Academic Summer Courses in Cambridge

Cambridge

Last year, Oxford Summer Courses welcomed students from over 60 countries to live and learn in Cambridge. Each summer our students fall in love with the stunning college architecture, delicious restaurants, and quaint alleyways of Cambridge: “My time in Cambridge at Oxford Summer Courses has managed to augment my love not only for medicine but also for journalism. From the type of syllabus to the holistic approach of our tutors, the experience was truly exemplary; all of that added to our trips around and out of Cambridge were a complete delight. The exposure to new cultures, new people and new facets of my favourite subject has changed me for the better.” – Siya Malhorta, Medicine, Cambridge 2017

Course Overview

  • Live in central Cambridge in university accommodation
  • Small-group teaching in seminars and supervisions
  • Immerse yourself in Cambridge life and British culture with a packed programme of social activities
  • Choose from a wide range of academic subjects
  • 7 Cambridge-exclusive subjects
  • Improve your study skills with dynamic workshops to help improve academically
  • Enjoy dining at Cambridge’s best restaurants every evening

Student Life

This course is designed to give you a taste of undergraduate life at Cambridge, and offers you the opportunity to study what you are passionate about and explore the city independently. A helpful pastoral team of current Cambridge students and alumni will be on hand to support and acquaint you with the city. You will be based at Sidney Sussex College, Fitzwilliam College or Hughes Hall in Cambridge’s historic centre, and can enjoy getting to know the world-famous colleges and sights of the university in your free time, alongside learning to balance your academic study with our exciting programme of social and cultural activities.

Teaching/Academic Content

16-17 and 18-24 year olds

Your teaching will follow the methods used by Cambridge University. Each week, you will attend four seminars (groups of maximum 8 students) and a supervision (maximum 2 students) in your major subject. Supervisions are the backbone of Cambridge’s world class teaching, and are an unrivalled opportunity to learn from some of the world’s greatest minds. You will produce an essay (or work on a problem sheet) which puts what you have learned in seminars into action, and our expert staff will give you comprehensive feedback on your arguments and writing style. This gives you the opportunity to interrogate your own views and consider your subject in depth. Your tutor wants to bring out the very best of your academic abilities, and will support you as you explore new ways to think, analyse, and defend your beliefs. In addition to your weekly tutorial you will have four seminars each week, as part of a group of no more than eight like-minded students. A Cambridge academic will guide the seminars, but the emphasis is on you. Extend your understanding by participating in dynamic group discussions, collaborative presentations, and asking questions of our expert staff. You will also attend interactive workshops, which will enable you to explore general academic topics such as essay writing technique to help you improve the work you produce whilst with us.

13-15 year olds

Why study with us? You’ll learn from expert tutors and study in fun, highly interactive seminars of around six students from around the world. As our classes are so small you’ll get lots of attention from your tutor and can focus in on the areas that really interest you. This means over the course of the time you spend with us you’ll get more attention from an expert tutor than you would elsewhere. Our tutors are all highly experienced and passionate about their subject areas, you’ll be learning from an experts in their field. Don’t worry though, regardless of your level our tutors will guide and inspire you to understand new subjects quickly or if you’re already familiar with your chosen subject they’ll help you to rapidly improve and extend your knowledge. Each week you’ll receive between 25-27 hours of contact time with your tutor. We mix classroom teaching with lots of highly interactive group projects to encourage you to develop your subject knowledge. Depending on your subject you could be a coming up with a new business idea, making a gaming app or writing and performing in a play. All the while you’ll be working together with your peers and have fun while creating an exciting, interactive pieces of work that improve your knowledge of your chosen subject.

Exclusive Cambridge subjects – Introducing 7 new subjects for 2018

Are you interested in personalised medicine? Do you wonder how society is adapting to a rapidly changing world? Would you like to be part of the digital revolution? Don’t be fooled by its historic architecture, because this city is right at the heart of a technological revolution and our new, Cambridge exclusive subjects showcase the very best of this cutting-edge research. Known as the Silicon Fen, Cambridge attracts both forward-thinking start-ups and tech giants who will help shape our future. They benefit from world-leading expertise at the University and now you can too.

