British Cultural Heritage

• 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 will 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.

Lectures

Our lectures are delivered by academic staff from the University of Birmingham and vary from year to year. They 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.

Previous lecture topics 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: This lecture is about understanding Museums and their collections; 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 the 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 who 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.

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.

• International students aged 18+ and studying at an undergraduate level.
• Meet the BISS entry requirements for English Language Proficiency (minimum B2, aiming for C1).

BISS entry requirements

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 presentation accompanied by a 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 activities.

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