Funded by NHS England, the Medical Schools Council and Dental Schools Council will be running several summer schools across England. Be sure to read the dates carefully as most require you to attend online and/or in-person sessions before the Summer residential.
These summer schools are for students in Years 11 and 12 in England from underrepresented backgrounds, particularly those from areas with limited outreach to medical schools. There are different options available, including residential, commuter and online places.
Brighton and Sussex Medical Residential Summer School (BrightIdeas) will accept applications from 2 November 2026 until 8 January 2027.
Find out more about BrightIdeas and express your interest
All other medical and dental residential summer school applications will open on 1 February 2027, closing on 26 February 2027. Online summer school applications will open from 8 March 2027 to 23 April 2027.
You can find a list of participating medical and dental schools in 2027 below.
In addition to meeting the eligibility criteria (details to be confirmed), applicants must arrange for a teacher reference.
If you meet our eligibility criteria, we will contact the academic referee you have provided to request a reference. Teachers must submit their references by the specified deadline, failure to do so may result in applicants losing their place at these popular events.
We will communicate the deadline clearly in advance. If you are considering applying, please speak to your teacher beforehand to ensure they are aware of your application and are able to submit a reference within the required timeframe.
These programmes are funded NHS England and provided free of charge to all participants. This includes all the taught sessions, catering and accommodation during the summer school. Travel bursaries are available to help with the costs of getting to and from the summer school.