Subjects available only in Cambridge

Accommodation

If you are aged 16-17 or 18-24 you will stay at either Sidney Sussex College or Hughes Hall in beautiful single rooms occupied by students during term time. Sidney Sussex College occupies a secure site in the heart of Cambridge’s centre. The college was founded in 1596 on the site of a Franciscan friary, and has educated great minds including Oliver Cromwell, who ruled England as a Parliamentarian after the Civil War (1642-1651).The college is also credited with providing many of the mathematicians for the code breaking triumphs at Bletchley Park during World War II. Sidney Sussex remains a thriving, world-leading academic community to this day. Hughes Hall with its main site in a beautiful Victorian building, has a pioneering history in championing educational equality. Founded in 1885, Hughes Hall was among the first institutions in Cambridge to admit women, functioning as a Teacher Training college for a long time. Today, Hughes Hall admits students of all genders, and it is ideally located between the centre of town and the Mill Road area, a cosmopolitan and busy street rich in independent shops, bars and international food. This college is the ideal starting point for a fascinating and comprehensive Cambridge experience.
If you are aged 13-15 you will stay at Fitzwilliam College, in modern single rooms occupied by students during term time. It occupies a safe, modern and spacious site about a mile from Cambridge’s centre. Founded in 1869 it has educated great minds including six Nobel Prize winners, with the economist Josef Stiglitz and the first Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Kuan Yew amongst them. The modern college site is also centred around a beautiful Grade II regency manor house owned by the Darwin family. Fitzwilliam remains a thriving, internationally diverse college steeped in history and is a great base for our students to expand their minds and explore Cambridge this summer.

Excursions and Social Programme

A broad programme of excursions and social events will introduce you to some of the most exciting and important sites in British history, and allow you to experience the best of British culture in Cambridge and beyond. Planned excursions include:
  • Exploring the city of London, including the Queen’s house at Greenwich
  • Windsor Castle, the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world
  • The Harry Potter Studio Tour
  • Bletchley Park, the top-secret home of the World War Two Codebreakers
  • Sea World and the coastline of the United Kingdom
You will also have plenty of time to explore all that the city of Cambridge has to offer: from expert-guided tours of the University museums (where you can find classical sculptures and equipment belonging to polar explorers), through an exciting Ghost Tour to trying your hand at punting on the River Cam.
 
You will experience a packed programme of social activities, which reflects life in Cambridge during a busy university term. Our in-house experts will teach you how to master competitive debating, or become a champion croquet player, after a day of study and sightseeing, and you can get to know your peers over a game of football or dinner in one of Cambridge’s excellent local restaurants. You will be immersed in Cambridge traditions: from Friday night formal dinner in the Sidney Sussex dining hall, to dancing your last night away at a bop (disco).

Timetable

16-17 & 18-24 year olds

Click to enlarge

13-15 year olds

Click to enlarge

Prices and Dates

Select your Age Range

Course Start Dates
Courses – 10-12s 01/07/2018 08/07/2018 15/07/2018 22/07/2018 29/07/2018 05/08/2018
1 Week – Wycombe Abbey £1,495 £1,495 £1,495 £1,495 £1,495 £1,495
2 Week – Wycombe Abbey £2,795 £2,795 £2,795 £2,795 £2,795 –
3 Week – Wycombe Abbey £3,995 £3,995 £3,995 £3,995 – –
4 Week – Wycombe Abbey £5,195 £5,195 £5,195 – – –
5 Week – Wycombe Abbey £6,295 £6,295 – – – –
6 Week – Wycombe Abbey £7,395 – – – – –

Included in this price is:

  • All Teaching, including small group seminars
  • Accommodation
  • All Meals, including lunch
  • All Activities and Excursions

