For UAE families planning summer abroad for their teenagers, Nebrija University in Madrid has opened registrations for its 2026 Creativity Summer Camp, a two-week residential programme for high school students built around design thinking and a real project in the city. The camp runs from 28 June to 11 July 2026 and costs €2,975 all-inclusive.
The programme sits under Nebrija’s Arts & Humanities Institute and is positioned as a preuniversity experience, the kind of immersive summer programme that gives Year 11 and Year 12 students something concrete to point to in personal statements, scholarship applications, and university interviews.
What Makes This Different
Most summer camps in Europe split cleanly into two types: language schools and traditional academic programmes. Nebrija’s Creativity Camp is built on a different model. Students spend two weeks working on a single, structured project called The Madrid Bridge Builder.
The brief: find a “Hidden Gap” somewhere in Madrid and design a solution to connect the city in a new way. The framework is borrowed from design thinking, the same methodology used by IDEO, Stanford’s d.school, and most product teams at major tech companies.
It is pitched explicitly at students from any background. Whether a teenager is leaning toward engineering, fine arts, computer science, or literature, the camp’s premise is that creative problem-solving is a transferable skill, and that the World Economic Forum has ranked creativity as a top-tier skill for the future workforce.
The Two-Week Structure
Week 1: Decoding the City (Observe and Define) The first week is about looking before building. Students develop four core habits:
- Understanding people through empathy and observation
- Noticing what others miss by training their senses through art, culture, and stories
- Finding their big question that anchors the rest of the project
- Unlocking creativity through fast, playful ideation methods
Week 2: Building the Connection (Create and Connect) The second week is execution.
- Trying out the idea through simple prototypes
- Learning from real people by testing the concept on Madrid residents
- Guidance from university mentors who answer questions and refine direction
- The Urban Creator’s Showcase, where students present their finished projects
A Typical Day
- Morning – Nebrija Creative Lab: workshops on design thinking, prototyping, and digital storytelling
- Afternoon – Urban Exploration: museums, neighbourhoods, and public spaces become the open-air classroom
- Evening – Supervised activities back at the residence
- Saturday – Outdoor activity in nature around Madrid
- Sunday – El Rastro, Madrid’s most iconic Sunday market
What’s Included in the €2,975 Price
The all-inclusive fee covers:
- Full room and board at the Nebrija Residence (single or double rooms with private bathroom)
- Airport transfers
- All local transportation in Madrid
- Teaching, materials, and all camp activities
- Guided museum visits and excursions
- 24/7 staff supervision
- High-speed WiFi, study rooms, coworking spaces
The residence is a 10-minute walk from the Nebrija campus at Paseo Juan XXIII, 3, in Madrid’s university district. The accommodation note in the brochure clarifies that if the Nebrija Residence isn’t available, families are notified in advance and alternative housing is of equal or superior standard.
Why It Suits UAE Families
For families based in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah, the late June to early July window is ideal. It falls right after most UAE and international school exam periods, before the deepest heat of August, and gives teenagers a structured two weeks abroad rather than the unstructured drift that often defines mid-summer.
At roughly AED 12,250 at current exchange rates, the price is in the same range as US-based preuniversity summer programmes but with full board, transfers, and all activities bundled in. There are no surprise add-ons for transport or museum entries.
Madrid itself adds weight. The city has world-class museums (Prado, Reina Sofía, Thyssen-Bornemisza), a strong design and architecture scene, and an active international student community in summer.
About Nebrija University
Nebrija University is a private Madrid-based institution that ranks among Spain’s more internationally oriented universities, with a “learning by doing” academic philosophy. The Arts & Humanities Institute is its creative wing, focused on hands-on programmes that combine classroom learning with real cultural and creative work in the city.
Programme Details at a Glance
- Programme: Nebrija Creativity Summer Camp – Madrid 2026
- Dates: 28 June – 11 July 2026
- Eligibility: High school students, all academic backgrounds
- Location: Nebrija Campus Juan XXIII, Paseo Juan XXIII, 3, Madrid
- Housing: Nebrija Residence (10-minute walk from campus)
- Price: €2,975 (approximately AED 12,250), all-inclusive
- Final project: The Madrid Bridge Builder, presented at the Urban Creator’s Showcase
How to Apply
- Phone: +34 900 40 40 05
- Email: artsinstitute@nebrija.es
- Preuniversity Programmes: preuniversity@nebrija.es
- Website: www.artesnebrija.com
- Instagram: @artsinstitutenebrija
With the camp starting at the end of June, families considering it should make contact within the next week or so to confirm availability and complete the enrolment process in time.
