Summer schools
Combine specialist subject or English language study with a cultural break in Portsmouth
What is a summer school?
Our summer schools, delivered by our Centre for Continuing Professional Development (CCPD), provide educational holidays to help you develop skills, enable opportunities and enjoy our historic seaside city of Portsmouth.
These short courses are designed for students from international institutions to experience English culture and language while taking part in subject specific sessions. You'll study in class, but also enjoy excursions and day trips to local attractions. Our summer schools aim to improve your personal skills and experience, and give you an enjoyable study holiday.
These courses are delivered by our Centre for Continuing Professional Development (CCPD).
The Centre offers specialist subject and English language study for those interested in career development opportunities in the UK.
CCPD's courses are designed to develop professional skills and enable career opportunities. All courses are fully supported by our dedicated CCPD team and led by experts in their fields.
How will I spend my time?
As well as in-depth classroom learning, you'll experience British culture during excursions to locations such as London and Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, enjoying traditional British cuisine and history. Outside of planned lessons and activities, you'll be able to experience all Portsmouth has to offer, including its bustling seaside and shopping centres.
We'll organise a transfer from a London airport to your accommodation in Portsmouth for when you arrive, and we'll return you at the end of your stay.
Why choose a summer school in Portsmouth?
On our summer school courses, you'll enjoy the same high-quality teaching and learning that all our students experience. Our courses are led by experts in their fields with years of experience, many of whom have had work published.
You'll be fully supported by our dedicated CCPD team before and during your summer school course. They'll escort you during excursions and activities, provide advice and guidance and be on hand to answer any questions you may have during your time with us.
Our CPD courses with an English language component are accredited by the British Council.
Where will I stay?
You'll stay in our halls of residence, included in the price of your summer school. You'll have a single room with bed, desk, wardrobe and en-suite or shared facilities, depending on availability.
Catered or self-catered options are also available, depending on availability. Each halls of residence has a reception where staff will be able to help you with any questions or issues that arise during your stay.
Book your summer school with us
The following summer schools are now full for individual bookings. If you're interested in group bookings or bespoke programmes, please contact us.
Unless otherwise stated, all summer school courses are two weeks long and begin on a Monday. You'll be expected to arrive the weekend before, and stay until the weekend after your course.
English Language and Culture Summer School
Monday 24 June - Friday 5 July 2024
£2,200 per person (a 20% discount is available if you are a student at an institution with a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Portsmouth)
This programme is designed to support you in your early professional development by allowing the opportunity to develop English language skills while taking part in cultural activities and excursions.
Designed for students aged 18 and over, this programme will develop early career skills and promote an understanding of working and learning in a British context.
Group bookings will receive one free teacher place for every 10 bookings from a single institution.
Course now full - please contact us if you're interested in group bookings or bespoke programmes.
Take a look our example timetable below for an idea of what to expect from this summer school
Week one
- Sunday - Airport arrival and transportation to accommodation
- Monday - Welcome and Introductions / Everyday language / Traditional British afternoon tea and tour of Portsmouth
- Tuesday - Introducing University study in the UK / Design a presentation
- Wednesday - Day trip to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
- Thursday - Introduction to seminars and debating / Exploring British customs and cuisine
- Friday - Personal Development - Setting goals / 10-pin bowling
- Saturday - Free day
Week two
- Sunday - Free day
- Monday - Exploring cross-cultural issues / Critical thinking
- Tuesday - Colloquial English and dialects / Everyday language and customs
- Wednesday - Day trip to London
- Thursday - All about Britain fun quiz / Presentation preparation and practice
- Friday - Final group presentations / Certificate presentation / Farewell lunch / Free afternoon
- Saturday - Check-out of accommodation and return transfer to airport
World War Two and 80th Anniversary of the D-Day landings
Monday 3 June - Friday 14 June 2024
£2,250 per person
This special, one-time only summer school will take participants on a journey to the past to the D-Day landings and the role Portsmouth played in this historic event to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the landings.
Course now full - please contact us if you're interested in group bookings or bespoke programmes.
