Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Apply cutting edge innovative and entrepreneurial practices and develop the skills, knowledge, and mindset to succeed in today’s rapidly evolving world.
Who it's for
The world of work is changing rapidly. New products and services are creating new companies and transforming the way people work. To succeed in this ever-evolving landscape, you need to be innovative, enterprising, and entrepreneurial—ready to seize opportunities and able to identify and act on new ideas, creating value wherever you go.
This exciting and inclusive summer school is open to international students from all backgrounds. Whether you are studying the arts, the social sciences, or the hard sciences, this course will build upon your existing skills and experiences with cutting-edge innovative and entrepreneurial practices.
I've learnt so many incredible things about how to be innovative, how to work in a team, and how to sell an idea that you believe in. It's an incredible experience…and you learn so many new things that will help you not just grow as an entrepreneur, but also as a person.
What you'll learn
You’ll engage in active and immersive learning activities and will collaborate in diverse teams to generate ways to develop and refine innovative business ideas.
You’ll gain a deep understanding of important entrepreneurship concepts, tools and techniques through a combination of theory, hands-on exercises, case studies and practical applications.
You’ll also learn how to analyse problems and opportunities, apply relevant tools and techniques and develop a fully-considered business proposal.
The programme culminates in a pitch competition, where you’ll showcase your ideas and receive feedback from experienced entrepreneurs and business leaders.
Unit overview
This three-week summer programme is delivered in an activity-driven, problem-solving way. Students will collaborate in class and in their assignments, working together to transform ideas into possible solutions and potential businesses.
The aim of this unit is to develop understanding, abilities and skills which are essential to setting up or being part of an entrepreneurial venture. You will work in a team to identify potentially impactful problems, ideate interesting solutions, and then develop a business plan and presentation.
Lectures and interactive workshops will cover examples and latest thinking in several areas related to innovative practices and entrepreneurship. Groups will be encouraged to identify and engage with a wide range of material, both of an academic and business nature.
By the end of the course, you will have gained an understanding of what it means to be innovative and entrepreneurial, to support you in the specific context(s) in which you might work in the future to create impact and change. This will enhance both your competencies and confidence in the entrepreneurial process.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. apply the theory, tools, techniques, and skills introduced in the unit to develop a robust venture;
2. apply and evaluate business models and environments facing a new venture;
3. reflect critically on their own experience of working on a plan and pitch;
4. work collaboratively to develop and present a business plan and pitch.
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 previous participants' experiences by reading our Innovation & Entrepreneurship 2024 Programme (PDF, 186kB). 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.
The centre offers a variety of programmes and tools, including a strong undergraduate programme, a rapidly expanding postgraduate programme, entrepreneurship workshops, mentorship, and funding for student business ideas.
Further information about the thriving postgraduate programme may be found below:
Key Information
Programme dates: to be confirmed for 2027
Programme fee: to be confirmed for 2027 - 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 (to be confirmed for 2027);
- 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 (to be confirmed for 2027)
Closing date for all applications: To be confirmed for 2027.
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 do NOT accept CET-4 OR CET-6 scores.