Summer University

Summer Universities are the most common cultural project in AEGEE. A Summer University is a vacation that every local antenna organize for a prefixed number number of AEGEE’s foreign members (from 12 to 50). This summer vacations have a strong cultural meaning, last 2/4 weeks and have a very cheap fee (from 77€ to 98€ per week, trip not included :P).

Summer Universities Map 2015

Are you interested? Here there are the details:

Prices

The prices (maximum per week), are (click for the details about the kind of Summer University):
SC: 77 €
SC+ and TSU: 98 €
If the SU lasts longer, or less, the price varies.
The method of payment depends on the SU. You may have to pay 50% in advance and 50% upon arrival, 100% in advance, 100% on arrival…

What’s included in the price?

Accommodation during the whole event (hostel, camping, tent, gym, houses of AEGEE members, student flats, …).
Meals: Two per day of which at least one is warm. Vegetarian, non-pork food and other special requeriments will be provided.
Transportation during the event, tickets to recreational sites, cultural landmarks, activities, museums… and everything else included in the program. And of course the parties!

What is not included in the price?

Transportation (plane, train, …) to where you are going to participate in a SU.
Activities not included in the program. Some SU can offer activities for an extra fee (for example, entry to a water park), which are optional anyway.

Destinations

You can view all the Summer Universities that are organized this year on this big map. You can chose up to 3 destination. During the pre-selection process an algorithm will chose for you one of them and the request will be send only for that SU. Chosing 3 destination you’ll increase your chance to be accepted!!!

Dates & Duration

The dates differ per Summer University. This year there are SUs organised between the 26th of June and the 9th of September. Please check the list of this year SU’ ordered by date by clicking here.
The typical duration is between 10 and 24 days.

Language

You will be able to discover that you know more English than you think because you’ll be 24 hours a day with about 30 people from across Europe, which necessarily have to communicate in English! Probably, because you’re reading this article in english, it’s not a problem! It will be also a great way to practice various other languages with native speakers, because participants and destinations are in all Europe.

Motivation letter

You have to make one for each SU you choose (in the application process you will have to choose up to three, in order of preference). In the letter you have to introduce yourself and explain why you want to participate in the Summer University. You have to write it in English, unless you know the language of the country that you want to go to, in which case you can write in that language.
Remember that the people that will read the letter will be someone like you, so show yourself in a positive and informal way. Start the letter with “Dear Sir Organizer” would therefore make no sense.

Do I have to travel on my own to the SU?

Yes, you have to travel on your own as far as getting to the starting point of the SU.
TIP: if you are looking at tickets and you see the ticket one day before or the day after the SU starts is cheaper, than maybe it’s fine to buy it, just get into contact with the organizers and they maybe can arrange everything for you to arrive a bit earlier/later.

Can I go with a friend to the same SU?

The application process is individual, therefore there is no guarantee that something like this happens, although you can try.

How do I apply?

The procedure is simple:

  1. Become member of your nearest AEGEE local. You can pre-signup at AEGEE-Bergamo here.
  2. After you become meber of AEGEE-Bergamo, get an AEGEE.org account (you need to become a member as we need to register your card code).
  3. Choose up to three Summer Universities on the SU website aegee.org/su.
  4. Submit your application including a brief cover letter (motivation letter) to convince the organizers why they should pick you rather than someone else! 🙂 We’ll help you to do that!

The deadline is set for the 24th April 30th April (DEADLINE EXTENDED)!

Selection Procedure

The applicants selection to the various Summer University camps will be undertaken in two stages:
Pre-selection – Through a computer which breaks down the various destinations, its done a a first general selection of the applications received. Only one destination per applicant will be pre-selected, so that we may have an equal number of candidates for all the SU, putting into consideration gender, nationality and age.
Selection – After the pre-selection algorithm has assigned one SU to each applicant, every SU organiser willl receive the candidate list and their cover letters and will then proceed to the final selection process, and contact the candidates on the final result (selected/non selected/waiting list). Once you and the other participants are selected, the organizers usually create a mailing list or/and a facebook grouè where you can communicate with all the participants and organizers. The organizers will send you information on how to pay the fee of the event, how to get there, etc… You must check your email regularly.

Vacancies

If you have not been selected you still may get a second chance!
On the Summer University website will be published all the available vacancies that have been vetoed by the applicants. You will then required to re-fill the application form, but you will not go through a pre-selection stage and there is no deadline; the organiser will read your application and then get in touch with you.

If your application has been rejected again will it mean that you have wasted your time and money? No! Your membership is valid for a whole year and you will be able to attend AEGEE events during the year. All you need to do is to go on www.aegee.org/events to see our events calendar. On top of that you will be able to attend all events organised by your local aegee group (excursions, parties, conventions, language exchanges…) and take advantage of all the opportunities destined for the membership card owners!

Types of SU – Details

There are three types of Summer Universities that you can choose from:

Summer Course (SC): is a course about a specific topic ranging from language and local culture to environment and politics. Participants receive at least 14 hours of tuition. It is organised by one or more AEGEE locals and can be in cooperation with a Working Group or Project. It lasts between 2-4 weeks and the fee of max. 11 €/day (77 €/week includes tuition, lodging, two meals per day, of which at least one is warm meal and a social programme for the nights.

Summer Course Plus (SC+): is a course about a specific topic ranging from language and local culture to environment and politics. Participants receive at least 20 hours of tuition. It is organised by one or more AEGEE locals and can be in cooperation with a Working Group or Project. It lasts between 2-4 weeks and the fee of max. 14 €/day (98 €/week includes tuition, lodging, two meals per day, of which at least one is warm meal and a social programme for the nights.

Travelling Summer University (TSU): is usually organised by at least two AEGEE locals. During the 2-3 weeks of cultural trips across Europe, the group visits at least 4 different places. There is no formal tuition provided; the aim of this event is to enjoy the lifestyle and culture of a place.
The fee of maximum 14 €/day (98 €/week) includes travel costs from the first to the last place mentioned in the programme, lodging, two meals per day, of which at least one is a warm meal and a social programme for the nights.

Important to remember is that AEGEE Summer University courses are more about interacting with people rather than focussing on serious studying. You will, for example, not receive ECTS for participating. Summer Universities are a chance to increase your international awareness by gaining a deepened knowledge of the country visited and the cultures of the inhabitants.