Summer & Winter Schools

AI-Enhanced Bioinformatics: Leveraging Large Language Models for Omics Data Analysis

Course Format:Blended Research Summer School
Online Lessons: May - June 2026 (Details to follow)
Attendance Week: 22. - 26. Juni 2026
Target Group:Masterstudierende und Promovierende, Codingerfahrungen sind erwünscht
Course Fees: keine, Scholarships for travel expenses are available for all participants from the University of Potsdam
Available places: 

Application Deadline: 31 January 2026

Embark on a journey into the rapidly evolving world of bioinformatics and artificial intelligence in life sciences. Gain essential programming skills and learn to leverage cutting-edge AI tools for analysing omics data, working with real biological datasets, and addressing current research challenges. This blended summer school offers a practical, hands-on learning experience tailored especially for beginners in coding.

Further information and the application link can be found  here.

Sports Sciences and Outdoor Education 2026

Attendance Week: 12. - 25. Juli 2026
Zielgruppe: Bachelor- und Masterstudierende
Kursgebühren: 1225€, Scholarships for course fees and travel expenses are available for all participants from the University of Potsdam
Verfügbare Plätze: 

Bewerbungsfrist: 15. März 2026

Scientific sports knowledge brought to practice combined with outdoor sports activities in a Czech nature. Holistic program focused on human performance and health improvement. The field trip will let students experience active outdoor recreation typical for the Czech summer.

Further information and the application link can be found hier.

AI and Digital Marketing 2026

Attendance Week: 12. - 25. Juli 2026
Zielgruppe: Bachelor- und Masterstudierende
Kursgebühren: 1225€, Scholarships for course fees and travel expenses are available for all participants from the University of Potsdam
Verfügbare Plätze: 

Bewerbungsfrist: 15. März 2026

In today’s AI-driven marketing landscape, understanding consumer behavior and leveraging advanced tools is crucial for success. In this course, we will explore how AI and Generative AI are transforming marketing strategies, from keyword analysis to personalized content creation.

Further information and the application link can be found hier.

Humour, Satire, and Memes in Media

Attendance Week: 12. - 25. Juli 2026
Zielgruppe: Bachelor- und Masterstudierende
Kursgebühren: 1225€, Scholarships for course fees and travel expenses are available for all participants from the University of Potsdam
Verfügbare Plätze: 

Bewerbungsfrist: 15. März 2026

This intensive summer course explores the many faces of humour, satire, and memes, and their role in media. Blending academic theory with hands-on experimentation, it equips participants to critically analyse and create satirical content to help them navigate today's highly mediated society. Despite humour’s often unassuming façade ("it’s just a joke!"), it wields a powerful impact on society by challenging norms, exposing truths, and influencing public opinion in profound ways. The course combines group learning, practical output, and cultural immersion, designed to be both engaging and practical. By focusing on student-directed learning, including the use of Problem-Based Learning (PBL), teamwork, creativity, and cultural discovery, it promises a dynamic and enriching experience.

Further information and the application link can be found hier.

Energy Policy & Security of the EU

Attendance Week: 12. - 25. Juli 2026
Zielgruppe: Bachelor-, Masterstudierende und Promovierende
Kursgebühren: 1225€, Scholarships for course fees and travel expenses are available for all participants from the University of Potsdam
Verfügbare Plätze: 

Bewerbungsfrist: 15. März 2026

This summer school explores the major challenges of today’s energy landscape, including the energy transition, price volatility, supply security, and geopolitical tensions. Designed for students without a technical background, the programme offers a multidisciplinary introduction to EU energy policy, with a special focus on the Czech Republic and Central/Eastern Europe. Taught by leading experts—including Vaclav Bartuška, the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Special Envoy for Energy Security, and James Henderson, Director of the Natural Gas Programme at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies—the course provides a holistic understanding of how energy policies are formed and how they shape industrial, social, and geopolitical realities.

Further information and the application link can be found hier.

