Global Futures Summer School 2027: application information
The Global Futures Summer School 2027 will take place at Durham University from 12–21 July 2027.
Applications are completed by a parent, guardian or carer on behalf of the student. The full programme fee is £5,000, with a £500 application deposit payable when the application is submitted.
1. Contact
For any questions regarding the Global Futures Summer School or the application process, please contact: gfss@durham.ac.uk
2. Data protection and privacy
Durham University will process personal information provided through this application securely and in accordance with applicable UK data protection legislation, including the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018.
Information provided through the application may be used to:
- assess and process the application
- communicate with the applicant and their parent, guardian or carer
- administer participation in the programme
- identify and support accessibility, welfare and safeguarding requirements
- meet the University's legal and regulatory responsibilities
- evaluate and improve the programme using appropriately anonymised information.
Personal information will only be shared where necessary to administer and deliver the programme, support welfare and safeguarding, meet legal or regulatory requirements, or where otherwise permitted by law.
Durham University retains personal information for as long as it is required for the purpose for which it was collected, in accordance with the University's records retention arrangements.
Where processing is based on consent, consent may be withdrawn. Withdrawal of consent does not affect processing already undertaken and some information may need to continue to be processed where another lawful basis applies.
Further information about how Durham University uses personal information, data protection rights and subject access requests is available through the University's Information Governance and privacy information.
3. Application and selection
By submitting an application, the parent, guardian or carer confirms that:
- they have parental responsibility for the student, or authority to submit the application on behalf of the person with parental responsibility
- all information provided in the application is accurate and complete to the best of their knowledge
- they support the student's application to the Global Futures Summer School
- the student is available to attend the full programme from 12–21 July 2027
- Durham University will be informed of any material change to the information provided that may affect the student's participation.
As part of the application, students are asked to provide a short personal statement and a recommendation from a teacher or school counsellor.
Applications will be considered on the information provided, including the student's:
- motivation to participate
- academic curiosity and willingness to engage with new ideas
- potential to benefit from the programme
- willingness to contribute positively to an international community.
Information about disability, medical conditions, Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND), accessibility or other support requirements will not form part of the selection decision.
Durham University reserves the right to withdraw an offer where information provided in an application is found to be materially inaccurate or incomplete.
4. Health, safety and welfare
The Global Futures Summer School operates within Durham University's safeguarding arrangements for participants under the age of 18.
At application stage, parents, guardians or carers will be asked whether there are any disability, medical, SEND, accessibility or other circumstances that it would be helpful for the programme team to be aware of when considering how best to support the student's participation. Only a brief summary is required at this stage.
If a student accepts an offer of a place, further information will be requested through a separate participant registration process. This will include, where relevant:
- medical conditions and medication
- allergies and dietary requirements
- disability, SEND and accessibility requirements
- emergency contact information
- travel information
- information and permissions required for welfare and safeguarding purposes.
The University will take reasonable steps to provide a safe, supportive and inclusive environment for participants.
Students are expected to:
- follow reasonable instructions from programme staff
- participate appropriately in programme activities
- comply with behaviour expectations
- respect other participants, staff and members of the University community
- comply with residential, supervision and curfew arrangements.
Students and their parent, guardian or carer will be asked to review the programme's Code of Conduct and Behaviour Expectations before attendance.
Serious or repeated breaches of programme expectations may result in a student's participation being terminated in accordance with the programme Terms and Conditions.
5. Parental/guardian/carer consent
At application stage, the parent, guardian or carer confirms that they support the student's application and that the information provided is accurate.
If a place is offered and accepted, the parent, guardian or carer will subsequently be asked to:
- provide up-to-date emergency contact information
- provide relevant health, medical, dietary, accessibility and support information
- inform the University of any relevant changes before the programme begins
- provide appropriate permissions and consents required for participation
- authorise staff to seek appropriate medical treatment in an emergency where they cannot be contacted
- accept responsibility for the student's travel arrangements to and from Durham University.
Further information and consent may be requested where this is required for a particular activity.
6. Fees and cancellation
The full cost of the Global Futures Summer School 2027 is £5,000.
The deadline for payment of the remaining programme fee will be confirmed in the offer email.
Application deposit
A £500 application deposit is required when submitting an application to the Global Futures Summer School.
If the applicant is not offered a place, the £500 application deposit will be refunded in full.
If the applicant is offered a place, the £500 application deposit will automatically be credited towards the total programme fee of £5,000, leaving a remaining balance of £4,500.
If the applicant withdraws their application after submission or declines an offer of a place, the £500 application deposit is non-refundable.
Remaining fees
If a place is offered, the remaining programme balance of £4,500 must be paid by the deadline stated in the offer email.
Failure to pay the remaining balance by the stated deadline may result in the offer being withdrawn and the deposit being retained.
Cancellation by the participant
If a student accepts a place and subsequently withdraws, any refund of programme fees will be considered in accordance with the Global Futures Summer School Terms and Conditions.
Applicants and families should ensure that they understand the cancellation arrangements before accepting an offer and paying the remaining programme balance.
Cancellation by the University
Durham University reserves the right to cancel the programme where circumstances make delivery impracticable or due to circumstances beyond the University's reasonable control.
Where the University cancels the programme, arrangements for refunding programme fees will be set out in the Terms and Conditions.
The University cannot normally reimburse external costs such as flights, visas, insurance or other travel expenses. Families are therefore encouraged to make appropriate travel and insurance arrangements.
7. Waiting list
If the programme is full, applicants may request to be placed on a waiting list. We will contact you if a place becomes available.