13-15 year olds, girls and boys (Minimum English Level: Upper Intermediate B2)
Cambridge University Academic Studies is a ‘flagship’ summer programme for students aged 13-15. These premier summer courses offer ambitious high school students an unrivalled university study experience at famous University of Cambridge. Taught by Oxbridge tutors, students live and study in the inspiring setting of Cambridge University, just like the University’s own undergraduates.
Each subject’s syllabus is designed and taught by expert academics from Cambridge and Oxford University. Content is designed to introduce students to university-level subject matter, combining theoretical knowledge with practical application, aiming to ignite students’ interest and help them better understand which subjects to pursue at a higher level. Students are introduced to challenging content in an easy-tounderstand and approachable way.
The programmes are unique in their focus on academic rigour, stimulating student’s intellectual curiosity in their chosen subjects. Through 40 hours of academic sessions, students are introduced to challenging content in an easy-to-understand and approachable way. The programmes also offer young students invaluable academic insights into what it would be like to study their chosen subject at an advanced level. With an average of 7 students in each class, expert tutors are able to provide highly personalised feedback both during and after the programme. Participants are encouraged to explore new material in-depth and to form independent and considered opinions and ideas based on sound research and practical knowledge.
By combining the university learning format of lectures and workshops, students have the chance to engage with theoretical principles as well as developing the soft skills required outside of the classroom. The academic skills workshops explore a diverse and enriching range of topics – past examples have ranged from ‘Productivity tips’ to ’21st Century Technology Skills’. In addition, all students receive weekly 1:1 tutorials with individualised written feedback from their class tutor, and have a mentor family of 10 participants led by a current Oxford and Cambridge University students to support their learning. With the support of expert academic tutors, all students will complete a project during their time and present a personal project or a creative portfolio to their peers at the end of the programme.
Outside of lessons, all students will enjoy a social programme and excursion trips to complement the academic programme, and to network with like-minded, high-achieving students from around the world, including approximately 33% native speakers. In addition, all students will be invited to dress up, dine by candlelight in the magical surroundings of a Cambridge University College’s dining hall to enjoy traditional Formal Hall meal – a three course, silver service evening meal, once per week during two-week study, to sample authentic life as a real Cambridge University student.
For those who are unable to come to the UK can join our Oxbridge Online Summer Camps to explore university-level topics alongside other students from around the world with the same Oxbridge tutors that teach at these residential summer programmes.
Course Essentials:
Cambridge University Academic Studies summer programme includes:
- 40 hours of academic sessions from expert tutors of Oxbridge universities
- 1:1 Tutorial – once a week on study review and further study
- Guest Speakers – weekly influential guest speakers
- Mentor Programme from current Oxbridge university students
- Personalised evaluation written by expert tutors
- Class Size – average class size of 7 and maximum of 10 students per class.
- Formal Halls – once per week at Cambridge University College
- Excursions – 2 coach excursions including a trip to London, as well as tours of Oxbridge Colleges / King’s College Chapel
- Networking with 1/3 native speakers and like-minded high achieving students from all over the world, and join alumni community
- Graduation photo and certificate
- Insurance – Comprehensive summer school insurance
- Airport transfers are NOT included in the course fees. A shared airport transfer service travelling from London Heathrow Airport is available at an additional fee of £90 one-way if required.
Programme Highlights:
Tutorial Subjects:
Students choose one specialist subject to study over a two-week course programme when applying the course. Students can choose two subjects as two separate courses if they stay for four weeks. Available subjects are:
- Architect*
- Artificial Intelligence* (NOT available 21/07-03/08)
- Business Management*
- Computer Science
- Earth Sciences
- Engineering*
- International Relations*
- Law*
- Medicine*
- Natural Sciences (NOT available 07/07-20/07)
- Physics
- Psychology
*Subjects are offered at both Cambridge and Oxford University. Siblings and students who book two courses are entitled to a 5% discount on course fees.