Diversity and Inclusion in Czechia

Attendance Week: 12. - 25. Juli 2026
Zielgruppe: Bachelor- und Masterstudierende
Kursgebühren: 1225€, Scholarships for course fees and travel expenses are available for all participants from the University of Potsdam
Verfügbare Plätze: 

Bewerbungsfrist: 15. März 2026

This course explores how inclusivity, social justice, and intercultural understanding shape workplaces and helping professions in today’s diverse societies. Through workshops, discussions, and field visits to local institutions such as the Museum of Romani Culture and NGOs working with migrants, participants gain practical strategies for promoting equity and navigating cultural differences. The programme combines theory with hands-on activities to equip students with the tools needed to create environments where all individuals feel respected, valued, and included.

Further information and the application link can be found hier.

Multiscale Modelling Methods

Attendance Week: 12. - 25. Juli 2026
Zielgruppe: Bachelor- und Masterstudierende
Kursgebühren: 1225€, Scholarships for course fees and travel expenses are available for all participants from the University of Potsdam
Verfügbare Plätze: 

Bewerbungsfrist: 15. März 2026

Study cutting-edge computer simulations and AI-driven methods to tackle chemical and biochemical challenges ranging from supramolecular chemistry to structural biology. Explore a world beyond the reach of experimental methods, where molecular modelling plays a pivotal role in rationalising new materials, understanding the foundations of life, and designing new drugs.

Further information and the application link can be found here.

Language, Culture and Mind

Attendance Week: 12. - 25. Juli 2026
Zielgruppe: Bachelor- und Masterstudierende
Kursgebühren: 1225€, Scholarships for course fees and travel expenses are available for all participants from the University of Potsdam
Verfügbare Plätze: 

Bewerbungsfrist: 15. März 2026

Language is one of humanity’s most powerful tools. This course introduces the foundations of cognitive linguistics with a cultural focus, tracing key developments in the field and examining how its theoretical frameworks can be applied to real language use. Students will explore how meaning is shaped by cognition, culture, and conceptual structures, and learn to analyse linguistic phenomena through a cognitive lens. Students will leave the course able to uncover conceptual and cultural patterns underlying language and apply cognitive-linguistic methods in practical analytical work.

Further information and the application link can be found here.

Business Process Analysis

Attendance Week: 12. - 25. Juli 2026
Zielgruppe: Bachelor- und Masterstudierende
Kursgebühren: 1225€, Scholarships for course fees and travel expenses are available for all participants from the University of Potsdam
Verfügbare Plätze: 

Bewerbungsfrist: 15. März 2026

This course introduces the principles and practice of Business Process Analysis (BPA), bridging business and informatics. In collaboration with SAP Signavio, students develop process-thinking skills and learn to analyze, model, and improve organizational processes using BPMN notation.

The programme combines theory with hands-on work in a flipped-classroom format. Through case studies, role-play, and practical assignments, students learn to identify process issues, define business needs, and translate them into clear outputs usable by managers and system engineers. The course culminates in a team project for a Czech-based company, where participants produce a professional analysis and recommendations for process optimization.

Further information and the application link can be found here.

Czech Criminal Proceedings

Attendance Week: 12. - 25. Juli 2026
Zielgruppe: Bachelor- und Masterstudierende
Kursgebühren: 1225€, Scholarships for course fees and travel expenses are available for all participants from the University of Potsdam
Verfügbare Plätze: 

Bewerbungsfrist: 15. März 2026

Explore Czech criminal law through immersive experiences. From conducting a simulated trial to visiting courts and penitentiaries, you'll gain practical insights into criminal proceedings in the Czech Republic and compare them with your home country's legal system.

Further information and the application link can be found here.

Embryology - from Gametes to Organisms

Attendance Week: 12. - 25. Juli 2026
Zielgruppe: Bachelor- und Masterstudierende
Kursgebühren: 1225€, Scholarships for course fees and travel expenses are available for all participants from the University of Potsdam
Verfügbare Plätze: 

Bewerbungsfrist: 15. März 2026

Mesmerizing world of embryonal development displayed right in front of your eyes. Equip yourself with valuable skills in andrological analysis, microscopic anatomy, and laboratory techniques, while also delving into the complex issue of infertility treatment. Exploration of modern biology awaits at Masaryk University.

