After having finished reading our eleventh article of why travelling is so important in your twenties, we collectively decided our motivation for our next trip: a new experience, the kind you can’t find at the bottom of your seventh shot glass. What Makemytrip didn’t tell us is the incredible options for short courses available in mighty exotic locations across the globe. If we lost you at course, picture this: learning how to bartend in Amsterdam, or working on a production of King Lear in Croatia.
Short courses enable you to really immerse yourself in local culture, justify an exorbitant ticket price and learn a new skill while you’re basking under some fancy pants’ island sun. Whether you’re an aspiring writer, musician, baker or artist, or just looking for plain inspiration and a whole new experience, at least one of these courses should help decide your next travel destination.
The Vogue Summer Intensive Course | A concentrated four-week program, it offers a unique view of the fashion industry via the eyes of British Vogue and the wider Conde Nast portfolio {GQ, Tatler and Glamour}. The course touches on everything from journalism, PR, marketing, advertising, styling, art direction, retail, and the international fashion calendar for all you fashion writer/designer aspirants.
Where: Conde Nast College of Fashion and Design, London
When: 14th July to 8th August
Price: £ 2,800
For more information, click here
Dance Summer School | If you’re looking to dance your way through the summer, the Dance Summer School offers an opportunity to experience intensive dance training under Trinity-Laban faculty of Dance, and established teachers from across the profession. They offer core techniques in Contemporary, Ballet, Jazz and other movement practices, including choreography, physical theatre, street dance, Pilates and capoeira.
Where: Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, London
When: 21st July to 1st August
Price: £ 585 and accommodation at an additional £ 425
For more information, click here
Five Week Summer Performance | For budding musicians and amateurs alike, immerse yourself in your chosen style and study with kids from over 70 countries, under top-notch faculty and guest artists, in state-of-the-art studio settings. You’ll get the chance to play as part of ensembles, develop improv and reading skills, and improve technique, in weekly private lessons.
Where: Berklee College of Music, Boston
When: 12th July to 15th August
Price: $ 4,795
For more information, click here
British Theater: Stage to Page to Stage | This course is based on productions you’ll get to attend in and around London! Its focus is on the relationship between plays and theatrical institutions, past and present, with an emphasis on current institutions such as the Royal Shakespeare Company, the National Theatre and the West End.
Where: The Bread Loaf School of English, Oxford
When: 2nd July to 8th August
Price: $ 10,320
For more information, click here
Residency for Writers and Artists | Throw yourself into a month long independent residency if you’re a poetry, fiction or non-fiction writer. They also accept visual artists in painting, sculpture, new and mixed media, drawing, printmaking and photography as part of their artist residency.
Where: Vermont Studio Center, Vermont
When: Runs for 4, 8 or 12 weeks, with a start date every month
Price: On Request
For more information, click here
Accessories for Beginners | Design your own jewellery come fall; developing basic accessory construction skills, with an emphasis on recycled materials and fastenings, using textile stores, second-hand shops and markets through London. Open to complete novices, all you need is lots of ideas, and an interest in researching fabrics and embellishment material.
Where: Central Saint Martins, UAL, London
When: 11th to 15th August
Price: £ 495
For more information, click here
Chocolate, Candy and Confections | In 25 hours {not non-stop}, learn chocolate-making skills {dipping, molding, decorating and filling} to help you produce delicious delights, including truffles, bonbons, chocolate-dipped toffee and lots more! Each class explores the science, theory and technique behind chocolate, with hands-on cooking practice.
Where: International Culinary Centre, New York
When: 14th to 18th July
Price: $ 1,030
For more information, click here
Service Design| If you’re exploring the idea of setting up a business, or are already running your own start up, IED offers basic concepts and methodologies of Service Design, including presentations, lectures, and workshops by lead-professionals in the service design practice.
Where: Istituto Europeo di Design {IED}, Barcelona
When: 17th to 31st July
Price: € 2,900
For more information, click here
Film, Theater and Acting | For a sun, sand and stage filled summer, spend two weeks immersed in a theatre and film program at the Ulysses Theatre, located on the idyllic island of Mali Brijuni {off Croatia}. Attendees will work on the upcoming production of King Lear, learn from masters of acting, directing, theatre and film production, as well as attend two major international film festivals - the Pula and the Motovun. Tuition includes a whole range of things apart from classes - single room accommodation, three daily meals and bicycles for transportation around the island!
Where: Study Abroad, SVA NYC, Croatia
When: 15th July to 29th July
Price: $ 4,950
For more information, and more Study Abroad courses, click here
4 Week International Bartending Course | If you want a summer abroad doing something new and exciting, learning to bartend might be a great fit. Industry leaders consistently rate this course as the best, and no previous knowledge of alcohol is required. The best part: there's some incredible locations from around the world to choose from!
Where: European Bartending School - London, Kos, Barcelona, NYC, Sydney, Phuket, Copenhagen, Bad Gastein {Austria}, Stockholm, Amsterdam, Dublin, Oslo, Manchester and Helsinki
When: Different start dates, depending on your location
Price: Starts at $ 1,250, depending on your location
For more information, click here
Travel Photography Programs | International Centre of Photography’s travel program takes you all around the world. Led by their seasoned faculty members, these travelling workshops provide you with hands-on learning in exotic locations and also offer what every other course on this list does: an experience.
Where: Barcelona, New Mexico and Venice
When: Barcelona: 14th to 22nd July; New Mexico: 17th to 25th August; Venice: 12th to 22nd September
Price: $ 4,275
For more information, click here
Image Courtesy Berklee College of Music, Boston