Social Programme:
Students will also enjoy a full social programme including two excursions during the programme, one day trip to visit Oxford and its constituent colleges, as well as an optional day out in London, seeing the city’s most famous landmarks as well as some free time for shopping. Possible excursion and visits include:
- Punting
- Buckingham Palace
- Houses of Parliament
- West End Musical
- Natural History Museum
- Hyde Park
- London Eye
- British Museum
- Southbank Walking Tour
- Oxford Street
- Oxford
- Cambridge
The sample timetable below is a typical 2-week summer programme of Cambridge University Academic Studies. Students will receive a detailed timetable on their arrival.
Students will be allocated to one of the following five Cambridge University Colleges based on their dates and subject choices.
- Christ’s College
- Sidney Sussex College
- St Catharine’s College
- Magdalene College
- Queen’s College
- Corpus Christi College
If you would like to stay in the same location as a friend/sibling – please let us know and we will do our best to arrange this, where possible.
Boarding:
Students are accommodated in an individual bedroom of the College. Girls and boys are accommodated separately. There is Wi-Fi available throughout the college. Porters’ Lodge entrances are manned 24 hours a day.
Meals:
Well balanced, nutritious cooked 3 meals are provided at College’s dining hall. Packed lunches are provided for excursions.
All students will follow a special Oxbridge tradition to enjoy traditional Formal Hall meals – a three course, silver service evening meal in College’s stunning dining hall lit by candlelight, once per week during two-week study, which lets students sample life as a real Cambridge University student.
Facilities:
All students will live on-site at the college in comfortable accommodation with Wi-Fi access. The buildings of Queens’ College include the chapel, the hall, two libraries, a bar, and common rooms. There are also extensive gardens, lawns, a sports ground and boat house. The college also owns its own punts.
Laundry:
Coin operated washing and drying machines on college premises, paid by summer school.
The University of Cambridge, informally known as “Cambridge University” or simply as “Cambridge”, is the second-oldest university in the English-speaking world (after the University of Oxford) with over 800 years of rich history, and is considered to be one of the most prestigious institutions of higher education in the world which produced more Nobel Prizes winners than any other institution in the world.
Cambridge boasts hundreds of famous alumni in the making of our modern world. Among the most notable Cambridge alumni is Sir Isaac Newton on laws and motion, followed by Rutherford splitting the atom, Darwin on evolution, Turing’s prototypical computer, Crick and Watson with DNA, Keynes’s economy, and a sizeable number of notable alumni across all walks of life, including 10 Kings and Queens, 45 Presidents and Prime Ministers. As of 2020, 121 affiliates of the University of Cambridge have won 122 Nobel Prizes (more than any university or college in the world)
The University of Cambridge is routinely ranked among the world’s top five universities, and has sometimes been ranked as the world’s best. In 2023, the University of Cambridge is ranked No.2 in QS World University Rankings just behind the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). As of 2023, ARWU ranked Cambridge the best university in Europe and third best in the world behind Harvard and Stanford. Times Higher Education ranks Cambridge the third best university in the world (tied with Stanford) in its 2023 rankings.
In April 2022, the QS Rankings ranked Cambridge’s programmes among the world’s best. Cambridge’s Arts and Humanities program is ranked second-best in the world. The University of Cambridge’s Engineering and Technology program is ranked second-best in the world. Its Life Sciences and Medicine program is ranked fourth best in the world. Its Natural Sciences program is ranked third best in the world. Its Social Sciences and Management program is ranked fourth best in the world.
As one of the best universities in the world, Cambridge is a great place to be a student, yet it is one of the most selective of all universities. While academic strength is a pre-requisite with the university’s standard offer for all courses being set at grade A*AA for A-level qualifications or the equivalent in other qualifications, it does not guarantee acceptance. An interview performed by College Fellows, who evaluate candidates on unexamined factors such as potential for original thinking and creativity, is crucial for distinguishing between the most able candidates.
