If you see yourself working in film, media, fashion, architecture, design, publishing, advertising, or the arts, high school is a good time to start exploring the structure behind creative work. Creative industries summer schools in the UK for high school students can give you a closer look at how people actually work in these fields, where creativity is shaped by communication, project development, technical skills, and problem-solving.

Imagine spending part of your summer designing a product, producing a short film, experimenting with fashion ideas, creating digital content, or exploring how creative concepts move from rough sketches to finished work. Along the way, you could work with like-minded students, receive guidance from instructors, and gain insight into the industries shaping entertainment, media, design, and architecture.

Why pursue creative industries summer schools in the UK?

The UK has long been one of the world’s leading centers for creative industries. It is home to globally recognized institutions, influential media organizations, renowned design schools, major publishing houses, fashion brands, film studios, and cultural institutions. For students interested in creative careers, this creates an environment where creative work is not only studied but actively produced and showcased.

Many summer schools draw on these strengths by exposing students to industry practices, creative techniques, and professional workflows across a variety of disciplines. Depending on the program, you may explore areas such as filmmaking, graphic design, fashion, architecture, animation, creative writing, media production, or digital content creation. These experiences can help you better understand how different creative fields operate and where your own interests might fit.

The UK’s creative sector is also highly international, bringing together ideas, perspectives, and influences from around the world. Learning in this environment can expose students to a wide range of creative approaches while helping them develop communication, collaboration, and project-development skills that are important across industries.

To help you get started, we’ve curated a list of 15 creative industries summer schools in the UK for high school students worth considering!

15 Creative Industries Summer Schools in the UK for High School Students

1. UCA Young Creatives Summer Camp: Creative Summer Camp

Location: University for the Creative Arts campuses at Canterbury and Farnham
Cost: Starts at £1,180
Dates: July 27-31 and August 3-7 at Canterbury; July 13-24 at Farnham
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students aged 16 to 18; international student eligibility not mentioned

The University of the Creative Arts hosts summer camps that are designed to explore your creative interests across art, visual, and storytelling. As a participant in one of these camps, you would gain hands-on experience by working in university studios. In the process, you will learn about the materials, methods, and thinking involved in creating something.

The program will also immerse you in workshops that enhance your technical understanding, idea generation, practical prototyping, and production skills. You will also gain the ability to present your creative ideas with confidence, with the program inviting you to showcase your work at the final exhibition. You will receive a certificate upon completion of the program.

Why it stands out: You will have a portfolio in hand when the program ends to demonstrate your efforts and receive 1:1 support from UCA staff to develop it.

2. Immerse Education’s Creative Industries Summer School

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Location: London and Cambridge
Cost: Varies by format; summer school scholarship available through our bursary programme
Dates: Two weeks during the summer
Application deadline: Multiple summer cohorts with rolling admissions throughout the year
Eligibility: Students aged 13-18 currently enrolled in middle or high school; international students can apply

As one of the most career-focused creative industries summer schools in the UK for high school students, Immerse Education’s Summer School introduces you to the fast-evolving world of media, design, and digital storytelling through hands-on learning. You explore areas such as branding, content creation, advertising, and visual storytelling while working on real-world projects and creative challenges. Guided by industry professionals, you develop key skills in collaboration, communication, and creative thinking that are essential across modern creative sectors.

You also complete a personal portfolio project, helping you build tangible work that reflects your ideas and abilities. Through workshops, case studies, and industry insights, you gain a clearer understanding of how creative industries operate and evolve globally. By the end, you develop both practical skills and a stronger sense of direction for future academic and career pathways in creative fields.

Why it stands out: It offers exposure to university-level academics and a field of your choice on a university campus.

3. Arts University Bournemouth Summer Course: Fashion, Textiles and Costume Design

Location: Arts University Bournemouth, Poole, England
Cost: £1,799 for course fee only; £2,635 for course fee, accommodation, and catering; £2,970 for course fee, accommodation, catering, and taxi from London airports
Dates: August 3-14
Application Deadline: July 20th
Eligibility: Students aged 15 to 18; international student eligibility not specified

This two-week summer course lets you explore fashion, textiles, and costume design. As a result, the program can be a great stepping stone if your goal is to start your fashion line, design costumes for plays or movies, or pursue other related careers. In it, you will learn essential skills such as sketching, fabric manipulation, basic construction, and sample creation.

You will use these skills to create a mini collection, which will become part of your portfolio for college applications. Plus, the course will give you tips on improving your portfolio. You will also learn how professionals develop ideas for their collections, select the best textiles, and prepare them for display.

Why it stands out: This AUB Summer Course will give you a better understanding of the fashion, costume, and textile industries.

4. Arts University Bournemouth Summer Course: Animation

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In this short course by AUB, students interested in animation are invited to enhance their skills so they are ready to produce a short animated film. In it, you will dive into the world of animation and production design. You will engage yourself in workshops, seminars, and practical sessions through which you familiarize yourself with the 12 principles of animation. You will also complete a couple of 2D animation exercises that help you understand some important aspects of animation.

Plus, the program will give you the opportunity to explore both traditional and contemporary techniques in animation. As a participant, you will also benefit from pre-application reviews, which will include professional advice on making your portfolio better.

Why it stands out: One more advantage of attending this course is that it increases your chances of being offered admission as an undergrad at Arts University Bournemouth.

5. UAL Short Course: Acting Workshop

Location: Central Saint Martins, London, England
Cost: £710
Dates: July 13-17
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students aged 16 to 18; international student eligibility not specified

As one of the performance-focused creative industries summer schools in the UK for high school students, this short course on acting at the University of the Arts London helps you develop your understanding and practice of method acting. During your time in the workshop, you will learn the art of method acting and apply the techniques you learn by rehearsing scenes. You will enact scenes from Shakespeare, Miller, Clifford Odets, John Osborne, and more.

You will also learn improvisation, encouraging you to improve your creativity and act without a script. The program will give you insight into the techniques that professional actors use to understand and develop their characters through scripts, body movement, and vocal performance. You will engage in exercises that ensure that you can react and act naturally.

Why it stands out: By the end of the program, you will know enough acting techniques to make you a confident actor.

6. UAL Short Course: Fashion Design LCF

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Location: London College of Fashion, London, England
Cost: £800
Dates: June 29th – July 3rd or August 3-7
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students aged 16 to 18; international student eligibility not specified

In this other course offered by the University of the Arts London, the focus is on modern fashion. The goal of the program is to teach you every aspect of the design process from start to finish. Some of the topics covered in this course include design research, color and textile trends, basic drawing skills, life drawing using collage and mixed media, and fashion illustration techniques.

By learning them, you will have gained various skills that you will need to succeed as a fashion designer. These include research, concept building, design development, collage, fashion drawing, and figure work. You will get a digital badge and certificate of attendance upon completing the program.

Why it stands out: The tutor, Romero Bryan, who teaches the course, has more than 25 years of experience in the fashion industry and has so far displayed his designs at many international fashion events like Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.

7. Royal Drawing School Young Artists Summer Holiday | Portfolio Preparation

Location: Shoreditch Studios, London, England
Cost: £525; scholarships available
Dates: August 10-21
Application Deadline: Opens June 3rd
Eligibility: Students aged 16 to 18 in Years 11 to 13; international student eligibility not specified

In this program, you will be able to enhance your creative process, problem-solving, idea generation, research skills, contextual knowledge, and self-expression by doing observational drawing. You will be in an environment where you can try out new ideas and improve your creative instincts.

Your enrollment in the Royal Drawing School will give you a clear picture of what studying at an art school would be like. You will gain hands-on experience in extensive media and test new art techniques. You will get to go on field trips. As a participant, you will also benefit from personalized feedback on improving your portfolio and your college applications.

Why it stands out: You will be engaging in discussions through which you learn to do art criticism.

