British Cultural Heritage

Duration
20 July - 7 August 2026
Course Type
Summer School, Undergraduate

Step into the story of Britain’s cultural identity. Join us for an immersive three-week programme that explores the art, architecture, literature, music, design, and popular culture that have shaped Britain’s heritage. This course combines academic insight with hands-on experiences, offering a unique introduction to the UK’s rich cultural landscape.

The programme seeks to introduce students to the study of heritage sites. You will explore premier examples of Britain’s heritage, examine the ways these sites are managed, how they attract tourists from around the world and discover the art, architecture, literature, design and popular culture that form the basis of Britain’s identity.

The programme involves a mixture of field trips, self-guided study and expert led tours, underpinned by associated lectures that provide an academic context to help you get the most out of the visits.

Field Trips – Bringing Heritage to Life

We have strong connections with the heritage sector at international, national, and local levels. Together with our established partnerships with heritage organisations across the UK, and particularly in the West Midlands, make this course genuinely immersive.

You will benefit from the University’s own on-campus heritage resources, which we will actively explore throughout the programme, such as Winterbourne House and Gardens, the Lapworth Museum of Geology, and the University’s extensive museum and archival collections. We also engage directly with heritage environments beyond campus. As part of the course, we undertake study visits to a range of iconic heritage sites that offer students firsthand insight into heritage management, interpretation, and community engagement in practice.

Past cohorts have visited sites such as:

  • Ironbridge Gorge UNESCO World Heritage site
  • Liverpool
  • Oxford
  • Black Country Living Museum
  • Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
  • National Trust and English Heritage sites
  • Shakespeare Institute and Shakespeare Birthplace Trust

What You’ll Gain

By the end of the course, you will:

  • Demonstrate a critical awareness of cultural heritage in the West Midlands.
  • Understand Britain’s heritage sector and key organisations managing it.
  • Communicate research on heritage and its value to society.

 How to Apply

Every day's course was fulfilling and expanded my knowledge of cultural heritage.

Xu, British Cultural Heritage programme

Why study this course?


  • Explore iconic heritage sites: From Shakespeare’s birthplace to historic gardens and museums.

  • Learn from experts: Delivered by academics from the University of Birmingham’s History and Cultures School.

  • Connect theory and experience: Lectures paired with site visits for a deeper understanding.

  • Enjoy a vibrant social programme: Cultural events and activities that make learning fun and memorable.

As part of the Birmingham International Summer School (BISS), you’ll enjoy cultural visits, games nights, and networking opportunities. From exploring historic sites to engaging in lively social events, this is your chance to experience British culture in a truly immersive way.

Who Can Apply?

International students aged 18+ with English proficiency (minimum B2, aiming for C1). You will also be studying at undergraduate level.

 BISS Entry Requirements  

Lectures

Our programme of lectures are designed to underpin the field trips that you will be taking to important towns, cities, heritage sites and museums in the UK. The lectures will provide background information about many of the field trip locations and their significance to British cultural heritage.

Lectures are delivered by academic staff from the University of Birmingham. Lectures differ from year to year, and previous years’ lectures have included:

  • Introduction to Heritage: An opportunity to explore what is meant by ‘cultural heritage’, why it is significant, and how it is protected and managed in the UK.
  • Museums and Collecting: Understanding museums and their collections - This lecture engages with the questions: what is a museum, what happens to objects when they enter a collection, and why do we collect?
  • The Historical City of Liverpool: An introduction to the history and heritage of Liverpool, and the important sites that form the City’s UNESCO World Heritage listing.
  • A Song of Stone, Visiting English Castles: An introduction to the history of castles of England, and a fun and practical guide to visiting a castle.
  • All about Shakespeare: Explore history of Shakespeare, and the role that the Shakespeare Institute and Shakespeare Birthplace Trust play in engaging the world with his life and works.

Self-directed study and ‘out-of-classroom’ learning

Self-directed study is an essential aspect of the British Cultural Heritage programme, and all students are encouraged to take this initiative when participating in the programme. Whilst the lectures will provide an introduction to many of the sites that we visit, the majority of learning will take place out of the classroom and on field trips.

During some field trips you will have the opportunity to take part in guided tours where you will be introduced to the sites by guides that are experts in their field. During other visits, you will have the opportunity to explore the sites on your own or in a group, with members of staff available to answer questions if needed. In both cases, these are great opportunities to get first-hand experience of a heritage site, museum or historic town, and gain more in-depth knowledge about their contribution to British Cultural Heritage.

Assessment Methods

At the end of your three-week stay with us you will be asked to present, as part of a group, your impressions of the UK’s cultural heritage based upon your observations and experiences. As such, during field trips, lectures and self-directed study, we encourage you to critically evaluate the cultural heritage that you experience. Each group will present their findings to the rest of the group and the teaching staff.

Assessment (100%) will be a thirty minute verbal group presentations accompanied by powerpoint presentation. Groups will consist of five to six people and each student is expected to contribute equally to the group

 A pass requires a minimum of 40% in combination with a minimum attendance of 90% timetabled activity.

Please check with your home institution regarding transfer recognition of credits.