The University of the West Indies and University of Leicester International Summer School

The 2025 Summer School will take place at the University of Leicester and will be hosted by the College of Social Science, Arts and Humanities on 2 June 2025 - 7 June 2025

The International Summer School is a week-long intensive programme aimed at PhD students and early career researchers from the Caribbean, the UK and North America. PhDs and ECRs from other countries are welcome to apply. We encourage delegates with an interest in global studies and a background in any discipline across the arts, humanities and social sciences. This year’s Summer School will take place at the University of Leicester, where the programme will be delivered by academic staff from the University of the West Indies and the University of Leicester.

Migration, diaspora and mobile identities

Why join the UWI/UL International Summer School?

• Gain an opportunity to network with postgraduate students and early career students from across the Caribbean and the UK
• Develop your knowledge of and interest in global studies through participation in academic seminars and interactive lectures
• Enhance your CV by attending integrated professional development workshops
• Experience the University of Leicester’s dynamic research culture in the arts, humanities and social sciences, and gain access to its facilities.

Summer School aims

• Provide postgraduate students and early career researchers from the Caribbean and the UK with opportunities for both intellectual and professional development
• Create international networking opportunities and a study abroad experience for participants
• Enhance your awareness of the benefits and challenges of interdisciplinary research
• Give you insight into current high profile collaborative research projects led by UL and UWI academics.

Course contents

• Academic seminars and lectures relating to this year's theme of migration, diaspora and mobile identities. These will cover topics such as: transnational cultures, transcultural identities; diasporic memory, translation and commemoration; movement, precarity and spaces of refuge; Black global networks and communities; literatures of diaspora and mobility; migration, the arts and digital cultures; human trafficking, modern slavery and migration; immigration, human rights and (in)justice; migration and sustainable environments
• Professionalisation workshops
• Contributions from established UWI and UL-based scholars working in various disciplines across the arts, humanities and social sciences.

Dates and location

2 June 2025 - 7 June 2025, University of Leicester.

Fees

• Fee without accommodation: £350
• Fee including accommodation: £750

Scholarships may be available for University of Leicester and University of the West Indies applicants. Advice on scholarships will be given to successful Leicester and UWI applicants after the 29 November 2024 deadline.

What’s included in your fee

• Tuition fees for all classes
• Transport costs between accommodation and venue (for those who have opted for accommodation)
• Overnight accommodation including breakfast (for those who have opted to pay the fee that includes accommodation)
• A certificate of attendance
• Lunch from Monday to Friday
• Access to University of Leicester facilities.

What’s not included

• Evening meals and beverages, unless specified in the timetable
• Flight costs
• Visa costs
• Medical and travel insurance.

Entry requirements

Participants should be postgraduate students or early career researchers in any discipline across the arts, humanities and social sciences.

Applications and information

The deadline for applications is Friday 29 November 2024. You can apply online. To find out more, please contact CrimandSoc@le.ac.uk.

About

City of Leicester

Leicester is one of the most lively and diverse cities in the UK, known for its multi-cultural society and friendly and safe atmosphere. Situated in the centre of England, Leicester is well connected by road, rail and air and is only just over an hour by train from London. As well as a wide range of modern shopping and leisure facilities, Leicester has a rich history dating back 2000 years and hosts a wide array of cultural events. Leicester is also a renowned sporting city with Leicester City winning the English Premier League title in 2016 and Leicester Tigers holding the record for English Premiership titles in rugby union.

University of Leicester

Established in 1921 and granted its royal charter in 1957, the University of Leicester is ranked among the top 30 universities in the UK by the Complete University Guide and the top 200 in the world by the Times Higher Education newspaper. It gained worldwide recognition for pioneering work in establishing genetic fingerprinting in 1986 and for the recent discovery and identification of the remains of King Richard III.

University of the West Indies

Established in 1948, the UWI is the largest and longest standing higher-education provider in the English-speaking Caribbean. An innovative, internationally competitive, contemporary university deeply rooted in the Caribbean, the UWI has expanded to five campuses: Cave Hill in Barbados, Mona in Jamaica, St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago, the Open Campus, and the Five Islands campus in Antigua and Barbuda. As the number one Caribbean university, the UWI is internationally recognized as a centre of excellence in research, knowledge creation and innovation on matters related to the Caribbean and small island states.

Testimonials

‘I found the first UWI/UL summer school last year informative, engaging and exciting. I was introduced to new discussions and current research which inspired my own research. The focus on collaborative projects encouraged me to search for partnerships in research not just in my own field but also across disciplines and borders. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it and I am looking forward to attending the next one.’
Denise Springer, PhD Researcher at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, Barbados

‘UWI/UL Summer School 2019 was an amazing experience! The meeting of students and academics from a wide cross section of disciplines and perspectives made the presentations and discussions on the theme a truly enriching encounter. Friendships were formed, cultures learned, significant places explored, and there’s a yearning for a repeat of this experience, albeit in the beautiful Caribbean. I eagerly await UWI/UL Summer School 2020...’
Queenela Cameron, Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Guyana

'I gained invaluable knowledge and professional connections and discovered illuminating interdisciplinary crossovers within Caribbean studies. I found the coming-together of many differing scholars, from both the UK and throughout the Caribbean, an exceptional academic experience. The whole week facilitated a unique opportunity to exchange a wealth of diverse expertise, surrounding Caribbean studies, both within the classroom as well as in the opportunities to socialise with attendees and speakers.'
Thomas Lockwood-Moran, PhD Researcher at Nottingham Trent University, UK

‘The UWI/UL Summer School provided a great opportunity to exchange knowledge with both academics and peers, and to situate myself within a global research culture. Taught sessions were well prepared and informative and fed into my thesis research. I also found it beneficial to collaboratively learn alongside peers from UWI, which facilitated a depth of communication that cannot easily be found in a conference environment. I would recommend the Summer School to any postgraduate student interested in Caribbean Studies, there are few programmes like this offered by UK universities.’
Kelsi Delaney, PhD Researcher at the University of Leicester, UK