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During the 1840s and 50s the Brontë sisters wrote some of the most original and challenging fiction of the Victorian period. Their work is still popular and still inspires criticism, fiction, popular culture and film adaptations.

This module provides an introduction to British literature with a focus on well-known authors, including the Brontës. The module also includes British authors such as Elizabeth Gaskell, Oscar Wilde and the Pre-Raphaelite poets. You’ll read a range of texts by these authors and explore these writings in class. You'll take part in group discussions and a workshop on writing a critical commentary.

You must read the novel ‘Jane Eyre’ by Charlotte Brontë and the play ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ by Oscar Wilde before the start of the summer school.

Charlotte, Emily and Anne Brontë lived at Haworth Parsonage, only a few miles from Leeds. You’ll usually visit the stunning Yorkshire village that was their home during the module. 

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The music business today represents innovation, creativity, opportunities and connectivity. It is a global business that facilitates interpersonal, intercultural and connectivity. This module provides an introduction to the music business environment.

You’ll explore key concepts used in categorising and analysing music business sectors, industries and organisational typologies. You’ll be presented with a selection of relevant case studies and take part in class debates and discussions.

This module usually includes a field trip to a music or entertainment venue.

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Are you interested in digital photography and making photographic images? Do you want to develop your practical digital camera skills?

This module will give you an understanding of how a digital camera works and how to interpret and evaluate photographic images. You’ll also learn how to compose a photographic image and how to expose a photograph correctly. You’ll gain critical insight through the study of existing photographic images and the work of key photographers. As you progress your digital photography skills you’ll produce a portfolio of your own images.

Please note you’re expected to use your own digital camera for this module. 

This module usually includes a field trip to Fountains Abbey.

The field trips for this module give an extra practical experience to the things that you learn in class which is fantastic.

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Are you ready to take the lead in global creative industries? This rapidly growing field is diverse and dynamic, offering more rewards than most. In this module, you will dive into the world of global creative industries: understanding what they are, how they operate, and their positive impact on the world.

You will discover the sources of social and commercial value that stem from creativity in global contexts. Additionally, you will explore business models that ensure the success and sustainability of these industries.

The module also covers essential skills needed to thrive in this complex and evolving environment, such as leadership, communication, financial management and innovation. Ultimately, this module aims to help you find your place in this exciting and expanding world of opportunities.  

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Step back in time and explore the mystical and enigmatic aspects of medieval England. In this course, you will uncover medieval records that chronicle extraordinary experiences, which in today’s terms might be seen as supernatural – think miracle healings, journeys to the afterlife and encounters with mystical beings.

This module delves into the obscure corners of England’s past, inviting you to engage with tangible historical texts that provide a window into these extraordinary events. You will tap into the exclusive resources of the à½à½AV’ special collections, giving you hands-on experience with historical documents. This module challenges aspiring historians to apply their skills to events that might initially seem beyond belief.

You will analyse the evidence, decipher the narratives, and gain a deeper understanding of the supernatural beliefs and experiences that shaped medieval England. The module includes a field trip to a location within Leeds or the local region. 

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Societies are significantly shaped by their histories. But how do we reckon with our past when it involves large-scale injustices such as, for example, slavery, genocide or colonialism? This module examines recent debates in moral and political philosophy that have aimed to answer this problem.

In the first week, you’ll consider the question of who might have a responsibility to make reparations. You’ll also consider to whom this responsibility could be owed. In the second week, you’ll explore the different forms that reparations can take. Throughout the module, you’ll use these philosophical explorations to assess real life historic injustices.

This module usually includes a field trip to the à½à½AV Slavery Museum in Liverpool.

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This module offers an introduction to the theory and practice of stage management in the UK with a particular focus on the role of the deputy stage manager and the preparation of a prompt copy for live performance.

Through practical and theoretical exploration, you will gain a clear understanding of stage management responsibilities throughout the production process – from preparation and rehearsals to live performance. You’ll develop key skills in prompt copy preparation, cueing and core stage management procedures.

By the end of the module, you will be able to: 

• describe the roles and responsibilities of stage management personnel
• apply essential practices in rehearsal and performance
• prepare and use a prompt copy to cue live performance accurately
• understand employment legislation and union regulations relevant to stage management
• create and manage standard stage management documentation
• operate basic lighting and sound equipment to run cue sequences.

This module is new for 2026 and subject to final approval.

Imagine turning mountains of marketing data into crystal-clear insights, without needing expensive software or a team of data scientists. This module is your route to smarter decisions, sharper strategies and stronger results.

