When you start researching academic summer schools, two names are likely to stand out: Oxford and Cambridge. Often grouped together as “Oxbridge”, these historic universities are globally recognised for academic excellence, intellectual rigour and centuries of tradition. But what makes an Oxbridge summer school so special?
Experience life in one of the world’s great university cities
Oxford and Cambridge are home to two of the world’s top universities, each with almost a thousand years of learning behind them. These cities are both defined by their prestigious colleges, world-class libraries and leading academic minds, and you can’t get better than that when it comes to an inspiring environment to learn in. These are cities where learning is embraced and championed. If you’re ambitious about your academic goals then these are the places to come to engage deeply with your studies.
It’s impossible to replicate the atmosphere of a city where generations of scholars have walked the cobbled streets, strode around the immaculately mown grass quadrangles and debated the world’s greatest thinkers in wood-panelled rooms. If you’re even thinking about applying to Oxford or Cambridge, a summer school here is by far the best way to immerse yourself in something closely resembling real undergraduate life in one of these incredible cities. You’ll see what the university chapter of your life could be like, and receive a huge dose of motivation to make your future studies a success.
Study with inspiring Oxbridge-educated tutors
Summer schools based in great university cities like Oxford and Cambridge have a ready supply of top tutors, many of whom will be graduates, researchers or even faculty of those universities. Not only does that mean you benefit from their superb teaching standards – nurtured by the unique one-to-one tutorial system that characterises an Oxbridge education – but it also means you can ask them all your questions about your degree options and how to make a successful application. Meet your future summer school tutors here.
Learn Oxbridge-style teaching methods
You’ll also be introduced to some of the teaching styles you can expect if you go on to study at Oxford and Cambridge, such as small group work, presentations, academic debates, essay writing and independent reading and research. These are all fundamental to undergraduate study, and an Oxbridge summer school will teach you valuable skills that you can take with you whichever university you end up at. Under the careful instruction of your highly educated tutors, your summer school experience will challenge you academically and encourage you to think more deeply about your subject and its real-world applications – standing you in good stead for your university personal statement, interviews and beyond.
Live and study in breathtaking accommodation
If you dream of living your best Oxford or Cambridge life, a summer school is the perfect chance to make your aspirations a reality. Some Oxford and Cambridge summer schools, ours included, make use of real university accommodation in the weeks when undergraduates have gone home for the summer. That means you could be eating your meals in a beautiful dining hall, staying in real student rooms and stepping out to an inspiring college view each morning. Take a look at where you could be staying here.
Explore celebrated cultural attractions… and go punting
Beyond the classroom, an Oxford or Cambridge summer school gives you the chance to visit some world-class heritage attractions, such as the Ashmolean and Pitt Rivers Museums in Oxford and the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge. You’ll have the chance to look around some of the historic colleges and their beautiful chapels, and see famous libraries such as Oxford’s famous Bodleian.
As well as walking the same streets as famous writers, scientists and philosophers, you might even get the chance to go punting on the picturesque waterways of the River Cherwell or Cam. Both cities are also a good base for venturing into London, where you may find a theatre outing or other kinds of excursion programmed in.
Network with like-minded students
Oxford and Cambridge draw in a certain type of ambitious student, so you can be sure that if you embark on an Oxbridge summer school, you’ll be in good company. Whether for summer programmes or university degrees, the most scholarly students flock to these cities from around the world. Your summer school gives you a ready-made international network of like-minded fellow students who, like you, are motivated to succeed academically and engage in intellectually stimulating debate. You’ll meet people who’ll be friends for life, as well as being the start of your future professional contacts list.
Prepare for an Oxbridge application
As we’ve already touched on, an Oxford or Cambridge summer school is the perfect way to get a taste of life as an Oxbridge undergraduate if you’re thinking of applying. But if you’ve already got your heart set on studying here and you’re preparing your application, a summer school is particularly valuable. While it won’t guarantee that you get a place, it will be a powerfully motivating experience and give you lots of opportunities to strengthen your application.
As well as building the valuable academic skills and subject engagement we mentioned earlier, an Oxbridge summer school is your chance to decide on what degree course to apply for, get the lowdown on what Oxford and Cambridge are looking for in applicants and learn how to perfect your personal statement. You could also take the opportunity to quiz your Oxford or Cambridge-educated tutors about colleges, reading lists and their overall experience of undergraduate life.
Why students choose Oxford and Cambridge summer schools again and again
So, what’s so special about an Oxbridge summer school? Maybe it’s stepping into a scholarly and academically inspiring world where learning matters, where ideas are valued and where you’re encouraged to think deeply and independently.
Whether you’re exploring a subject you already love or discovering new ones, preparing for exams or applying to university, or simply seeking an extraordinary summer school experience, Oxford and Cambridge offer something truly unique. There are very few places that offer their mix of:
- Academic excellence
- Inspiring, historic locations
- A realistic university experience
- World-class teaching
- International friendships
- Personal growth
- Long-term academic impact
If you’re intellectually curious and eager to challenge yourself, an Oxford or Cambridge summer school will give you an unforgettable setting in which to learn, grow and imagine what your future could look like. And for many of our students, summer school isn’t just a fun way to spend the vacation – it’s the moment they realise what they’re truly capable of.