Further information and the application link can be found here.

Exploring Microbial Processes

Attendance Week: 12. - 25. Juli 2026
Zielgruppe: Bachelor- und Masterstudierende
Kursgebühren: 1225€, Scholarships for course fees and travel expenses are available for all participants from the University of Potsdam
Verfügbare Plätze: 

Bewerbungsfrist: 15. März 2026

Discover microbial techniques in biotechnology through hands-on experiments, including aerobic and anaerobic cultivation, gas chromatography, and next-generation sequencing. Analyze the impact of heavy metals on wastewater treatment and explore the microbial composition of samples of your choice, gaining practical skills in metagenomics and microbial activity analysis.

Learn the latest advancements in next-generation sequencing in human health used in research and diagnostics. Brno, home to Gregor Mendel, is the perfect place to further one's education.

Further information and the application link can be found here.

Genes in Motion: Bioinformatics and Systems Biology

Attendance Week: 12. - 25. Juli 2026
Zielgruppe: Bachelor-, Masterstudierende und Promovierende
Kursgebühren: 1225 €, Scholarships for course fees and travel expenses are available for all participants from the University of Potsdam
Verfügbare Plätze: 

Bewerbungsfrist: 15. März 2026

Curious how a stem cell decides what it will become? Or how thousands of cells can be analyzed at once to reveal hidden biological patterns? At the Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Summer School, you won’t just read about these processes—you’ll work with real data to understand them.

Through Python sessions in Jupyter notebooks, participants will process real single-cell RNA sequencing data, filter noise, detect differentially expressed genes, and identify distinct cell populations based on marker signatures. Once the core workflow is mastered, they will reconstruct gene regulatory networks using tools such as pySCENIC and simulate cell-fate decisions using Boolean models inspired by real biological research.

Further information and the application link can be found here.

Law and Theatre

Attendance Week: 12. - 25. Juli 2026
Zielgruppe: Bachelor-, Masterstudierende und Promovierende
Kursgebühren: 1225 €, Scholarships for course fees and travel expenses are available for all participants from the University of Potsdam
Verfügbare Plätze: 

Bewerbungsfrist: 15. März 2026

Explore the crossroads of law, theatre, and ethics in this summer course. Using Milada Horáková as a case study through a feminist lens, students combine theory with hands-on practice, creating performances that reveal new ways of understanding legal culture and professional life. The program unfolds in two parts. During theoretical foundations and creative practice students examine how legal texts, courtroom performance, and social representations shape legal meaning, engaging with interdisciplinary scholarship in law and the humanities. In the practical component, participants bring theory to life through research, character development, dramaturgy, and rehearsals, exploring how law and identity are performed on stage and in professional life. Guided by feminist jurisprudence, the course encourages reflection on gender, power, and ethical responsibility. This Summer School is not about producing a theatre show but about discovering new ways to think about and experience law. Masaryk University offers an international environment, connecting students and scholars worldwide to engage with legal performance across cultures.

Further information and the application link can be found here.

Teaching Skills for Beginning University Teachers

Attendance Week: 12. - 25. Juli 2026
Zielgruppe: Promovierende
Kursgebühren: 1225 €, Scholarships for course fees and travel expenses are available for all participants from the University of Potsdam
Verfügbare Plätze: 

Bewerbungsfrist: 15. März 2026

This course combines interactive exploration of pedagogical, didactic, and psychological theories with hands-on teaching practice. Participants will reflect on their own approaches, experiment with new methods, and set personalised learning goals while exchanging ideas across disciplines. Core elements include designing lessons with clear learning objectives, using dialogic communication, applying formative assessment, and developing reflective teaching habits. By the end of the course, students will gain both conceptual insight and practical tools to strengthen the quality and impact of their university teaching. Open to participants from any discipline who are already teaching or preparing to start; individual exceptions may be considered.

Further information and the application link can be found here.

