Summer opportunities
Get the most out of your degree by studying, working or conducting research abroad.
You could use your summer break to:
- Study abroad at a summer school
- Work abroad and gain experience in your field
- Research your subject area further
Study at a summer school
Gain a new perspective on your subject area by learning in a completely new place. Summer schools can be an amazing chance to live abroad for a few weeks, make new friends, and broaden your knowledge base.
You can do a summer school anywhere you like – there's no need to limit yourselves to our Partner Universities!
If you have ever wanted to try living in Mexico, or studying in Germany, this could be your chance. The best way to find a summer school that’s perfect for you is to decide where you want to go first, and then look up universities there to see if they offer a summer school course in your subject area.
Some of our Partner Universities do offer summer schools with special offers or discounts for BSU students. Get in touch with us to find out what your options are.
Funding your trip
There's lots of funding available to help you take advantage of this opportunity!
From the Turing Fund to the International Travel Award, we have plenty of options for you to receive grants, bursaries, and scholarships to help get you to where you want to go. For more information, see our Scholarships and Bursaries page.
“Although the independence felt daunting at first and I did miss my family and friends, I really enjoyed figuring things out on my own and having the freedom to explore a new place on my own accord. I made some lifelong friends from the course and received a stable grounding of knowledge in which to start my career."
Lucy Boardman, BA (Hons) International Education, Summer School in Spain
Work abroad
With international experience becoming more and more important to employers, working abroad could be just the thing you need to make you stand out from the crowd.
Get experience in your field
The Go Global Team and the Placements Team work closely together to help students find work opportunities and funding to help you get there.
Speak to Go Global or Careers to find out where students have been before and what they have done.
Whether you are interested in working for a company (big or small), completing a training programme, teaching others, or volunteering your time at a charitable organisation, there are options available to you.
Finding a suitable work placement can involve a lot of searching, but if you are determined and patient, it will pay off.
“It was the first time in my filmmaking career where a company had put their trust in me and given me complete control about how something was constructed. I would confidently say my experiences in South Africa affected how I approach my daily life and work ethic back in the UK.”
Will Davies, BA (Hons) Film, TV, and Digital Production, work placement in South Africa
Research your subject further
There are some things that can never be conveyed through reading alone – you have to get out into the world and see for yourself.
If you’ve always wanted to look further into a specific part of your degree subject, or if you want to give your dissertation the benefit of practical research and exploration, going abroad to explore get the data you need can make all the difference.
Secure a research placement
For a dissertation research placement, you will need the involvement and approval of your dissertation tutor, which means possibly getting one assigned to you earlier than your fellow students. You can speak to your academic advisor about this.
A research placement can be anywhere, doing whatever you need to gather that essential information to expand your mind and discover more. It is very self-directed and requires an independently minded student to strike their own path.
Past students have gone to Cambodia to collect data on marine conservation, to Brazil to research the climate crisis, and to Nepal to examine monastery life and meditation.
Talk to your academic advisor and the Go Global Team to find out more about research placements.
“When the opportunity to undertake an internship came through I decided to pick the one titled ‘Best Water Management Practices’. I used the data I collected for my internship and dissertation. My interest in water management led to me to pick the River Management module in my third year, which I am thoroughly enjoying, and I am considering volunteering for a local rivers trust potentially over summer.”
Harry Watts, BSc (Hons) Geography, research placement in Canada
Contact us
If you have any questions, please get in touch.
Alternatively, come and visit us in Main House (G02) at Newton Park. Feel free to drop in between 10am-4pm, Monday to Friday.
