All Courses
On this page you can find all the courses and tracks offered by the Utrecht Summer School. Detailed information is published on all individual course pages.
43 course(s) found
Ecogames. Games and Play in Sustainability Awareness, Communication and Action

*** UPDATE: The first complete version of the day-to-day program, including all abstract and lecturer bios, has been published.
With the impending climate crisis and its short-term repercussions becoming more ‘tangible’ every year, popular media and especially games are increasingly moving into the center of attention. Whether these so-called ‘ecogames’ can provide new spaces to experiment with alternative forms of sustainable practices and…
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Advanced Communication Skills: Between Persuasion and Empathy

Effective communication is key for high performing professionals. If you want to bring your communication skills to the next level and work on your personal development, then this course is here for you! Two experienced professionals teach you the most valuable skills they learned themselves over the past 15 years. This course takes you beyond the ‘basics’. You will, amongst other things, learn the highlights from principle-based negotiation,…
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The Art of the Renaissance in Florence and Rome

This course is currently fully booked. If you would still like to apply, please feel free to do so but be informed that you will be placed on a waiting list. The application will therefore be placed 'on hold'. If you wish to apply for a different track with courses abroad, please take a look at our Art and Humanities course offer.
Florence, originally founded by the Romans, was governed by the Medici family for centuries. Most of them had a…
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Chinese Language and Culture for Beginners 0 -> HSK1

The Chinese language is the most widely spoken language in the world. Learning Chinese can open a new door for you to explore the culture and society of this rapidly developing country. Starting from zero, you will be able to conduct simple conversations and learn 150 new words (including the characters) at the end of this four-week intensive course. In addition, you will earn 7.5 ETCS after successful completion of this course and be qualified…
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Founding Europe: From Antiquity to the 19th Century

Come and study in two of the most exciting cities of Europe: Rome and Utrecht! You will dive into the exhilarating history of Europe, from the rise of civilization in Antiquity to the modern era of the 19th century. Together, these courses will provide you with a thorough knowledge of the history of these cities and nations, as well as an exciting overview of the history and workings of Europe.
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The 20th Century: Europe in Three Wars

When asked about 20th century Europe, most people's first associations are either Adolf Hitler or the Second World War. In the 20th century, however, Europe experienced not just one, but three horrific wars: the First World War, the Second World War and the Cold War that followed in their wake. The first half of the 20th century is therefore often labelled as “The Era of Violence”, and perhaps rightly so. Still, this century can just as easily…
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A Journey through Dutch Art

Experience the highlights of Dutch art from the last 400 years at first hand! This track covers many of the country's most renowned artists, museums and cities. Discover the famous masters of the Golden Age. Examine Dutch art from the 18th and 19th century, up to the early decades of modernism, including artists such as Van Gogh and Mondrian. This track will tell you all about the masterpieces and its painters by taking you out of the classroom…
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Bilingualism - UiL OTS

Ask someone their opinion on bilingualism and you are likely to hear statements such as: 'learning two languages from birth confuses children and impairs their cognitive development', 'Bilingual children can't speak either of their two languages properly' or 'You can only become bilingual if you start acquiring your second language as a young child.' Though common currency among the general public, each of these statements is in fact a myth. In…
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Dutch Culture: Society and Current Issues

Dutch Culture: Society and Current Issues is an intensive two-week programme in which you will be introduced to Dutch culture and identity by Utrecht University scholars and guest lecturers. We aim to lay a solid foundation of knowledge of present-day Dutch society and its recent history, in a way that we hope will be both informative and enjoyable.
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Old Catholic Theology: The Early Church as Charism and Challenge

This track consists of two connected courses that offer in the first week an introduction to Old Catholic theology in its ecumenical context and in the second week the possibility to deepen your understanding of Old Catholic Theology by thematic and in-depth case-driven classes. Old Catholic theology is understood as the main theological currents as they exist in the Union of Utrecht of Old Catholic Churches. The first week will offer a broad…
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Exploring Culture through Data: Digital methods & Data practices

Please note that the dates for this summer school have not been finalized and may thus still be subject to change.
Are you curious, eager to learn and would you like to have an enriching experience during your summer holidays? This course would make a great opportunity! The accelerating datafication of society constitutes challenges and opportunities for humanities research. We welcome you, students and non-students, to join us in this crash…
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History of Art: Highlights in Germany and the Netherlands

This four-week course is offered in collaboration with the Freie Universität in Berlin. By combining studies from Utrecht and Berlin, you will be able to get a glimpse of different centuries of art history in Northern Europe, compare differences and similarities between the two locations, and join museum visits. You will have the chance to explore the art scenes of these two vibrant cities, both from a past and present perspective.
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Waterloo Uncovered Battlefield Excavation

