Places on our 2024 summer school are filling fast. Don’t miss out. Enrol now to avoid disappointment
Our Cambridge Business Summer School will equip you with the skills, tools and mindset to be an innovative future business leader. Our unique learning model will develop your organisational ability, leadership skills and creative thinking whilst immersing you in key business and entrepreneurship principles.
Students will be inspired by our faculty of successful executives and innovators, then collaborate with a project team of like-minded peers from around the world to research, design and market a new business idea in our hands-on ‘Inventing the Future Innovation Challenge’.
Whilst studying on campus at our Cambridge Summer School, you will be living in historic colleges of the University of Cambridge, giving you the opportunity to experience life like a Cambridge student. Sleep in rooms set in ancient quadrangles, socialise in vibrant common rooms, and explore the Gothic architecture of the university town.
| Location | Cambridge |
| For Ages | 16-18 years |
| Duration | 2 weeks |
| Price | |
| Start Dates | 30 Jun, 14 Jul |
Watch our Business Summer School trailer to see how students on the programme learnt vital business and entrepreneurship skills in amazing locations. Listen to students and teachers talk about our experienced faculty and the depth of knowledge students gain whilst on the course, and watch students gain confidence whilst presenting on marketing strategies.
Watch our Cambridge Summer School trailer to hear from our students about living on campus in the colleges of Cambridge University and the chance to experience university student life. See beautiful college building and the ceremonies and events we run for our students whilst students and teachers speak about the life-changing academic experience our programmes provide.
Teenagers aged 16-18 are close to entering the world of business, whether through the pursuit of a university degree or the undertaking of an entrepreneurial endeavour. Our Business & Entrepreneurship Summer Programme at Cambridge is are expertly crafted to provide a deep understanding of the inner workings of organisations and start-up culture, giving them all the tools to thrive as well-informed young professionals.
We pride ourselves on our status as the world’s most international summer school, having welcomed students from over 175 countries since our foundation in 2005. This represents an invaluable opportunity for aspiring businesspeople and entrepreneurs: through early access to a global network of like-minded peers, students are not only exposed to global perspectives, but also have a chance to identify potential future collaborators. Who knows where a classroom discussion or a casual conversation at dinner may take you?
Students aged 16-18 will benefit from a rigorous and thoroughly contemporary course, encompassing a well-considered balance of theoretical and practical learning. They will develop a profound understanding of business and entrepreneurship by:
– Gaining a comprehensive overview of how market trends, emerging technologies, and socio-cultural influences affect businesses
– Exploring the concept of investment and its impact on global economics across different sectors
– Analysing real-world case studies to glean deep insights into the mechanisms of commercial success and failure
– Collaborating on hands-on projects to map out actionable strategies
– Drawing inspiration from a dynamic range of workshops, seminars, and talks from business leaders and experts
A holistic education nurtures an individual’s ability to coexist and cooperate effectively with other people, regardless of the situation or professional context they might find themselves in. Our programmes help students develop crucial ‘soft’ skills to thrive across the board through:
– A wide range of extracurricular activities, giving them the opportunity to network with peers and implement problem-solving in real word scenarios
– A debating and public speaking society, to improve their confidence in addressing an audience
– Helping students master time management and embrace accountability through the introduction of independent study
– Workshops and masterclasses targeting career pathways and the competitive university application process
Our courses go beyond the classroom, helping students to develop essential work and life skills so as to be able to hit the ground running upon starting their careers. Attendees will cultivate the adaptability to secure future success by:
– Partaking in opportunities to hone presentation skills, such as seminars and the end-of-course challenge and exhibition days
– Developing crucial interpersonal skills such as active listening and negotiation through classroom collaboration
– Building up their professional portfolios by working on industry-grade projects, such as developing a business plan and marketing strategy
– Networking with fellow students, tutors, and leading minds across diverse industries
For older teenagers, the pressure is on as they face formative examinations and the university applications process. We recognise the need for restorative down-time, and have crafted our courses to offer a harmonious life-work balance, with plenty of time to rest and relax outside of the classroom. Students can:
– Enjoy cultural excursions, including walking tours of Cambridge and the University’s campus, and a day trip to nearby London
– Partake in a wide range of sporting activities, designed to suit everyone, from the beginner to the seasoned athlete
– Relax on our beautiful campus grounds, in aesthetic and comfortable gardens, common rooms, and dining halls
– Explore the city, trying out new cuisine, going to the cinema, or taking a punting tour of the colleges
Personality drives business. This module will provide students with an overview of different leadership styles, as well as the space to introspect on which elements of their own character they might draw upon in order to grow as highly effective leaders. They will examine real-world case studies of the impact of these different strokes upon organisations, as well as the crucial role of cultural differences in international business and decision-making processes.
It is impossible to understate how the lay of the land has changed over the past few decades. Students will explore the impact of burgeoning technologies such as AI upon the future of enterprise, influencer marketing in the digital age, and the changes wrought upon investment – and, as a consequence, the global economy – by the vicissitudes of Covid-19 and the advent of Fintech.
Our practical challenges represent an opportunity for students to put into practice all they have learned over the course of the two weeks, working as a team to present an industry-standard project to an audience of peers and professionals. Attendees will develop an accurate, sophisticated business plan and marketing strategy for a start-up in an industry of their choosing. This is a valuable addition to students’ professional portfolio, to be drawn upon in applications and interview scenarios.
Students will have a chance to go beyond Cambridge and explore the UK’s vibrant capital city, London. They’ll be taken on guided walking tours to a range of London’s most iconic sites of interest, and will be given plenty of opportunities to try out local cuisine or shop for souvenirs in one of the city’s bustling commercial areas.
Undergraduates at the University of Cambridge know how to balance hard work and play. Attendees of our Business Summer Programme will be able to let their hair down and celebrate their hard work at two show-stopping events over the course of the summer school: a mid-programme celebration, and a final formal graduation followed by a party at an illustrious venue.
To download a full sample timetable of our programme in Cambridge, click here.
A typical weekday on our Business Summer School for ages 16 to 18 looks like this:
The week kicks off with an introduction to enterprise and entrepreneurs, innovation and invention. Seminars cover topics such as ownership structures, finance and fundraising, market research, business planning, and risk analysis. Further modules explore strategy and tactics. In the evening, students take part in study focus groups, social and sporting activities, debating and public speaking and seminars on what steps to take to ensure their future success. The first week finishes with a group trip to explore London.
The second week starts with a focus on sustaining a business with seminars on cash flow and break-even, budgeting and investments, recruitment, operations, and leadership. Students will take part in academic and practical workshops, followed by the opportunity to present and pitch their new business idea. Evenings will continue to focus on study support, social and sporting activities, and the headline address – an engaging talk given by one of our business leaders. The week culminates in the debate grand final and the famous Oxford Royale graduation.
Residential on the prestigious campus of the University of Cambridge
Inspiring courses taught by experts
Graduation ceremony, report cards and graduation certificate
International student community with over 170 nationalities represented since 2004
Accommodation, breakfast and dinner, tuition and cultural programmes included at the Cambridge Summer School
20+ hours of tuition per week
Inspirational cultural programmes
Whatever your motivation, our exceptional, inspiring, world-leading teachers can help you achieve more this summer. Our amazing array of talented tutors includes Oxbridge academics, Ivy League lecturers, groundbreaking medical researchers, glittering industry leaders, acclaimed authors, and more!
Dr Anisa Butt
Business & Entrepreneurship
A member of the Oxford Royale team for 3 years, Dr Anisa Butt is a lecturer in economics at King’s College London. Currently completing a PhD in Economics from the University of Reading, her focus is on gender and ethnic income inequality.
Dr Endrit Shabani
Law and Politics
A trained lawyer, Dr Endrit Shabani has a Doctorate in Politics from the University of Oxford where he studied with a full Clarendon scholarship. He has consulted for multiple international organisations including UNICEF, UN Women, and the EU, and taught Politics internationally.
Dr Claire Keene
Medicine
Dr Claire Keene is a public health clinician with a masters in International Health and Tropical Medicine from the University of Oxford. She is an experienced clinical trial manager, recently managing a Médecins Sans Frontières project on HIV and tuberculosis.
Dr Rehan Shah
Engineering
Dr Rehan Shah is a Lecturer in Engineering Education at Queen Mary University of London. He has completed a BEng in Mechanical Engineering with Business Finance at UCL with LSE, an MSc in Mathematical Modelling and Scientific Computing at the University of Oxford, and a PhD in Applied Mathematics at UCL.
Dr Imam Abdulazeez
Medicine
Dr Imam, lecturer in Medicine, has over 14 years of clinical experience and a strong commitment to medical education. He completed a 6 year Paediatric programme in Nigeria and is currently studying for a PhD at the University of Oxford. He also holds an MSc in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from the University of Leeds.
Escape ordinary classroom teaching and learn through interactive and immersive lessons.
Hands-on classes designed to help students learn through practical application.
An interactive forum with an expert in the field, giving students valuable insights into related and new topics.
Successful and famous guest speakers offer students the chance to pose their most important questions.
Essential for honing students' reasoning abilities and public speaking skills.
Escape ordinary classroom teaching and learn through interactive and immersive lessons.
Dynamic lectures given by passionate teachers packed with facts and viewpoints to engage the audience.
An opportunity to work closely with, and learn from, different perspectives.
Working in pairs and small groups, students have plenty of opportunity for discussion and debate.
Apply the skills and knowledge gained throughout your two-week programme in an immersive full day simulation event.
Discover the UK’s most exciting city! A short journey from Cambridge, explore the many wonders that London has to offer: from Trafalgar Square and Buckingham Palace to the Museum of Natural History and National Portrait Gallery, there are endless ways to be entertained. Enjoy luxury shopping, or vibrant markets in Camden, and choose from hundreds of restaurants. London is a unmissable location filled with new opportunities.
