Leeds – Sustainable Global Experience Brussels

This programme is only open to undergraduates who are not in their final year of study. 

You will be eligible for this programme if you are from an underrepresented background (URB) and you must declare this as part of the application. This includes the following: 

• You have an annual household income of £25,000 or less
• You have access to the Plus Programme
• You are registered with Disability Services at the University of Leeds 
• You are from a UK Black Asian or Minority Ethnic Group (UK nationals only) 
• You are a mature student (i.e. You are a UK national undergraduate student, started your degree after the age of 21 and have been out of formal education for at least 3 years) 
• You are care-experienced or a care leaver
• You have caring responsibilities
• Neither of you parents can be found or it is not reasonably practicable to get in touch with either of them, therefore you consider yourself to be an estranged student
• You are a refugee 
• You are an asylum seeker
• You are from a UK armed forces family
• You are the first in your family to enter higher education (UK nationals only)

The programme is also only open to candidates who are GB home-fee paying students. 

The programme fee is fully funded by University of Leeds. 

The University of Leeds will also provide a reimbursement to cover the costs of your travel from home/campus to London St Pancras. 

Please note that the programme fee does not include:

• visa application fees (if required)
• daily living expenses (e.g. food and drink)

4th July 2026 – 17th July 2026

1. Register Interest: Fill in the form at the bottom of this page to confirm your interest and eligibility criteria. Once submitted, our friendly team will be in touch to  answer any questions you may have.
2. Application Form: Once you understand the programme details, and if you are eligible we will ask you to complete the full application form. 
3. Agreement & Onboarding: If awarded a place we will ask you to confirm programme dates and location. If you’re happy to proceed, just sign our agreement and pay the refundable deposit to secure your place. Following this, our team will be in touch for onboarding and will support you through the necessary pre-departure steps. 

Pagoda will host a virtual pre-departure event where participants will have the chance to have their questions answered. A recording of the event will be provided to those unable to attend.

A Pagoda team member will greet you at London St Pancras and accompany you on bother transfers to/from Brussels to your hostel accommodation. You’ll be provided with a welcome pack and detailed orientation to help you feel settled in your new country. Throughout the programme you will check-in with the Pagoda team, who will also provide 24/7 emergency on-site assistance if required.

Carbon Literacy is “an awareness of the carbon dioxide costs and impacts of everyday activities, and the ability and motivation to reduce emissions, on an individual, community and organisational basis.” More than 1,700 organisations across the UK and internationally have empowered their teams with Carbon Literacy Training including the NHS, the BBC, and Manchester City Council.

On this programme, you’ll complete 12 hours of Carbon Literacy Training and submit a pledge to gain certification from the Carbon Literacy Project. This is widely recognised as a personal and professional commitment to tackling climate change.

In groups of 2-6, you’ll work collaboratively on a enquiry based learning project that will give you the opportunity to put all the theory you’ll learn into practice.

You’ll identify a company to research and narrow down which SDGs it is or could, be acting upon in its ESG policies. You’ll discuss any shortcomings and recommendations and present your findings to your peers at the end of the programme. 

The projects are aimed to build your transferable skills that can be applied across any role that you may go on to do in the future and grow your understanding of how sustainability and SDGs are approached in a commercial setting.

Throughout the programme, you’ll participate in a range of workshops and visits, providing opportunities to grow your network, broaden you understanding of sustainability and put the theory into practice. 

Example Activities:

• Interactive Climate Fresk workshop on understanding of the cause-and-effect relationships between climate change-induced issues. 
• Interactive Climate Simulation Game where you take on the role of different international stakeholders at a UN Climate Summit with the goal of decreasing the global earth temperature to the Paris Agreement Target
• Visit to EU Parliament, Hemicycle and Parlamentarium
• Visit & tour of BIGH Aquaponics Farm
• Upcycling Workshop
• European Environmental Bureau

Sample Itinerary:

According to the International Energy Alliance’s (IEA) 2020 Tracking Transport Report, ships, planes and road vehicles make up almost three-quarters of global transport emissions. Urban and high-speed trains are one of the most sustainable, long-distance transport methods. 

Eurostar’s high-speed trains are the most carbon-efficient option when travelling between London and neighbouring European cities. On average, travelling on the Eurostar emits 10 times less carbon per passenger compared to a short-haul flight to the same destination.

Reflecting the programme’s core ethos of low-carbon living, the group will stay in high-quality hostels. This supports and demonstrates sustainable and environmental practices. The hostel will be situated in, or close to, the city centre with excellent public transport links.

Organised guided tours and visits to local attractions will welcome you to your city. All entrance fees are covered as part of the programme and the group will be fully supported and supervised throughout the activity by a friendly member of the Pagoda staff.

Participants will have their evenings free throughout the programme to explore the city and bond with their fellow teammates. A Digital Welcome Pack of the city’s (arguably) best sustainable attractions, shops and restaurants will also be provided.

The Portal is a digital hub for our student community where you will be able to locate key programme information, forms and documentation.

You’ll also be able to access a variety of different employability resources which will set you on your way as you head into your career.