International Summer Programme 2025

The academic programme 

• Two courses per week (one Am course and one Pm course)  
• Series of plenary lectures (1-2 per day each week) 
• Afternoon and Evening events (talks, concerts, tea parties)

Courses

Courses run from Monday to Friday. For each week of study, you select a morning (Am) course and an afternoon (Pm) course. We offer a range of 5- and 10-session courses. Some 10-session courses run over one week and others run over two weeks. If you sign up for a 10-session course running over two weeks, you need to attend both weeks. Our 5-session courses run over one week. The maximum class size is 25 students.     

Your courses are complemented by a series of daily plenary lectures, exploring new ideas in a wide range of disciplines. To add to the learning experience, we are also planning additional evening talks and events. 

Week 1 (13 – 19 July) Morning courses - 10 sessions over two weeks 

W110Am courses (in Week 1) and W210Am courses (in Week 2) form one course meeting for ten sessions over two weeks

Week 1 (13 – 19 July) Afternoon courses - 10 sessions over two weeks 

W110Pm courses (in Week 1) and W210Pm courses (in Week 2) form one course meeting for ten sessions over two weeks

Week 1 (13 – 19 July) Morning and afternoon courses - 10 sessions over one week 

W110Am courses (in Week 1) and W110Pm courses (in Week 1) form one course meeting for ten sessions over one week

Week 1 (13 – 19 July) Morning courses - 5 sessions over one week 

Week 1 (13 – 19 July) Afternoon courses - 5 sessions over one week 

Week 2 (20 – 26 July) Morning courses - 10 sessions over two weeks 

W210Am courses (in Week 2) and W110Am courses (in Week 1) form one course meeting for ten sessions over two weeks

Week 2 (20 – 26 July) Afternoon courses - 10 sessions over two weeks 

W210Pm courses (in Week 2) and W110Pm courses (in Week 1) form one course meeting for ten sessions over two weeks

Week 2 (20 – 26 July) Morning and afternoon courses - 10 sessions over one week 

W210Am courses (in Week 2) and W210Pm courses (in Week 2) form one course meeting for ten sessions over one week

Week 2 (20 – 26 July) Morning courses - 5 sessions over one week 

Week 2 (20 – 26 July) Afternoon courses - 5 sessions over one week 

Week 3 (27 July – 2 August) Morning courses - 10 sessions over two weeks 

W310Am courses (in Week 3) and W410Am courses (in Week 4) form one course meeting for ten sessions over two weeks

Week 3 (27 July – 2 August) Afternoon courses - 10 sessions over two weeks 

W310Pm courses (in Week 3) and W410Pm courses (in Week 4) form one course meeting for ten sessions over two weeks

Week 3 (27 July – 2 August) Morning and afternoon courses - 10 sessions over one week 

W310Am courses (in Week 3) and W310Pm courses (in Week 3) form one course meeting for ten sessions over one week

Week 3 (27 July – 2 August) Morning courses - 5 sessions over one week 

Week 3 (27 July – 2 August) Afternoon courses - 5 sessions over one week 

Week 4 (3 – 9 August) Morning courses - 10 sessions over two weeks 

W410Am courses (in Week 4) and W310Am courses (in Week 3) form one course meeting for ten sessions over two weeks 

Week 4 (3 – 9 August) Afternoon courses - 10 sessions over two weeks 

W410Pm courses (in Week 4) and W310Pm courses (in Week 3) form one course meeting for ten sessions over two weeks

Week 4 (3 – 9 August) Morning and afternoon courses - 10 sessions over one week 

W410Am courses (in Week 4) and W410Pm courses (in Week 4) form one course meeting for ten sessions over one week

Week 4 (3 – 9 August) Morning courses - 5 sessions over one week 

Week 4 (3 – 9 August) Afternoon courses - 5 sessions over one week 

Evaluation and Academic Credit 

If you are seeking to enhance your own study experience, or earn academic credit from your University of Cambridge International Summer Programme studies at your home institution, you can submit written work for evaluation for one or more of your courses. 

Essay questions are set and assessed against the University of Cambridge standard by your Course Director, a list of essay questions can be found in the Course Materials. Essays are submitted two weeks after the end of each course, so those studying for multiple weeks need to plan their time accordingly. There is an evaluation fee of £75 per essay.

