The Oxford Experience

Many factors distinguish Oxbridge from other programs, but the principal ones are the strength of our faculty, the students we attract, and the nature of the educational experience we provide. For 40 years, we have recruited teachers from Oxford and Cambridge Universities, as well as educators from the best universities in France, Spain, and America. Our roster of faculty usually includes Rhodes, Gates, Marshall, and Fulbright scholars. Our students, meanwhile, stand out both in terms of caliber and ability. What really sets Oxbridge apart, however, is the fact that we are not a boot-camp or an extension to school. On our programs, our students are able to engage with subjects that they are passionate about –  we offer about 150 across the programs – in small groups, through discussions, debates, project work, and research, in much the same way as they would engage with them in a good university, without the pressure of tests or exams. Alongside, we encourage our faculty to use the stimulating and inspiring settings of our programs to fire their imaginations. 

This carefully supervised and structured learning environment extends into the students' free time. We ensure that our activities are not only educational, but cultural and social as well. Day trips, field trips, and guest speakers are planned to complement each student's educational experience for a truly experiential learning opportunity. 

The structure of each of our programs is similar, but beyond that, our programs differ according to size, location, and courses offered. 

A major difference to consider when choosing a program is the variety of courses offered in each location. Each program offers a selection of core subjects as well as relatively specialized courses for students with particular interests and passions. Our programs in continental Europe also offer language classes at all levels as well as immersion classes in either French or Spanish. 

Yes! In addition to our two- and four-week programs, students in grades 10-12 may opt to attend the Oxford Summer Seminar. Depending on the program you attend, you may also participate in the Paris Connection immediately after the conclusion of your program. 

And you are, of course, welcome to come back for multiple summers. Some of our students have attended as many as four of our programs! 

Yes, if you participate in The Oxford Experience, you can participate in The Paris Connection immediately after the conclusion of your program.  By the same token, if you participate in the Barcelona or Paris programs you can do a week in Oxford on the Seminar!

Yes, parents may visit if they wish. Keep in mind, however, that between classes, extracurricular activities, and exploring their new surroundings, students will be very busy during their time with us! We suggest that any family holidays be scheduled either before the start or after the conclusion of the program so that students can spend as much time with us as possible.

Typically it takes our admissions team around 3 - 5 days to review applications, though it can take a little longer at peak times.

Yes. This is a rare occurrence, but any student who is not accepted will receive their deposit back in full. A student will not be accepted if their academic or behavioral record suggests that they will not meet the standards we uphold.

It’s a great idea for students to write about their summer school abroad in their personal statement or college essay. The experience showcases the high-value qualities that admissions officers are seeking. An essay can powerfully convey how our program took the student out of their comfort zone, sparked a profound intellectual curiosity, and forced them to tackle complex ideas. 

Our curriculum's focus on experiential learning and culminating projects provides unique and compelling material. Instead of writing about a single grade, a student can detail the process of an innovative final project, the challenges of conducting advanced research, or a moment of intellectual debate with a world-class professor. An essay that details the passion and depth of engagement with a subject in this university-like setting is one of the best ways to demonstrate maturity and academic readiness.

We designed our summer programs abroad to be a significant asset on a college application. We know that admissions officers are looking beyond grades for evidence of a student's individuality, confidence, and character, and our program provides the perfect challenging experience to demonstrate these traits. Our academic focus is a major strength, as we provide university-level instruction and comprehensive grade reports—detailing the course syllabus and student contributions—which our alumni submit with their applications. 

The success of our alumni, who go on to attend a remarkable list of the world's top universities, confirms the value of the experience. Furthermore, attending a program that fosters interaction with a diverse peer group from over 115 countries also showcases a student's global awareness, maturity, and readiness for a competitive higher education environment.

Yes, the instruction at our Oxbridge Summer Programs is a key point of pride and is delivered by university professors and eminent professionals. We carefully recruit our faculty from a roster of the world's most prestigious universities, including Oxford and Cambridge. Our academic team is highly distinguished, with a typical year's faculty including many scholars who have received prestigious awards such as Rhodes, Gates, Marshall, and Fulbright scholarships. 

For creative subjects, we are fortunate to augment our faculty with industry professionals, such as authors, award-winning photographers, and artists. We believe this blend of academic rigor and professional insight ensures that students benefit from direct instruction in small groups, receiving a university-level academic immersion.

While we do not award a transferable university credit, we provide valuable documentation of a student's academic performance. Shortly after the program concludes, all students and their parents receive a comprehensive set of grade reports. These reports include the course syllabus and highlight the student's specific contributions and achievements over the duration of the course, as noted by their instructor. Many of our alumni submit copies of their grade reports along with their college applications, and many request additional copies for this purpose. 

While we do not provide a formal college recommendation letter from a summer program instructor, we do furnish documentation that serves as a powerful supplement for applications. Shortly after the program concludes, all students and their parents receive a comprehensive set of grade reports. 

