Programme information

Two Turing funded places are available for this programme for Widening Participation students only. Successful students will attend Session 2 of the Summer School (14 July - 13 August 2025). The application form is in the purple section at the bottom of this page. The deadline for applications is Monday 10 March 2025 at 23:59.

Call Details

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University International Summer School programme offers up to two Durham undergraduates to complete a 4 week summer programme during the summer of 2025. Students select one course from a wide range of intellectually stimulating subjects; each carrying 3 credits with 39 contact hours in total. All subjects are taught in English and students need to attend all classes and an examination. 

On-campus housing will be arranged on a shared room basis.

Why participate?

Students who successfully apply for the scheme will have the chance to experience:

• 100% face-to-face teaching

• A mix of local and international experience with students from all over the world

• Diversified range of intellectually stimulating credit-bearing subjects for selection

• Fun-filled enrichment activities and local tours

What are the costs?

The students nominated by Durham to participate will be considered exchange students and will not have to pay the Summer School tuition fee to PolyU (usual cost is HK$17,000). On-campus accommodation and enrichment activity fees are covered by PolyU. However, all participants will have to meet costs associated with:

• Visas c. HK$330–HK$630 (£35 - £65);
• Travel;
• An administration fee charged by PolyU of HK$550 (£56).

What funding is available?

Up to two Turing funded placements are available to students from disadvantaged backgrounds who meet the University's definition of Widening Participation (see Fair Access below). The typical level of funding is composed of:

• Living cost grant: £21 per day
• Travel grant: up to a maximum of £905 (reclaimable against receipts).

Eligibility

Interested students need to meet the following eligibility criteria. At the point of expressing interest in this initiative students must:

• Meet Widening Participation criteria (see below);
• Have already have completed at least one year of their degree. Typically students will currently be in second year (though some students on four-year integrated Masters programmes may apply in third year);
• Have one full year of study remaining at the time of the prospective internship (summer 2025);
• Be at least 18 years of age;
• Have a minimum weighted average of 60% or higher for their most recent academic year, equivalent to a low 2:1;
• Be able to spend 4 weeks from 14 July to 13 August 2025 in Hong Kong.

Fair Access

Fair Access: This initiative is open to any Durham student who meets the eligibility criteria above.  Expressions of interest are particularly welcomed from students from backgrounds where participation in study or work abroad is traditionally low. This includes students who: have received or are eligible for the Durham Grant Scheme; have participated in the Supported Progression Scheme or Sutton Trust Summer school at Durham University; are from a minority ethnic group; have a home address in an area of low progression to higher education (i.e. your postcode is listed '1' or '2' in the Polar checking tool.

Widening Participation

For the purposes of funding, the University's definition of Widening Participation includes:

How to apply

Please note that completing the 'register to apply' form is only the first step of a longer two-step application process. Students must:

1. Apply to Durham, who will select up to two students to nominate to PolyU
2. Nominated students will then have to complete an application with PolyU

If you do not complete step 1 and directly apply to PolyU you will not be considered an exchange student (and they will charge associated Summer School fees).

1. Application to Durham

The application form (in the purple section at the bottom of this page) will ask for:

• Personal details;
• Upload of a Transcript of Marks indicating that you meet the 60% average requirement;
• Declaration of whether you meet the University's Widening Participation criteria.

The deadline for applications to Durham is 23:59 on Monday 10 March 2025. 

Selection by Durham

All applications will be vetted by Durham to ensure that they meet the eligibility criteria. Each eligible application will be given a unique number with successful applications selected using a random number generator. Students will be notified whether they have been successful after 12 March 2025. 

2. Application to PolyU

Once you have been nominated by Durham you will receive information from PolyU on how to apply. The deadline to complete the application to PolyU is 31 March 2025.

Further Information

Subjects on offer (session 2 only)

Example enrichment activities

Buddy programme