25th edition of the European Summer Program

From Thursday 22 May to Friday 20 June 2025, the Université Catholique de Lille, in the Robert Schuman building of the Faculty of Law, is hosting the first session of the 25th European Summer Programme (ESP), an intensive academic programme designed for students from partner universities around the world.

A multidisciplinary and international programme

Launched in 2001, the European Summer Programme offers several hundred international students each year the opportunity to follow a four-week multidisciplinary course in English or French. The programme spans a wide range of fields, including law, humanities and social sciences, art, business, engineering, health, communications and sustainable development. Courses are delivered by lecturers from the Université Catholique de Lille alongside around fifteen visiting professors from abroad. Each participant is eligible to earn ECTS credits at the end of the session.

An active, outward-looking approach

The ESP is founded on a comprehensive pedagogical approach that combines academic instruction and cultural exploration. Students take part in outings linked to their courses (courts, companies, museums, European institutions, etc.) and also discover local and regional heritage through guided tours, excursions and festive events.

This year, 166 students from 25 universities and 15 nationalities are taking part in this first session. A second session, scheduled for July, will bring together almost 260 additional students. The programme opened today, 22 May, with a welcome day featuring campus tours, an orientation session, a welcome brunch and a language placement test. It will conclude on 20 June, preceded by a closing ceremony gathering students, teachers and academic teams.

Among the highlights of the two sessions are a visit to the famous Wazemmes market, a treasure hunt tour of Lille, trips to the Musée de la Piscine in Roubaix and the Louvre-Lens, meals in restaurants to discover local French cuisine, visits to Bruges and Brussels, First World War battlefields, and international evenings, key moments for sharing and celebrating the many cultures represented.

An anniversary edition with multiple resonances

In this year marked by the 150th anniversary of the Université Catholique de Lille, the ESP is also celebrating its own journey, with a 25th edition placed under the banner of conviviality, diversity and a shared commitment to education with a global outlook. Our Faculty of Law is proud to be fully involved in this initiative, in keeping with the spirit of openness and international cooperation promoted by the University.