For more information about writing essays and gaining credit from your home institution see Evaluation and Academic Credit.

Certificate of attendance

A certificate of attendance will be sent to you electronically after completion of the programme.

Before your courses start

To ensure that you are able to participate fully and get the maximum enjoyment out of your courses, please ensure you have familiarised yourself with the Course Materials. These can be accessed on our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), along with required reading and all other course resources. You should also carry out any required reading and review any literary texts, primary resources, supplementary reading and web links provided by your Course Director before your courses start.  

From February, if your application has been accepted, you will receive an email from our Teaching & Learning (TEL) team confirming your VLE login details. Once you have logged into the VLE, you will be able to:

• access and review your Course Materials, carry out any required reading and review any texts, primary resources, supplementary reading and web links provided by your Course Director
• access, download and read the Student Handbook
• access and read the College Notes 
• access the Student Area and review any sections of interest    

Course delivery and study time

See below details about the International Summer Programme: 

• teaching takes place in a number of University Faculty and Department classrooms on the Sidgwick Site in central Cambridge  
• morning courses (Am) run from 9.00am to 10.30am and afternoon courses (Pm) run from 1.30pm to 3.00pm Monday to Friday 
• 10-session and 5-session courses are available
• 1 or 2 plenary lectures are offered each day Monday to Friday  
• a number of evening talks and events take place each week
• each course has a maximum of 25 students 

Typical week: Monday to Friday

Courses run from Monday to Friday. For each week of study, you select a morning (Am) course and an afternoon (Pm) course. We offer a range of 5- and 10-session courses. Some 10-session courses run over one week and others run over two weeks. If you sign up for a 10-session course running over two weeks, you need to attend both weeks. Our 5-session courses run over one week. The maximum class size is 25 students.    

Your courses are complemented by a series of daily plenary lectures, exploring new ideas in a wide range of disciplines. To add to the learning experience, we are also planning additional evening talks and events. 

At the end of your courses

A certificate of attendance will be sent to you electronically after completion of the programme.

Tuition fees (including multi-week concessions) 

Evaluation fees 

Accommodation fees and options

These options include bed, breakfast, evening meals and nights between consecutive weeks - unless otherwise stated.

* There are no breakfasts on Sundays in Newnham College, so the Saturday night/Sunday morning overnight fee covers dinner and bed only. (Sunday evening meals for Newnham students will be in Selwyn College.)

** There are no dinners in St Catharine's on Saturday evenings, so the Saturday night/Sunday morning overnight fee covers bed and breakfast only.   

Combined tuition and accommodation fees and options

The accommodation options include bed, breakfast, evening meals and nights between consecutive weeks - unless otherwise stated.

* There are no breakfasts on Sundays in Newnham College, so the Saturday night/Sunday morning overnight fee covers dinner and bed only. (Sunday evening meals for Newnham students will be in Selwyn College.)

** There are no dinners in St Catharine's on Saturday evenings, so the Saturday night/Sunday morning overnight fee covers bed and breakfast only.   

Those studying for two or more weeks benefit from a small reduction in tuition fees.

Who can apply? 

We welcome applications from all adults aged 18-80+, including university students, professionals, retirees and those with other experience, regardless of educational background. Courses are taught at approximately first-year undergraduate level.  

Unfortunately we cannot accept applications from anyone under the age of 18. If you submit your application before you turn 18, we will not be able to accept you on to the programme until you turn 18. If you do not turn 18 before the start of the International Summer Programme, you will be unable to attend this year but we would welcome your application for the following year.

Before applying, please ensure that you have read the programme requirements (including who can apply, English language requirements and visa guidance) and that you have understood our Booking terms and conditions. Please also ensure that your application is completed in English.

How to apply

Making your course and accommodation choices 

How long do you want to study for?

You can choose to study for one, two, three or four weeks allowing flexibility for when you are free. We ask you to arrive in Cambridge the Sunday before your week(s) of study and depart on the Saturday morning after breakfast following your last Friday classes.

• Week 1: Sunday 13 – Saturday 19 July 2025
• Week 2: Sunday 20 – Saturday 26 July 2025
• Week 3: Sunday 27 July – Saturday 2 August 2025
• Week 4: Sunday 3 – Saturday 9 August 2025

Courses run from Monday to Friday. For each week of study, you select a morning (Am) course and an afternoon (Pm) course. We offer a range of 5- and 10-session courses. Some 10-session courses run over one week and others run over two weeks. If you sign up for a 10-session course running over two weeks, you need to attend both weeks. Our 5-session courses run over one week. The maximum class size is 25 students.   