Whether you are a marketing student, a budding startup founder or are interested in the power of analytics, this module will show you how to harness the power of AI (specifically Microsoft’s Copilot) to clean, analyse and visualize data like a pro.

You will cover the following topics:  

• reading and manipulating data   
• tabulation and descriptive statistics   
• data transformation and distributions   
• data visualisation bivariate analysis   
• understanding new product development by using factor analysis   
• understanding segmentation by using cluster analysis   
• choice models using logistic regression   
• marketing mix models using linear regression.

This module is new for 2026 and subject to final approval. 

What do we mean when we talk about culture? How can we describe cultures, and what is their importance in business? This module examines the nature of culture, looks at culture at the national level and suggests there are other ways of examining culture.

You’ll improve your own cultural awareness and learn how to factor in the role of culture in business situations. You’ll have the opportunity to consider a variety of cultural influences. You’ll also explore the impact of globalisation on the need for cross-cultural skills in communication and negotiation.

The module usually includes visits to local companies and businesses.

While I come from a History and Politics field of study, I wanted to broaden my horizons and allow myself to think about my post undergrad years. This module seemed like a perfect way to get my feet wet in business studies while taking in an unfamiliar culture.

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Entrepreneurship plays an important role in society. Across the world micro, small and medium enterprises are providing livelihoods for millions. Increasingly we are seeing the emergence of new ‘for-purpose’ business forms. They seek to create social and environmental value as well as the more traditional economic benefits.

This module explores various types of for-purpose businesses such as social enterprises, for example Certified B-Corps, Fairtrade and hybrids. You’ll also consider some of the key founders that have shaped these businesses and the emergence of new ideas as microfinance. The module also considers how traditional corporates can be more socially responsible. 

The module usually includes a field trip to places of interest related to the module such as the National Coal Mining Museum or Leeds Recycling and Energy Recovery Facility. 

The teachers encouraged interaction in the lessons, and they provided plenty of opportunities for group discussion and sharing our own opinions. It made the teaching more interesting and lively, and I enjoyed my time in class.

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In a world where technology impacts every aspect of our lives, computational thinking is an invaluable skill. It’s not just for computer scientists but for problem solvers in every field – from business to biology, from arts to engineering. In today’s interconnected global landscape, computational thinking has become the universal language of innovation.   

This module will empower you to think like a computer scientist and discover how to approach complex challenges with clarity, creativity and confidence. You will explore fundamental concepts such as decomposition, pattern recognition and abstraction. You will develop essential skills such as logical and algorithmic thinking and algorithm design. You will dive into real-world problems, breaking them down and solving them step by step. You will learn to harness the power of algorithms and abstract thinking to tackle even the most intricate challenges.

The module will include a field trip, industry visit, campus-based workshop or other practical activity. 

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In our ever-changing world, we encounter pressing sustainability issues, from ensuring affordable and clean energy to finding sustainable ways to produce food, manage water and manufacture products for a growing global population. Solving these challenges calls for innovative engineering solutions grounded in the knowledge of chemical and process engineering.

In this module, you will delve into the vital role of chemical engineering in tackling the global issues outlined in the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Throughout this course, you’ll explore a wide range of sustainability challenges, such as carbon capture, renewable energy production, and the evolving field of biochemical engineering in healthcare. You’ll engage with these topics through a mix of lectures, thought-provoking case studies, simulations, and interactive group discussions.

The module places a strong emphasis on the latest research and real-world applications, giving you the chance to uncover cutting-edge engineering and technological solutions for sustainability challenges.

The module includes a field trip to a chemical and energy production facility in the Yorkshire region. This will provide you with a taste of the intersection between sustainability and engineering in action. 

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This module explores the profound impact of our decisions on the environment, from entrepreneurial ventures to everyday consumer choices. It delves into how economic ideas shape these decisions, highlighting the differences between approaches centred on human interests and approaches that see humans as part of socio-ecological systems.

You will engage with Ecological Economics and other heterodox perspectives, examining their influence on societal and environmental outcomes. Key learning objectives include understanding the relationship between economic ideas and environmental behaviour, becoming familiar with core concepts in Ecological Economics, and critically comparing it with Neoclassical and Environmental Economics.

Additionally, the module will introduce insights from Behavioural Economics and Decolonising perspectives, applying these concepts to real-world case studies to illustrate their practical implications. By the end of this module, you will gain a high-level understanding of how diverse economic theories can guide more sustainable and equitable decision-making.  