These reports are critical because we ensure they include highlights of the student's contributions and achievements over the course duration as specifically noted by their instructor. Many of our alumni submit copies of these grade reports with their college applications, as this documentation is a significant and credible testimonial to a student's performance.

Yes, we are pleased to confirm that scholarships are available to prospective students. We understand that this is a significant investment, and our goal is to ensure that a diverse group of highly qualified students can attend our programs. 

Full details regarding the types of assistance, eligibility criteria, and the application process are provided in the "Tuition and Payments" section of our website. We encourage all families to review this information to determine the options available for making Oxbridge a reality.

Our program fees are comprehensive, covering the essential components of the summer experience. This includes the full academic program: university-level instruction in small groups, access to all related learning activities, field trips, and guest speakers. The fee also covers the residential experience, including accommodation in secure university-style rooms, and the provision of both breakfast and dinner in the college dining halls, with special dietary requirements accommodated. Finally, it covers fully supervised logistics, as our staff meet students at the airport upon arrival and oversee their check-in as well as their departure. 

The primary extra cost for which students are responsible is lunch, which is not provided in the program fees. Students typically purchase their midday meal from college snack bars or local eateries. Other optional costs include a fee for students in Oxford and Cambridge who request a private bathroom, which we offer on a first-come, first-served basis.

We do have a number of full and partial scholarships available for students, based on both demonstrated financial need and academic excellence. For more information on the specific scholarships and the application process, please see our Scholarship Page. 

For our UK, France, and Spain programs, you can cancel your registration up to 75 days in advance of the program start date and receive a refund, less a $500 fee and any non-refundable fees such as deposits and insurances purchased at the time of the application. 

More detailed information can be found on our Terms and Conditions provided at the time of registration or you can see the full policy on the Tuition and Fees page.

If English is your second language, please provide your TOEFL score or a short letter from your English teacher confirming your fluency in English. Our programs are conducted primarily in English, and our programs in Oxford and Cambridge are taught exclusively in English. We want to ensure that our students can integrate fully and feel comfortable with the program community. 

We are happy to have a short conversation with prospective students to make sure they will be able to follow the courses in English.

The class sizes at Oxbridge are a foundational element of our educational philosophy and are intentionally small—capped at 15, though often smaller. We believe that immersing students in their passionate subjects is best achieved through learning and working in small groups. 

This small-group setting is essential for fostering the highly interactive learning environment we provide, allowing students to fully engage with the material through discussions, debates, project work, and research, replicating the dynamic style of a good university seminar. By working in small groups, students benefit from the direct, individualized attention of our esteemed faculty. 

Of course! We've designed our curriculum to include a large number of courses that are rarely offered at the high school level, such as International Aerospace Engineering, Engineering, Espionage, Criminology, Psychology, or Zoology, and we don't expect our students to have much, if any, background in these subjects. Even subjects such as English Literature or History, which are taught at all high schools, will cover material you are unlikely to find at home. You can study an entirely new subject or new material in a traditional subject. Whichever you choose, you'll experience creative teaching in a stimulating, refreshing learning environment.

You should expect at most one hour of homework per night for your Major classes - often less, and the homework is not like the homework you are used to. It is much more likely to be project work or research, often conducted in teams. Your Minor/Workshop course may include some homework (often set at the students' own request!) but it will not be quite as time consuming. Workshop classes, which also conclude with a final production or project, also demand extra time. 

No matter what course you take, your work will culminate in an exciting final project that will test your grasp of the course material. 

Your academic work, however, is not the only thing you do - we have a full (but optional) curriculum of social and cultural activities, including films, lectures, dances, plays, sports events, and tours. 

Shortly after the conclusion of your program, all students and parents will receive a comprehensive set of grade reports. These reports include the course syllabus and highlights of your contributions and achievements over the duration of your course as noted by your instructor. 

You can also expect to receive a letter from the executive director of Oxbridge to congratulate you on completing the program, which details the academic philosophy and structure of cultural enrichment at Oxbridge. 

The majority of our students submit copies of their grade reports along with their college applications. 

Beyond the classroom, our r students have the opportunity to pursue a wide variety of activities and interests. In addition to program-wide field trips -- past excursions have included Stonehenge, Versailles, and Montserrat -- students are offered the chance, daily, to participate in a range of local activities. These could include panel discussions with guest speakers, concerts, visits of local sites, tours, plays, dances, talent shows, poetry readings, or coffee socials. 

We also offer a wide variety of sports: some favorites include basketball, softball, soccer, cricket, pétanque, swimming, punting, and Ultimate Frisbee. Classes in activities such as yoga, salsa dancing, and juggling are sometimes offered. 

We make every effort to ensure that our activities complement the cultural and intellectual enrichment at the heart of our academic programs.

