This year, we successfully ran our first safe and COVID-compliant summer courses.

In fact, we were the only Oxford summer school to have hosted students in 2020.

While this meant some things looked a little different to normal, we were so pleased to be able to welcome a small group of students to our beloved city of Oxford and share our award-winning courses with them.

With summer now over and planning underway for our 2021 courses, we thought we’d share just some of the ways we were able to ensure our students’ health and safety during their stay. So if you’re looking secure your application for next year, you can book with confidence, knowing that we have tried and tested COVID-safe procedures in place for when you join us.

Safe, Secure & COVID-Compliant Courses

Working in accordance with the guidance provided to us by the UK government and World Health Organisation (WHO), we have created [our own set of COVID-compliant criteria that ensure our staff and students’ health and safety during their time with us.

While this criteria means some activities have to be adapted, our students from this summer noted that there were some obvious benefits that came from it, including:

• Smaller class sizes, which allowed for more one-on-time with our tutors
• Single bedroom occupancy, which gave students some much needed quiet time after a hard afternoon of studying
• Limited places on our courses, allowing students to develop close and long-lasting friendships with all members of their group

Social Bubbles

When students first arrive on our courses, we will be offering complimentary COVID-19 tests for our at-risk students.

Until results are returned and we know that everyone on the course is healthy, we will be maintaining strict social distancing procedures to ensure safety, including the use of masks for indoor teaching and social activities.

Students and our on-course staff will then form as one household, or ‘bubble’, allowing them to enjoy their Oxford Summer Courses experience freely and in the safety of one another.

Anyone who is not in that social bubble, including our teaching staff and external guest speakers, will be required to follow social distancing measures, including wearing masks and frequent hand washing.

Deep Cleaning

Our Oxford accommodation provider, the University of Oxford, has enhanced their cleaning regime for COVID-19 prevention.

Prior to their arrival, students will have their bedrooms deep cleaned and bathrooms sanitised. Rooms will also be single-occupancy only unless otherwise requested.

Throughout the course, the university will implement frequent cleaning procedures, ensuring surfaces are regularly sanitised and clean before use.

Secure Oxford University Accommodation

What makes our courses so authentic is the chance to live and study like a student at the University of Oxford. And a huge part of that involves staying in the historic college accommodation.

The University of Oxford has strict safety procedures in place, with porters at the college entrances 24/7 to allow entry only to students and guests who are permitted to be on-site.

All buildings require key fob entry, which we will issue, along with your room keys upon your arrival. Only those with key fob permission will be allowed entry to buildings, and only those who have been pre-approved for site access will be allowed to enter the college.

So, you can rest assured knowing that only those permitted to be on campus will be there, limiting the amount of external visitors you come into contact with.

Book With Confidence

We know it can be hard to make plans with certainty. Last minute travel restrictions, government regulations and changes in your circumstances mean it’s more important than ever to have flexibility with your schedule.

That’s why in 2021 we will continue to offer free cancellations for any courses that cannot run due to Coronavirus. We will also be offering flexible date changes, allowing you to move to a different course free of charge, should you need to.

Dedicated on-course staff

Of course, should you have any queries or concerns during your stay with us, our dedicated team of on-course staff will also be available 24/7.

Whether you’re feeling poorly or want some guidance on how to explore the city safely, they’ll be on-hand to offer as much help as possible.

View our available subjects

Each year, our staff work carefully to select a diverse range of subjects for students to choose from. We then pass these subjects over to our dedicated network of tutors who then curate the syllabi to ensure that your course content is as up to date as possible, based on current events and discoveries within the tutor’s field of expertise.