International Summer School

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International Summer School

A cobblestone street lined with historic brick and stone buildings curves uphill, with a wrought-iron fence and greenery on the left and a vintage-style streetlamp on the right under a partly cloudy sky.

Two young women sit at a table, smiling and working together on an activity with cards. Other people are seated and engaged in similar activities in the background. The setting appears to be a classroom or workshop.

A bearded man demonstrates how to use a machine to a group of attentive students, some of whom are taking photos or videos with their phones.

Create. Experiment. Explore.

Norwich University of the Arts’ International Summer School brings together ambitious young creatives for an intensive, studio-based programme delivered in one of the UK’s most inspiring creative cities. Over two dynamic weeks, students immerse themselves in hands-on making, critical thinking, and collaboration—supported by expert tutors, specialist facilities, and a vibrant international community.

Whether you are exploring creative disciplines for the first time or preparing for future study in art and design, the International Summer School offers a unique opportunity to experience university-level creative education in action.

Programme overview

The International Summer School is a two-week, full-time, immersive programme combining:

Subject-specific studio practice
Creative workshops and technical inductions
Tutor-led critiques and project development
Cultural visits and city-based activities
A final exhibition and showcase

Students work towards a resolved creative outcome, documenting their ideas, experimentation, and reflections through sketchbooks and digital platforms.

Programme dates

International Summer School 2026: 9 – 23 August 2026

Creative pods (Subject Pathways)

Students enrol into one specialist Creative Pod, each led by academic staff and delivered in dedicated studios:

Pod A: Graphic Design and Illustration

Student can choose to specialise in either graphic design or illustration, and explore visual communication through typography, image-making, narrative, and concept development. This pod introduces students to design thinking and storytelling across print and digital formats, encouraging experimentation with layout, composition, drawing, and visual systems. Students develop ideas from research to refined outcomes, building confidence in communicating concepts with clarity and creativity.

Pod B: Fashion and Textiles

Investigate fashion thinking and material exploration through hands-on studio practice. Students experiment with fabric manipulation, surface design, print, and garment concepts while exploring the relationship between form, function, and identity. The pod encourages material-led innovation, sustainability awareness, and creative risk-taking within a contemporary fashion context.

Pod C: Fabrication – Architecture, Interior Design & 3D Making

Focus on spatial thinking and three-dimensional design through model-making, materials exploration, and structural experimentation. Students explore how spaces, objects, and environments are conceived and constructed, working with scale, structure, and surface. Through prototyping and workshop practice, participants develop an understanding of form, function, and human interaction within designed environments.

Pod D: Creative Computing – 3D Modelling, Coding and Physical Computing

Combine creativity and technology through digital modelling, interactive systems, and computational thinking. Students experiment with 3D design software, coding fundamentals, and physical computing to create responsive or immersive outcomes. This pod encourages innovation at the intersection of art, design, and technology, fostering problem-solving and future-facing creative skills.

Pod E: Games and Animation – Analogue, Digital 2D & 3D

Student can choose to specialise in either games or animation, and explore character creation, world-building, movement, and interactive storytelling across analogue and digital platforms. Students experiment with drawing, storyboarding, animation techniques, and game concepts using both traditional and digital tools. The pod supports creative narrative development while introducing core principles of time-based and interactive media production.

Each pod follows a shared programme structure while allowing subject-specific focus, facilities, and creative outcomes.

Learning environment

The Summer School is based across Norwich University of the Arts’ city-centre campus, giving students access to:

Purpose-built design studios
3D workshops and fabrication spaces
Animation, games, and creative technology labs
Textile print and dye facilities
Photography and digital production studios

Learning extends beyond the studio, with Norwich itself acting as a living creative resource—rich in history, culture, independent galleries, and design-led businesses.