A unique chance to access one of history's greatest battlefields at Waterloo and to work with a world-leading team of archaeologists and historians. Experience first-hand what it's like to uncover the past and to interpret those finds with the guidance of leading experts. This entry-level course requires no previous archaeological experience and is open to registered university students and to serving and former military personnel.
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The Making of Europe: Rise of Civilization

This two-week course will bring you to the heart of Rome, where you will learn about the political, social and religious history behind the Roman Empire, the Middle Ages and the birth of the Renaissance and Baroque. You will study the astonishing Italian accomplishments of the Ancient to the early modern era. You will also visit a variety of beautiful ancient sites in the city such as the Pantheon, Colosseum and many more!
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Battlefields Uncovered 2: Developing and Demonstrating Understanding of Places of Past Conflict

If you have previously completed Battlefields Uncovered: Introduction to Archaeological and Historical Investigations of Conflict, you can build on your learning in this course. You can choose to either join a heritage organisation near you to gain more practical skills or to write a guided research paper.
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Dutch Art of the Golden Age

Are you curious to learn more about Rembrandt's 'Nightwatch', Vermeer's 'Girl with the pearl earring', Hals's 'Laughing figures' or other Dutch masterpieces from the 17th century? Sign up for this course and discover the 'Golden Age' and its marvellous paintings, applied arts and architecture. Upon completion of this highly interactive course, you will have gained a profound insight into the many layers of Dutch Art from the famous Golden Age.…
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Introduction to Semantics in L1 and L2 Acquisition - UiL OTS

This course introduces the basics of (formal) semantics and first and second language (L1/L2) acquisition as well as the interface between them. Days 1 and 2 are devoted to the introduction of a broad panorama of acquisition theories, Day 3 provides an introduction to semantics and on Days 4 and 5 we look into a number of semantic case studies in acquisition.
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European Politics and Economy

The European Union (EU) is a political partnership between 27 democratic European countries. With a population of about 450 million, it has become a major player in global politics. In this course, the European Union is the main object of study. You will be introduced to the Union's history, institutional structures, current aims and future challenges. Lecturers will elaborate on the historical background and the various stages of integration.
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Chinese Language and Culture HSK3 -> HSK4

The Chinese language is the most widely spoken language in the world. Learning Chinese can open a new door for you to explore the culture and society of this rapidly developing country. Starting with basic knowledge of Chinese (HSK 3 or more than 400 study hours), you will be able to further your language skills, converse in Chinese on a wide range of topics and learn 300 new words (including the characters) at the end of this four-week…
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The Early Church as Ideal: Old Catholic Theology beyond the Basics

This course offers the possibility to deepen your knowledge of Old Catholic theology by thematic and in-depth case-driven classes, linked to a key starting point of Old Catholic theology: the faith and order of the Early Church. How can a modern church be so ‘traditional’ at the same time? This apparent tension and paradox will be the core theme of this weeklong, intensive course. The course will be taught by experts in Old Catholic theology…
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Creative Fiction and Non-Fiction: Utrecht Writing Workshop

Writing creatively, in any genre, is the ultimate way to explore the possibilities for expression and innovation in language. In this course (with instruction in Dutch or English) you will focus on structure, style, and genre to improve your writing skills, and write critical exegeses of your work to situate it within longstanding traditions and current trends in literature.
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History of Art: Relations between Italy and the Netherlands

This course is currently fully booked. If you would still like to apply, please feel free to do so but be informed that you will be placed on a waiting list. The application will therefore be placed 'on hold'. If you wish to apply for a different track with courses abroad, please take a look at our Art and Humanities course offer.
The Utrecht Summer School offers the opportunity to travel back in time and experience the art of both traditions…
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Research design for Experimental Linguists - Uil OTS

This course is essential for experimental linguists. In this course you will learn about important aspects of a quantitative study design (research methodology), the basics of statistical (hypothesis) testing, and how methodology and statistics relate to each other. This discussion-based course will teach you to make funded decisions throughout the research process, and consequently conduct better research with valid and reliable outcomes.
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The Making of Europe: From Middle Ages to Modernity

Taking the beautiful city of Utrecht as a starting point, this course will offer you the opportunity to step into history. This historical journey, which illuminates Europe from the Middle Ages to the end of the 19th century, will help you to understand the many social, historical, religious and cultural factors that came to shape modern Europe.
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Soft Skills for (Future) Diplomats and Peacebuilders

Are you an (aspiring) diplomat or peacebuilder? And do you have ideals for a better world? And would you like to work on your communication and personal leadership skills? Then this is the place for you! During this summer school a seasoned diplomat and an experienced peacebuilder, both with lots of training experience, will work with you on the soft skills that you need in order to contribute to making this world a safer, more peaceful and more…
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