Application and programme details

Britain’s early History: Stonehenge to Shakespeare

From the Celts to the Crusades, from the Anglo-Saxons to Shakespeare, this module examines sweeping cultural, historical and social changes in this crucial early period. How did ancient, medieval, and early modern people cope with the challenges of life? And how did the origins of modern parliamentary democracy emerge in medieval Britain? In this module we will also consider Britain’s literary heritage, from the myth of King Arthur to William Shakespeare.

Britain and the Wider World, 1776-1947

How has Britain contributed to the wider world and how, in turn, has the wider world profoundly shaped Britain? This module explores Britain’s place in the world in the age of empire, with special attention to the birth of three nations, America in the eighteenth century and India and Pakistan in the twentieth.

Daily Life in Britain, 1940-2016

In the eight months from September 1940 to May 1941, some 43,000 British civilians died at the hands of Nazi Germany’s sustained aerial bombing campaign. Today this episode, the Blitz, is remembered as a time of hardship, but also one of solidarity, resilience and defiance. This module looks at British life from World War Two to the ‘Age of Brexit’, exploring the distinctive history and character of Britain and the British.

During the summer school, you will stay in the Victorian Founder's Building on a Dinner, Bed & Breakfast basis; reasonably priced lunches can be bought at the various shops and cafés on campus. Would you like to see more of our campus? Take a virtual tour.

This Summer School is open to 16-17 year olds: namely students born between 10 August 2001 and 21 July 2003.

A level of English proficiency is necessary for successful participation in the programme (please see 'English proficiency' below).

RHISS welcomes applications from all students who are interested in contributing to and learning from the summer school.

Students will live on our safe, suburban campus which has an award-winning 24/7 security presence. In addition, staff members ('student ambassadors') will be available by day and will stay in the accommodation near students at night. Please email us for further information.

We ask that you submit two supporting documents with your application:

1. Personal statement - your opportunity to tell us about yourself. What are your interests? Why would you like to attend the summer school? What are your favourite subjects at school? The personal statement should be no longer than 500 words.
2. Teacher recommendation - during the application you be asked to submit the email address of a teacher who knows you well. Your teacher will be asked to submit a reference.

Please see guidance here for short-term study visas in the UK.

Standard fees: £3,750 (includes tuition, trips, room and board).

Early Bird discounted fees: £3,250

See 'Application timeline' below for deadlines.

If your application is successful, you will receive an offer letter by email alongside payment instructions.

Language requirements: if your first language is not English (or if English is not the language of instruction at your school) we require IELTS 5.5 - 7.0 (or equivalent). Please email us if your proof of language proficiency is not listed below (or you received a borderline score) or you need any further guidance.

• English language GCSE (O-Level/IGCSE) grade C
• International Baccalaureate Standard Level English, grade 4
• TOEFL (to have been taken within the last two years):
  • PBT: 583 (minimum of 53 in all skills)
  • CBT: 213
  • iBT: 93 (minimum of 20 in all skills)
• TOEIC, 685 in all skills
• Cambridge Advanced Certificate grade B
• Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English, grade C
• CET-4 (China) 493
• B2 in the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR)