What is a summer school?

For most students, the summer holidays are a chance to switch off from studying and enjoy a well-earned break. But if you’re ambitious about your grades and want to get into a great university, or you’re simply interested in learning something new, you might be considering ways to use your summer more productively. In this article we’ll explain what summer schools are and how they can help you achieve your educational goals.

What are summer schools?

Summer schools are intensive courses that take place over your summer vacation, between school or university years. They’re generally aimed at young people aged between around 12 and 19, and in America, they’re known as ‘summer enrichment’. They usually combine intense tuition in a particular subject – for example English or Mathematics – with extra-curricular activities that give you the chance to try new things and see new places.

Unlike regular school, summer schools are something you do voluntarily, and they typically last anything from a week to six weeks. They’re usually residential, so it’s a bit like being at boarding school or university. You’ll have all your meals with your classmates, as well as studying, relaxing and visiting cultural attractions together.

Why go on a summer school?

There are lots of reasons why young people choose to attend summer schools, both academic and personal.

Boost your grades

Summer schools are designed to help you get ahead in existing subjects, helping you to boost your grades or become more confident in topics you find trickier. You’ll develop academic skills, such as essay writing, public speaking, research methods and exam technique, which will help you through every stage of your studies. As such, summer schools are also a great way to learn valuable skills for the next phase of your education, as well as transferable skills that will help you in your future career.

Improve your English

An intensive English course in the UK is the best way to immerse yourself in the English language and take your skills up a level – whether for the satisfaction of becoming fluent or because you’re aiming to apply to an English-speaking university. An English summer school can help you prepare for taking proficiency tests, as well as boosting your confidence in speaking, writing, reading and listening to English in both academic and social contexts.

Prepare for your university application

Summer schools can help boost your university application. If you’re hoping to get a place at a top university, taking a summer school in your chosen subject will demonstrate your commitment as well as helping you dive deeper into relevant topics that you might not have studied in school. This gives you interesting things to write about in your personal statement, helping your application to stand out. Some summer schools may also help you prepare for any subject-specific entrance exams you may need to sit.

Explore new subjects

You could use your summer school experience to explore new subjects, perhaps with a view to finding the right one to study at university. Many summer schools focus on traditional subjects such as English language or the sciences, but some providers – Oxford Royale included – also offer a broader range of subjects such as architecture, politics or AI. If you’re intellectually curious and want to learn about something your school doesn’t offer, a summer school is your chance to expand your academic horizons.

Experience university life

The immersive nature of the summer school experience gives you an insight into what life could be like at a top university. Living and studying with your classmates feels a lot like student life, particularly if your summer school has you living in real halls of residence, as many do. If you choose a summer school with us in Oxford or Cambridge, it’s the closest you can get to a taste of undergraduate Oxbridge life before you apply.

Cultural visits

Alongside your studies, summer schools will have cultural visits programmed in, so you can expect to explore some new places and perhaps go to local attractions such as the theatre or a museum. If you’re going on a summer school overseas, such as one of ours in Oxford, Cambridge or London, this is the perfect opportunity to do some sightseeing in the safety of a group of friends. It is the holidays, after all!

Making new friends

The social side of summer school is important, too. You’ll have the chance to make new friends from around the world, introducing you to unfamiliar cultures and perspectives. In your downtime, you’ll be able to have fun with your classmates, build important social skills and develop your English skills if it’s not your first language. It’s a real confidence boost that will help when it comes to settling in at a new college or university.

What to expect from the summer school experience

Whatever subject you choose, you can look forward to small class sizes with lots of one-to-one engagement with your tutors, which will get you used to the teaching styles you’ll encounter at university. You’ll be expected to contribute to class discussions and group work, which helps you learn how to communicate confidently and work in the collaborative way that will be expected of you on your chosen degree programme.

Away from the classroom, you can expect a fun and enriching timetable of activities that will help you make the most of your summer. As well as seeing the sights of a new place, you’ll come away with an international network of like-minded new friends – something that could benefit you for many years to come.

Overall, going on a summer school is a challenging but inspiring experience that will give you an unforgettable summer while helping you get ahead academically. If you’d like to find out more about what your summer school experience could be like, have a browse of our Oxford summer schools and Cambridge summer schools or choose from one of our other top locations in London, the USA and Dubai.