Virtual Reality for Social Good

Attendance Week: 12. - 25. Juli 2026
Zielgruppe: Bachelor-, Masterstudierende und Promovierende
Kursgebühren: 1225 €, Scholarships for course fees and travel expenses are available for all participants from the University of Potsdam
Verfügbare Plätze: 

Bewerbungsfrist: 15. März 2026

Through immersive experiences, you will explore how VR can transform the way we understand others and ourselves, building empathy, awareness, and a deeper sense of social connection Virtual Reality is not just for gaming. It can be a powerful tool for understanding, empathy, and social change. This course lets you step into the experiences of people facing marginalization, exclusion, or identity challenges, engaging with complex social issues both intellectually and emotionally. Over two weeks, you will explore VR technology and experiment with headsets and applications, learning to design virtual environments that foster empathy, social learning, and collaboration. The course also showcases real-world uses of VR in education, healthcare, social services, and intercultural communication. Open to Bachelor’s and Master’s students with no prior VR experience required, the course equips you to analyze social issues critically while experiencing them from others’ perspectives, improving your ability to create inclusive and empathetic solutions.

Further information and the application link can be found here.

Well-being in the Digital Era

Attendance Week: 12. - 25. Juli 2026
Zielgruppe: Bachelor-, Masterstudierende und Promovierende
Kursgebühren: 1225 €, Scholarships for course fees and travel expenses are available for all participants from the University of Potsdam
Verfügbare Plätze: 

Bewerbungsfrist: 15. März 2026

The digital age brings endless possibilities as well as new challenges. Between constant notifications, online expectations, and the pressure to stay connected, it’s easy to lose track of your wellbeing. This course invites you to pause, reflect, and discover how technology shapes your mind, emotions, and relationships and how to take back control. You’ll explore real-life scenarios, try out practical tools for stress management and digital balance, and learn how to create spaces (online and offline) where people feel seen, heard, and supported. You’ll gain everyday skills for healthier digital habits, empathetic communication, and building communities where everyone can belong. Whether you aim to help others, or simply take better care of yourself, this experience will equip you to thrive in today’s connected world.

Further information and the application link can be found here.

Sport and Society: Issues and Impact of the Organisation of Sports Practices and Events

Onlineunterricht: 13. - 17. April 2026 
Präsenzwoche: 8. - 12. Juni 2026
Verfügbare Plätze: 4
Zielgruppe: Master und PhD
Kursgebühren: keine, Scholarships for course fees and travel expenses are available for all participants from the University of Potsdam

Bewerbungsschluss: 31. Januar 2026

Description: 

• 5-minutes presentation of thesis or dissertation by participants.
• Escape game and sports practices at UPN's sports facilities.
• Visit to a sports complex.
• Co-development workshops and plenary presentations.
• Participation in a UPN's basketball team match.

Event goals :

• Enhance the academic and professional skills of Master's students and young researchers in Europe.
• Get insight on into collaborative research projects led by different EDUC alliance countries.
• Examine methodological issues from an intercultural perspective.
• Focus on four specific themes: the social condition of top-level athletes; ethical issues; discrimination; and the organization of major sporting events.

Further information and the application link can be found here.

Refugee Integration? Critical Reflections on Past and Present

Kursformat: Blended Summer School
Onlineunterricht: 15.4., 20.5. & 10.6. 2026 jeweils 8:30 - 10:00
Präsenzwoche: 1. Juni - 6. Juni 2026
Zielgruppe: Bachelor- und Masterstudierende
Kursgebühren: keine
Verfügbare Plätze: 

Bewerbungsfrist: 1. März 2026

This blended summer school delves into the global history of processes of refuge-seeking. It explores the many challenges that newcomers labeled as refugees and migrants face but also focuses on the opportunities they create in their new home countries. It engages the manifold ways in which citizens have responded to migrants and refugees over time – from the Huguenots’ arrival in Brandenburg-Prussia in 1685 to the present – and in various places, including France, Australia, Uganda, Ethiopia, and Germany. The course aims at opening up a complex vista that explores various actors’ responses to and visions of migration and mobility with a special emphasis on place-making, creation of new homes and local and regional “integration” practices.

Further information and the application link can be found here.

Picture This! Visual Meaning Making in Theory and Practice