Arts, Activism and Social Justice
Learn from activists and change-makers working in the UK’s thriving arts and voluntary sectors.
| Programme dates | Sunday 16 June to Saturday 6 July 2024 |
| Programme fee |
£3,295 |
| Credits | Upon successful completion of the programme students will receive 10 academic credits, suggested as equivalent to 5 ECTS or 3 US semester credits. |
| Early-bird application ends | Friday 1 March 2024 |
| Closing date for all applications |
End of Thursday 2 May 2024 Places are limited and offers for programme places are made on a first-come, first-served basis. |
Who it's for
This is a summer school with a difference: you will join local activists, community members, University of Bristol students and Fulbright Commission scholars as you contribute directly to a city-wide movement of change.
This programme is open to international students from any academic discipline who want to understand the context for and learn the tools to effect change.
What you will learn
You'll learn how to create transformative change in the world around you in a range of skill-building, creative and academic sessions delivered by a network of community leaders, activists, academics and artists from Bristol's thriving grassroots sector and around the world.
The summer school focuses on six overlapping themes:
- Racism and social justice
- Colonialism and independence
- Global feminisms
- Migration and refugees
- Environmental sustainability
- Health and wellbeing
We want you to share your experiences and knowledge in interactive sessions that invite you to think about Bristol and the UK's past, current, and future engagement with arts, activism and social justice. You'll be comparing that engagement with that of your own home community and ultimately developing your own vision and plans for positive change.
Recent alumni have described the programme as "a life-changing experience" and "nothing less than transformative",
Academic programme
You might be asked to participate in reflective work, group projects, question and answer sessions, lectures, city-led workshops, History Commission activities, discussion groups with a focus on Black Lives Matter, and creative workshops.
Over the course of the summer school you will:
- discover how people from diverse social contexts have used a combination of philosophy and the arts as vehicles for social change;
- investigate the role of literature, music, visual arts, poetry and storytelling, dance, philosophy and critical social theories in social justice movements;
- learn about the key role of Bristol in the development of transatlantic slavery, the legacies of racism, slavery and colonialism, and the impact of these legacies on the lives of people today;
- examine what responsibilities we might have today because of historical legacies of racial injustice;
- explore how race and ethnicity intersect with gender in shaping social experience;
- develop transferable skills for use in future leadership and social entrepreneurship;
- get involved in a variety of community and civic activities;
- develop leadership, teamwork and communication skills.
You can read the course description, aims, intended learning outcomes, and teaching and assessment information in our Unit Catalogue.
Programme timetable
Our 2024 Programme Brochure isn't quite ready, but you can find out more about your summer experience by viewing our Arts, Activism & Social Justice academic programme brochure 2023 (PDF, 3,782kB) and Arts, Activism and Social Justice Programme Outline 2023 (PDF, 184kB) Please note that this information is from 2023; the 2024 provision may vary.
If you need to view the academic brochure and programme outline in another format, email bristol-summer@bristol.ac.uk.
More information
Learn more about our School of Arts, where you will be based.
Entry requirements
You must meet all of these requirements to be eligible for this summer school:
| Study level | Currently studying at undergraduate level |
| Academic requirements | GPA equivalent to 60–63% on the UK scale, C on the ECTS scale, or 3.0 on a 4.0 GPA scale |
| English language requirements |
If English is not your first language, you need to meet our English language Profile C. You can view the tests and levels we accept by visiting our Profile C language requirements page and selecting the 'English Language Proficiency Tests' tab. For this programme, we also accept CET-4 scores of at least 550 and CET-6 scores of at least 520. |
| Age | 18 or over |
Living in Bristol and studying this program was such an enriching experience. I learned about the value of international relationships, how a history of discrimination and oppression has shaped future generations, and how to become a changemaker in my community. Not only did I discover more about the world, but I also discovered more about myself.
Why choose a Bristol Summer?
Study at a top-10 UK university and explore one of the UK’s most exciting cities. Programme fee includes accommodation and social programme.
Fulbright Summer Institute
This programme is also available as a Fulbright Summer Institute for US undergraduate students.
Contact us
You can email or phone us if you have any questions about the course or your eligibility.
- Email: bristol-summer@bristol.ac.uk
- Telephone: +44 (0)117 455 3950