16-18 year olds
Minimum English Level: Upper Intermediate B2+
Cambridge University Advanced Academic Studies are academically challenging pre-university summer courses taught by Oxbridge tutors, which offer ambitious high-school students an unrivalled experience studying undergraduate level subjects at Cambridge University. Students live and study in the inspiring setting of Cambridge University just like the University’s own undergraduates.
These innovative flagship programmes are designed for high-achieving international students to live and study like a Cambridge undergraduate, fully immerse themselves in university life in Cambridge. Each subject’s syllabus is designed and taught by expert academics from Oxbridge University. The content is designed to introduce students to university-level subject matter, combining theoretical knowledge with practical application to equip students with the skills and knowledge needed for future academic success.
The programmes focus on academic rigour, stimulating student’s intellectual curiosity and encouraging critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Through 40 hours of academic sessions in the university learning format of lectures and workshops, students engage with theoretical principles and gain hands-on, practical experience in a chosen subject area, such as dissections in medicine, robotic arm building in engineering or participating in a moot court in law.
In addition, once per week, 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, to sample authentic life as a real Oxbridge 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 Advanced Academic Studies summer programme include:
- 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 Oxford University College
- Excursions – 2 coach excursions including a trip to London, as well as tours of Oxbridge Colleges
- 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. £180 one-way if required.
Tutorial Subjects:
Students choose One specialist subject to study from the following 12 university-level subjects:
- Architecture
- Artificial Intelligence*
- Biotechnology
- Coding
- Computer Science
- Economics
- Engineering*
- Law*
- Mathematics*
- Medicine*
- Nanotechnology
- Psychology*
*Subjects are offered at both Cambridge and Oxford University.
Social Programme:
Students will also enjoy a full social programme including two excursions during the programme 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
Below is a typical 2-week timetable and a typical day of Cambridge University Advanced Academic Studies.
Students will be allocated to one of the following 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 Breakfast and Dinner are provided at College’s dining hall.
In the UK, children at 16 and above have the legal right to enjoy an independent life and learn to take responsibility. The summer school provides students with two hours of lunch time to enjoy and explore the charm of famous university city of Cambridge and make the most of their time during a two-week programme, just like Cambridge’s own students.
Once per week, students will enjoy a traditional Formal Hall meal – a three course, silver service evening meal in College’s stunning dining hall lit by candlelight to sample life as a real Cambridge University’s students.
Facilities:
All students will live on-site at the College in comfortable accommodation with Wi-Fi access. There are also common rooms with TVs, extensive gardens, lawns, and sports ground.
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.
