Imperial-RCA design for global challenges summer school

Engage with Imperial and RCA academics:
19 - 29 July 2024

Jointly delivered by Imperial College London and the Royal College of Art, the Design for Global Challenges Summer School is a multidisciplinary programme designed for undergraduate students currently studying at a university with an interest in learning how to tackle world challenges through service design.

The aim of the programme is to enable students to explore some of the current global challenges in climate change, global health, cyber security and propose an innovative idea to design a service that could tackle one of the areas. 

In addition to the global challenges, students will gain an insight into data science, hear latest advances in robotics and meet some of our graduate entrepreneurs who are driving progress by launching their design innovations into the commercial world.

Students will develop personal and professional skills through interactive workshops in design thinking, team-building and presentation and experience team based learning through a service design group project.

Furthermore, as Imperial College London and RCA are a multidisciplinary space for education, research, translation and commercialisation, the summer school students will experience the benefit of being part of a leading research community and the opportunity to engage with Imperial and RCA student ambassadors through social activities.

Arrival and Departure Dates
Arrival date: 17 July 2024
Departure date: 31 July 2024

Applications are made through the online application portal

For queries or further information, please contact:

A scholarship of up to £600 will be provided by Global University Online. To apply, please visit the Global University Online website

More information

Programme structures & format

The summer school will be delivered in-person with up to 4 hours of learning per day. In addition:

  • Exercises and quizzes will be provided for formative feedback. 
  • Group projects are designed for assessing the learning outcomes. 
  • Case study methodology and collective discussions are used to strengthen the conceptual, analytical and problem-solving skills of the students in real situations.

Project work will be done through team-based learning with supervision. Final project will be presented in groups to a panel of experts on the final day of the programme. A prize will be awarded to the team with the best project.

The entire programme will be taught in English.

Teaching faculty

The summer school will be taught by a team of renowned Imperial and RCA academics leading in their area of education and research. 

Imperial & RCA postgraduate student will support the summer school students as ambassadors and participate in social activities, sharing their student experiences and life in the UK.

Certification

Students will receive an Imperial College London and Royal College of Art certificate on successful completion of the summer school and a prize will be awarded to the best project team. Each student will also receive a transcript for their project mark.

Entry requirements

All students are expected to be studying an undergraduate degree in any subject at a university.

Applicants should demonstrate good overall university performance in their current year of study.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old before the start of the summer school.
Applicants should have a good command of English, and if it is not their first language, they will need to satisfy the College requirement as follows:

  • a minimum score of IELTS (Academic Test) 6.5 overall (with no less than 6.0 in any element) or equivalent.
  • TOEFL (iBT) 92 overall (minimum 20 in all elements)
  • CET- 4 (China) minimum score of 550
  • CET- 6 (China) minimum score of 520