Take a look our example timetable below for an idea of what to expect from this summer school
Week one
- Sunday - Airport arrival and transportation to accommodation
- Monday - Welcome and Introductions / Historic visions in wartime Britain / Traditional British afternoon tea and tour of Portsmouth
- Tuesday - Cultural representations of World War 2 and D-Day
- Wednesday - Day trip to Tangmere Military Aviation Museum
- Thursday - D-Day activities in Portsmouth
- Friday - Wartime reading and Library use / Design a presentation / Film screening followed by discussion
- Saturday - Day trip to Southwick village D-Day Revival
Week two
- Sunday - Free day
- Monday - Day trip to London
- Tuesday - Anglo-French interactions in longer term perspective / De-mobilising societies in World War Two
- Wednesday - Diversifying the D-Day story / Visit to the Royal Military Police Museum
- Thursday - Cinema-going in wartime Portsmouth / Visit to the D-Day Museum
- Friday - Final group presentations / Certificate presentation / Farewell lunch
- Saturday - Check-out of accommodation and return transfer to airport
English Language and Business Summer School
Monday 24 June - Friday 5 July 2024
£2,200 per person (a 20% discount is available if you are a student at an institution with a Memorandum of
Understanding with the University of Portsmouth)
Group bookings will receive one free teacher place for every 10 bookings from a single institution.
Course now full - please contact us if you're interested in group bookings or bespoke programmes.
Take a look our example timetable below for an idea of what to expect from this summer school
Week one
- Sunday - Airport arrival and transportation to accommodation
- Monday - Welcome and Introductions / Uses of marketing in business - brand development / Traditional British afternoon tea and tour of Portsmouth
- Tuesday - Introducing university study in the UK / Managing and motivating teams
- Wednesday - Day trip to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
- Thursday - Introduction to seminars and debating / Business model innovation - use of AI / digital technology
- Friday - Case study: A case study analysis on issue management / 10-pin bowling
- Saturday - Free day
Week two
- Sunday - Free day
- Monday - Exploring cross-cultural issues / Exploring cross-cultural issues in a business context
- Tuesday - Colloquial English and dialects / Organisation culture / collective intelligence
- Wednesday - Day trip to London
- Thursday - All about Britain fun quiz / Case study: Business ethics case
- Friday - Programme review / Certificate presentation / Farewell lunch / Free afternoon
- Saturday - Check-out of accommodation and return transfer to airport
Effective Research and Publication in Language Teaching - For PhD Students
Monday 24 June - Friday 5 July 2024
£2,200 per person (a 20% discount is available if you are a student at an institution with a Memorandum of
Understanding with the University of Portsmouth)
This course will support you in your professional development by providing input that allows you to reflect on your current teaching methodology, language practice and assumptions while also introducing new and innovative approaches to research writing and publication.
Group bookings will receive one free teacher place for every 10 bookings from a single institution.
Course now full - please contact us if you're interested in group bookings or bespoke programmes.
Take a look at our example timetable below for an idea of what to expect from this summer school
Week one
- Sunday - Airport arrival and transportation to accommodation
- Monday - Welcome and Introductions / Understanding your research area and activity / Traditional British afternoon tea and tour of Portsmouth
- Tuesday - Developing your academic style / Language for scientific report writing / Communicative language teaching / Creativity in the language classroom
- Wednesday - Day trip to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
- Thursday - Using technology in language learning and teaching / PHD student networking session
- Friday - Using corpora in language learning and teaching / Teaching listening / Teaching reading
- Saturday - Free day
Week two
- Sunday - Free day
- Monday - Research methodologies / Skills for conducting effective research 1 / Teaching speaking
- Tuesday - Skills for conducting effective research 2 / Writing and editing for scientific journals / Teaching writing
- Wednesday - Day trip to London
- Thursday - Materials design for teaching / Referencing masterclass / Preparing a thorough bibliography
- Friday - Programme review / Certificate presentation / Farewell lunch / Free afternoon
- Saturday - Check-out of accommodation and return transfer to airport
Entry requirements
To be eligible to attend one of our summer schools, you must:
- be aged eighteen or over by the course start date
- speak English to an intermediate level
- have a valid passport
- (for PHD programme only) be undertaking a PHD programme in a language related field at a recognised institution
Interested in a group booking?
We offer bespoke programmes to clients looking to book groups of 10 or more. We also offer one free teacher place for every 10 bookings from a single institution on some of our summer schools above.
If you are looking to make a group booking for an international institution or organisation, or to discuss a bespoke programme tailored to your needs at an alternative time of the year, please contact us.
Contact us
Centre for Continuing Professional Development
School of Education, Languages and Linguistics
University of Portsmouth
Park Building
Portsmouth
PO1 2DZ
+44 (0) 2392 84 6190