8. BFI Film Academy

Location: Various locations across the UK
Cost: Course fee ranges from free to £420; a bursary scheme is available for students with financial need
Dates: Vary by course; classes are typically one week long or scheduled across multiple weekends
Application Deadline: Varies by course
Eligibility: Students aged 16 to 19 who are UK residents and not yet enrolled in university can apply for the special courses; the BFI Film Academy is open to UK students aged 16 to 25

BFI Film Academy stands out among the many creative industries summer schools in the UK for high school students for those who see themselves having a career in the entertainment industry. BFI can give you the training required to achieve this dream. Joining the institute, you get to meet with other participants who share similar passions and learn filmmaking with them.

The classes will give a special focus on the technical aspects of filmmaking. Besides, you can also choose from a selection of special courses that are designed to teach you specific filmmaking skills. Some examples are film programming, editing and post-production, camera and lighting, and more. When you enroll in one of these courses, you will find yourself working next to professionals who can give you invaluable career tips and help you understand the field better.

Why it stands out: Even after your participation in the program has come to an end, you can continue to get BFI’s support in career growth and use its resources for possibly shooting your film.

9. RADA Young Actors: Summer School

Location: Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, London, England
Cost: £2,000
Dates: July 20-31 or August 3-14
Application Deadline: Accepted on a rolling basis
Eligibility: Students aged 16 to 18; international student eligibility not specified

The Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts welcomes a small number of students, up to 14 in each cohort, to let them experience what attending classes there would be like. As a participant in this summer school, you don’t just learn new acting techniques but also ensure that you fully understand them. Some of the acting techniques that you will learn include forming a strong connection with characters, improving your stage presence so that your audience enjoys your performance, and more.

Apart from diving into acting techniques, you will also do text and scene studies where you enact scenes from Shakespeare and contemporary writers after fully analyzing and understanding the meaning and emotion each line holds. The program will also teach you the importance of movement and physical expression in bringing a character to life.

Why it stands out: You will have the opportunity to learn from the experts at RADA, who ensure that you form a strong foundation in acting.

10. Nottingham Trent University Creative Summer Courses: Architecture

Location: Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, England
Cost: £545
Dates: One-week classes starting on July 20th, July 27th, and August 3rd
Application Deadline: Typically June 1st
Eligibility: Students aged 15-17; international student eligibility not specified

Aimed at students who dream of becoming architects in the future, this program allows you to explore the different techniques that professionals and students pursuing a degree in the subject are using. The summer course will also dive into the importance of creative thinking and sustainability in the field of architecture. You will develop the ability to study a building like an architect, learning to observe how some buildings use daylight and space to improve people’s lifestyles and carbon footprints.

You will have the advantage of learning from tutors who have been in a range of professional settings. These tutors will be able to give you individualized support in helping you acquire the skills needed to continue working on bettering your portfolio, even after you have left the course.

Why it stands out: The short course will push you to brainstorm and experiment with new ideas alongside other students who find architecture engaging, much like you.

11. Nottingham Trent University Creative Summer Courses: Interior Design Portfolio

Location: Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, England
Cost: £545
Dates: One-week classes starting on July 20th and July 27th
Application Deadline: Typically June 1st
Eligibility: Students aged 15-17; international student eligibility not specified

In this other one-week creative course offered by Nottingham Trent University, you will gain a better understanding of interior design. The program can be an invaluable addition to your resume if you are planning to study interior design in college. It can also help you get started on your interior design portfolio, as you will learn the skills you need to present your schemes.

The course will be a mix of creativity, research, and theory that will be taught to you by engaging you in informal talks and site visits to local spots related to design. You will particularly learn the importance of scaling in simple plan drawings before adding details such as color, furniture, and furnishings. More importantly, you will get to work on an interior design project during your time in the program.

Why it stands out: By the end of the course, you will understand how interior design is implemented in homes, residential spaces, and commercial environments.

12. University of Hertfordshire Fashion Design Summer Camp

Location: The School of Creative Arts, Hertfordshire, England
Cost: £265
Dates: August 17-21
Application Deadline: Reviewed two weeks before the start date
Eligibility: Students aged 13-17; international student eligibility not specified

You can consider this summer camp if you are thinking of becoming a fashion designer, as it focuses on teaching you how professional designers work and share ideas with their teams. It can also be suitable if you plan to join a fashion school or study fashion design in the future.

