Studying at Cambridge
As a participant in the University of Cambridge International Summer Schools, you will be guided by your Course Directors, and encouraged to discuss, debate and develop your own understanding of the issues raised in class. It is a very special experience and one that we hope you will enjoy.
Teaching staff
Our Plenary Lecturers and Course Directors are chosen from amongst the best communicators at the University Cambridge and beyond. Many have taught on our programmes before, and some return year after year, because our students have recommended them so highly and because they enjoy the experience.
Wherever possible, we use Course Directors currently teaching at the University of Cambridge, with College, Faculty or other connections. We also invite experts from other universities and institutions. For more information about our Course Directors please see our Teaching Staff page.
Teaching Sites
Teaching for the Science and Literature programmes takes place at the Mill Lane Lecture Theatres, close to St Catharine's College. Teaching for all other programmes takes place on the Sidgwick Site close to Newnham College and Selwyn College.
Attendance
Your certificate of attendance will state the number of classes you have attended in your special subject classes. Plenary and evening lecture attendance is also recorded on your certificate, if you attend the minimum number agreed for each programme.
Contact hours and credit
Each programme offers a minimum number of contact hours (c45+ for two-week programmes, c90+ for four-week programmes). For those who wish to earn credit from their home institution for their Summer School courses, we can provide additional information to facilitate this.
Evaluation
Many students choose to write an essay for evaluation by their Course Director – usually so that they can gain credit at their home university, but also so that they assimilate the learning more fully, and can be assessed against the University of Cambridge standard. In either case, writing papers is a valuable way of responding to the courses you have taken and judging how much you have learned. Essays will be graded by the Course Directors and you will be given a narrative report, a percentage mark, a grade report and a certificate of attendance. You may complete one essay per special subject course. An evaluation fee of £40 per essay is charged for the assessment of written work.
Honours programme
Students of high academic standing who are planning to study with us for the full six week, by combining consecutive Summer Schools, may enquire about an intensive Honours programme, which includes one-on-one Cambridge-style supervisions. The fee for this programme is £425, in addition to tuition and accommodation costs. Students must select this programme on their application form to register their interest, and send us their Honours application forms by 19 April
Library and computer access
You will have access to a variety of faculty libraries, including a small lending library set up for the exclusive use of Summer School students, and reading rights at the main University Library.
All students are given a University computer account in order to access email and write papers for evaluation. Depending on your accommodation, you may also have the option to connect your own laptop to the University network from your room.
Online Resource Centre
All course materials, lecture schedules and reading lists, can be downloaded from our Online Resource Centre before you arrive in Cambridge. In addition, useful information on travelling, living and studying is available for all participants. You will also be able to communicate with other students prior to your arrival in Cambridge. Information on how to use the Online Resource Centre will be sent to students once they have enrolled.