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Spend a summer abroad and apply for a tuition fee free place in summer 2024.
Tuition fees are waived or programme fees are significantly reduced for the summer programmes listed below. Students are still however responsible for costs like travel, accommodation, visas, excursions etc. Successful applicants can apply for a short-term mobility bursary to help cover these costs. Where tuition is waived, UCL is not paying the host university on students' behalf, the host university is simply waiving the fee.
How to Apply
Students apply online to the UCL Study Abroad office first, listing their preferences and answering questions that demonstrate the reflection and research they've considered for their shortlisted universities.
Students must check the eligibility criteria of each institution before applying, as some opportunities are only available to students from certain levels of study and/or particular departments/ faculties. If succesful in securing a place, students will then make a second application to their allocated host university (this is a formality).
Applications CLOSED on 04 January 2024.
Tuition Fee Free Summer Application
Participating Universities
- City University of Hong Kong - Colleges of Science and Engineering, Hong Kong
The Colleges of Science and Engineering have an overseas internship scheme to provide students with an opportunity to experience scientific research related to their studies. In addition to the research experience, additional cultural workshops and an industrial visit are provided to give participants a brief understanding of industrial establishments in Hong Kong as well as a taste of Chinese culture. The programme aims to provide students with the opportunity to conduct a research project which will expand their horizons and allow them to apply their knowledge in a practical setting.
Further information: CityU Summer Exchange website
Eligibility criteria: non-finalist UG students from Engineering and Physics departments only
Places availble: 2
Dates: 3 June - 2 August 2024
Costs students are responsible for: Travel, visa, insurance, vaccinations, accommodation, activities, admin fees and personal expenses etc.
- Hong Kong University of Science and Technology - Engineering, Hong Kong
The HKUST International Summer Exchange Program (ISP) welcomes students from our partner institutions to study at HKUST in the summer on tuition-waived, exchange student basis. The program aims to create a rewarding exchange experience for students from around the world. It comprises high-quality courses taught by regular HKUST instructors and opportunities to participate in local excursions that enable students to gain insight into the region.
Further information: HKUST ISP website
Eligibility criteria: non-finalist UG students from Engineering departments (not including Computer Science) only
Places availble: 3
Dates: 17 June – 10 August 2024
Costs students are responsible for: Travel, visa, vaccinations, insurance, accommodation, activities, admin fees and personal expenses etc.
- Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), International Summer School (ISS), Hong Kong
Join in academic courses taught by CUHK and visiting professors from renowned overseas universities, as well as Chinese language courses in Putonghua (Mandarin) and Cantonese. All courses will be taught in English (apart from Chinese language courses) and are accompanied by cultural activities ranging from city tours, cooking classes to heritage walks.
Further information: CUHK Summer School website
Eligibility criteria: non-finalist UG students from any department
Places availble: 4
Dates: July Session 2024 (TBC, likely 30 June - 2 August) | August Session 2024 (TBC, likely 30 June - 2 August)
Costs students are responsible for: Travel, visa, travel insurance, vaccinations, accommodation, activities, admin fees and personal expenses etc.
- Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), Summer Undergraduate Reserach Programme (SURP), Hong Kong
The Summer Undergraduate Research Programme (SURP) provides an opportunity for undergraduate students from overseas universities to undertake research attachments for eight weeks at CUHK during the summer. Students will conduct research under the supervision of a CUHK faculty member from various academic disciplines, including Arts, Education, Engineering, Law, Medicine, Science and Social Science. Early applications are strongly encouraged to secure places in preferred projects.
Further information: CUHK SURP website
Eligibility criteria: non-finalist UG students from any department
Places availble: 4
Dates: 23 June - 17 August 2024
Costs students are responsible for: Travel, visa, travel insurance, vaccinations, accommodation, activities, admin fees, personal expenses
- Tecnologico de Monterrey (iSummer Mx Programme) - Engineering, Mexico
Through the iSummer MX programme, students will live in four vibrant cities in Mexico. The Santa Fe district in Mexico City, the colonial city Queretaro, the industrialized Leon and the modern business and industrial center in Monterrey. They will exercise their intellectual curiosity and developing entrepreneurship, innovation and leadership skills, in a multicultural setting. During their stay in Mexico, students will learn about different parts of the country without ceasing their studies. Each campus has special activities, with field trips, company visits and networking events.