What do you want to study from our subject streams?

Courses fall into one or more of five different subject streams:

• Business and Innovation (including Finance, Marketing, Creating Innovative Ideas)
• Global Challenges (including Politics, International Relations, Climate Change)
• History (including Archaeology, Medieval Studies, Ancient and Classical Worlds)
• Literature, Philosophy, the Visual Arts (Creative Writing, Shakespeare, Modern Literature, Art History)
• Science (including Psychology, Genetics, Sustainability, Astronomy, Physics, Microbiology)

Select which courses you want to study and whether you want to choose 10 session courses (over one or two weeks) or five session courses (over one week) or a combination of both if you are staying for more than one week.

Course choices 

If you're coming for one week you can select 2 x 5-session courses (one Am and one Pm) or 1 x 10-session course delivered over one week (one Am and one Pm).

Examples:

5-session courses

10 session course (over one week)

If you're coming for two weeks you can select 4 x 5-session courses (two Am and two Pm), 2 x 10-session courses or a combination of both. 

Examples:

Week 1:

10-session courses 

Week 1:

Week 2:

OR

Week 1:

Week 2:

Week 1:

5-session courses

Week 2:

OR

A combination of 5- and 10-session courses

Weeks 1 & 2:

OR

Weeks 1 & 2:

Applying

To apply online and pay by credit or debit card click the Apply Now button at the top of the International Summer Programme page or the individual course pages. You will be taken to our secure online booking system where you can set up an account using your email address and will be taken through the application process step by step.  

If your preferred courses are full at the time of applying you can add yourself to a waiting list and must select a second choice. You will be notified, by email, if a place becomes available. We recommend that you apply early to avoid missing out.  

As part of the application process, you will need to submit a recent colour photograph of yourself (head and shoulders only). For example, a passport photo where you are facing forwards, looking straight at the camera would be suitable. This is for office use only and is not shared elsewhere. 

Application deadline 

Applications will be accepted until 29 June 2025, two weeks before the start of the International Summer Programme.  

What happens once you have submitted your application?

Once you have completed your online application you will receive:

• an email to acknowledge that your application has been submitted (NB: this is not confirmation of acceptance onto the International Summer Programme) 
• a payment receipt email to confirm your registration fee has been received (15% of your fee or closer to 16% if you are attending for multiple weeks) 

If you meet all of the requirements and have provided all of the relevant information your application will be processed and accepted. 

NB: If you are applying via your University or Institution, please liaise with your group contact. We will check names and payment details against the list provided by your group contact.

If your application is incomplete (eg missing information about your language proficiency) you will receive an email from the team requesting this information, and your application will be held as 'submitted' until this is received. 

Once your application has been accepted you will receive: 

• an email to confirm your place on the International Summer Programme
• an email containing a PDF of your acceptance letter including allocated courses and accommodation if applicable. This letter can be used as supporting documentation for visa applications 

You will also be emailed login details for the VLE (from February onwards), where you can access the Student Handbook, Course Materials and resources and information about your College accommodation. 

What happens if I haven't received the above emails?

Some emails sent from our office and booking system are occasionally redirected to junk or spam folders. Please ensure that you check these folders regularly once you have applied. 

Balance of payment deadline

The balance of payment date for the International Summer Programme is 18 May 2025, eight weeks before the start of the International Summer Programme. If the full fee is not paid by this date the University reserves the right to cancel your application and allocate places to those who may be on waiting lists for courses.

Accessibility and support for students with additional requirements

We make every effort both to anticipate and to make reasonable adjustments to meet the needs of those students with additional requirements including those with unseen disabilities, including mental health conditions, and specific learning difficulties, such as dyslexia. 

It is essential that you let us know about any additional requirements as soon as possible so that we can offer you the support and advice you require before the start of the International Summer Programme, enabling a smooth transition to your studies. Please ensure you complete the relevant step in our booking system, including any additional requirements, when applying for the International Summer Programme. 

