Applications for UK Summer Schools are currently CLOSED.

Applications for 2025 UK Summer School programmes will open on the 14th of January!

What can you do at a Sutton Trust UK Summer School?

Experience university life

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 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

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

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

What will you get out of a Sutton Trust UK Summer School?

Essential Life Skills

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

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

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

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.

Key dates

Oval icon Arrow right icon

Applications open

January 14th 2025

Find out more

Applications open

January 14th 2025

Your application will ask about your secondary school, qualifications and details on your background, including any benefits you or your parents receive

Oval icon Arrow right icon

Informational webinars

January 2025

Find out more

Informational webinars

January 2025

We will hold a series of webinars with the Sutton Trust team and alumni. Click the links below to watch last years:

Students

Teachers

Oval icon Arrow right icon

Application deadline

March 6th 2025

Find out more

Application deadline

March 6th 2025

The application deadline is midday 6th March 2025, after which you will no longer be able to edit or submit your application. If you have any technical difficulties before the deadline, please contact [email protected]

Oval icon Arrow right icon

Teacher verification deadline

March 11th 2025

Find out more

Teacher verification deadline

March 11th 2025

In your application, you will be asked to supply your teacher’s name and email address so we can verify your qualifications and background. Don’t worry, you won’t be disqualified if you teacher doesn’t respond but universities might reach out to them directly

Oval icon Arrow right icon

Sutton Trust Online Core programme invite

March 2025

Find out more

Sutton Trust Online Core programme invite

March 2025

All students that apply to our Summer Schools that meet our Sutton Trust Online criteria will be offered a place on the Sutton Trust Online Core programme.

Oval icon Arrow right icon

Decisions announced

Late April - May 2025

Find out more

Decisions announced

Late April - May 2025

You will hear back from your chosen university about your application outcome.

Oval icon Arrow right icon

UK Summer School 2025!

June - August 2025

Find out more

UK Summer School 2025!

June - August 2025

Spend a week at a leading university attending exciting lectures and meeting interesting people. After you have graduated you will gain access to our 3,000 strong alumni network where you can gain access to more career opportunities

There were many amazing moments within the summer school: taking blood from a mannequin to meeting the most amazing group of aspiring medics. Everyday was packed with activities to both have an insight into university and medical school. Charlotte, Southampton, UK Summer School 2019 - Cardiff University
There were many highlights of my Sutton Trust programme, however, a particular thing that really captivated me was the teamwork. Despite being online, me and the other individuals in my group were able to work extremely well together, taking part in games, quizzes and much more. Gracie, Nottinghamshire, UK Summer School 2020 - University of Nottingham
I can’t decide on a single highlight of my experience- it’s a tie between the people I met and what I learned. It was so diverse, and I felt at home. And I learned so much stuff. The people in the pathology and biochemistry department never treated us like college students- they treated us like we were already enrolled in the university. Samira, London, UK Summer School 2019 - University of Cambridge
My highlight of the week was eating out at Pizza Hut in Nottingham city centre. It was brilliant because we got to see what the city was like itself which helped me to see myself studying there. It helped show me that university is definitely the right choice for me and that I can cope with moving to an entirely new place and make friends without having to worry at all. Jacob, Warrington, UK Summer School 2019 - University of Nottingham

Want more information?

Information for teachers column icon

Information for teachers

Teacher Resources
Browse universities and courses  column icon

Browse universities and courses

Browse Courses
More questions? column icon

More questions?

FAQs

Our university partners

We have teamed up with 12 leading universities to host our UK Summer Schools:

Our supporters

Sutton Trust UK Summer Schools are made possible through generous support from our donors.

Find out if a Sutton Trust UK Summer School is right for you