Further information: iSummer MX website
Eligibility criteria: non-finalist UG students from Engineering departments (not including Computer Science) only
Places availble: 6
Dates: 24 June - 26 July 2024
Costs students are responsible for: Travel, visa, travel insurance, vaccinations, accommodation, activities, admin fees, personal expenses and a service fee of USD1,800 that covers accommodation, transport within Mexico, airport pick up on official arrival day, breakfast six days of the week, tickets to all programme visits and events and health insurance
- Stony Brook University, New York, USA
Stony Brook University in New York has a wide variety of courses across multiple academic departments and disciplines. Admission to some courses is subject to department review, in order to ensure that students have satisfied the course entry requirements. UCL students can participate in the Global Academic Program, which is part of the Global Summer Institute.
Further information: Global Academic Program website
Eligibility criteria: non-finalist UG students from any department
Places availble: 8
Dates: 8 July - 16 August 2024
Costs students are responsible for: Travel, visa, insurance, accommodation, activities, admin fees, personal expenses etc. and tuition for any additional credits taken over 6 (only tuition fees for up to 6 credits are waived)
- Zurich University of Teacher Education Summer School, Switzerland
The Zurich University of Teacher Education (Padagogische Hochschule Zurich - PHZH) Summer School provides insight into the Swiss education system, its opportunities and challenges. The programme lasts between one and four weeks (depending on courses taken) and is open to students in educational sciences and/or teacher education who have completed at least one year of full-time study. The courses available are listed below.
Further information: PHZH Summer School website
Eligibility criteria: non-finalist UG and PGT students from the Institute of Education
Places availble: 4
Dates: Special Needs and Inclusive Education in Switzerland and in a Global Context: 17 - 28 June 2024 (two weeks)
In the Story: Teaching and Learning with Drama: 24 - 28 June 2024 (one week)
Gamification in Education: 1 - 5 July 2024 (one week)
NB: Students can choose to do just one course or combine courses to stay between one - three weeks.
Costs students are responsible for: Travel, visa, vaccinations, insurance, accommodation, activities, admin fees, personal expenses and reduced programme fee that includes public transport in Zurich city during the course, a social and cultural programme, school/institution visits and if staying for two or more weeks, one weekend trip to the Swiss mountains. The reduced programme fees are CHF180 for one week, CHF 390 for two weeks, 510 for three weeks.
- University of Gothenburg - Summer School for Sustainability, Sweden
The Summer School offers a programme of courses and activities to create synergy around sustainable solutions and encourage interdisciplinary collaboration. All courses offered will focus on the issues relating to the Sustainable Development Goals and will provide a challenging and rewarding academic atmosphere for you to develop knowledge around contemporary sustainability challenges within students' own academic disciplines as well as skills necessary to contribute towards fulfilling Agenda 2030.
Further information: University of Gothenburg Summer School website
Eligibility criteria: non-finalist UG students from any department
Places availble: 2
Dates: 27 June - 2 August 2024
Costs students are responsible for: Travel, visa, travel insurance, vaccinations, accommodation, activities, admin fees, personal expenses
- National Taiwan University - International Mentorship Program (IMP)
The IMP is a unique internship programme for international students at NTU. In this program, senior executives and managers of various organisations act as mentors to students, so that they can put their theory into practice. NTU hopes that through this programme they will inspire the students to lean into their newfound perspectives within their life and career.
Further information: National Taiwan University IMP website
Eligibility criteria: non-finalist UG students from ISPS only
Places availble: 2
Dates: June - September 2024 (minimum of 12 weeks, but up to 16. Students will determin specific dates with their mentors)
Costs students are responsible for: Travel, visa, travel insurance, vaccinations, accommodation, activities, admin fees, personal expenses
- National University of Singapore - FASStrack Asia
FASStrack Asia comprises of Asia focused courses from the Faculty’s Asian Studies Division, Humanities Division and the Social Sciences Division. The summer programme will tap into NUS' research strengths in the region and offer students an enriching knowledge and understanding of various Asian-related topics and issues. Students will attend classes, participate in active discussions and learn from academic experts specializing in their area of study. Besides NUS students, FASStrack Asia also welcomes university students from Singapore and all over the world to join the programme to enhance cultural exchanges and diversity of the programme.
