Study abroad through a summer school
Source: https://student.sussex.ac.uk/options/abroad/choices/summer-schools Parent: https://student.sussex.ac.uk/international/visas
You can apply to spend a summer abroad at a summer school after the first or second year of your course.
About overseas summer schools
Taking part in a summer school is a great opportunity to add an international dimension to your degree at Sussex. We offer summer school opportunities in Asia, Europe, and North America, as well as online study programmes, so you can enrich your studies and experience a new culture while learning. Summer school programmes are three to six weeks long and include academic, cultural and language courses.
This is a great opportunity to study with a prestigious global university and meet students (virtually or in-person) from around the world. You'll develop skills by working with students from a range of different countries and cultures, and you can enhance your studies at Sussex by studying something completely different. The programmes do not count towards your degree, but are a fantastic opportunity for you to experience life at an international university.
At the end of the course, you’ll receive a certificate or transcript. You can list this certificate on your CV to show employers your experience abroad.
Some of our opportunities at summer schools include a bursary towards the cost.
Summer school opportunities
Explore our range of summer school options.
- Business summer schools
- Global Excellence Summer Programme (GESP)
- Volunteering in the summer (Turing Scheme funded).
Business summer schools
We offer Business summer school opportunities in several countries in Europe, giving you the chance to study Business modules from a different perspective. You can study abroad for one to four weeks and most partners will also offer social activities in their programme. Modules are taught in English.
Eligibility and Funding
The Business Summer School programmes are open to Year 1 and Year 2 Business School students in good academic standing.
If your application is successful, the Business School will offer you a bursary to cover the tuition fee and a small contribution towards the cost of travel and accommodation. This opportunity is not fully funded, so you will also need to use some of your own funds.
Destinations
Explore our range of Business summer school opportunities. We will let you know the available options for you at the time of application. See where and when you can take selected modules at the following universities:
Study in Aarhus, voted the best student city in Denmark.
You can choose one of the following terms:
- term 1 – 6 July to 24 July (3 weeks)
- term 2 – 27 July to 14 August (3 weeks).
\ Find out more about Aarhus University summer school. - Bocconi University, Milan (Italy)
Study at one of the top Italian universities for Economics.
29 June to 17 July 2026 (3 weeks).
You can choose one module from the following:
- Digital Marketing
- Equity and Venture Capital Financing
- International Business Strategy
- Luxury Management
- Sustainability Transformation, ESG Finance and Energy Management.
\ Find out more about the Bocconi University summer school. - Excelia, La Rochelle (France)
Study in cities committed to sustainable development.
You can choose one of the following modules/sessions:
- 19 June to 17 July – Corporate Social Responsibilty and Event Managementat La Rochelle, France
- 14 June to 4 July – Fashion, Design and Luxury Industry at La Rochelle, then Paris (France), then Florence (Italy).
\ Find out more about the Excelia summer school. - ICN Business School (France, Germany)
Study in Paris and Berlin, two leading start-up hubs in Europe.
22 June to 3 July 2026 (2 weeks).
Discover European cities and learn the unique pedagogical approach from the creative spirit of Paris and Berlin in this course – Design Thinking and Acting: Learn to be more creative.
- 22 to 28 June – mandatory week in Paris, France
- 29 June to 3 July – mandatory week in Berlin, Germany.
\ Find out more about the ICN Business summer school. - Mannheim Business School (Germany)
Study at the leading business school in Germany.
You can choose one of the following one week modules/sessions:
- 29 June to 3 July: Doing Business in Germany – Mindset and Market Dynamics in Europe’s Largest Economy
- 6 to 10 July: Artificial Intelligence in Business – From First Principles to Pitch-Ready AI Solutions
- 13 to 17 July: Entrepreneurship and Innovation – Navigating Uncertainty with Entrepreneurial Mastery.
\ Find out more about the Mannheim Business School summer school. - Vienna University of Economics and Business (Austria)
Study at one of the largest and most prestigious universities in Europe.
July Session – 29 June to 7 July 2026 (3 weeks).
Students take two modules taught consecutively. Modules may range from Sustainable Management to leadership and International Marketing.
Find out more about the Vienna University of Economics and Business summer school.
How to apply
To apply, contact outbound.sussexabroad@sussex.ac.uk. We will send you a link to the application form.
The deadline for applications is 13 February 2026.
If selected, you will receive funding to help with some of the costs of your summer school (on the condition that you apply on time to secure a place at the partner university). More guidance will be given nearer the time.
You will also be responsible for booking accommodation, travel and organising your visa (for non-EU students) and travel cover.
Join us on Wednesday 28 January 2026 at 10am in Jubilee 118 for a presentation to find out more about the Business summer school opportunities.
Global Excellence Summer Programme (GESP)
This programme enables you to study at one of our prestigious partner universities.
Eligibility and funding
The summer school opportunities are open to foundation, first, second and final year undergraduate students from the groups below.
Please be aware that if you are a final year student, the summer school could clash with your July Graduation Ceremony. If this is the case, you can choose to defer your attendance until the following Winter or Summer ceremony and still receive your degree certificate at the correct time, or choose not to attend a ceremony and receive your certificate in the post. It is not possible to only partially attend the summer school.
The tuition fees for each programme are covered by Sussex’s Global Excellence Summer Programme (GESP) bursary. The UK government’s Turing Scheme grant will contribute partly towards travel and/or accommodation costs. This opportunity is not fully funded. You will also be required to contribute your own funds.