The price does not include flights/travel or medical insurance

Course Start Dates
Courses – 13-15 24/06/2018 01/07/2018 08/07/2018 15/07/2018 22/07/2018 29/07/2018 05/08/2018 12/08/2018
2 Weeks – Cambridge £4,195 £4,195 £4,195 £4,195 £4,195 – – –
2 Weeks – Oxford – Standard (shared bathroom) FULL – FULL – FULL £4,195 £4,195 £4,195
2 Weeks – Oxford – En-suite (private bathroom) FULL £4,395 FULL – £4,395 – – –
2 Weeks – London – Standard (shared bathroom) – £4,195 – £4,195 – – – –
4 Weeks – Cambridge £7,895 £7,895 £7,895 – – – – –
4 Weeks – Oxford – Standard (shared bathroom) FULL – FULL – £7,895 £7,895 – –
4 Weeks – Oxford – En-suite (private bathroom) FULL – FULL – FULL – – –
4 Weeks – Oxford & Cambridge FULL – FULL £7,895 £7,895 – – –
4 Weeks – London – Standard (shared bathroom) – £7,895 – – – – – –

Included in this price is:

  • All Teaching, including small group seminars
  • Accommodation and Breakfast, every day
  • All Evening Meals, many at local restaurants along with lunch 3 times a week
  • A three-course College Banquet, on Friday evening
  • All Activities and Excursions

The price does not include flights/travel or medical insurance

Course Start Dates
Courses – 16-17 24/06/2018 01/07/2018 08/07/2018 15/07/2018 22/07/2018 29/07/2018 05/08/2018 12/08/2018
2 Weeks – Cambridge – £4,195 FULL – – – – –
2 Weeks – Oxford – Standard (shared bathroom) FULL £4,195 FULL – £4,195 £4,195 £4,195 £4,195
2 Weeks – Oxford – En-suite (private bathroom) – – FULL – – – – –
2 Weeks – Oxford Christ Church – En-suite (private bathroom) – FULL – FULL – – – –
2 Weeks – London – Standard (shared bathroom) – £4,195 – £4,195 – – – –
4 Weeks – Cambridge – – – – – – – –
4 Weeks – Oxford – Standard (shared bathroom) FULL – FULL – £7,895 £7,895 – –
4 Weeks – Oxford Christ Church – En-suite (private bathroom) – FULL – – – – – –
4 Weeks – Oxford & Cambridge FULL – FULL – – – – –
4 Weeks – London – Standard (shared bathroom) – £7,895 – – – – – –

Included in this price is:

  • All Teaching, including tutorials and small group seminars
  • Accommodation and Breakfast, every day
  • All Evening Meals, many at local restaurants
  • A three-course College Banquet, on Friday evening
  • All Activities and Excursions

The price does not include flights/travel or medical insurance

Course Start Dates
Courses – 18-24 24/06/2018 01/07/2018 08/07/2018 15/07/2018 22/07/2018 29/07/2018 05/08/2018 12/08/2018
2 Weeks – Cambridge – FULL £4,195 FULL £4,195 – – –
2 Weeks – Oxford – Standard (shared bathroom) FULL – FULL – £4,195 FULL £4,195 £4,195
2 Weeks – Oxford – En-suite (private bathroom) FULL – £4,395 – FULL – – –
2 Weeks – Oxford Christ Church – En-suite (private bathroom) – FULL – FULL – – – –
2 Weeks – Oxford Christ Church – Standard (shared bathroom) – – – – – £4,195 – –
4 Weeks – Cambridge – FULL £7,895 – – – – –
4 Weeks – Oxford – Standard (shared bathroom) FULL – FULL – £7,895 £7,895 – –
4 Weeks – Oxford – En-suite (private bathroom) FULL – FULL – – – – –
4 Weeks – Oxford Christ Church – En-suite (private bathroom) – FULL – – – – – –
4 Weeks – Oxford & Cambridge FULL – £7,895 FULL £7,895 – – –

Included in this price is:

  • All Teaching, including tutorials and small group seminars
  • Accommodation and Breakfast, every day
  • All Evening Meals, many at local restaurants
  • A three-course College Banquet, on Friday evening
  • All Activities and Excursions

The price does not include flights/travel or medical insurance