Further information: NUS FASStrack Asia Summer Programme website
Eligibility criteria: non-finalist UG students from any department
Places availble: 2
Dates: 1 - 19 July 2024
Costs students are responsible for: Travel, visa, travel insurance, vaccinations, accommodation, activities, admin fees, personal expenses
- Nanyang Technological University (NTU) - Engineering and Mathematical & Physical Sciences, Singapore
NTU GEM Trailblazer Summer offers up to fice different tracks, from experiencing a full Asian cultural experience to opportunities to enhance your future business career in Asia and staying abreast with the latest technology in 3D Printing.
Further information: NTU GEM Trailblazer Summer website
Eligibility criteria: non-finalist UG students from Engineering and Mathematical & Physical Sciences departments only
Places availble: 6
Dates: 2 or 4 week programmes, 26 June - 27 July 2024
Costs students are responsible for: Travel, visa, travel insurance, vaccinations, accommodation, activities, admin fees, personal expenses
TuitionFee Free FAQs
- How are allocations made?
Allocations are made on the strength of students' applications and the number of places available on each of the above programmes. The more detail and research that a student demonstrates in their application, the more likely they will be placed at their first preference institution. Competition and popularity for each programme varies every year, so students should concentrate on submitting their best application possible, and also be open minded to the different opportunities available.
If Study Abroad receives more applications than spaces available, unfortunately not all students can be allocated a place.
- Who can apply?
Most of the options above are open only to non-finalist undergraduate students, with some having further departmental restrictions. This means that final year undergradute students cannot apply. Students on their third year of a four-year MSci or MEng programme can still apply, provided they meet all other criteria of the above programmes they are interested in.
Postgradute (PG) students can only apply for the above programmes that state they accept PG students.
If a student is currently on interruption, but their interruption ends before the start date of the programme (and they're officially re-enrolled at UCL), they can apply.
- I'm only interested in one summer programme. Do I still have to select three choices on the application?
Students should be open to any of the programmes listed above, but if it possible for them to only apply for one opportunity, in the application they can explain why they are only listed one e.g. for financial reasons, academic eligiblity criteria, support services required etc. Students should keep an open should only list choices that they are prepared to accept if offered.
- What happens after applying?
Applications will be reviewed once the deadline passes. Students will be notified whether their application is succssful in February.
If awarded a place, students must first confirm their acceptance then complete a second application for their host institution by their specified deadline. Both the UCL Study Abroad office and students' host institutions will provide application guidance.
If Study Abroad receives more applications than spaces available, unfortunately not all students can be allocated a place.
- What about COVID-19?
In-person programmes abroad are contingent on health and travel guidance from UK, international governments, UCL and host institutions.There is a chance that an in-person programme may switch to a virtual offering or be cancelled if the situation requires.
If a student's placement is cancelled due to COVID-19 or they cannot attend due to travel restrictions, they can apply again for the following year's summer programmes, provided they are still a non-finalist undergraduate student. The options available and the number of places UCL Study Abroad have at each partner varies each year, deferred places from one year to the next are not possible.
- Are these the only universities possible?
It may be possible that new summer programmes become available at short notice. This is dependent on partner universities opening up places, and only if/when they are able to. Students should regularly check this page for updates. As of 2024, the above list is accurate.
Is students cannot find a suitable programme above, they may wish to explore the fee-paying options for summer schools at UCL's partner universities.
- Is there funding available (Global Experience Bursary and Turing Grant)?
In addition to having tuition/programme fees waived/reduced, students can apply for the Global Experience Bursary and if eligible, Turing funding too. Placements need to be at least 28 days long to qualify for Turing funding, so of the above options, the following are Turing eligible:
- Chinese University of Hong Kong
- City University of Hong Kong - Colleges of Science and Engineering
- Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
- Nanyang Technological University (four week programme only)
- National Taiwan University (International Mentorship Programme)
- Tecnologico de Monterrey (iSummer Mx Programme)
- Stony Brook University
- University of Gothenburg - Summer School for Sustainability.
If you are successful with a tuition fee free place, you will be contacted in due course with details on applying for both the Global Experience Bursary and Turing Grant.
If you are unsuccessful with a tuition fee free place, but still wish to attend one of the universities in the scheme, you may be eligible still apply there directly and then apply for funding. Please get in touch with the Study Abroad team via AskUCL for further guidance.