Summer Schools
Media Summer School
Experience a career in marketing, journalism, and media production on our media summer school for ages 15-18.
Why Choose Our Media Summer School?
- Summer school for budding media and marketing professionals
- Designed for ages 15-18
- Hosted at UCL in London
- Work alongside top professionals in the media
- Explore live TV studios, create podcasts, and analyse media trends
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Digital Media Summer Course
Ambitious about shaping the future of media and making your mark in the digital industries? Join our media summer school to explore this vibrant industry.
You’ll immerse yourself in the life of a media professional – from presenting a mock news item in a working broadcast studio to designing a social media campaign for a real client. You’ll craft your own podcast, analyse online engagement trends, and meet top journalists, publicists, and media strategists.
Across 25 hours of immersive media experiences each week, you’ll be coached by and network with professionals from journalism, PR, and content creation. You’ll gain a hands-on education in media and communications and learn how to get ahead.
Discover more about our media summer school and book your place today.
Our immersive career experiences are delivered by InvestIN, a provider of life-changing career experiences since 2012.
Our Media Summer School
Aspiring to a future in media, marketing or digital content creation? The Digital Media Summer Experience at UCL puts you at the heart of the industry this summer.
Across one or two immersive weeks, you’ll:
– Step inside a real news studio to present a mock broadcast
– Manage comms in a simulated PR crisis
– Design a social media strategy for a public figure
– Meet top journalists, publicists, and media strategists
You’ll be taught by experienced professionals and receive career coaching on university choices and ways into the industry. Hosted at the UCL campus in London, you’ll also experience what it’s like to study at one of the world’s top universities.
Places are limited: secure your spot now and start your journey towards a future in media.
Digital Media Summer Experience
- Price
- Duration
- Location
- Ages
- Start Dates
- From £2,290
- 1-2 weeks
- UCL, London
- 15-18
- 19th July 2027
View Brochure
To learn more about our media summer school, view the course brochure.
24/7 Safeguarding
And pastoral support, including a nominated Pastoral & Activity Leader, and a dedicated house parent for residential students.
Coaching from professionals
Minimum of 25 hours of contact time with professionals per week – with coaching and networking opportunities.
Exclusive site visits
Excursions to up to 5 professional workplaces and venues, so you can witness firsthand what a job in your industry looks like.
Career simulations
Immersive, hands-on workshops and activities which replicate the experience of working at the cutting edge of your chosen career.
Why Book Our Media Summer School?
Work alongside top media professionals and learn from their professional experience. With 25+ hours of academic instruction per week, you’ll receive a crash course in the fundamentals of the modern media – from PR to branding to podcasting. You’ll get personal career coaching from experts with many years of experience in the industry.
Experience life as a working media manager on exclusive professional site visits. On our media summer school, you’ll visit a working broadcast studio, step into the role of a podcast producer, and handle a fast-moving PR crisis under pressure.
Our programme offers an unparalleled opportunity to learn the key skills which leading media managers use every day. You’ll work with meet TV journalists, producers, and editors; advise a politician using strategic communication techniques; and take part in a technical skills workshop covering podcast production and post-production.
On the media summer school, participants have the opportunity to work towards a recognised Level 3 Qualification in work experience, which is worth 8 UCAS points. Boost your university application and receive a formal certificate of achievement.
Testimonials
Our Media Summer School Campus
Learn more about where you’ll be studying on our media summer school.
Ages 15-18
University College London
At University College London (UCL), students aged 15-18 discover thrilling career possibilities. All our immersive career experiences take place at UCL, where students can experience living and studying at one of the leading universities in the world. With the thriving professional culture of London on your doorstep and exclusive site visits to some of London’s top firms, it’s the ideal place to launch your career.
- Price
- Duration
- Start Dates
- From £2,290
- 1-2 weeks
- 5, 19 Jul & 16 Aug 2027
Socials and Special Events
Beyond the Timetable
Discover more of London
At the weekend, residential students have the chance to get out and explore. Activities include a guided London walking tour and a sports day in one of central London’s parks.
Available to residential students only.
