Social Science Data Analysis

The Essex Summer School in Social Science Data Analysis offers an intensive learning environment. Each course consists of three and a half hours of teaching per day. Participants are advised to calculate additional time for readings and homework.

For information on specific courses please refer to the 2019 course list overview

Longer synopses of the courses selected by applicants, including teaching notes and obligatory preparation if the instructor sees fit, are available for download on each course website. 

Courses are not automatically examined although provision can be made to take a Single Course Exam in most courses at a cost of £100.00. Exams can only be booked and paid for on arrival.

The language of instruction of this summer school is English. Participants should do the basic reading for their courses in advance and are advised to purchase core books beforehand and bring them to the summer school. The Summer School Library and the Albert Sloman Library both provide a limited number of copies of the textbooks.

For best learning success, participants should have the background knowledge necessary to follow a course. The Instructors’ specifications of the prior knowledge expected of participants appear at the end of the course descriptions for each session. This will also include any specialised requirements, such as computing knowledge, although basic knowledge of computing is essential. Participants can fresh-up their mathematics knowledge in an intensive course, Mathematics for Social Scientists and this is free for participants of the Summer School.

Instructors will assume that everyone doing their course has the required background knowledge and reserve the right to exclude a participant who does not have the required background.

Anyone who is uncertain about whether a course is appropriate for their needs or their background should contact the Summer School office for advice.

There are different fee payments for Summer School participants: the fee for participants from non-academic institutions, and the discounted fee for participants from academic institutions. For a more detailed breakdown please view our course fees.

Applicants wishing to apply should complete the online application form. The completed application should reach ouroffice by 1 May 2019. Any applications received after this date will be subject to a £50 surcharge. We also recommend early applications as courses can fill up quickly.

On receipt of the application, the Summer School office will send applicants an invoice for the amount due. At this point a non refundable £50 deposit needs to be paid to secure your place. Full payment must then be paid by 21 May 2019. Places on courses cannot be guaranteed if payment has not been received in full by this date. There are two options for payment: online payment or bank transfer.

Essex PG students need to apply via Proficio. Please contact Melanie Sawers in the summer school office with all queries by emailing mels@essex.ac.uk.

For more information on the application process, including how to make payment and our cancellation policy, please visit our external Essex Summer School in Social Science Data Analysis website.

Please note that all of the accommodation booked through the Summer School office are the universities current student rooms and can be booked on the online application form at the same time as applying to attend a course.

All Essex campus accommodation is situated just a few minutes away from the academic and administrative buildings, so residents can, for example, easily use their rooms between lectures to prepare a meal or take a coffee break. All residences are equipped for self-catering and are provided with bed linen but only hand towels. There is a linen change once weekly but participants are responsible for their own cleaning of the flat, particularly the shared kitchen facilities. Computer network facilities are available in all accommodation. To find out more about the residences, including prices and check in times please see the accommodation website. 

Alternatively, you may wish to book accommodation independently off campus – please note that the Summer School office will not be able to assist with this however you may find these websites helpful:

• Visit Colchester website
• Booking.com website