At Oxford Summer Courses, we want to support you in realising your greatest summer yet! With even more academic options on offer for 2019, you have an excellent variety of experiences to choose from.

You might find yourself asking:

Would I prefer a course in the US or the UK? What is the difference? Which course should I pick?

What’s Included in an Oxford Summer Course?

Our tailored summer courses for ages 9-24 include all teaching and academic content, accommodation, meals (including Friday night formal dinners), a prize-giving ceremony, all-day trips and activities, airport transfers, access to Oxford Summer Courses Foundations, travel and medical insurance, and a welcome pack. Apply now to secure your spot in one of our comprehensive summer courses.

This week, we’ve decided to discuss our UK and US summer courses in more detail, including the main differences between the two, as well as the unique benefits and perspectives each location can bring.

We host courses at three great locations here in the UK: Oxford, Cambridge, and London (ages 15-17 only). In the US, we offer an exciting course at the prestigious Stanford University in California, which offers you a proper taste of North American University life in the golden state.

The UK

If you find yourself inclined towards a specific subject, our Oxford and Cambridge courses foster a learning environment which will allow you to study one or two subjects in-depth. With over 40 different subjects to choose from, you won’t be short on choice. Our courses are held at two of the UK’s most historic and stunning locations, where the accommodation and facilities from both Universities intertwine themselves with the greater city, offering you a taste of British university life, but also, Oxford and Cambridge city life.

The Oxbridge lifestyle presents an intimate and picturesque setting for you to learn and fall in love with your subject, through the famous seminar and tutorial methods of teaching, giving you the opportunity to immerse yourself in a taste of your future for 2 – 4 weeks. Most importantly, perhaps, you will grasp an understanding of a UK university experience.

The US

In contrast, if you aren’t as sure of your subject choice, or you would prefer to spend your summer learning about a range of different disciplines, our Stanford course is a must!

Not only will you experience a taste of the US undergraduate university system - whereby students study multiple subjects during their first year, prior to ‘majoring’ in one subject in time for second year – you will also experience a life-changing summer exploring the dreamy California landscape, visiting famous locations such as San Francisco and the California academy of Science.

You’ll have the chance to explore a great range of academic subjects taught by expert Stanford professors, including English, Leadership, logic & problem solving, legal studies, Anthropology, Neuroscience, Bio-science, Maths, Robotics, game design, and many more. What you’ll learn will not only be great fun, it could even ignite a new-found academic interest or confirm a gut instinct as to which pathway you should follow in future.

In addition, our Stanford course will provide you with an innovative approach to academia, especially if you’re used to European educational institutions and systems. You will stay on campus, where you will live and study in a thriving student-led community, and will have access to many of the University’s great facilities, which may include: digital anatomy lab, an undergraduate admissions talk, and visit to the cantor museum.

Ready to Join Oxford Summer Courses?

After submitting your application, we'll be in touch very soon to inform you of the outcome. Apply now to begin your journey with Oxford Summer Courses!

About the author

Rhys Mackenzie is the Website Marketing Manager at Oxford Summer Courses. With extensive experience in SEO and digital content management, they are passionate about showcasing the best that Oxford has to offer. Their previous role at Experience Oxfordshire gave them a deep appreciation for the city's unique cultural and academic offerings. Learn more about Rhys here.