Program Overview

---

University of Cape Town Summer School Program

The University of Cape Town's Summer School program is a premier event that showcases the institution's commitment to excellence in research and teaching. The program features a diverse range of courses, lectures, and workshops that cater to various interests and disciplines.

Summer School 2026

The 2026 Summer School program is emblematic of outstanding scholarship and intellectual rigor, presented by staff, post-graduate students, past and retired university staff, as well as thought leaders, authors, luminaries, and scholars from South Africa and across the world.

Hot Topics in Neuroscience

The popular series, Hot Topics in Neuroscience, is back, featuring the following lectures:

• Why empathy is breaking healthcare: The neuroscience of compassion
• Adolescent mental health: a better understanding
• Traumatic stress across generations: epigenetic insights
• Why does that hurt?
• How can I find the right person for persistent pain? Navigating the healthcare system in South Africa
• Growing mini-brains: how stem cells are helping us understand what makes us human

Book Launches

The 2026 Summer School program features several book launches, including:

• The Shadow State by Jeff Wicks
• The Truth about Cape Slavery by Patric Tariq Mellet
• Parcel Baby by Dr. Shafik Parker
• Glowfly Dance by Dr. Jade Gibson

Courses and Lectures

The program offers a wide range of courses and lectures, including:

• Literature, Art, Music
• Current affairs, history, philosophy, politics, economics
• Medicine
• Science
• Conservation and Nature
• Information Technology
• Practical Courses

Summer School 2025

The 2025 Summer School program features a similar range of courses and lectures, including:

• Free lectures, tours, excursions, and workshops
• History, Philosophy, Politics, Current Affairs, Economics
• Conservation and Nature
• Information Technology
• Medicine
• Practical Courses
• Science

Summer School 2024

The 2024 Summer School program includes:

• Architecture and the built environment
• Conservation and Nature
• Excursions and Tours
• Information Technology
• Law and human rights
• Literature, Art, Music
• Medicine
• Philosophy, Politics, Current Affairs, and History
• Practical Courses
• Science

Summer School 2023

The 2023 Summer School program features:

• Literature, Art, Music
• Philosophy, Politics, Current Affairs, and History
• Medicine
• Science
• Conservation and Nature
• Information Technology
• Practical Courses

Short Courses and Friends of Summer School

The University of Cape Town also offers short courses and has a Friends of Summer School program, which provides opportunities for individuals to engage with the university's academic community.

EMS Writers Forum

The EMS Writers Forum offers various writing courses and workshops, including:

• 2024 Summer School Short Story Course
• Memoir Writing Workshop
• Write Your Short Story, from concept to completion
• Your wonderful novella journey: fiction and creative non-fiction

Conclusion

The University of Cape Town's Summer School program is a unique and enriching experience that offers something for everyone. With its diverse range of courses, lectures, and workshops, the program provides a platform for individuals to engage with the university's academic community and explore various interests and disciplines.