Pre-university programmes guide 2024 by Quintessentially

Pre-university programmes guide 2024

Pre-university programmes are a proactive way for older students to prepare for higher education during the summer holidays. Allowing them to further their knowledge of an academic subject, experience university-style teaching, and develop independent study skills. These courses are particularly beneficial for those exploring their university aspirations – helping them to make an informed decision about pursuing an undergraduate degree. From residential courses at Russell Group universities to pre-college programmes at Ivy League schools – this guide contains a shortlist of enriching curriculums in the UK and the US for students aged 14–17. For more information or help with bookings, contact Quintessentially Education directly. And if you have younger children, our summer camps guide 2024 is available here.

PRE-UNIVERSITY PROGRAMMES 2024

Contents • The different types of programmes • United Kingdom

University of the Arts London – Art and Design Summer School University of Edinburgh – Pre-university Summer School King’s College London – Pre-university Summer School University of St Andrews – Summer Academic Experience Courses University of Warwick – Pre-university Summer School

• United States Brown University – Summer@Brown University of California, Berkeley – Berkeley Pre-college Scholars Columbia University – Pre-college Programmes: NYC Residential or Commuter Summer University of Michigan – Summer Pre-college Programmes Stanford University – Pre-collegiate Summer Institutes

• How to decide • The application process • Contact us *Programmes are selected based on extensive research and client experiences. We welcome further feedback from past attendees at any time, and we continually review and refine our selection of programmes year-on-year. 3

The different types of programmes There are a wide range of pre-university programmes to choose from, and below, we outline five of the most common programme types, which are often delivered in combination. All programmes are equally valuable for personal development and for the submission of university applications. Academic These programmes offer students firsthand experience in a diverse range of undergraduate courses. From humanities to the social sciences – they’ll guide your child’s higher education aspirations. Credit-bearing Students will receive college or university credits after completing these programmes and can add this experience to the ‘education’ section of their university applications. Enrichment Students will take part in experiences that will enrich their academic journey and personal development. These programmes encourage students to learn new skills in a wide range of extracurricular activities. Leadership These programmes will develop your child’s teamwork and leadership skills through interactive team-building exercises, collaborative group projects, and insightful workshops. Portfolio-building These programmes guide students in creating a portfolio of work that they can use for applications to undergraduate degrees in the arts.

PRE-UNIVERSITY PROGRAMMES 2024

United Kingdom These programmes will provide students with an insight into what it’s like to study at some of the UK’s top-ranking institutions. From esteemed campus universities in Scotland to Russell Group universities in the capital – students will attend lectures, seminars, and workshops led by professors in a subject of their choice. They will also take part in a full calendar of social activities – a unique and exciting opportunity for prospective students.

University of the Arts London Art and Design Summer School

Subjects: contemporary art, fashion design, graphic design, illustration, photography, and portfolio preparation Location: on campus or online Ages: 14–17 Dates: various June–September Duration: 1–5 days Application deadline: rolling admissions Type of programme: academic, enrichment, portfolio-building, and leadership Competitiveness: non-competitive University ranking: 15th (source: the Guardian UK 2024) Website 8

PRE-UNIVERSITY PROGRAMMES 2024

University of Edinburgh Pre-university Summer School

Subjects: humanities, social sciences, foundation design, insights into the life sciences, and using data in the sciences Location: on campus Ages: 16–18 Dates: 1st–12th July Duration: 2 weeks Application deadline: 20th May Type of programme: academic, enrichment, portfolio-building, and leadership Competitiveness: competitive University ranking: 14th (source: the Guardian UK 2024) Website 9

King’s College London Pre-university Summer School

Subjects: humanities, social sciences, foundation design, insights into the life sciences, and using data in the sciences Location: on campus Ages: 16–17 Dates: 1–3 weeks Duration: various in July Application deadline: 31st March Type of programme: academic, enrichment, portfolio-building, and leadership Competitiveness: competitive University ranking: 23rd (source: the Guardian UK 2024) Website 10

PRE-UNIVERSITY PROGRAMMES 2024

University of St Andrews Summer Academic Experience Courses

Subjects: business management, economics, and entrepreneurship, medicine, mathematics, computer science, and humanities Location: on campus Ages: 16–18 Dates: 6th–27th July Duration: 3 weeks Application deadline: rolling admissions until early March Type of programme: academic, enrichment, and leadership Competitiveness: highly competitive University ranking: 1st (source: the Guardian UK 2024) Website 11

