Indulge your love of creative writing and meet accomplished British writers

Studying abroad in Edinburgh at the Scottish Universities' International Summer School (SUISS) is ideal for students with a love for creative writing or a passion for British and Irish literature, or a zest for theater and performance. You will have the opportunity to work with accomplished British writers and study with students from around the world. Check out student blogger experiences.

Credit can be awarded at either the undergraduate or graduate level. You'll choose 1 to 3 modules from the following 3 course types:

  • Text & Context: These courses examine literature from Britain and Ireland in the context of key societal and cultural developments in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. 
  • Creative Writing: This course offers developing writers a supportive environment in which to further their writing skills in fiction, poetry, and drama.
  • Contemporary British and Irish Theatre & Performance: For this module, students get the chance to study theatre and performance while the Edinburgh International Festival and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe take place.

Each of these courses will include an intensive program of lectures and seminars. The literature sessions provide an opportunity to hear leading novelists, poets, literary critics, and historians discuss the social, political, historical and theoretical influences that have impacted modern British literature. You’ll be encouraged to freely interact with these distinguished scholars and personalities, sharing your ideas and observations with them and other visiting students.

  • Prominent speakers in the past have included: David Daiches, Cairns Craig, Arthur Marwick, Terry Eagleton, Toril Moi, Christopher Harvie, Samuel Hynes, Bernard Crick, Catherine Belsey, Philip Hobsbaum, Randall Stevenson and Brian McHale.
  • This program takes place at a time when Edinburgh is particularly lively as it coincides with the Edinburgh International Festival, the Fringe Festival, and the International Book Festival.
  • SUISS also offers an extensive program of cultural and social activities, which include talks on art, film screenings, festival shows, cinepoems, and ceilidh dances, in addition to a series of readings from Scotland’s leading contemporary writers. Previous years' guest authors included David Greig, James Robertson, A.L. Kennedy, Ian Rankin, Liz Lochhead, Douglas Maxwell, and many more.
Fees & Scholarship Details
Term/Period Departure Date Return Credits Base Program Fee Application Deadline
Summer 1 2024 7/7/2024 8/3/2024 4-5 $6,850 3/15/2024 More Info
Summer 3 2024 7/7/2024 8/17/2024 6-7.5 $10,480 3/15/2024 More Info
Summer 2 2024 7/21/2024 8/17/2024 4.5-5 $6,850 3/15/2024 More Info

Program fees listed are base fees only. Please select MORE INFO for an estimate of additional expenses and any additional fees that may be incurred based on enrollment selections or housing placements. Dates and fees for future terms will be posted as they become available. Please see Program Calendar for detailed dates.

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Scholarships

Every dollar helps! Check out different funding sources for study abroad...

Program Details

Country

Scotland

Language of Instruction

English

City

Edinburgh

Location Type

Medium City

Housing

As a participant on an Arcadia program, you are guaranteed housing. Our priority is to provide a safe, clean, cost-effective and convenient place for you to live, while offering you every opportunity to explore the local culture and community.

Housing

Health & Safety

Student health, safety and security in Scotland are our top priorities. Our experienced and well-connected staff are prepared to deal with any emergencies that may arise...

Health & Safety