Oxford Summer Academy

Oxford Summer Academy

Why choose Oxford Summer Academy?

The Oxford Summer Academy provides great summer programs specifically for high school students who wish to get a pre-university experience at the University of Oxford in England. There are numerous courses for teenagers who want a challenge and an academic adventure, and live like a university student. The Oxford Summer Academy provides engaging classes, social events, and weekend excursions in Oxford and London. Visit the main website for more information about the Oxford Summer Academy!

Reviews

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Gabriella
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

An Unforgettable Experience

I never felt the presence of time until those two weeks. I was counting the time in dismay because in the presence of excellent teachings, uplifting and delightful fun and memorable friends I did not want to leave. The magnificent city of Oxford will leave you breathless with its historic buildings and towers making your two weeks spent in the city magical. It consumes you much more if you are in good company more so great company of people. Classes were excellent, I had taken Law, Philosophy, Essay writing and Debating and I learnt so much in two weeks. The accommodation was comfy and nice and the staff were amazing. Thank you for the amazing time spent in your program it was truly delightful.

What would you improve about this program?
I wish I had come earlier.
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Tomás
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Great academic courses!

I went to The Oxford Summer Academy on July 3013 and I took different courses; both for mathematics (Calculus, Algebra and Advance Algebra) and for history (The Tudors, A walking history of Oxford), the academic experience was of a high level.

Thank you OSA!

What would you improve about this program?
There were a little too strict about some things.
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linhaimo
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Oxford Summer Academy

It was a really great and useful experience in the Oxford Summer Academy. The courses were good, as well as the tutors. The campus of St. Edmund Hall was beautiful and peaceful. I would like to return and attend again at this program.

What would you improve about this program?
The schedules were a bit too tide. Some more free time will be better.
Read my full story
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Elizabeth
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Day to day

We get breakfast from the dorm and we have classes from 9 to about 5 on the days that we have elective classes. Other days we're released earlier than that. For lunch we get to go around Oxford and eat on our own. They gave us a great tour of the city and gave suggestions on where to eat. Dinner is also served by the dorm and they catering was really good.

We get to make a lot more friends from around the world on the trip and we had a good time. They also took us to the historical sites in England like Bath and Stonehenge. The staff was really friendly and we all had a good time getting to know the other students as well as the teachers and mentors.

All in all it was a fun educational trip and I would love to go again.

What would you improve about this program?
The only complain was that when i went there, there was a severe heat stroke across England so there were a few warm nights.

Programs

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Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Heidi

Heidi is currently a sophomore at a high school called the American School in Taichung, Taiwan. Although only a sophomore, she has determined that her major in college will be Architecture. Therefore, her mother wants her to travel around the world and learn from other cultures in order to gain more knowledge for future inspiration. However, Heidi is very interested with history as well, enlightened by the recent movie The King's Speech
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Why did you decide to study abroad with Oxford Summer Academy in English?

At first, I didn't want to attend this summer program, but then, I thought about how I had neither been to England nor attended an English summer camp, so why don't I give it a try? Besides, Oxford is really famous for its colleges, and I believed it would be a great honor to attend this summer program. Also, since I attend American school, I thought it would be really cool to experience an "English education."

What made this summer abroad experience unique and special?

The tutors were really great at teaching the courses. Also, we were allowed to explore Oxford on our lunch breaks. The campus architecture was also amazing, and it really inspired people to want to go to the college. While the schedules arranged for us was a little bit to tight, we had a chance to experience the city. Lastly, the director was enthusiastic and showed us around his old college (giving a history lesson along the way). This experience was truly meaningful and very different from other summer programs.

How has this experience impacted your future? (Personally, professionally, etc.).

I became interested in the history of Great Britain, it's worth it to tour the city and learn about its past. Also, by traveling abroad alone, I learned how to live without my parents and familiar environments around me. I felt more independent. I did things that I would not do according to my personality. As I listened to the director talking about his experiences, it inspired me to study harder and made me want to go to a "good" college.

What is one piece of advice you would offer someone considering studying abroad in England?

England is an excellent place to study and travel, but things might be a bit pricey, so be wary of your finances!

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Genevieve Dear

Gen loves learning, trying new things and is always up for a challenge. She likes to keep fit, and has a keen interest in health and nutrition. She studied psychology at Royal Holloway, University of London, and still likes to keep up in the field.
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What position do you hold at Oxford Summer Academy? What has been your career path so far?

I joined the Oxford Summer Academy (OSA) in 2012 as the General Manager. Alongside this, I am also the General Manager of OSA’s sister organization, Oxford Science Studies (OXSS). I have been with OXSS for a number of years and am very pleased to be able to continue working with both of these companies at the same time. Before OXSS, I started my career in marketing within an international Management Consultancy firm. A very different sector, but I insist that OSA maintains the same high standards that the consulting industry has – so we are always striving to improve and reach perfection!

What does the future hold for Oxford Summer Academy - any exciting new programs to share?

I am very excited about the future of OSA. Having only recently joined, I still have so many new things I’d like to add to our courses. This applies to all areas of the program, such as new offerings within the options students can select from and new places for excursions. In fact, in 2012 we included a brand new elective that didn’t appear to be offered on any other academic summer courses, and it was one of our most successful and popular options: Improvisational Comedy. Through the tears of laughter, the students learnt so many new skills that are applicable to different areas and will help them in the future, which is what we are all about – having fun whilst learning.

What about the future of the high school abroad industry? How do you think international education will change over the next 10 years?

I think young people increasingly have a global perspective and are therefore actively seeking education abroad. As such, the high school abroad industry will need to continue to grow to meet this student demand. I believe it will become far more usual for students to study away from home, whether for short holiday periods, single terms or for an entire academic year. Qualifications will also, hopefully, become more universally recognized in response to the growing number of students with foreign qualifications returning to their home countries to enter higher education.