“Safe, fun, enriching.” These are just some of the words that Anila Arshad-Mehmood, Head of Residential Programmes at InvestIN, used to describe InvestIN’s residential programme for students who stay with us in the summer.
Once again, this summer we are preparing to welcome hundreds of students from around the world to stay with us for one or two weeks at a leading UK university’s accommodation in the heart of London.
But what does a typical day look like for a residential student during an InvestIN Summer School? Let’s take a look!
Where do Residential Students Stay During an InvestIN Summer School?
One of the main benefits of choosing the residential option with InvestIN is the opportunity to experience living in university halls of residence used by one of the most historic institutions in the UK, University College London (UCL).
You can step into the shoes of a university student in London, while staying in a private en-suite, single occupancy room at University of London's Garden Halls or College Hall in Bloomsbury, Central London. These halls are commonly used by students of UCL, King's College London, Imperial College London and University Arts London.
The residential package includes breakfast and dinner provided by the accommodation catering team, with meat, vegetarian and halal options, as well as access to laundry facilities and space for students to study, socialise and relax outside of programme hours.
Staying in the heart of London offers ample opportunities for students to explore the local area, from the vibrant Tottenham Court Road to the historic King’s Cross.
What is the Typical Schedule for Residential Students?
Let’s dive into the day-to-day experience for residential students! Below is an overview of a student’s weekday schedule:
Pre-Programme: Students enjoy free time from 7:30am to 9:30am, during which they are served breakfast and can leave the site to return in time to meet their Pastoral Activity Leaders (PALs) at 10am for registration.
Programme Hours: Students will spend the majority of the day on their Summer Experience Programme based at UCL. PALs will be informed of any schedule changes due to field trips, which will be communicated to students.
Post-Programme: Students will return from their programmes between 4pm to 5pm, where they can enjoy more free time off-site until 7:30pm. During this time, dinner will also be available.
Social Programme: The mandatory social and soft skills programme is held at on and off-site venues in London from 7:30pm to 9:30pm. Off-site venues are all no more than a 10-minute walk from the accommodation.
Evening & Overnight: Early bedtime starts from 9pm, but students get free time on-site until 10:20pm following the social and soft skills programme. Everyone is in bed by 10:30pm.
All Bases Covered: Safeguarding and Pastoral Care
At InvestIN, student safety is paramount. Our residential team are on hand to support students from the moment they wake up to the moment they go to bed. With 24-hour security and CCTV, as well as a 24-hour on-call phone line, we ensure residential students are safe throughout their time on one of our summer schools.
Our accommodation sites have a 24-hour on-site nurse, and all our staff are first aid trained. Let’s meet the residential staff:
- Centre Manager: Centre Managers support everyone on site, including students and parents/guardians. They are the most senior person on site and lead the pastoral and well-being teams, ensuring everyone stays safe.
- Assistant Centre Managers (ACMs): ACMs manage the day-to-day on-site events, activities and operations. This includes ensuring students get to their programmes on time, student medication, parent communications and more.
- Senior Pastoral Activity Leaders (SPALs): SPALs are responsible for four PALs in a career programme. They coordinate off-site events, lead activities and manage student behaviour.
- Pastoral Activity Leaders (PALs): PALs are friendly faces for students, there to ensure they are safe and having fun. While managing day-to-day activities for residential students, PALs travel with students to and from programme venues and are responsible for registrations, activities and check-ins for approximately 25 students.
The Soft Skills and Social Calendar
Our experienced events team lead an enriching social timetable, with activities every evening for residential students. The diverse activities programme is popular among students, who get involved with quizzes, games, sports and more during their time with us.
In addition to ensuring students have fun and strengthen their friendships, our bespoke activities calendar is designed to develop core soft skills, such as communication, leadership and teamwork.
Some of the activities that residential students get up to during the soft skills and activities programme include a yoga and meditation session led by a qualified instructor, a five-a-side football tournament, film night, craft night and much more.
What About the Weekend?
While students who have registered for a one-week programme leave on Saturday, the fun continues for those who have registered for a two-week programme.
Students who have booked InvestIN’s Premium package continue their programme as they have all week, with the same schedule for pre and post-programme, while non-Premium students enjoy managed free time, which could be a trip to a museum or arts centre for example, between 1pm to 4pm, with further free time between 4pm to 7:30pm before the social programme begins.
This is an excellent opportunity for students to immerse themselves in London's culture and explore all that the city has to offer.
Spend Your Summer in London!
Sounds pretty fun, right? You could be spending your summer making lifelong friendships, building personal and professional skills and exploring one of the most vibrant capital cities in the world.
So, what’s stopping you from registering for a Summer Experience Programme this summer?
Visit our FAQ page for more information about the residential experience, airport transfers, facilities and more.
