Why Summer School Can Transform Your Summer (Even More Than an Internship)

It’s a weekday evening and you’ve just got home from university. Everyone’s been talking about plans for summer – but you’re feeling stuck. Should you apply for an internship or spend your time at Summer School?

We’ll admit, we’re a little biased... But after seeing students from LSE Summer School fully transform, it’s hard not to argue that we offer experiences that internships alone rarely match.

Internships offer you a glimpse into how a single organisation works, while Summer School goes one step further: it offers intellectual depth.

Rather than focusing on one organisation, you step back and examine broader systems and ideas. You’ll tackle global issues, debate diverse perspectives, and work through various industry or company case studies. Learning is discussion-led, interactive, and intellectually immersive, giving you a summer of mental growth rather than just workplace observation.

At LSE Summer School specifically, learning is enriched by global diversity. In a single classroom, you might work through the same case study with students from different countries, academic disciplines, and career interests. This range of perspectives helps you see global challenges in entirely new ways.

Internships tend to build vertical networks: managers, colleagues and professionals within a single sector. Meanwhile, Summer School builds horizontal and international networks.

In just a few weeks, you’ll form friendships with students from around the world. A summer where conversations don’t stop when the seminar ends but continue long after: over dinners, walks through London, and during the social events offered throughout the programme.

For many students, these friendships become lasting international networks of collaborators, business partners, and friends who share similar ambitions and intellectual curiosity (check out Lexie’s story to see this in action).

Where an internship might teach you industry-specific skills, Summer School equips you with critical thinking, adaptability, communication, and global awareness – skills employers increasingly value across any field.

You’ll adapt quickly to new academic expectations, engage with complex global ideas, and collaborate with students from around the world. For many students, it’s also their first experience living independently in an international city.

Beyond the classroom, students can also take part in Spark, LSE Summer School’s professional skills programme. These workshops help you translate academic insights into leadership, innovation, and problem-solving skills, enriching both your mind and your career readiness.

Internships provide some insight into professional responsibility. Summer School offers independence on a bigger scale: managing a full academic load in London, living on your own, and navigating cultural and academic challenges builds confidence, resilience, and self-awareness in ways internships alone rarely can.

This independence doesn’t just boost personal growth – it also demonstrates to future employers that you can thrive in new, challenging environments.

Internships help you test a career path. Summer School allows you to explore ideas and reflect on your direction.

You can experiment with subjects outside your main field, engage in global discussions, and discover new interests – whether in finance policy, international law or data ethics. By the end of the programme, you return to your studies or career decisions with clarity, insight and inspiration.

Internships often give you access to a single company or sector, but Summer School places you at the heart of a global city with multiple professional opportunities on your doorstep.

LSE Summer School is located in central London, giving you easy access to key professional areas and networks. Law students will find the Royal Courts of Justice and Inns of Court nearby, while economics and finance students benefit from proximity to the City of London’s financial district. Many courses are also taught in collaboration with industry and research leaders, so you gain exposure to professional networks while still enjoying the deep learning, social experiences, and global perspectives that make Summer School so special.

Summer School offers an experience of growth that can last a lifetime. In just a few weeks, you’ll sharpen your thinking, broaden your network, and gain the confidence to shape your future. You have decades to shape your career, but this summer is a rare chance to invest in yourself – so make it count.