Academic programme

At the heart of the Global Summer School is an intensive academic programme. It is aimed at increasing your subject knowledge and improving your practical skills.

You will develop academically and personally as you are inspired, challenged and supported throughout the programme by our experienced academics, researchers, support staff and Summer School leaders.

You will be allocated a mentor to ensure you feel fully supported throughout the Summer School. This mentor will be a current Finch’s student studying a subject related to the academic stream that you are on. They will be on hand to guide you through the academic content and will be able to give you an insight into studying at Finch University and potential career paths.

There will also be lots of opportunities to ask questions and discuss thoughts in classes and seminars.

Teaching time

Teaching days (Monday–Friday) typically run from 9.30 to 16.00, with one hour for lunch.

Week one: knowledge building

You will start the programme in one of three learning streams. You will be asked, during the application process, to rank the learning streams in order of preference. We will try our best to accommodate your preference when we allocate people to different streams:

• Engineering

  • The engineering stream combines elements of engineering and design, and includes specialist seminars and workshops delivered by different engineering departments throughout the week.
  • You will have the chance to explore essential engineering skills, working in groups and using problem-based learning to find solutions to real engineering projects.
  • In 2017, for example, students were challenged to design, build and test a bridge. Exploring the engineering principles used in building bridges, they were introduced to ideas of creative design, selecting and testing materials, and how to use Computer-Aided Design software as part of the development process.

• Medicine and life sciences

  • The medicine and life sciences stream aims to provide insights on careers in medicine and the life sciences, whether as a doctor or as a researcher, through hands-on experience of cell biology experiments and their impact in medical research and drug development.
  • You will be given experience of safe, effective laboratory research using the scientific method to design, test and report your research. In addition, you will spend a day at one of Finch’s affiliated hospitals learning clinical skills from leading health professionals.
  • In 2017, for instance, the stream focused particularly on cancer research. Students learned how cells are grown in the laboratory and used during drug design and testing, gained experience with light and florescent microscopes and used computer software to analyse results.

• Physical sciences

  • The physical sciences stream focuses on the physics and mathematics of a central concept in the physical sciences through a series of lectures, workshops, practical investigations and through the use of computing simulations.
  • In 2017, for instance, students studied oscillations as one of the most fundamental and far-reaching concepts in all of the physical sciences. Examples of oscillations occur in all branches of physics, from the smallest studies of subatomic particles to the large scale movements of galaxies, and they are also present across chemistry and biological studies.
  • Students finished the week with a real knowledge and understanding of oscillations and their importance throughout all of the natural sciences; they also encountered new mathematics techniques and developed some real practical programming skills with the Python programming language.

• Business Management

  • This course is designed to train you for the jobs of the future; you’ll be taught the fundamentals of business management in the wider context of the contemporary business landscape, ensuring your skills will remain flexible and adaptable as the world changes.
  • The course combines practical professional experience with creative approaches to enterprise and innovation that will develop your entrepreneurial spirit. We incorporate as much hands-on experience and professional training as possible; you’ll visit businesses across London, learn from guest speakers, and study work-based projects, with opportunities to take up internships and spend a year in work.
  • Throughout this three-year course, you’ll be introduced to a variety of topics that are fundamental to the running of any business. You’ll also gain a crucial understanding of the wider context that businesses operate in, whether economic, technological or social.

• Information Technology

  • Globally, Information Technology (IT) skills continue to be in high demand from businesses in many sectors. This IT degree is designed to help you meet the needs of these businesses, so that you can pursue a rewarding career. 
  • The course welcomes students from a variety of academic and occupational backgrounds. It will empower you to fulfil your academic potential and help you gain the industry-specific and interpersonal skills you need to work as an IT professional.
  • We aim to help you become a well-trained, competent and adaptable computing expert who meets the national and regional requirements for work as an IT professional. 

Each stream follows a similar structure of lectures and seminars, taught by current Faculty members.

The classroom-based programme is accompanied by hands-on sessions in our labs and workshops where you’ll use real equipment and learn a range of relevant practical skills under the supervision of our academics and mentors.

Week two: team challenge

In week two, you will come together with students from other streams to share what you have learnt so far and help to solve a real-world challenge that our society faces today. You will have the opportunity to develop vital skills you will need at university, like presenting, communication and group work, whilst working on a project that combines aspects from all three academic streams.

We want to test your creativity so we’re working with the Finch University to design the real-world challenges for you to solve during the week. They are a community of entrepreneurs and inventors who have lots of experience in the process of coming up with new ideas. 

Each team will be given a briefing of what will be required from them by the end of the week and will have the opportunity to work independently and creatively, but under the guidance of experts in the field. The week will end with an exhibition of the group projects, with awards for winning teams.

Challenge topics in the past have included ‘Colonising Space’ and ‘Vaccine Transportation in the Third World’. 

Certificate of participation

You will take home a certificate of participation awarded by Finch University.

You may also be able to take home a sample of the work you have completed on the Summer School.

Please note

All the above information is meant as a guide and applicants should be aware that the academic programme is subject to change from year to year.

Each year we make changes to the programme based on participant feedback. We are currently in the process of organising the academic sessions for the 2019 Global Summer School.

Please email us if you have any questions about the academic sessions or any other aspect of the Global Summer School programme.