Only students from the groups below are eligible to apply:
- someone with an annual household income of £35,000 or less (as per the Student Finance loan assessment for 2025/26)
- someone who receives Universal Credit or income-related benefits because they are financially supporting themselves or themselves and someone who is dependent on them, such as a child or partner
- someone with experience of being in care or who is a care leaver – including anyone who is or has been in care, or from a looked after background, at any stage of their life
- a carer, meaning anyone who both looks after a family member, partner or friend who needs help because of their illness, frailty, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction, and cannot cope without their support, and is not paid for this care
- someone who is estranged – including anyone who has had no contact with their biological or adoptive parents for 12 months or more, or the relationship with their parents has broken down within the last 12 months
- a refugee or an asylum seeker
- someone whose home address is in an Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) quintile 1 (Q1) postcode in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland
- someone registered with the Disability Advice team as having a special educational need or disability.
How to apply
The deadline for applications is 20 February 2026.
Contact Lucy at outbound.sussexabroad@sussex.ac.uk (including the summer school you’re interested in from the list below) to request an application form.
This is a competitive process and there are limited spaces at each institution.
GESP destinations
Learn more about where you can go.
30 May to 27 June 2026
This programme includes study modules and a volunteering project.
You will take two modules, choosing either:
- Africa and the Diaspora and African Art, its Philosophy and Criticism, or
- Appropriate Technology for Development in AfricsandGender and Culture in Africa.\
There will also be opportunities for students to engage in experiential study and cultural tours of some regions in Ghana.
Find out more about Ghana to the World. - Sawasdee Thailand summer programme – Mahidol University
17 June to 15 July 2025 (Batch A and B combined)
2026 dates to be confirmed (four week programme)
This is a study programme. The first two weeks focus on heritage and multiculturalism and sustainable life and society. The second two weeks focuses on sustainable economics and corporate responsibility. The four-week programme includes two field trips to Chiang Mai and Chonburi.
Find out more about the Sawasdee Thailand summer programme. - Zhejiang Gongshang University, China
5 July to 1 August 2026
Zheijiang Gongshang university is located in the city of Hangzhou. Hangzhou is a historical and cultural city. It is famous for the beautiful West Lake which was put on the World Heritage List in 2011.
During the summer school you will be able to take lessons in different aspects of Chinese culture, including Chinese language, Business, Kung Fu, Art, Opera, Philosophy and Architecture. There will also be opportunities to visit the local scenic areas. - Chinese University of Hong Kong
21 June to 29 July 2026
Apply to attend the five-week Chinese University of Hong Kong summer programme. You can choose one course from the following areas:
- Environment
- Science and Technology
- Global Business and Management
- Society and Human Interaction
- Understanding China
- Cantonese language
- Chinese language courses.
- British University Vietnam – Cultural Immersion programme
*The exact dates for the 2026 two week programme have not yet been confirmed but they will fall between 15 June and 28 July 2026.*
Attend a summer school at the British University of Vietnam in Hanoi, Vietnam.
The two week Cultural Immersion Programme allows students a deep dive into Vietnam's rich history and vibrant culture through activities curated by BUV and local students including engaging projects, talks, and activities with Vietnamese corporations and communities. - Atlas SkillTech University, Mumbai, India
26 July to 8 August 2026
Two week summer programme ‘Study in India cultural immersion’.
This programme is a great opportunity to learn about and experience India’s academic, business and cultural ecosystem.
The summer school consists of academic sessions, industry visits, cultural immersions and collaborative projects.
Volunteering in the summer (Turing Scheme funded)
We have an opportunity for students to apply to take part in an overseas volunteering scheme (between 14 and 28 days long) over the summer. See the full list of volunteering schemes available.
Eligibility and funding
Eligible students can apply for Turing funding to help towards the cost of the programme fee and travel. This is a competitive process with limited places.
The individual programmes have a programme fee which covers the cost of the volunteering project and accommodation. The Turing funding will only partly cover these costs so please be prepared to use your own additional funds.\ \ Funding towards travel costs: this varies due to the location and depends on eligibility criteria.\ Funding towards programme fee: between £17 to £23 per day (depending on eligibility criteria).
Only students from the groups below are eligible to apply:
- someone with an annual household income of £35,000 or less (as per the Student Finance loan assessment for 2025/26)
- someone who receives Universal Credit or income-related benefits because they are financially supporting themselves or themselves and someone who is dependent on them, such as a child or partner
- someone with experience of being in care or who is a care leaver – including anyone who is or has been in care, or from a looked after background, at any stage of their life
- a carer, meaning anyone who both looks after a family member, partner or friend who needs help because of their illness, frailty, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction, and cannot cope without their support, and is not paid for this care
- someone who is estranged – including anyone who has had no contact with their biological or adoptive parents for 12 months or more, or the relationship with their parents has broken down within the last 12 months
- a refugee or an asylum seeker
- someone whose home address is in an Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) quintile 1 (Q1) postcode in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland
- someone registered with the Disability Advice team as having a special educational need or disability.
You can apply for any volunteering project run by the listed organisations. However, do think through the costs before choosing a project to make sure you have enough additional funds to take part.
How to apply
Once you have chosen your project, apply directly via the Career Hub and not via the volunteering company website.\ \ The deadline for applications is 20 February 2026.\ \ If you have any questions please contact Lucy Cahalin at outbound.sussexabroad@sussex.ac.uk.
For information about the summer schools please contact outbound.sussexabroad@sussex.ac.uk.