimentation with different drawing materials and techniques. The students also benefited from visits to the Sonia Delaunay exhibition at the Tate Modern and the Alexander McQueen exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Read an excerpt from a student’s travel diary on Weichat to get their perspective on our bespoke summer programme.

Fashion Design Workshop for Shanghai University of Engineering Science (SUES)

SUES asked us to develop a two-week programme for a group of visiting staff and students, focusing on fashion influences, colour and texture.

The resulting programme included studio and location drawing, cutting and design workshops, as well as visits to the Fashion and Textile Museum, Princess Diana fashion exhibition and Anna Sui exhibitions in London and the Fashion Museum in Bath. Students also enjoyed a coach trip to Oxford, sight-seeing in London and visits to Harvey Nichols.

I've really enjoyed the whole course. In London, we visited Oxford Circus and Big Ben – there are so many shops here. The people are very cool. I like Kingston because the atmosphere is full of art. In classes, we made sketchbooks and designed clothes based on what we researched in the library and what we saw on our tours of London.
There is so much equipment here and whole rooms dedicated for every aspect of art, for example, 3D design, filming, photography… I'm sad about leaving Kingston because I really enjoy the atmosphere and working with the tutors who have really helped to cultivate my designs and ideas.
Charmaine