Celebrate what you have achieved
The programme concludes with a graduation ceremony recognising students’ work and achievements during their time at summer school – a chance to reflect on the experience and celebrate together.
An exclusive evening of professional connection
Reserved exclusively for students on the 2-Week Enhanced programme, the gala dinner is one of the most memorable occasions of the summer. Held on the penultimate evening, it brings students together for a formal dinner and a special networking event with professionals.
It offers valuable exposure to professional conversations and networks at an early stage – as well as a memorable way to mark the end of the programme.
Available to 2-Week Enhanced students only.
Course Content
What Will I Learn?
On our media summer school, you’ll receive an incredible induction into the career of a digital media professional – through content creation, visits to working studios, and coaching from seasoned professionals.
Step into the role of a media executive and develop a strategy to revive a struggling company. You’ll respond to changing client briefs, use professional marketing tools, and present your recommendations for expert feedback.
Learn how successful digital content is planned, produced, and adapted for different audiences. You’ll create visual content for platforms such as YouTube and TikTok, explore how algorithms influence reach, and consider what drives audience engagement.
Create your own podcast episode from initial concept through to production. You’ll develop your technical skills in recording and post-production, learn how to hold an audience’s attention, and present your finished episode to industry professionals.
Experience the pressures of managing a fast-moving PR crisis and see how your decisions can affect a brand’s reputation. PR professionals will guide you through the process, helping you develop your judgement and strategic communication skills.
Go behind the scenes in a working broadcast studio and learn from journalists, producers, and editors. You’ll also explore political reporting, misinformation, and the challenge of communicating sensitive stories accurately to different audiences.
Develop a professional portfolio showcasing your work from the programme and explore potential routes into media, journalism, marketing, and communications.
You’ll also build your CV, LinkedIn profile, and personal brand, explore your strengths through psychometric profiling.
Plus, you’ll receive guidance on competitive university applications, including Oxbridge and Ivy League admissions.
Get started
Secure Your Place
Check the availability for the next start date and secure your career experience.
Credentials for your applications
A Recognised Certificate of Achievement
After graduation, every student can earn a personalised digital certificate recognising their achievement to use on their UCAS applications.
Students who attend a 2-Week Summer Experience will also receive an industry reference letter, signed by professionals, outlining what they have achieved over the course of the programme.
We can also be included in the UCAS extra activities section, and we are an approved provider for the Gold Residential section of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
Earn UCAS Points for Your University Application
Students who complete the 2-Week or 2-Week Enhanced programme will have the chance to earn a Level 3 Work Experience qualification, worth 8 UCAS points – a boost for UK university applications.
FAQs
The media summer school is tailored for students aged 15-18 who are passionate about the media and considering a career in marketing, content creation, PR, or media production.
Students will gain hands-on experience by creating a podcast episode, visiting a working TV studio, meeting PR professionals, and performing a social media rebrand for a real client.
Yes, students will receive one-on-one mentorship, insider application advice, and guidance on how to forge a career in the media.
The programme takes place at UCL, London, providing access to state-of-the-art learning environments and an elite university experience. There are also site visits to professional venues, such as a working broadcast studio, in London.
Of course. If you have any questions, simply fill out this form and a member of our team will get back to you as soon as possible.
Yes, we have residential options available for our media summer school. This includes:
- Accommodation
- Meals
- Guardianship
- 24/7 safeguarding
- Social activities in evenings and excursions at weekends
Please select this option when booking.
Yes. About half of our students attend as day students. The programme content is exactly the same for day and residential attendees.
You need to have a minimum English level of B2 (intermediate) to attend this course.
Absolutely. Around half of our students are from the UK or US, with the other half from other countries around the world. We have welcomed students from 100 nationalities and are proud to have a global student community.
Have a Question?
Fill out the form and a member of our team will get back to you as soon as possible.
Make the most of your evenings
Residential students can enjoy a varied programme of evening activities designed to bring the group together in a relaxed setting. Depending on the programme, activities may include movie nights, a board game café, sports and games, wellness evenings, quizzes, scavenger hunts, and craft nights.
Available to residential students only.