Our programs take place in secure, supervised premises. Oxford and Cambridge colleges were originally designed to keep the townsfolk out. Today, their "castle-like" walls keep our students completely safe. All our program residences are also extremely secure, as they are designed to house students year-round. Entrances to residences are supervised round-the-clock by College Porters, Campus Security, and our own staff. The venues also have CCTV cameras. 

Student safety, welfare, and discipline are overseen by teams of professional educators drawn from reputable schools around the world. Students on our Experience programs in the UK must check in once at dinner and again in the evening between 9:00 pm and 10:00 pm. Lights out is at 11:00 pm. 

Once students check in with their Deans, they are not permitted to leave the campus. All students are expected to adhere to curfew and check-in expectations. 

After curfew, the gates are locked but our office remains open for a short while staff and security patrol the grounds. Some of our staff live inside the residences alongside the students, so our presence remains throughout the night.

Students are housed in gender-separated hallways or floors. Some of our faculty and staff live in the dorms with the students, so there are adults available to monitor and counsel 24 hours a day. All students must be quiet and in their own rooms by curfew.

Please consult your family's medical insurance policy well in advance of the start of the programs to learn more about your coverage. 

If students are traveling outside their home country to attend one of our programs, we strongly urge taking out full medical insurance. England, France, and Spain all provide excellent emergency medical care, irrespective of citizenship. Be prepared, however, to pay up front for their services - and keep your receipts, as many insurers will only reimburse you after the fact. American hospitals also offer excellent emergency care, but the costs can be extremely high, so it is particularly crucial that students coming from outside the United States are covered by an insurance policy. 

Every venue has a qualified Medical Officer. For minor illnesses, such as a common cold, you will be given permission to miss class and spend the day quietly recuperating in your room. The Medical Officer and Deans will oversee your recovery and cater to your particular needs. In the event of a serious medical emergency, you would immediately be escorted to a surgery or hospital for professional treatment.

We advise all prospective students to consult official government resources for the most accurate and current visa requirements for travel to the UK.  Oxbridge Academic Programs is accredited by the Accreditation Service for International Schools, Colleges and Universities (ASIC), and this accreditation is recognized by the UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration) in the UK. 

While we provide this important context, specific visa obligations vary significantly based on a student's country of citizenship and the length of their stay. Students traveling from outside their home country should also note that we strongly urge them to consider having full medical insurance for their time abroad. 

Students should pack clothing suitable for a casual academic environment, including comfortable outfits for classroom settings and group activities. Since the program includes a variety of afternoon and evening events—such as basketball, cricket, and yoga—bringing appropriate sportswear is essential. A dressier outfit is also necessary for the formal banquet held at the end of the program. England’s summer weather can be quite variable, so it’s wise to pack layers, including a light waterproof jacket and comfortable walking shoes. 

Chargers, an international SIM card, and toiletries are must-haves, along with any prescription medications and a small first-aid kit. Students should also bring school supplies like a notebook and pens, k for daily use. A UK plug adapter (Type G) and voltage converter may be needed for electronics. Other useful items include a reusable water bottle, sunscreen, sunglasses, and personal comfort items such as a book or journal. Finally, don’t forget important documents like your passport, visa (if applicable), insurance details, and emergency contact information. 

Yes, all our programs have laundry facilities either in or very close to the residences. Laundry is often coin- or card-operated, and program Deans are available to assist students in learning where and how to use the machines to launder their clothes. 

We provide a collegiate dining experience, with students receiving both breakfast and dinner in their residence's dining halls. Breakfast is a varied continental spread, and dinner features several options, consistently including a vegetarian dish and a salad bar. We also enhance the experience with regularly held special dinners, and a formal banquet concludes each program. 

We are committed to ensuring every student is well-cared for, and both Oxbridge and the venues we use do our utmost to cater to all specific dietary requirements. This ensures students with allergies or specific diets can be properly accommodated during the provided meals. Students are responsible for purchasing their own lunch, which is a great chance to explore local sandwich shops or utilize the college snack bar during the midday break. 

We welcome students of all faiths and orientations, and we pride ourselves on accommodating all dietary needs. We are happy to provide Kosher and Halal meals in dining halls, and we cater to all manner of dietary requirements. We warmly encourage you to be in touch with our Admissions Team to let them know about your needs. 

Each of our programs has a designated program office which is staffed by our Deans from 8 am to 12:00 am each day. They can be contacted by email or telephone and are happy to assist with any questions you may have.

This depends on your spending habits in general. We provide breakfast and dinner each day, so students need only to provide their own lunch. The evening meal, in particular, is considered an integral part of the collegial atmosphere we create as a program and we expect all of our students to partake in communal meals. 

Our experience has indicated that students tend to spend the equivalent of $15-30 USD a day, on meals, incidentals, and souvenirs. You may bring more, if you wish. It is up to you and your family. 

Certainly! Our staff will be there to greet you upon your arrival at the airport, and when the program concludes, we'll ensure you return safely as well. Best of all, this service is provided at no extra cost.

Please refer to this page for complete details about our admissions process.