PSYCHOLOGY SUMMER COURSE LONDON AND CAMBRIDGE for 15-18 year olds

Updated : 14 September, 2024

Many students want to know what makes our Psychology Course different from other  summer courses and other summer school providers. Firstly we have a wealth of experience and have been helping students such as yourself explore courses that you may not have the chance to study at High School and do so in a top University setting in London or Cambridge University. You will have the chance to live, learn and make friends from the UK and other international schools that have the same goals and ideas as you and to explore the work of Psychology during your summer vacation. All our Courses including the Psychology Course have a unique themed and field visits that bring the in-class workshops and theory to out of class reality workshops in Psychology. We have many unique trips - and unique to the psychology workshops is that students will visits and attend the Psychological society and the Bethlem  Museum of the Mind.

Students will also have a meeting with a practicing psychologist with Q and A and learn about how they test, analyse and treat patients.

This Psychology Summer Course is running for all dates this Summer 2025. As places are limited and  this course is popular all students are recommended to apply with a 15% deposit.

PSYCHOLOGY SUMMER COURSE FOR 15 TO 18 YEAR OLDS

Psychology is essentially the scientific study of mind and behaviour: how we think, feel, act and interact individually and in groups.

At LITE Regal's award winning psychology course, students will be offered an insight and introduction to the topics of psychology offered at a Top University.

This course is aimed primarily to all students interested in the field of psychology or those who would like to study this subject further at a top University. The course is run throughexciting hands-on workshops with mind blowing psychology experiments to help students gain an insight and knowledge into human thoughts and associated behavior. These workshops coupled with top academic tutors and with like-minded students make this an exciting and rewarding course.

Why choose us

Unlike many summer schools LITE Regal offers hands-on workshops in which students are actively encouraged to design (thinking “outside of the box”) various psychological experiments. Students led by the academic tutors both discuss ethical and unethical experiments. In particular with the unethical experiments students are encouraged in groups to discuss and re-design a similar ethical experiment.

• conduct individual research and direct your own studies into areas that interest you
• attend a subject-related field trip designed by your tutor to complement your studies

Highly educated tutors will teach students an exciting programme. Classes are lead in a hands-on, workshops approach where students can express themselves through tutor guidance and peer interaction. This academic immersion is coupled with an exciting social programme with day and evening entertainment which will allow students to mix, make new friends and enjoy their summer programme.

This course is available in London or Cambridge and allows students the chance of learning, being accommodated and living in one of the beautiful colleges of Cambridge or London University. This course is designed to motivate and inspire students and let them have fun and make friends with other students from all over the world. In 2025 Lite Regal Summer School was attended by students from over 60 nationalities. Cambridge is a beautiful city and academic powerhouse and London is a cosmopolitan vibrant city in the United Kingdom UK. Both cities are ideal places to study Psychology.

Lite Regal Education, established in 1993, invites students aged 15-18 to embark on an enriching two-week journey into the fascinating world of psychology. Hosted at renowned academic institutions like University of London (UOL) and in the vibrant cities of London and Cambridge, this summer course offers a unique blend of academic rigor, practical learning, and cultural exploration.

Reasons to Attend:

1. Academic Excellence:
   • Learn from seasoned educators and professionals in the field of psychology, gaining insights from their expertise.
   • Explore a curated curriculum that covers fundamental psychological theories, methodologies, and contemporary issues.
2. Interactive Learning Experience:
   • Engage in dynamic lectures, interactive workshops, and hands-on experiments to deepen understanding and application of psychological concepts.
   • Participate in group discussions, case studies, and presentations, fostering critical thinking and communication skills.
3. Practical Application:
   • Gain practical experience through immersive activities, psychological experiments, and real-world applications, bringing theoretical knowledge to life.
   • Collaborate on group projects, honing research and teamwork skills under the guidance of experienced instructors.
4. University Atmosphere:
   • Experience life on a university campus, with accommodation provided, giving a taste of the academic and social aspects of university life.
   • Attend lectures in state-of-the-art facilities at UOL University or in the iconic cities of London and Cambridge, enhancing the overall learning environment.
5. Cultural Exploration:
   • Immerse yourself in the rich history and culture of London and Cambridge through organized cultural excursions.
   • Explore museums, historical landmarks, and relevant sites, connecting theoretical concepts to real-world applications.
6. Global Networking:
   • Interact with like-minded peers from around the world, fostering international friendships and expanding cultural perspectives.
   • Benefit from networking opportunities with instructors and professionals in the field, laying the groundwork for future academic and career endeavors.
7. Personal Development:
   • Develop essential life skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and effective communication.
   • Build confidence through public speaking opportunities, group projects, and the exploration of one's own academic interests within psychology.
8. Summer Enrichment:
   • Make the most of the summer break by combining education with recreation, providing a balanced and enjoyable learning experience.
   • Participate in extracurricular activities and social events, creating lasting memories with peers.
9. Certificate of Completion:
   • Receive a certificate of completion at the end of the course, acknowledging the dedication and achievement in the field of psychology.

