UCL-Japan Youth Challenge 2026
The UCL-Japan Youth Challenge was held on campus between 25th July and 2nd August 2026.
UCL-Japan Youth Challenge 2024 participants in front of UCL main building
UCL-Japan Youth Challenge 2025 participants in front of Senate House, University of London
The UCL-Japan Youth Challenge is a prestigious annual summer school programme which has a tremendous reputation and impact since 2015. Pre-university students from Japan and the UK attend a series of university-style lectures on a wide range of subjects by academics from leading UK universities including UCL (University College London), and engage in UCL Grand Challenge Workshop. Participants also experience British university student life through staying in halls of residence at the University of Cambridge and UCL.
This programme was established in 2015 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Choshu Five and the Satsuma 19 students’ arrival at UCL. The Choshu Five were the first Japanese students who studied at a UK university, and upon return they played leading roles in modernising Japan. Since then, UCL and Japan have been enjoying close ties.
We successfully delivered the programmes online between 2020 and 2022 to widen participation.
Since 2015, we have welcomed hundreds of participants from the UK and Japan. We celebrated our 10th anniversary in 2025.
The UCL-Japan Youth Challenge 2026, our 12th programme, was held on campus between Saturday 25th July and Sunday 2nd August 2026.
Why join us?
By participating in the UCL-Japan Youth Challenge 2026, you can:
Experience university education by attending a series of lectures in various subjects.
Learn Japanese culture from a wide range of lectures and interact with participants from all over the country. You can make friends from Japan!
Learn how to get on to UCL and other top UK universities. The UCL admissions team guide you through the application process.
Engage in lectures and activities around topics relating to this year’s programme.
Have information about the Japan Foundation, London’s programmes.
Explore various fields with world-leading lecturers, engage in dedicated activities, and develop your ideas through participating the UCL Grand Challenge Workshop.
Theme
UCL 200 – Legacies of Learning, Futures We Create Together
As UCL marks its 200th anniversary in 2026, our programme reflects on the enduring ties between the UK and Japan. From the pioneering students of the Chōshū and Satsuma domains who came to London in the 1860s and carried back ideas that shaped Japan’s modernisation, to more recent examples of Japanese expertise enriching life in the UK — such as Tokyo Metro’s role in the operation of London’s Elizabeth Line — the relationship has flourished through many exchanges and collaborations. Through lectures, cultural events, and youth dialogues, we will trace this journey from past to present and invite the next generation to imagine how the UK and Japan can work together to address the challenges of the future.
UCL Grand Challenge Workshop
As part of the programme, we host the UCL Grand Challenge Workshop on this year’s theme (please see the Programme outline below for more information).
UCL Grand Challenges brings researchers together from across UCL to have a major impact on solving some of the world’s most pressing problems.
It aims to contribute to a better, more sustainable, and equitable future by working across disciplines.
UCL Grand Challenge Workshop during the UCL-Japan Youth Challenge aims to focus on some of six Grand Challenge themes:
Mental Health & Wellbeing
Climate Crisis
Data-Empowered Societies
Cultural Understanding
Inequalities
Justice & Equality
UCL Grand Challenge Workshop illustation by Scriberia
Programme outline
UCL-Japan Youth Challenge 2026
On campus summer school programme in the UK
Dates: Saturday 25th July – Sunday 2nd August 2026 (9 days)
Accommodation is available at Rikkyo School in England, the University of Cambridge and UCL (University of London).
Day 1
Saturday 25th July
2026
All participants must attend
Rikkyo School in England
Horsham, West Sussex RH12 3BE
First day of the programme
All participants attend our welcome event at Rikkyo School in England
Day 2
Sunday 26th July
2026
University of Cambridge
Cambridge CB2 1TN
Participants staying at our Cambridge accommodation only
Day 3
Monday 27th July
2026
Optional to attend if you are not staying at our Cambridge accommodation
University of Cambridge
Cambridge CB2 1TN
Days 4–8
Tuesday 28th July – Saturday 1st August
2026
All participants must attend
UCL
London WC1E 6BT
Day 8 is the final day if you are not staying at our London accommodation
Day 9
Sunday 2nd August
2026
Departure
Participants staying at our London accommodation only
| Day | Location | Breakfast Participants staying at our accommodation only | Morning (from 9am) | Lunch | Afternoon (until 6pm) | Dinner Participants staying at our accommodation only, except Days 1, 7 & 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 0 Friday 24th July 2026 Participants from Japanese high schools only: check-in day | Rikkyo School in England, West Sussex RH12 3BE | — | — | — | Participants from Japanese high schools only Arrival at London Heathrow Airport | Participants from Japanese high schools only Rikkyo School in England |
| Day 1 Saturday 25th July 2026 All participants must attend First day | Rikkyo School in England, West Sussex RH12 3BE | Participants from Japanese high schools only Rikkyo School in England | Welcome event: - Welcome talk by UCL Prof Shin-ichi Ohnuma, Chair of the UCL-Japan Youth Challenge - Self- and school-introductions | All participants Rikkyo School in England | Ice-breaking activities | All participants Barbecue at Rikkyo School in England |
| Day 2 Sunday 26th July 2026 Participants staying at our Cambridge accommodation only | University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1TN (1 of 2 days) | Rikkyo School in England | Move to University of Cambridge | University of Cambridge | - Cambridge group sightseeing - Punting | University of Cambridge * Cambridge college formal dinner |
| Day 3 Monday 27th July 2026 Optional for participants without our Cambridge accommodation | University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1TN (2 of 2 days) | University of Cambridge | Lectures | Hughes Hall, University of Cambridge | - Lectures | University of Cambridge |
| Day 4 Tuesday 28th July 2026 All participants must attend | UCL, London WC1E 6BT (1 of 5 days) | University of Cambridge | Move to London | All participants UCL | - UCL Grand Challenge Workshop - Group work | International Hall, University of London |
| Day 5 Wednesday 29th July 2026 All participants must attend | UCL, London WC1E 6BT (2 of 5 days) | International Hall, University of London | - Talks | All participants UCL | - Lectures - Group work | International Hall, University of London |
| Day 6 Thursday 30th July 2026 All participants must attend | UCL, London WC1E 6BT (3 of 5 days) | International Hall, University of London | - UCL tour | All participants UCL | - Lectures - Group work | International Hall, University of London |
| Day 7 Friday 31st July 2026 All participants must attend | UCL, London WC1E 6BT (4 of 5 days) | International Hall, University of London | - Group work | All participants UCL | - Symposium (including group presentation) - Reception | All participants Buffet at the Reception |
| Day 8 Saturday 1st August 2026 All participants must attend Final day for participants without our accommodation | UCL, London WC1E 6BT (5 of 5 days) | International Hall, University of London | London group sightseeing (and lunch) | Not provided | Final ceremony | All participants Pizza party at UCL |
| Day 9 Sunday 2nd August 2026 Participants staying at our London accommodation only: check-out day | London | International Hall, University of London | Departure | — | — | — |
* We reserve the right to change or modify any of the programme details, at any time and in our sole discretion.
Participants receive a detailed itinerary prior to the programme.
Accommodation options
Participants must choose one of the four accommodation options listed below.
We are unable to offer any alternative accommodation arrangements.
Participants from Japanese high schools participate in the UCL-Japan Youth Challenge with their school teacher/leader, forming school groups.
Each school group has approximately three participants plus one teacher/leader.
All participants and teachers/leaders from Japanese high schools arrive prior to the first day (Day 1) and stay at our accommodation throughout the programme.
Option 1
All accommodation
(8 nights in total):
- Rikkyo School in England (1 night)
- University of Cambridge (2 nights)
- UCL (University of London) (5 nights)
Included transport:
- From Rikkyo School in England
to the University of Cambridge - From the University of Cambridge
to UCL (University of London)
You must arrange your own transport to Rikkyo School in England on Day 1: Saturday 25th July.
You attend:
- Day 1: Saturday 25th July
—at Rikkyo School in England - Days 2 & 3: Sunday 26th & Monday 27th July
—at the University of Cambridge - Days 4–8: Tuesday 28th July–Saturday 1st August
—at UCL
Your final day:
- Day 9: Sunday 2nd August
—Departure
You will need to make your own way home.
Option 2
Accommodation
(3 nights in total):
- Rikkyo School in England (1 night)
- University of Cambridge (2 nights)
No accommodation:
- UCL (University of London)
Included transport:
- From Rikkyo School in England
to the University of Cambridge - From the University of Cambridge
to UCL (University of London)
You must arrange your own transport to Rikkyo School in England on Day 1: Saturday 25th July.
You will need to make your own way home on Day 4: Tuesday 28th July.
For Days 5–8: Wednesday 29th July–Saturday 1st August, you must arrange your own transport to and from UCL each day.
You attend:
- Day 1: Saturday 25th July
—at Rikkyo School in England - Days 2 & 3: Sunday 26th & Monday 27th July
—at the University of Cambridge - Days 4–8: Tuesday 28th July–Saturday 1st August
—at UCL
Your final day:
- Day 8: Saturday 1st August
—at UCL
You will need to make your own way home.
Option 3
Accommodation
(5 nights):
- UCL (University of London) only (5 nights)
No accommodation:
- Rikkyo School in England
- University of Cambridge
No transport is included.
You must arrange your own transport to and from Rikkyo School in England on Day 1: Saturday 25th July.
You must also arrange your own transport to UCL on Day 4: Tuesday 28th July.
You attend:
- Day 1: Saturday 25th July
—at Rikkyo School in England - Days 4–8: Tuesday 28th July–Saturday 1st August
—at UCL
Optionally you may attend:
- Day 3: Monday 27th July
—at the University of Cambridge
If you attend, you must arrange your own transport to and from the University of Cambridge.
Your final day:
- Day 9: Sunday 2nd August
—Departure
You will need to make your own way home.
Option 4
No accommodation is included.
No transport is included.
You must arrange your own transport to and from Rikkyo School in England on Day 1: Saturday 25th July.
For Days 4–8: Tuesday 28th July–Saturday 1st August, you must arrange your own transport to and from UCL each day.
You attend:
- Day 1: Saturday 25th July
—at Rikkyo School in England - Days 4–8: Tuesday 28th July–Saturday 1st August
—at UCL
Optionally you may attend:
- Day 3: Monday 27th July
—at the University of Cambridge
If you attend, you must arrange your own transport to and from the University of Cambridge.
Your final day:
- Day 8: Saturday 1st August
—at UCL
You will need to make your own way home.
Homework
In order to deepen participants’ understanding of the programme theme, participants are asked to do the homework prior to the programme.
UCL-Japan Youth Challenge 2026 & the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
The UCL-Japan Youth Challenge 2026 may count for your Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) through the Residential section.
You must make sure that you meet the requirements if you wish to be awarded a Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award through the Residential section before you apply for the UCL-Japan Youth Challenge 2026.
Your participation in the UCL-Japan Youth Challenge 2026 on its own does not grant a DofE Award.
For more information about the Residential section and its requirements, please refer to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award’s website: Sections | Residential section FAQ | Requirements
Lectures
We provide university-style lectures delivered by academics from UCL and the University of Cambridge from Day 3: Monday 27th July.
Lectures are on a wide range of academic disciplines, including ones on this year’s theme, to fully experience what it means to study at a world-top university in the UK.
(Lecture details to be announced)
Symposium & Reception
Every year we welcome our sponsors and supporters and members of the public to our programme-themed Symposium & Reception at UCL on Day 7, Friday afternoon.
Following the UCL Grand Challenge Workshop, participant continue to work in groups and present their group ideas and findings in front of the audience.
The UCL-Japan Youth Challenge summer school programme is organised by the UCL-Japan Youth Challenge Committee.
Chair: Prof Shin-ichi Ohnuma, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology
Committee Members (in alphabetical order by first name):
Dr Anawat Suppasri, Arisa Shimada, Ayato Yamazaki, Prof Daisuke Kawata, Emiko Asagoshi, Prof Hidekazu Kurebayashi, Hideyuki Miyahara, Kaito Mizukoshi, Kentaro Kimura, Kyokuyo Takemoto, Makoto Yoshida, Manaka Abe, Dr Masako Shimato, Masao Asai, Dr Masashi Matsunaga, Dr Masazumi Tada, Dr Miwako Kitamura, Dr Moe Kishima, Moeno Sugiyama, Momo Sakai, Nanako Takaba, Dr Nozomi Sakata, Risa Hanai, Seitaro Taketani, Sumire Kaimori, Wataru Tage, Dr Yasu Takeuchi, Dr Yoshiyuki Yamamoto, Yu Hosomi, Yuta Nagano
The UCL-Japan Youth Challenge Committee are most grateful for our partners, collaborators, sponsors and supporters.
We would be unable to hold the UCL-Japan Youth Challenge summer school programme without their generous commitment.
In partnership with the Japan Foundation, Rikkyo School in England & UK Japan Institute
In collaboration with Shimizu Corporation, Mitsubishi Electric Building Solutions Corporation, The Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation, Japan Association in the UK, Biospire, Fukushima Prefecture, Fukushima-15 Project, Kagoshima Prefecture, NH Foods UK, Wagashi Limited, UCC Europe Limited, the rice factory LONDON, Mitoco Kawachi Corporation, The Japanese Women’s Association in Great Britain, Clearspring, Yamaguchi University, Educational Research Foundation, the Embassy of Japan in the UK, the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) London & UCL Grand Challenges
