16-18 year olds, girls and boys (Minimum English Level: Upper Intermediate B2)
Oxford University EPQ Summer Camp is an exclusive programme designed for ambitious self-motivated students who aim to apply to Oxbridge and Russell Group Universities. The course helps students gain an A-Level standard qualification in just 4 weeks of a summer school at Oxford University, where students live and study just like the University’s own undergraduates.
The Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) is an A-level standard standalone qualification designed to extend students’ abilities beyond the A-level syllabus. It’s a recognised Level 3 qualification, equivalent to half an A-Level (28 UCAS points). The EPQ is a research-based qualification that can be completed as either a 5,000 word dissertation, or an artefact or performance with an accompanying dissertation. It is highly regarded by universities and employers all over the world. Oxford and Cambridge consider an EPQ very highly in applications. Many universities make lower A-level offers to students undertaking an EPQ, and some universities will count the EPQ towards any UCAS Points required for entry. It is a very valuable qualification for every level of university. This qualification helps students develop and demonstrate their project management skills and provides opportunities for extended writing, both of which are invaluable for progression to higher education and employment.
This course is very different to ‘standard’ academic summer programmes as considerable time is spent researching and writing an academic paper. Students need to be motivated and independent with a lot of supervised self-study involved. Students will be taught valuable skills around academic reading and writing at university level. The course programme includes 70 hours of direct and supervised study time over four-week course, with a mix of 1:1 meetings with mentors, workshops on academic research and writing at university level, and Guest Lectures & workshops on constructing and presenting academic theories.
All students attending the camp will produce a paper on a topic important to them, and develop academic research and writing skills with Oxbridge tutors. The mentors and the course leader will guide students through multiple drafts, and will grade and submit students’ papers for marking, with a Pearson Edexcel Level 3 qualification issued after the summer. After 4 weeks, students will have a near finished EPQ essay worth up to 28 UCAS points for the highest grade. Students who only attend for two weeks will not be awarded the full qualification but can complete their EPQ with discounted 10 hours of online 1:1 tuition after the return home. Ambitious students may also combine the EPQ summer camp with 2 weeks of Subject Exploration to explore multiple degree subjects at Oxford University.
Students will live and study in beautiful Linacre College of Oxford University, a few minutes’ walk to Oxford city centre. Outside of lessons, all students will enjoy an action-packed social programme and excursion trips to complement the academic programme, and to network with like-minded, high-achieving students from around the world. 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, to sample authentic life as a real Oxford student.
Course Essentials:
Oxford University EPQ Summer Camp includes:
- 70+ hours of direct and supervised study time over four weeks from expert tutors of Oxbridge universities
- Guest lectures and Workshops
- 3 full-day excursions every two weeks
- Full social programme of activities on site and around Oxford
- Formal Hall at Oxford University College
- Official EPQ qualification worth half an A-Level after four-week course
- Insurance – Comprehensive summer school insurance
- Airport transfers to/from Heathrow and Gatwick on specified transfer days.
Social Programme:
Students will also enjoy a full social programme including 3 excursions over two weeks, including London and Cambridge. Possible excursion and visits include:
- Punting
- Buckingham Palace
- Houses of Parliament
- West End Musical
- Natural History Museum
- Hyde Park
- Tour of UCL/Imperial College
- London Eye
- British Museum
- Southbank Walking Tour
- Oxford Street
- Oxford
- Cambridge
- Tour of Cambrige University Colleges
EPQ Benefits:
The EPQ is a very valuable qualification for truly dedicated students to achieve an extra qualification to boost their chances of success in applying to top universities.
University Recognition:
The EPQ is highly regarded and strongly recommended by the top universities in the UK, including Oxbridge/G5.
The below is the sample timetable of 4-week Oxford University EPQ Summer Camp. Students will receive a detailed timetable on their arrival.
Boarding:
Students will stay in Linacre College of Oxford University in twin rooms with en-suite bathrooms. Girls and boys are accommodated separately. Porters’ Lodge entrances are manned 24 hours a day.
Linacre College is a graduate college with a campus next to the famous University Parks and a few minutes’ walk from the most famous sites in the centre of the Oxford. Linacre College was founded in 1962 but the main buildings date back to 1886 with newer accommodation blocks on the same, enclosed and secure site.
Meals:
Well balanced, nutritious three cooked meals are provided. Packed lunches are provided for excursions. At the end of the course, every student will also enjoy a traditional Oxford University Formal Hall meal – a set menu evening meal which lets students sample life as a real Oxford student.
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.