If you indicate on your application form that you require additional support, you will be sent a Student Additional Requirements Form (SARF) to complete. The form asks for further details about your requirements and support needs, and requests that you submit supporting evidence. Any information shared will be treated in the strictest of confidence and only shared according to your disclosure. If you have any particular requirements or queries please contact the Student Support Team da@ice.cam.ac.uk 

Language requirements

To ensure that all participants on the International Summer Programme are able to enjoy studying with us, you will need to be confident understanding and following discussions presented in written and spoken English at University level, and will need to demonstrate an appropriate level of English language proficiency.

If English is not your first (native) language, you will need to meet our English language requirements, by providing evidence of one of the following tests. These results should have been achieved in the same sitting, and no more than 4 years before the date of your application.

Please note that if you have previously attended the University of Cambridge International Summer Programme(s) you are deemed to have already met this requirement and will not need to provide further proof of English language proficiency. 

Applicants who have 'narrowly missed' the minimum required levels in one of the accepted English Language tests will be offered a video call with one of our team to determine whether their language level is sufficient. 

We recognise that you may have undertaken all or part of your education in English and/or may have extensive experience using English on a regular basis in your professional life, and as such could reasonably be expected to fully participate in our International Summer Programme without the above tests. If you think you may be eligible to apply on this basis, we ask you to provide evidence to support this: an employer recommendation or reference, a CV / link to your LinkedIn page, an article or website that shows your work.

Visa guidance

It is important to ensure that you have the correct visa which permits study on the University of Cambridge International Summer Programme. The University of Cambridge must comply with regulations issued by UK Visas and Immigration, part of the government’s Home Office. Please see our Visa Guidance web page for further information.

Course length and selection 

Can I take a mixture of 5- and 10-session courses, or does it have to be all 5 sessions or all 10 sessions? 

If you are coming for two weeks (weeks 1+2 or weeks 3+4) you can take either 10-session or 5-session courses, or a mixture (eg, one 10-session course in the mornings across both weeks, and two 5-session courses in the afternoons or two 10-session courses, one across each week). If you are coming for weeks 2+3, then you can take 5-session courses or 10-session courses over one week. 

Can I do any 10-session courses if I am just coming for one week? 

There are a limited amount of courses where the 10-sessions (meeting morning and afternoon) are delivered in one week. 

Is there any difference in the level or quality between 10-session and 5-session courses? 

No, the only difference is that the longer courses allow you to explore more material and have longer discussions. 

I am applying as part of a university or institutional group. Can I do 5-session courses? 

You will need to check with your home institution: some require that you only take 10-session courses, others are happy for you to choose any course you wish. 

Class size 

How many people are there in each course? 

All courses are capped at 25. 

Course Waiting Lists

Once a course is full, we have a limited waiting list which you may be able to add yourself to if available. You will then need to select an alternative course. If a place becomes available on your first choice of course, we will contact you. 

Plenary lectures 

What are the plenary lectures and evening talks? 

These are lectures that take place on most days (in two or more of these time slots: 11.00am-12.15pm, 3.30pm-4.45pm. 7.30pm-8.30pm). They supplement the courses and are included in the overall tuition costs per week. These lectures are open to everyone on the programme each week, no matter which courses you are taking. Plenary lectures are given by subject specialists on a wide variety of topics and are there to expand and enhance the learning you receive from your courses. A list of plenary lectures will be added to the website in March/April.

College accommodation 

What accommodation options are available? 

You can stay in one of five Cambridge Colleges: Newnham, Queens', Selwyn, St Catharine’s or St John's. 

College accommodation includes bed, breakfast, dinner (unless otherwise stated). We have both en suite and shared-bathroom bedrooms (where bathrooms are shared with 4-5 other International Summer Programme students along the same corridor or staircase) available. We also have limited availability of twin and double rooms. Kitchen access is not provided.

Please note:
There are no breakfasts on Sundays in Newnham College, so the Saturday night/Sunday morning overnight fee covers dinner and bed only. (Sunday evening meals for Newnham students will be in Selwyn College.)

There are no dinners in St Catharine's on Saturday evenings, so the Saturday night/Sunday morning overnight fee covers bed and breakfast only.   

There are no accessible rooms in St John's College, all bedrooms are reached by stairs.

When can I check into my College accommodation?  

Please note that you can check the Colleges section of the VLE to find out information regarding check in/out times, what the College provides and what you may need to bring with you.  