Lite Regal Education's Psychology Summer Course at UOL University of London and Cambridge offers a transformative experience, equipping young minds with valuable knowledge, skills, and a passion for the fascinating field of psychology.

Course Overview: This 10-day course is designed to introduce students aged 15-18 to the principles and methods of experimental psychology. Through a combination of interactive morning classes and hands-on afternoon workshops, students will explore various areas of experimental psychology, conduct experiments, analyze data, and gain insight into the scientific study of human behavior. The course will integrate theory with practical application, providing a comprehensive introduction to experimental psychology.

Course Objectives:

• Introduce students to the fundamentals of experimental psychology.
• Explore key concepts in cognitive, social, and developmental psychology.
• Develop critical thinking and analytical skills through hands-on experiments.
• Foster scientific inquiry and research methodology.
• Encourage teamwork and collaboration through workshop activities.

Course Structure - Intensive Psychology Course over 2 weeks

WEEK 1

Day 1 Monday: Introduction to Experimental Psychology

• Morning Class: Overview of Experimental Psychology
• Afternoon Workshop: Introduction to Research Methods and Ethics

Day 2 Tuesday: Biological Foundations of Behavior

• Morning Class: The Brain and Nervous System
• Afternoon Workshop: Neurons and Neurotransmitters Experiment

Day 3 Wednesday: Sensation and Perception

• Morning Class: Perception and Sensory Processes
• Afternoon Workshop: Visual Illusions and Perception Experiment

Day 4 Thursday: Learning and Memory

• Morning Class: Theories of Learning and Memory
• Afternoon Workshop: Memory Experiment and Recall Tasks

Day 5 Friday: Social Psychology

• Morning Class: Social Influence and Group Dynamics
• Afternoon Workshop: Social Experiment and Group Behavior Analysis

WEEK 2

Day 6 Monday: Developmental Psychology

• Morning Class: Theories of Development (Piaget, Erikson)
• Afternoon Workshop: Child Development Experiment and Observation

Day 7 Tuesday: Cognitive Psychology

• Morning Class: Cognitive Processes (Attention, Language)
• Afternoon Workshop: Cognitive Task Experiment and Problem-Solving Activities

Day 8 Wednesday: Experimental Design and Data Analysis

• Morning Class: Experimental Design and Variables
• Afternoon Workshop: Statistical Analysis of Experimental Data

Day 9 Thursday: Applied Experimental Psychology

• Morning Class: Applications in Clinical and Forensic Psychology
• Afternoon Workshop: Case Study Analysis and Discussion

Day 10 Friday: Research Presentation and Wrap-Up

• Morning Class: Preparation of Experiment Presentations
• Afternoon Workshop: Experiment Presentations and Feedback

Additional Activities:

• Guest Lectures from Experimental Psychologists
• Field Trip to a Psychology Laboratory or Research Facility
• Film Screening on Psychological Experiments and Discoveries

Assessment:

• Participation in morning classes and afternoon workshops
• Conducting and presenting experimental findings
• Final reflective essay on the importance of experimental psychology

Suggested Resources:

• Textbooks on Experimental Psychology
• Scientific articles and research papers
• Online resources (videos, podcasts, articles)
• Psychological experiments and demonstrations

Note: The course syllabus is designed to provide a comprehensive and engaging introduction to experimental psychology for high school students. Morning classes will cover theoretical concepts, while afternoon workshops will focus on practical applications through hands-on experiments and activities. The schedule allows students to immerse themselves in the scientific process of psychology and gain valuable skills in research and analysis. Adjustments to the syllabus may be made based on student interests and feedback to ensure an enriching learning experience.

