Summer Programme courses

Previous International Summer Programmes have offered the flexibility to study for one, two, three or four weeks, allowing learners to create a Cambridge learning experience that suits their interests, availability and goals.

Programme dates for the next International Summer Programme will be announced in due course.

Build your own programme

Learners typically create a personalised programme by combining morning and afternoon courses across each week of study. This flexible approach allows you to explore a single subject in depth or combine different areas of interest.

For each week of study, programmes generally include:

• one morning (Am) course
• one afternoon (Pm) course
• Flexible course formats

Previous programmes have included both 5-session and 10-session courses.

• 5-session courses typically take place over one week.
• 10-session courses may run over one or two weeks, allowing learners to explore a subject in greater depth.

One week of study

Learners studying for one week typically choose either:

• two short courses (5 sessions each): one morning course and one afternoon course
• one longer course (10 sessions), with sessions taking place across both mornings and afternoons

Two consecutive weeks of study

Learners studying for two weeks often choose a combination of:

• four short courses (5 sessions each): two morning courses and two afternoon courses
• two longer courses (10 sessions each): one taken each week
• a mix of short and longer courses, depending on their interests and goals

From Creative Writing and History to Artificial Intelligence and International Relations, the International Summer Programme has traditionally offered a wide range of subjects taught by leading academics and expert tutors.

Previous programmes have included courses across:

• Art and Visual Culture (including History of Art)
• Business, Entrepreneurship and Finance (including Business, Entrepreneurship, Finance and Marketing)
• Creative Writing
• History and Archaeology (including Ancient History, Archaeology, Classics, History, Medieval and Renaissance Studies)
• Literature and Film (including Literature and Film, Shakespeare)
• Philosophy, Ethics and Religion
• Politics and International Relations (including Law and Criminology, Politics and International Studies)
• Science and Social Science (including Artificial Intelligence, Astronomy, Biological Sciences, Climate Science, Coaching, Cyber Security, Engineering, Mathematics, Psychology, Sustainability and Technology)

The University of Cambridge does not award its own credit for International Summer Programme study; your home institution will determine the number of credits that may be awarded. Please check your home institution will award credit before applying for the programme. 

Students currently enrolled on programmes elsewhere

If you're seeking to earn academic credit from your International Summer Programme studies at your home institution, you can submit assignments for evaluation. 

We can provide:

• your home institution with a detailed description of your course
• a digital certificate of attendance
• an evaluation of your assignment (fees apply).

Your home institution will determine the number of credits they may award. The following examples are based on the US credit system:

• two weeks of the programme, with an estimated 46 contact hours and a 2,000-3,000-word assignment submission for at least one 10-session or 5-session course, achieving the minimum grade required by the home institution: three (3) undergraduate credit hours.
• four weeks of the programme, with an estimated 92 contact hours and a 2,000-3,000-word assignment submission for at least two 10-session or 5-session courses, achieving the minimum grades required by the home institution: six (6) undergraduate credit hours.

Students not currently enrolled on a programme elsewhere

We will issue a digital certificate of attendance, and you may write assignments for evaluation to enhance your own study experience (fees apply).

Students who are currently enrolled on a University of Cambridge undergraduate sub-degree or degree programme

It is not currently possible to earn credit towards a University of Cambridge sub-degree or degree programme. You may write assignments for evaluation to enhance your own study experience (fees apply).