The benefits of university residential summer schools

At Teesside University, we hold lots of subject-specific events and activities – on campus and at schools and colleges. We also hold an annual Year 12 residential summer school. You’ll find that other universities offer similar residential events – which are all designed to give your students a taste of university life.

University summer schools – and particularly those with a residential element – give students a chance to try out university in an authentic and fun environment. Teesside’s summer school includes challenging, interactive academic sessions as well as social activities designed to help students relax and make friends.

Our attendees stay in Teesside University halls throughout our event – this gives them a real sense of what it’s like to live as an undergraduate, in a study bedroom, alongside others, sharing facilities and building new friendships. We often hear at open days that students are nervous and unsure about moving away from home into university accommodation. Staying in halls at a summer school really helps to ease concerns and uncertainties.

Here at Teesside, our residential summer school is completely free and is held on our campus, over four days. Many other institutions will offer free places too - which may be subject to students meeting specific conditions. Do check with each instituion. But students may be lucky enough to experience an event with food, drink, accommodation, travel and social activities included free of charge!

In addition to social activities such as bowling, Go Ape, quizzes and pizza nights, Teesside University’s summer school gives students the opportunity to choose an academic area to learn more about. Students take part in lectures, seminars and study activities in their chosen area, giving them a sense of whether they’d like to pursue it at university. The experience of attending real lectures and using university facilities like labs, newsrooms and design studios is also really useful in highlighting the differences between further and higher education.

If your students are keen to learn more about university life, I’d really recommend a residential summer school – you’ll find that lots of universities offer similar events. Attending a residential event is a real challenge for students and a great opportunity to explore university life, academic areas and higher level study. And it’s an impressive achievement to add to a UCAS personal statement. It also allows students to build their confidence, meet new people and think about their futures.