Psychology – ‘The science of behaviour and mental processes’.

• What enables two people to get on with one another?
• Why do we behave the way we do?
• Do we have free will or are we driven by our environment, biology or non-conscious influences?
• Why do humans hurt other humans?

This course will contain all the areas of psychology that students find exciting including:

• Forensic Psychology and Criminology
• Social Psychology
• Business and organisational psychology
• Biological Psychology
• Psychopharmacology

The course is workshop and tutorial driven, which provides students with an important opportunity for the learning and discussion of the course. Students will be asked to do individual research in their chosen field of psychology and learn to interpret data and to make a presentation in front of fellow students and tutor.

Students will get the chance to discuss, study and debate questions of the mind in lively, open, tutor-led sessions. Tutors will provide a grounding in the main schools of thought and notable contributors in the development of psychology; Freud and psychoanalysis the study of the unconscious mind in relation to childhood experiences, personality and sexuality; Wilhelm Wundt and structuralism the practice of interviewing and recording thought and behaviour; William James and functionalism questioning why we think, feel, act; Pavlov and behaviourism the way we adapt to our environment.

This will lead into the introduction of the new modern scientific approach of ‘experimental psychology’. An approach based on the principles of scientific research, experiment, recording quantifiable data for analysis, leading to measurable hypotheses.

Through structured teaching, workshops and real experiments students will gain knowledge and hands-on experience of this new approach. Students will be encouraged to construct statements on human behaviour and mental processes that are measurable and testable. They will be guided in the use of scientific techniques using experimental and control groups, understanding the need for randomised samples and ‘placebos’, gain the ability to manipulate variables to isolate effects, and from data analyse their initial hypothesis. Students will present to the group their approach and findings and certification will be assessed on their own psychology experiment.

Example of a student’s psychology experiment class of 2023

• Hypothesis: Humans mental processes are faster with caffeine (or energy drink)
• Experimental Group: Randomly selected from sample volunteers. Given caffeine (or energy drink) in 100mg variable dosages
• Control Group: Randomly selected from sample volunteers. Given decaf as 'placebo'
• Measurable task: Get to end of computer maze in the shortest time
• Recording findings: Data recorded for results of both groups
• Analysis: Do the results confirm or dispute the original statement, can the results be replicated

Memory Tests:

• Hypothesis : Female participants will score higher on tests for memory of stories than male participants.
• Hypothesis : Male participants will score higher on tests for memory of numbers than female participants.

Behaviour Tests:

• Hypothesis: Do people help more when they are alone or with their friends.

Marshmellow Test :

• Delaying gratification to explain self-control and the hot and cold system.

See https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/09/what-the-marshmallow-test-really-teaches-about-self-control/380673/

In addition to lectures, students participate in in-class experiments demonstrating key psychological phenomena. Working in teams, and under instructor supervision, students design, run, and present data from an original psychological experiment.

The academic and practical approach will be enhanced by visits to the British Psychological Society for presentations on current topics together with visits to the Science Museum and Freud Museum in London.

• Gain an understanding of psychology, its foundations and new thinking
• an insight into psychology aa a future university course
• an awareness of careers in the areas of behaviour, occupation, clinical and forensic psychology
• a course that will develop skills in scientific methodology, analytical thinking, project management and presentation

Owen Gingerich a leading Harvard astronomer who looked into the depths of space said, “The human brain is by far the most complex physical object known to us in the entire cosmos.”

Students who enrol on the Psychology course will be given Membership as an e-subscriber of the British Psychological Society.Students will attend a cutting edge seminar with a guest in a current field of psychology such as “Forensic Psychology” (Details for 2025 seminar are still TBC).