University of Warwick Pre-university Summer School

Subjects: economics and finance, politics, sociology, philosophy, computer science, mathematics, and engineering Location: on campus Ages: 16–17 Dates: 16th–26th July Duration: 10 days Application deadline: rolling admissions Type of programme: academic and enrichment Competitiveness: non-competitive University ranking: 9th (source: the Guardian UK 2024) Website 12

PRE-UNIVERSITY PROGRAMMES 2024

United States The following recommendations are a fantastic opportunity for older students to delve into their chosen subject at renowned colleges across the US. From an Ivy League school in New York to a prestigious university in California – these courses prepare students for the next steps in their educational journey. Throughout each programme, students will have access to state-of-the-art facilities, a taste of campus life, and an opportunity to select credit-bearing courses.

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Brown University Summer@Brown

Subjects: economics, entrepreneurship, engineering, medical and health sciences, visual arts, and more Location: on campus or online Ages: 14–18 Dates: 23rd June–26th July Duration: 1–6 weeks Application deadline: rolling admissions until 10th May Type of programme: academic, enrichment, leadership, and profile-building Competitiveness: competitive University ranking: 9th (source: U.S. News & World Report 2024) Website 16

PRE-UNIVERSITY PROGRAMMES 2024

University of California, Berkeley Berkeley Pre-college Scholars

Subjects: ancient history, anthropology, computer science, civil rights, race, languages, and law Location: on campus or online Ages: 16–17 Dates: various June–July Duration: 6–8 weeks Application deadline: March–June Type of programme: academic, enrichment, and credit-bearing Competitiveness: highly competitive University ranking: 15th (source: U.S. News & World Report 2024) Website 17

Columbia University

Pre-college Programmes: NYC Residential or Commuter Summer

Subjects: : business, computer science, creative writing, economics, history, physics, psychology, and more Location: : on campus or commuting Ages: 14–17 (applicants must be 16+ for the residential track) Dates: various July–August Duration: 1–7 weeks Application deadline: 4th March Type of programme: academic, enrichment, and leadership Competitiveness: competitive University ranking: 12th (source: U.S. News & World Report 2024) Website 18

PRE-UNIVERSITY PROGRAMMES 2024

University of Michigan Summer Pre-college Programmes

Subjects: : drawing, 2D studio, 3D studio, and 4D studio Location: : on campus or online Ages: 14–17 Dates: various June–August Duration: 2 weeks Application deadline: 15th March Type of programme: academic, enrichment, portfolio-building, and leadership Competitiveness: competitive University ranking: 21st (source: U.S. News & World Report 2024) Website 19

Stanford University Pre-collegiate Summer Institutes

Subjects: : bioscience, creative writing, computer science, game design, mathematics, and philosophy Location: : online Ages: 14–17 Dates: various June–July Duration: 2 weeks Application deadline: 29th March Type of programme: academic and enrichment Competitiveness: highly competitive University ranking: 3rd (source: U.S. News & World Report 2024) Website 20

PRE-UNIVERSITY PROGRAMMES 2024

How to decide With numerous options available, it can often be difficult to decide which pre-university programme is the best fit for your child. So, here’s a selection of factors to help guide your decision-making when choosing which programme to apply for.

Location

Qualification

Field of study

Duration

Level of competition

Entry requirements

Funding

Future goals

Get in touch with Quintessentially Education to discuss pre-university programme opportunities or to explore further options.

PRE-UNIVERSITY PROGRAMMES 2024

The application process Similar to the application process for undergraduate degrees, applying to pre-university programmes can be highly competitive. So, we’ve compiled three top tips to help give a student’s application the best chance of being accepted. • Apply to the programme as soon as possible because the most sought-after ones often fill up long before the deadline. • Make sure to demonstrate a genuine interest in the subject by including reasons for enrolling in the programme. • Seek guidance on the suitability of a course to ensure students are applying to a programme that aligns with future ambitions. Ultimately, the hard work that students put into their application will be rewarded when they enrol in a truly inspiring experience. Get in touch today for further help navigating the application process.

Thank you We hope you’ve found this guide both helpful and inspiring when considering pre-university programmes for this summer. If you’re interested in any of the selections in this guide, or wish to discuss alternative options, we’re here to help. Contact Emily on emily.bacon@quintessentially.com or call +44 (0) 2030 736852. For all other education enquiries please contact education@quintessentially.com.

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