Arts, Activism and Social Justice
Learn from activists and change-makers working in the UK’s thriving arts and voluntary sectors.
Who it's for
This is a summer school with a difference: you will join local activists, community members and Fulbright UK Summer Institute participants 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.
I can't emphasize enough how amazing my experience was. I felt so supported, validated and academically stimulated throughout the course of the program. I would take part in another University of Bristol program in a heartbeat.
What you'll learn
You'll learn how to create transformative change in the world around you in a range of skill-building, creative and academic sessions. These sessions will be delivered by a network of community leaders, activists, academics and artists from Bristol's thriving grassroots sector and around the world.
This unit follows the Bridging Histories methodology, which has been used to engage with thousands of people across different countries including the UK, US and Bosnia, and will train you in skills you can apply in diverse contexts in the future. Bridging Histories scaffolds a process of self-reflection and cognitive training that will help you be an effective changemaker.
Recent alumni have described the programme as "a life-changing experience" and "nothing less than transformative".
The summer school is delivered by academics and community leaders working in diverse ways with arts and activism, racism, colonialism, social justice, environmental sustainability, strengths-based community development, place-making and health and wellbeing.
Over the course of the summer school, you will be:
- Developing your own vision of positive change, and mapping how you will create that change.
- Learning by example from experienced change-makers.
- Building your practical skills in arts, media, campaigning, etc.
- Engaging with in-depth academic sessions.
- Getting your creative juices flowing.
- Making new connections.
You can read the course description, aims, intended learning outcomes, and teaching and assessment information in our Unit Catalogue. If the Unit Catalogue link doesn't work, please contact us at bristol-summer@bristol.ac.uk for this information.
Find out more about your summer experience by viewing our Arts, Activism & Social Justice Programme Timetable 2024 (PDF, 200kB) and the Arts, Activism & Social Justice Programme Brochure 2024 (PDF, 2,268kB) Please note that this information is from 2024; the 2025 provision may vary.
If you need to view the academic brochure and programme outline in another format, email bristol-summer@bristol.ac.uk.
Learn more about our School of Arts, where you will be based.
Key information
Programme dates: Sunday 15 June to Saturday 5 July 2025
Programme fee: £3,595 - see what's included in the fee
Qualify for a 10% discount: We offer a single 10% discount for either:
- early-bird applicants who apply by 1 March 2025;
- students from International Partner Universities and Study Abroad student mobility partners;
- students who apply for two consecutive programmes; or
- groups of 10 or more students from the same university.
Students who apply through an agent will not be eligible for a fee discount.
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 applications end: 1 March 2025
Closing date for all applications: Applications closed on Sunday, 4 May 2025. For late expressions of interest, please contact Bristol Summer (bristol-summer@bristol.ac.uk) for consideration on a case-by-case basis.
Why choose a Bristol Summer?
Study at a top-10 UK university and explore one of the UK’s most exciting cities.
Entry requirements
Age: 18 or over
Study level and subject: international undergraduates currently studying any major
Current academic attainment: 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: you meet our requirements if:
- you are a native speaker; or
- your degree is taught in English; or
- you meet our Profile C language requirements. Visit the page and select the 'English Language Proficiency Tests' tab for more information.
For this programme, we also accept CET-4 scores of at least 550 and CET-6 scores of at least 520.