Sutton Trust UK Summer Schools give you the chance to experience what university life is really like

Experience university life

Spend a week at one of our 13 partner universities attending lectures, living in a dorm, networking with professors and administrators, and immersing yourself in university life.

Our Summer Schools are completely free so you can get to know your chosen university, no matter where in the country you’re from.

Explore one of 40 subjects at a leading institution

Explore academic taster sessions in your chosen subject. Choose from over 40 different courses, from Archaeology and Anthropology to Veterinary Medicine. With over 15 hours of teaching at undergraduate level, you will get the chance to explore the subjects that you are passionate about.

Going beyond the school curriculum, your academic sessions will provide you with a valuable experience to use in your personal statement.

Receive university application support

You will take part in workshops that will help you navigate UCAS and write the best personal statement possible. You will find out about how to apply for student finance, the availability of bursaries and how to manage your money whilst at university. 

Access Sutton Trust Online

Get advice from current undergraduate students, additional guidance for UCAS applications and more through our new digital platform Sutton Trust Online

Essential Life Skills

Throughout your week, you will have the chance to develop essential life skills. Such as:

• Networking
• Professional and Personal Confidence
• Personal and Financial Independence
• Presenting

Access our Alumni Platform

Once you graduate from a Sutton Trust programme, you will become a member of our alumni community. Sutton Trust Alumni is the online home of the alumni community. Here you can create connections, access support and inspire change. With more than 3,500 alumni already active in the community, you can get advice from alums studying and working in areas you are interested in. You’ll also gain exclusive access to events, career opportunities and ways to stay involved with our work.

Meet new people

You will take part in a range of social activities, designed to help you make friends with other students on the Summer School and unwind after jam-packed days!

Depending on your programme, these will range from tours to karaoke to university societies to film nights.

Get contextual admission

The Sutton Trust believes that contextual admissions – where the background of a university applicant is taken into account as part of the admissions process – is a crucial tool for widening access to higher education. This can include giving students from underrepresented backgrounds reduced grade offers, guaranteed interviews or extra consideration. Some of our partner universities may provide contextual offers to students who have completed a Sutton Trust summer school. See the table on this page for more details.