Non-resident places

You can of course choose to make your own arrangements and apply as a non-resident. 

I want to arrive a day early and leave a day late. Can I book that accommodation with you? 

We cannot book any accommodation for you prior to 13 July or after 9 August 2025. If you would like to stay an extra night the day before or the day after your Programme and it is within the Summer Programme dates, we can look to see if accommodation is available, please contact intenq@ice.cam.ac.uk 

Can my partner come and stay in College alongside me during the programme, even though they are not booking as a student? 

Unfortunately, no. Only registered students can book with us to stay in the Colleges. You may wish to explore other accommodation options (eg hotels, AirBnB or similar) if you want to travel together to Cambridge, then you would apply as a non-resident. 

Does my accommodation include breakfast and dinner?

College accommodation includes breakfast and evening meals unless otherwise stated as below:

There are no breakfasts on Sundays in Newnham College, so the Saturday night/Sunday morning overnight fee covers dinner and bed only. (Sunday evening meals for Newnham students will be in Selwyn College.)

There are no dinners in St Catharine's on Saturday evenings, so the Saturday night/Sunday morning overnight fee covers bed and breakfast only.   

The accommodation option doesn’t include lunch. Where can I get lunch? 

There are two cafés, The Buttery and the Arc Café on site near the teaching rooms, and you can also buy lunch in the Selwyn College Servery and Newnham College’s Iris Café. 

Certificates and evaluation 

Will I get a certificate? 

All students who meet the attendance requirements of their course(s) receive a digital certificate of attendance on completion of the programme. Full attendance is expected at each class. 

Can I write two essays for a 10-session course? 

No, you just write one essay per course, whether it is 5 or 10 sessions in length. 

Can I get credit from my courses? 

We strongly recommend that you check with your home institution’s study abroad office before you apply for the University of Cambridge International Summer Programme that your home institution will award credit. (The office can contact us on intgroup@ice.cam.ac.uk for the necessary information and advice.) You should not assume your home institution will award credit until they confirm this in writing.

It is important to note, that your home institution would award any applicable credit. The University of Cambridge does not award its own credit for the International Summer Programme study. 

Please see our evaluation and academic credit webpage here. 

Applying 

Photo ID

As part of the ID process, you are required to submit a recent colour photograph of yourself. For example, a passport photo where you are facing forwards, looking straight at the camera would be suitable. This is for office use only and is not shared elsewhere. 

Can you provide supporting documentation for my visa application? 

Please see our visa guidance webpage here. 

What are the language requirements? 

Please see our language requirements webpage here. 

Are there any other entry requirements? 

Our in-person International Summer Programme is open to anyone aged 18 to 80+, classes are taught at Cambridge first-year undergraduate level.  

Can I attend if I am under 18? 

We are unable to accept applications from anyone under the age of 18. If you submit your application before you turn 18, we will not be able to accept you on to the programme until you turn 18. If you do not turn 18 before the start of the International Summer Programme, you will be unable to attend this year but we would welcome your application for the following year.

Will I receive a refund if my application is rejected?

Yes. If you are not accepted onto the International Summer Programme, you will receive a full refund of your registration fee. 

Applying after the balance of payment deadline

If you apply after the balance of payment deadline 18 May 2025, you must pay the full balance of fees within 24 hours of receiving your acceptance letter. If we do not hear from you or the balance remains unpaid after the 24 hours has passed, we will regretfully have to cancel your application. 

Do you offer scholarships? 

Unfortunately, we are unable to offer scholarships to individuals to attend our International Summer Programme. We work with a number of universities who sponsor their students to the programme. You may wish to approach your university, institution or organisation where you work to see if there are provisions to financially support you as some organisations include such expenditure in their budget. We hope you will be able to secure funding from other sources in order to attend our programme. 

Do you offer bursaries? 

We will be investigating the possibility in the New Year, but any bursaries offered would be administered via specific institutions, rather than awarded in response to individual enquiry.   

I have a pre-existing medical condition/injury, do I need to bring my own medicine/bandages with me?

Yes, please make sure you have enough medication and/or supplies with you throughout your stay. Our first aiders cannot tend to existing wounds and will be unable to provide you with dressings. 

What happens if I need to cancel my programme? 

Please see our booking terms and conditions here. 

What does a typical day look like?