Study Abroad on a Prestigious, Fully-Funded Program in the United Kingdom
SCU’s Global Learning department in Global Engagement has supported students on Fulbright UK Summer Institutes since they were first created in 2011. Since that time, SCU students have participated in Institutes at universities across the United Kingdom. Current Institutes include:
- King’s College London, England
- Lancaster University, England
- Queen’s University Belfast, Northern Ireland
- University of Bristol, England
- University of St. Andrews, Scotland
The Fulbright UK Summer Institutes prioritize students who have never been outside of the U.S.. Students who have spent more than four weeks outside of the U.S./North America in the last five years are ineligible. The Institutes' focus on students who are unlikely to study abroad without support and many participants are low income and/or first-generation students.
Other undergraduate summer global opportunities offered through Global Learning in Global Engagement include: Fulbright UK Summer Institutes, Global Internships, and Undergraduate Research Abroad. See all Global Learning opportunities and scholarships.
The Fulbright UK Summer Institutes represent a distinct opportunity for first and second year undergraduate students who have limited or no experience abroad. Each summer, students are selected through a competitive, fully funded process to spend three to four weeks studying at leading universities across the United Kingdom. Students explore academic themes such as history, sustainability, innovation, culture, and social change while immersing themselves in British higher education and cultural life. The Fulbright UK Summer Institutes are part of SCU’s portfolio of Global Learning programs that support access to study abroad for all students. The Institutes enhance students’ academic experience at SCU and provide opportunities for career development.
About the Program - Building Intercultural Leaders
The Fulbright UK Summer Institutes are for students who can demonstrate strong intercultural skills, extracurricular activities and community involvement, leadership potential and a genuine desire to learn more about the UK and to share aspects of American culture.
Sponsored by the US–UK Fulbright Commission, the Fulbright UK Summer Institutes foster mutual understanding and transatlantic collaboration through academic seminars, field experiences, and cultural exchange. Participants live and study on a UK university campus, engaging with distinguished faculty, scholars, and community leaders.
Beyond the classroom, students take part in excursions, community service, and cultural discussions that deepen their awareness of global issues and cultivate the intercultural competencies essential to future global leaders.
Academic and Professional Impact
Participation in the Fulbright UK Summer Institutes provides profound academic and career benefits that align with SCU’s Jesuit values of global citizenship, ethical leadership, and social justice.
Key outcomes:
- Enhanced Global Perspective: Direct engagement with complex global challenges from diverse cultural viewpoints.
- Intercultural Communication and Leadership Skills: Development of empathy, collaboration, and adaptability across cultural contexts.
- Academic Enrichment: Exposure to international research environments and innovative teaching methods.
- Career Readiness: Strengthened critical thinking, communication, and leadership capacities that are highly valued by employers and graduate programs.
- Pathway to Prestigious Fellowships: Many alumni of the Summer Institutes go on to pursue the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, Rhodes Scholarship, and other globally competitive awards.
Program Overview
- Duration: 3 to 4 weeks, typically mid-June to late July
- Funding: Fully funded (tuition, housing, some meals, round-trip airfare, transfer from arrival airport in the U.K. to housing, and social and cultural programming and excursions included)
- Location: Hosted by top universities across the United Kingdom
- Focus Areas: Vary annually, recent themes include sustainability, innovation, history, culture, and social change
- Credits earned: Normally, 4 to 5 SCU Quarter credits
Eligibility
Applicants from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds are especially encouraged to apply, reflecting SCU’s ongoing commitment to inclusive global learning. Applicants must:
- Be U.S. citizens
- Have limited or no previous experience abroad. Students who have never been outside of the U.S. are prioritized, and students who have spent more than four weeks outside of the U.S./North America in the last five years are ineligible.
- Eligible students must be in the summer after their first or sophomore year, with at least two years of undergraduate study remaining after returning to the U.S. Students classified as juniors by units are eligible if they will have two years left at SCU after the Summer Institute.
- Demonstrate academic excellence (3.6 GPA recommended)
- Exhibit leadership potential, intellectual curiosity, and cultural openness
- Be at least 18 years old by the start of the program
Application Process at SCU
SCU students apply through the regular Global Learning application process and deadline. Santa Clara University’s Global Learning supports interested students through all stages of the application process, from initial advising to final submission, as well as through pre-departure orientation, the program abroad, and returning to SCU. Students applying to Fulbright UK Summer Institutes are encouraged to submit a second application to an alternate SCU summer program abroad.
Application components include:
- SCU Global Learning Application
- Fulbright UK Summer Institutes Application
- Personal Statement and Short Essays
- Two Letters of Recommendation (including one from a faculty member)
- Transcript and Passport Copy (if available)
Questions? Contact our team at globallearning@scu.edu
King’s College London, England
Lancaster University, England
Queen’s University Belfast, Northern Ireland
University of Bristol, England
University of St. Andrews, Scotland
SCU Global Engagement’s Global Learning Programs
Global Learning Programs in Global Engagement include:
- Study Abroad
- Summer Study Abroad
- Global Internships
- Fulbright UK Summer Institutes
- Global Explorations Faculty-Led
- Undergraduate Research Abroad
- Global Engagement Discovery Fellowships
- Exchange and Visiting International Students