E-membership of the Society is included in the course.

E-Subscriber benefits include:

• an electronic copy of the monthly magazine The Psychologist
• access to exclusive members benefits package
• eligibility to join the divisions, sections and special groups of the society

LITE Regal Summer School will be an experience to remember. You’ll develop personally and academically as you are inspired, challenged and supported. From the programme you can expect to:

• gain invaluable insight through workshops that could prove advantageous in your future University application and career choice
• explore and choose the field of psychology that interests you
• develop critical solving skills
• make new friends from all over the world
• learn from world-class academics and researchers at a University ranked second best in the world
• improve your study skills whilst working in a range of stimulating environments
• develop your practical skills as well as your theoretical knowledge
• work in teams to develop your interpersonal and organisational abilities
• enjoy the LITE Regal experience

The LITE Regal Summer School isn’t all about work! Our dedicated Events Team has created an exciting action packed social programme to complement your studies to ensure you have as much fun as possible, make friends and get the most out of your stay with us.

Please visit our activities page for more details: Cambridge  London

Cultural Excursions

Excursions take a full advantage of an excellent transport network both from London and Cambridge, giving you a real taste of life in England.
Destinations can include: Harry Potter World, Windsor Castle & Eton College, Oxford, Brighton, Chessington World of Adventure.

After School Activities

There is so much going on in London and Cambridge and we don’t think you’ll be bored. After classes you’ll have a range of activities to enjoy too.
Here are a few examples of the kind of activities you might have the opportunity to enjoy this summer:
visiting London Eye, Madame Tussauds or the famous Houses of Parliament, film nights, punting down the river, visiting a West End Theatre, themed parties, sports including tennis, swimming, dancing and many more.

Free Time

We understand that students will want some free time to relax, attend to personal administration and contact their families. Some free time will be provided for rest and relaxation, however, we believe the most valuable experience to the student is a fully immersive, packed programme of activities and so students should expect to be engaged in team activities for the majority of time.

You will be accommodated in one of the College campuses. You will be allocated a room, usually sharing a twin room with another student of the same gender. Typically students will be accommodated on single-sex corridors or floors, with staff members and mentors always available on site. Living all together is a great way to make friends and sample the university lifestyle, as the welcoming environment allows you to develop a sense of community.

Breakfast and lunch is served and eaten in the College dining hall, which provides a bright and comfortable space for communal meals. Students will enjoy a varied and healthy diet: all meals are freshly prepared and special diets can be catered for with advance notice. A three-course dinner is provided daily either in the College dining hall, or in various restaurants as part of the social programme.

Safety and Security on Campus

Students will be overseen by our course leaders and residential staff to classes and activities, who ensure that students are looked after pastorally and socially during their programme and are available to assist students at any time of the day or night.

All students will be issued with emergency contact details for staff members and will be given a full safety briefing on arrival.

LITE Regal Summer School offers a safe and secure environment that is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by our friendly and professional team. We have a dedicated team of Managers, Teachers and College Mentors. The welfare of our students is our main priority at all times and our staff specialise in the pastoral care of older teenagers.

Management Team

Our Management team is headed by the College Principal, who takes responsibility for the daily running of the college, and supervises the Academic Programme. The Social & Welfare Manager takes charge of the Social Programme and is supported by a team of College Mentors, who ensure everyone is happy, safe and having fun.

Working together, our Managers ensure that every aspect of the college runs smoothly, safely and offers every student the chance to participate fully.

College Mentors

Our Mentors are key members of staff who support and assist our students within the college accommodation and throughout the Social Programme.

Students on the Psychology course:

• must be aged 15-18 before 1st September 2023 (if you are unsure of the age criteria entry please contact our registration team)
• must show passion for psychology and subjects related to it
• must be fluent or near-fluent English language speakers – if you are unsure whether your English level is suitable for this programme, please contact our registration team
• must show motivation for attending the programme and participate in terms of attendance at lessons, meals and events

All successful applicants will also be required to provide a signed letter of consent from their parent or guardian. If offered a place, students and parents / guardians will also be required to sign a Code of Conduct for the summer school.