13-15 year olds, girls and boys (Minimum English Level: Upper Intermediate B2)
Oxford 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 Oxford. Taught by Oxbridge tutors, students live and study in the inspiring setting of Oxford University just like the University’s own undergraduates.
Each subject’s syllabus is designed and taught by expert academics from Oxford and Cambridge 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 Oxford University College’s dining hall to enjoy traditional Formal Hall meal – a three course, silver service evening meal, once a week during two-week study, to sample authentic life as a real Oxford 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:
Oxford 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 a week at Oxford 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:
- Business Management*
- Creative Writing
- Economics
- Engineering*
- International Relations*
- Law*
- Medicine*
*Subjects are offered at both Oxford and Cambridge University. Siblings and studenets 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 Cambridge 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 Oxford University Academic Studies. Students will receive a detailed timetable on their arrival.
Students will be allocated to one of the following three Oxford University Colleges based on their dates and subject choices.
- Worcester College
- St Edmund Hall
- Balliol College
- Hertford College
Boarding:
Students are accommodated in an individual bedroom. 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, two times during two-week study, which lets students sample life as a real Oxford 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.
In the UK, few universities are as demanding as Oxford University. Oxford University is the hardest university to get into the UK, with a mere 19.1% acceptance rate and an average UCAS score of 571. The University of Oxford, informally referred to as Oxford University or simply Oxford, was the first University in the English-speaking world. The university has a long history. After a dispute with townsfolk, some academics left Oxford and established the University of Cambridge. These two “ancient universities” share many common features and regularly contends with each other for first place in the UK league tables, and are often collectively referred to as Oxbridge.
Oxford has been producing leaders for 800 years. Throughout its rich history, Oxford has produced gifted men and women in every sphere of human endeavour who have studied or taught at the University. Among these are 30 British Prime Ministers, at least 30 other international leaders; 70 Nobel Prize winners; 7 current holders of the Order of Merit; at least 12 saints and 20 Archbishops of Canterbury; and some 150 Olympic medal winners.
Achieving and sustaining world-class excellence in every area of teaching and research is at the heart of the University of Oxford’s mission. The University of Oxford is consistently ranked among the foremost universities in the world. Oxford is regularly ranked within the top five universities in the world, and has been named the best university in the world for a record seventh consecutive year in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2023. It held the number one position in the Times Good University Guide for eleven consecutive years.
With its prestigious status and a distinctive and personal method of teaching, the University of Oxford is a great place to be a student. Each year, Oxford welcomes talented students from over 140 different countries and territories which make up a third of student population of over 20,000. However, like Cambridge University, the University of Oxford picks the best and brightest students purely on their academic merit and passion for their chosen course. Most applicants who are called for interview will have been predicted at least three A-grade A-level qualifications relevant to their chosen undergraduate course, or the equivalent in other qualifications.
