University of Stirling

The Fulbright University of Stirling Summer Institute is a four week video editing programme where students will explore how film and digital media can be used to tell compelling stories about people, places and communities. The programme combines academic study, cultural immersion and personal development, offering participants a unique opportunity to experience Scotland.

The University of Stirling is an international university based in Scotland with a world-class reputation. Situated beneath the Ochil Hills, the university’s 330-acre campus is considered to be one of the most beautiful in the world and is ranked the number one campus environment in the UK and top 10 in the world (International Student Barometer 2024). Boasting its own lake (loch), 18th-century castle, and views of the Wallace Monument, the campus offers a tranquil environment in a country renowned for being warm and welcoming. It is one hour to the urban centres of Edinburgh and Glasgow as well as the gateway to the Highlands, allowing students the options to explore the best of Scotland.

Participants on the Summer Institute will discover the art and technique of post-production. This hands-on course introduces students to the creative and technical processes of editing for film. Working in a small-group environment, participants will learn how editors shape narrative, emotion and audience experience through carefully crafted decisions in picture and sound. Taught by an experienced industry professional, students gain hands-on experience using industry-standard software and equipment while working with material drawn from broadcast productions and award-winning student projects. Through practical workshops and creative assignments, participants develop skills in visual storytelling, post-production workflows and professional editing techniques.

Highlights

Social Activities: Participants will be treated to weekly social activities that will connect them to the local area and culture. These may range from a campus scavenger hunt, a ghost walking tour of Stirling, gardening in the university community garden or art or mini-highland games. The programme will end on a farewell ceilidh with a traditional fiddle band and caller.

Field trips: Along with wider International Summer School of around 130 students, students will be able to visit cultural attractions locally and in neighbouring area like Edinburgh, Glasgow and St Andrews. There will also be an opportunity to visit the Scottish Highlands for a weekend.

Fulbright Horizons Dinners: Fulbright participants will be invited to a weekly “Fulbright Horizons Dinner” where senior members of the university team will discuss future study, research, and collaboration opportunities at the University of Stirling.

Academic Structure  

Classes take place Monday to Wednesday. This course explores the theory and practice of narrative editing through engagement with professionally produced factual content drawn from a range of media sources and genres. Through the creation of edited sequences, participants examine key principles of narrative structure, pacing, continuity and audience engagement, while gaining insight into professional post-production workflows and contemporary industry practices.

Learning is supported through two three-hour workshops each week, which provide a structured and progressive introduction to editing techniques and methodologies. Beginning with fundamental editing procedures, the course gradually advances towards more complex approaches to narrative construction and storytelling. Practical exercises form the core of the learning experience, with students completing an editing project each week and reflecting on the outcomes through guided evaluation and discussion. The course culminates in a three-hour practical assessment during the final week, enabling students to demonstrate their technical proficiency, creative judgement and understanding of narrative editing principles.

There will also be a field trip to a historic Scotland site to explore history and filming.

More Information

Saturday 5th June – Friday 2nd July 2027

Participants will have their own single bedroom in a shared flat (apartment) with other Fulbright participants in Muirhead House. Each flat has shared bathrooms and communal living and cooking areas. Muirhead House is a five-minute walk away from classes. Participants will also have access to state of the art facilities including the gym, pool and fitness classes at Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence.

A full buffet style breakfast will be available every day near the halls of residence. Participants will be given a weekly allowance for an on-campus lunch and supermarket vouchers. Lunches will also be arranged for some off-campus excursions. Outside of the weekly Fulbright Horizons dinners, participants will be responsible for making their own meals in their flat using the provided kitchen equipment.

This module is credit bearing, worth a total of 10 SCQF credits (equivalent to roughly 3 US credits) with a transcript provided at the end of the programme.

More UK Summer Institutes:

University of St Andrews

Scotland's History: Kingdom, Nation, People.

Queen's University Belfast

Understanding Northern Ireland

Lancaster University

International Cultural Experience

University of East Anglia

Fiction in all its Forms