Innovation and Sustainable Development Summer School

Find out about our two-week programme that will give you the tools to respond to sustainability challenges in a variety of contexts.

Applications for the 2024 programme are now closed.

Unfortunately, we are no longer able to offer this programme and it has been withdrawn for 2024. 

  • 1st in the world for Development Studies ()

  • 1stin the UK among science and technology policy think tanks for SPRU – Science Policy Research Unit ()

  • 1stin the UK for annual research income in 2019/22 (Chartered Association of Business Schools)

Why study at the ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ

Through the Innovation and Sustainable Development Summer School you’ll have the chance to study at a university highly ranked in the UK and world league tables, recognised internationally for research, teaching and outreach. This is an opportunity to be part of a diverse international student and staff body.

    • We are in the top 40 in the world for impact against the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) ().
    • For Development Studies, we’ve been ranked 1st in the world for the last seven years ().
    • For Business and Economics, we’re ranked top 15 in the UK ().
    • The Business School is first in the UK for annual research income (Chartered Association of Business Schools 2019-2022).
    • We’re home to two world-leading think tanks – the  and the .

ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ Business School

You’ll be based within the EQUIS accredited and AMBA accredited ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ Business School. Our work draws on management, economics, science, technology and innovation studies. You’ll discover how we collaborate across disciplines to shape global issues in business, management and society, making an impact on policy and people.

Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU)

The Science Policy Research Unit of the ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ Business School is one of the world’s leading centres of research on science, technology and innovation policy and management. Everything we do is driven by a desire to tackle real world challenges such as climate change and inequality. We passionately believe that innovative science policy solutions can help create more sustainable, secure and equal societies.

About the Summer School

Programme Dates: 15 July - 26 July 2024

The Innovation and Sustainable Development Summer School is open to undergraduates and graduates at all levels and across all disciplines.

The Summer School has been developed to provide you with a clear understanding of the processes underlying innovation at local, national and global levels. The programme will give you the tools to respond to sustainability challenges in a variety of contexts.

Find out more about the programme, including fees and entry requirements:

      • Programme details

        15 July - 26 July 2024

        The Summer School will take place over two weeks, covering the following topics:

        Week 1: The Global Context

        • science, technology and global environmental change
        • energy, economic growth and the climate crisis
        • eco-innovation and sustainable development
        • international dimensions – trade, investment and regulation.

        Week 2: The Way Ahead

        • innovation for Global Health
        • emerging technologies and the fourth industrial revolution
        • new approaches to innovation for sustainable development
        • system change, transitions and transformations.

        Over the course of your learning journey, you’ll have the opportunity to:

        • attend lectures with world-leading academics, where you’ll explore the relationship between innovation, productivity and competitiveness
        • learn sustainable development and innovation policy tools, and join a workshop developed by the
        • visit UK businesses and environmental initiatives to provide practical insight into sustainable innovation
        • work in teams to deliver presentations to a panel of SPRU experts.

        Topics are subject to change.

      • Fees

        The fees for the programme are £1,999 per person. This includes:

        • full time academic programme, Monday–Friday, with 60 hours of course contact
        • visits to local initiatives and one day field visit to London
        • on-campus accommodation for 13 nights. Find out more about our accommodation.
        • evening campus social programme for networking with global peers (optional).

        If your application is successful, you will be asked to pay a £250 fee to accept your offer and secure your place (this will come out of the £1,999 programme fees). The remaining fees will be paid over 3 equal instalments of £583. Email summer@sussex.ac.uk for more information. 

      • Entry requirements

        The programme is open to undergraduates and graduates at all levels and across all disciplines. 

        You must have a minimum academic average of 8/10 at the time of participating. Your qualification can be in any subject. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing. 

        You must also have a minimum English proficiency overall score of:

        • IELTS (Academic) 6.0 overall
        • IELTS (General) 6.0 overall
        • TOEFL (iBT) 80 overall
        • Pearson (PTE Academic) 62 overall
        • Duolingo English test: 120 overall, with no component score below 100
        • UNAM English Certificate B1 or Intermediate-Advanced English for UNAM Language Centers.

        We assess all applications on a case-by-case basis. 

Contact us

If you have any questions about the Innovation and Sustainable Development Summer School, email summer@sussex.ac.uk.

You might also be interested in: