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Lancaster University

The Fulbright Lancaster University Summer Institute is a three-week programme which allows students to develop an understanding of the formal and technical composition of films and the wider conventions of cinema.

Please note, we are unfortunately no longer able to host the Lancaster University Summer Institute on Environment and Sustainability. We are now hosting the Lancaster University Summer Institute on Film for Summer 2025.


Lancaster’s beautiful 578-acre campus is situated in green parkland, 3 miles from Lancaster city centre. With more than 25,000 trees, 6.5 miles worth of hedgerows and an orchard, there is plenty of green spaces to relax and socialise with friends. Lancaster is an ideal location for exploring the UK, only 1 hour from Manchester and the Lake District, and 2.5 hours from London.

Through a combination of a combination of lectures, screening and workshops, participants on the Global Summer School on Film will develop the theoretical knowledge they will need to put into practice when working on the project in the final week. The lectures provide an understanding of the formal and technical composition of films necessary to undertake detailed analysis, from the level of close scrutiny of individual images, and their interrelation with the soundtrack, through to the narrative assembly of shots and scenes. Through the analysis of a range of examples, participants will become familiar with the key formal and semantic conventions of cinema.

The practical workshops allow for the development of skills to work with cameras and digital film equipment as well as developing post-production and editing skills. Every participant is given the chance to write a short script following guidelines. Working in a group, participants will select a script to pitch and produce. Participants in a group all share the same mark for the completed film. In addition, they will write an essay to critically reflect on and analyse the production process, the formal and aesthetic decisions made and reflect on the completed film.

 

 

Highlights

Location: Lancaster is home to several museums and galleries and there’s lots to see in the various cinemas and theatres. The city itself is rich with culture and heritage, with the castle, Ashton Memorial, a cathedral, Roman bath house ruins, the priory and Dalton Square.  

College engagement: Lancaster University is made up of eight undergraduate colleges, so when our summer school students arrive we split them up into our colleges and introduce them to life as a Lancaster student. Students will come together from all our summer schools for core activities including orientation, college cup day, and some lectures. 

Evening and weekends: In addition, we offer a range of free evening activities that are led by our student ambassadors. These are wide ranging and include sports, art, dance, baking, environmental and film nights. At weekends we put on a number of site-seeing tours to Lancaster castle, Lake District, Liverpool, York and Manchester so students can see more of the UK.  

Academic Structure 

Week 1

Participants will be introduced to the culture, lifestyle and the environment of the UK and explore:

  • Lecture: Cinematography and the shot, and mise-en-scène, plus a film screening
  • Seminar: Discussing the topic and the film
  • Scriptwriting workshop
  • Practical camera and sound workshop
  • Post-production workshop

 

Week 2

  • Lecture: Editing and film sound, plus a film screening
  • Seminar: Discussing the topic and the film
  • Lecture: Pre-production to production
  • Practical camera and sound workshop
  • Post-production workshops
  • Pitching session and informative feedback on each project

 

Week 3

  • One-to-one group meeting to finalise the plan for the film project
  • Production and post-production of project
  • Presentation of the completed work

More Information

The three-week Summer Institute will begin on 7th July 2025 and will end on 25th July 2025. The participants will travel to Manchester from the US and arrangements will be made by Lancaster University to escort them from the airport to their accommodation. 

All Lancaster campus accommodation will be single, ensuite and catering will be provided for most meals. For overnight stays away from Lancaster, accommodation may vary. Please see the individual summer school pages for further information.

Global Summer School students are guaranteed a catered ensuite room on campus. Your bedroom will be fully furnished with a single bed, desk and chair, wardrobe, and bookshelves as well as your own private bathroom. You will have some shared facilities such as the kitchen and dining area. All meals are also provided whilst you are on campus. 

Students who complete this course are awarded 15 LU / 4 US / 7.5 ECTS credits.

More UK Summer Institutes:

University of Bristol

Arts, Activism, and Social Justice

University of St Andrews

Scotland's History: Kingdom, Nation, People.

Queen's University Belfast

Understanding Northern Ireland

King’s College London

Modern Britain: Institutions, Power, & People

University of Birmingham

British Cultural Heritage

Applications for 2025 UK Summer Institutes open November 12, 2024.
Click here to learn more.

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