Black Humanities
Join Bristol’s world-leading Centre for Black Humanities as we examine the histories, creativity and intellectual legacies of Africa and its diasporas in current debates around race and the humanities.
| Programme dates | Please note that this programme is not running in summer 2024. Please use the button above to register an interest in our 2025 summer programme. 2025 dates to be confirmed |
| Programme fee |
To be confirmed We offer a 10% discount for early-bird applicants who apply by early March 2025 (date to be confirmed) and to students from International Partner Universities and Study Abroad student mobility partners. |
| 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 | Early March 2025 - date to be confirmed |
| Closing date for all applications |
To be confirmed Places are limited and offers for programme places are made on a first-come, first-served basis. |
Who it's for
This programme is open to international students from any academic background with an interest in learning about the rich and diverse artistic and intellectual histories of Africa and its diasporas.
What you will learn
You’ll be hosted by our unique and world-leading Centre for Black Humanities in Bristol, a city with roots deep in the histories of Transatlantic slavery and colonialism, radical thought and resistance.
Our interdisciplinary summer school invites you to explore the cycles and circuits that connect our city to national and global dialogues around race and the humanities.
You’ll engage with key thinkers and issues across a range of fields – from film, visual culture and music to history and literature.
We’ll begin by asking ‘What is Black Humanities?’ before going on to address themes such as history and memory, Black feminisms and the cultural and intellectual legacies of Black radical thought.
Through these sessions you will gain critical insight into pressing social questions – from the current resurgence of the Black Lives Matter Movement to debates around the legacies of the Transatlantic slave trade and the demonisation of Critical Race Theory.
Academic programme
During this summer school you will:
- learn about the rich history of cultural and intellectual innovation across Africa and its diasporas through an interdisciplinary and humanities-based lens;
- develop key transferrable research skills from critical reading and viewing to hands-on experience in archives;
- engage key cultural sites in the city of Bristol and its environs;
- understand how important debates in society today are deeply rooted in histories of race and radical thought;
- engage with important thinkers and texts in the Black Humanities;
- examine historical constructions of race and racialised identities;
- develop presentation, communication and teamworking skills.
You can read the course description, aims, intended learning outcomes, and teaching and assessment information in our Unit Catalogue.
Programme timetable
Find out more about your summer experience by viewing our Black Humanities Draft Programme Timetable 2024 (PDF, 180kB). Please note that this timetable is subject to change.
If you need to view the programme outline in another format, email bristol-summer@bristol.ac.uk.
More information
Find out more about the Centre for Black Humanities based in the Faculty of Arts, and our MA in Black Humanities.
Entry requirements
You must meet all of these requirements to be eligible for this summer school:
| Study level | Currently studying at undergraduate level |
| Subject requirements |
We welcome applications from undergraduates studying any subject, but the summer school is particularly suited to Arts, Humanities or Social Sciences majors. |
| 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 |
I truly had one of the most eye-opening, life-changing experiences ever while at the University of Bristol. I learned so much from the program and my experience in Bristol completely shifted my perspective on a lot of things such as Black racial identity, American cultural norms, and the possibilities for my own academic path in the future.
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.
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