The camp will dive into every step of the design process, starting with brainstorming ideas using trend boards and ending with putting together the final technical sketches of your designs. As this is an exclusively fashion design course, it will focus mainly on teaching you to turn your ideas into sketches and help you better understand garment construction. You won’t be sewing anything.

Why it stands out: You will acquire the practical skills needed to put together a cohesive collection based on a particular theme or inspiration.

13. NFTS Academy Residential Course

Location: National Film and Television School (NFTS), England
Cost: Free
Dates: March 30th – April 9th
Application Deadline: Opens September 1st
Eligibility: Students aged 16-19 who have the necessary talent and enthusiasm for filmmaking and are UK residents

Organized by the National Film and Television School, this program brings together youngsters with a passion and talent for filmmaking so that they can participate in the residential filmmaking project. If selected for the program, you will have the opportunity to work alongside industry professionals while getting to produce short films.

You will also be able to attend masterclasses through which you can learn specific elements of filmmaking, such as directing, producing, screenwriting, cinematography, sound, editing, production design, and more. All students must participate in an online event for the masterclasses, which will typically take place on the last weekend of February.

Why it stands out: You will have the benefit of learning the different specialist crafts from top filmmakers in the masterclasses.

14. LFA Young Filmmakers’ Academy

Location: London Film Academy, London, England
Cost: £595 for one week and £995 for two weeks; early bird discounts available
Dates: Various cohorts available, including in the summer months
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: Students aged 13 to 17 from anywhere in the world

The London Film Academy introduces you to the various roles that crew members on a film set take to work together and put together a film. If enrolled in the program, you will be able to choose a particular behind-the-scenes role in filmmaking, like director, script supervisor, cinematographer, sound recordist, assistant director, and more. The program will give you practice in it and ensure that you grasp the art of filmmaking.

By participating in the program, you will gain the skills and confidence to make a film with limited or no guidance. The academy will also schedule you for workshops that cover some primary components of filmmaking. You can either choose the one-week cohort that teaches you to produce a film using just your smartphone or the two-week cohort that teaches you to shoot with digital cameras.

Why it stands out: The program will teach you and give you practice in editing your film on Adobe Premiere Pro, which is editing software that is commonly used in the industry.

15. Newlyn School of Art Short Courses

Location: Newlyn School of Art, Newlyn, West Cornwall, England, UK
Cost: Varies by course and duration
Dates: Courses run throughout the summer; dates vary by course
Application deadline: Rolling admissions until courses fill
Eligibility: Open to all over the age of 16; courses target learners with varying experience levels; international student eligibility is not specified

Newlyn School of Art offers short studio and landscape-based art courses taught by practicing contemporary artists working across Cornwall. You may work directly with mediums such as oils, textiles, experimental drawing, printmaking, portraiture, or mixed media while studying coastal and rural landscapes that have historically shaped British art movements. Many workshops include outdoor sessions along the Cornish coastline, giving you practical experience in plein air painting and observational work.

The school’s Victorian studio building functions as the primary learning space, while nearby galleries and natural environments become part of the curriculum. As courses are technique-focused and studio-intensive, you will spend most of the day actively producing work rather than attending lectures.

Why it stands out: You learn directly from working contemporary artists while using Cornwall’s coastline and landscapes as part of the studio environment itself.

Turn Projects, Portfolios, and Ideas Into Direction

Creative summer learning can help you move from curiosity to practical experience through projects, workshops, feedback, and portfolio-building opportunities across disciplines.

The creative industries summer schools in the UK for high school students featured above span fashion, film, acting, architecture, animation, design, drawing, and media.

As you test ideas, collaborate with peers, and learn from creative professionals, you begin to recognise which roles, industries, and skills suit you.

Want to turn creative practice into clearer career direction? Browse our Career Exploration blogs for guidance on creative pathways, industry roles, portfolio planning, and future opportunities.