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All supermarket foods, whether plant or animal-based, come from farms and undergo processing before reaching the shelves. Food processing experts use various techniques to ensure these foods are safe and desirable for consumers. In this module, you will learn how raw ingredients are transformed into everyday products.

You will study different food processing methods, their impact on nutritional value, and the rise of ultra-processed foods. The module also examines how media and social media shape public perceptions and behaviours towards these foods.

The module includes immersive digital resources, a laboratory session and a factory tour to provide hands-on experience and real-time understanding of food manufacturing processes.  

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From climate change to global inequality, this module offers you the opportunity to use real-world datasets to explore the world’s most pressing challenges. You will gain practical skills to make responsible, data-informed decisions about sustainable development challenges.

No prior experience with statistics or programming is required.   

You will start by learning how to ask meaningful questions before diving into analysis. You will evaluate the credibility and limitations of data sources, uncover hidden assumptions and spot misleading statistics. As you progress, you’ll learn to create compelling dashboards that tell stories and create reports that can influence real-world decisions.

Throughout the module, you’ll also navigate the ethical complexities of working with data that impacts people’s lives. 

This module is new for 2026 and subject to final approval.

In our modern world, the rising prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, including heart attacks and strokes, as well as diabetes, is a critical global health concern. This module provides an introduction to these complex health issues.

Through a mixture of seminars, interactive laboratory simulations, patient case studies and virtual reality activities, you will explore the essential basics of the cardiovascular system’s functioning and the intricate regulation of glucose and energy within the human body. These foundational insights will lay the groundwork for a deeper understanding of the biology of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.

You’ll delve into the pressing need for innovation in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of patients, emphasizing a multidisciplinary approach. This knowledge is essential not only for future healthcare professionals but also for students pursuing non-medical and health-related programmes.

Real-world examples, tours of our research laboratories and discussions with researchers will illustrate how individuals from diverse educational backgrounds can contribute to advancements in cardiovascular health and diabetes care.

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Why do we do the things we do? Are we in control of our behaviour, or is the mind subject to influences we cannot control? How does the mind influence our behaviour, our reactions to our environment and the people we meet, and even how we perceive art?

This module analyses how human behaviour has evolved and explores what makes us both human and fallible. You’ll also gain an understanding of how our mind can play tricks on us, for better and for worse.

You’ll discover how developmental and social factors influence our behaviour. You’ll explore core topics in psychology including neuroscience, perception, learning and memory, motivation and emotion, and social, developmental and abnormal psychology. 

The module usually includes a field trip to The Hepworth in Wakefield and the Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

The lectures were amazing and interesting, and I really enjoyed the group presentation. It not only helped me to learn a lot of information about the topic, but it also helped me to make great friends. 

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This module will enable you understand the media’s role in portraying mental health across various types, including film, TV, news, internet, literature, music and video games. You will analyse these media products to grasp their mental health messages, from sensationalised and misleading to educational and health-promoting content.

The module explores historical changes in media depictions along with changing societal attitudes. It uses Berlo’s Communication Model (Sender, Message, Receiver) as a framework for understanding the media's framing of mental health content and its subsequent receipt and engagement.

Interactive workshops encourage reflection and discussion, emphasising the importance of a critical and reflective approach to daily media consumption.

Please note this module explores content related to mental health with some issues covered that are sensitive and could be potentially traumatising or triggering for some students. If you are unsure whether this module is suitable for you, please contact us for more details before choosing this module.

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Are you interested in gaining an understanding of the evolving field of conflict analysis? This module provides an introduction to the nature and causes of armed conflicts as well as their resolution.

Initially, the module focuses on motivations driving different forms of conflict, for example, greed versus grievance and ethnicity. The second part of the module introduces types of interventions to conflicts and methods of conflict resolution.

This is an interdisciplinary module with elements of traditional conflict management approaches combined with contemporary scientific studies on cooperation and conflict.

Field trips for this module in the past have included a visit to the city of York and the Cold War Bunker.

It was a fantastic course, and I am very glad I chose to study it. The content, both theory and practical activities, was very good and contributed to getting to know my classmates.

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Despite the growing availability of exercise opportunities and information, participation rates remain low. Many adults engage in less than 30 minutes of physical activity per week, a trend seen globally. This inactivity puts individuals at risk of chronic disease and poor wellbeing.

This module explores barriers to physical activity and examines psychological factors like motivation, exercise anxiety and confidence.

You will also study the broader impacts of exercise on mental health and overall wellbeing, drawing on contemporary sport and exercise science research.  

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