Leeds International Summer School
Experiential learning field trips to Castle Howard in York, the Brontë Parsonage in Haworth or the Yorkshire Coast bring to life the subject of your courses.
The variety of courses also includes subjects like Sport, Nutrition & Outdoor Education, Creative Writing, or Genetic Engineering & Genetically Modified Plants. LISS offers you the opportunity to study at the University of Leeds and immerse yourself in British culture as part of an exciting four-week program. Taking advantage of the vibrant, student friendly city of Leeds, and the rich history, culture and natural beauty of the area, the summer school combines world-class tuition with local knowledge, academic-related field trips, and a wide variety of social activities.
Key information
Student experience
Leeds International Summer School
Program details
Experience the vibrant, student-friendly city of Leeds and explore the rich history, culture and natural beauty of the area. The summer school combines world-class tuition with academic field trips. Leeds International Summer School (LISS) also includes social activities and cultural excursions.
Choose from modules across a diverse range of subject areas including: Arts and Humanities, Business, Environment, Engineering and Physical Sciences, and Social Sciences. To view the 2025 module offerings click here.
In the full four-week programme, students need to select one module for Block 1 and one module for Block 2. Each module is worth 10 Leeds credits, so by completing two modules in this four-week programme, you’ll receive 20 Leeds credits. 12 Leeds credits is equivalent to one UCalgary 3-unit course.
Each module usually includes at least one field trip to support what you’ve learned in the classroom and give you insights into British culture, history and society.
Previous destinations include Castle Howard in York, the Brontë Parsonage in Haworth and the cities of Manchester and Liverpool, as well as trips within the city of Leeds to local businesses and destinations such as Leeds Art Gallery and Kirkgate Market.
The summer school usually runs from the end of June to the end of July. (Students must complete Block 1 and Block 2, the 4-week programme, to bring back enough credits for 1 UCalgary 3-unit course.)
The next summer school will run 28 June - 26 July 2025
(block one: 28 June–12 July, block two: 13–26 July).
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Costs
As UCalgary has an exchange agreement with Leeds, students will pay their tuition fees to UCalgary.
Nominated exchange students just pay the non-tuition costs directly to Leeds reducing the 4-week fee to £2,120 (usually £3,900, 2025 program).
This fee includes accommodation, breakfast and lunch on weekdays, module field trips, weekend excursions and social activities.
In addition, students will pay tuition for one course at the University of Calgary.
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Funding
Did you know that you can take your UCalgary funding with you on exchange? Since you remain a degree-seeking student at UCalgary while studying abroad, you remain eligible for any awards and scholarships you are otherwise eligible to receive from the university, as well as student loans.
Our office administers several awards, including the Global Access Fund and the Global Learning Award. Students may only receive these awards once. Please see the funding page, linked below, for more information.
As a summer school student, you will live in Montague Burton, a University halls of residence right next to campus.
You’ll have the privacy of your own room and share bathroom, kitchen and dining facilities with other summer school students.
Breakfast and lunch are included from Monday to Friday. The kitchens have cooking facilities, but if you don’t feel like cooking for yourself, there are lots of places to eat on campus and hundreds of cafes and restaurants in the city centre.
The accommodation is included in the program fee.
This exchange is open to regular, full-time students in any faculty at the University of Calgary, who have completed at least one full year (10 courses) at the post-secondary level, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.8.
Students apply to UCalgary first, then we nominate accepted students who have met the minimum requirements to our partners. Once you have been nominated to Leeds, you will then apply directly to their exchange program.
Leeds has a robust social program during the summer school and the student assistants help organize a busy social program!
Leeds International Summer School Info Session
Have questions?
The advisor for the program is: Sydney Guthrie
How to Apply
Download the application guide
This PDF contains information on how to complete your application and what to do after you have applied.
Identify three programs of interest
We recommend applying for your top three programs for the priority application deadline, as placement may be competitive. We will assess your applications in ranked order.
Check requirements and deadlines
These may vary by program, so check the individual program pages and make sure that you are aware of any different application deadlines or eligibility requirements.
Start your application
Once you have gathered everything you need, you can begin your application!
Please note: Applications will not be considered complete until all required documents are submitted in full.
International travel presents challenges that may not be found when attending classes on campus. There may be a lack of resources, emergency services, hospitals, accessibility issues and/or demands on the physical and the mental self, all of which can challenge individuals when away from their usual support systems and structures. Adequate preparation is essential.
For this reason, it is imperative that you evaluate all aspects of your own physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual condition against the rigors of the particular global learning program you are selecting. If you are unsure of whether or not this program is a good fit for you and/or if you have any circumstances that could impede your enjoyment of the program, please contact us. Our Global Learning Advisors will be happy to assist in finding the best options for you and arrange any supports or accommodations necessary to ensure your success.
If you have or are seeking a certificate from Student Accessibility Services, you should provide this early to your Global Learning Advisor to ensure that the option that you are seeking can support your needs.
Please note: All participants must adhere to COVID-19 and other vaccination-related requirements for the destinations visited on this program. Failure to do so may have consequences such as being denied access to accommodation/housing, program activities, or to the host country itself.