Experience the magic of Cambridge on a walking tour of the city. Wander through historic colleges with stunning architecture, see the pub where the discovery of DNA was announced, or uncover hidden gems from coffee shops to art galleries.
Experience an Oxford Royale graduation, on campus at the University of Cambridge. Dress up with your new friends, dine in a magnificent venue, and celebrate everything you have achieved on your programme.
“I didn’t know a lot about business before I came here, so coming to a class like this has taught me so much. Here we talk and give our own takes instead of just being told what to do, and I have learned a lot more than at regular school, gaining perspectives from people from all over the world.”Benjamin, United States of America
“I have learned so much about how business actually works. I know more about finance, marketing, different strategies for marketing and how to research new elements. The teachers are so helpful, and I really appreciate their help to learn more about the subject. ”Sasha, Ukraine
“The quality of the teaching is great, and it is fun to learn while you are making new friends. It gives you the specifics, and it gives you the teaching for what you need to know when it comes to business academics. Definitely come here if you want to learn about business and put a foot forward. The programme has changed my mind about the subject and I am extremely interested in pursuing it now.”Nadir, Venezuela
Hannah
I had an absolutely incredible time doing Summer school with Oxford Royale Academy! I learnt new things about myself and the world around me, and would definitely recommend to others!
Clara
I loved the Oxford Royal program, I met many people with bright personalities and unique minds, and I also learned a lot from the teachers, campus staff etc. You will enjoy it!
Francesca
Oxford Royals Academy made my summer amazing! I learned many new things and I met people from all over the world that I know I can call true friends. I definitely recommend ORA to anyone who wants to make unforgettable memories!
Minquan
The twelve days I spent in Oxford Summer School were very happy, the teachers were very kind and professional, and the curriculum was very reasonable, which expanded my knowledge. All the courses mean a lot to me and I hope I can come back next summer.
Jade
The oxford royale academy was definitely the highlight of my summer. I have not only learnt more about the course I have chosen, but I've also met a lot of new friends, friendly staff and helpful teachers from different cultures all in the same campus and had a lot of unforgettable memories.
Katherine
Oxford Royale was a great expreince. It was amazing to get to know people all over the globe and form life long relationships.
For the Inventing the Future programme, students live and study on campus in colleges of the historic University of Cambridge, as part of our Cambridge Summer School. Oxford Royale students will stay in accommodation at either Clare College or St Catharine’s College. Both colleges are beautiful, historic institutions situated in the heart of the university town.
Inventing the Future: Business, Innovation & Entrepreneurship is also available at our other locations, please see our courses page for more details.
Once you have decided which course you would like to attend, and where you would like to study, you can book online using our secure booking system. You will need the details of the student and of the person paying the bill, the name of the course or courses you would like to study, and a credit or debit card to pay the relevant deposit.
We are happy to accept deposit payments via a number of other, non-card payment methods (including domestic and international bank transfer), thanks to our partnership with education payment specialists, Flywire. If you would prefer to pay your deposit payment by bank transfer or another method, please contact our Admissions team who will be able to assist you.
Once your application has been submitted, your deposit payment has been received by us and your booking processed by our system or our team, you will be sent an email confirming your place. You will also receive a login to the Oxford Royale Portal, which you will use to provide us with important additional information about you as your time with us approaches.
A Welcome Pack is available to download from the Oxford Royale Portal.
If at any time you would like to discuss your booking with a member of our award-winning Customer Service team, please feel free to contact us.
All enrolments require a deposit payment to secure the booking. For Summer 2023, deposit payments are structured as follows:
You may either pay the full course fee when you book your place, or pay the deposit amount and then the balance at a later date.
The balance clearance is required no later than 90 days before the start date of the course. Where the student is booking less than 90 days before the start date, the course fees must be covered in full. We appreciate that, with the uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, people may require additional flexibility to these terms, and we are doing our best to accommodate that – please contact us if you have concerns regarding making the balance payment in line with the 90-day deadline.
Enrolments received via our online application form will require a debit or credit card payment of at least the deposit amount. If you would like to enrol and make your deposit payment via Bank Transfer or another method, we are happy to facilitate this. Please contact our Admissions team to arrange this.
Balance payments for existing enrolments can be made via a number of methods, including domestic and international bank transfer, credit or debit card, as well as local payment options; please log in to the Oxford Royale Portal and click on the ‘Pay Now’ button on your booking details.
All course fees include the following:
If you wish to change your course or study options (including dates), please do not hesitate to contact us. However, changes to courses are always subject to availability. For this reason, it may be more difficult for us to accommodate any changes requested less than 60 days before the course start date.
Oxford Royale Academy’s terms and conditions for refunds are as follows:
Any cancellation must be received in writing and can only be made on the following terms:
| Period Before Start Date | Total Refunded |
|---|---|
| 120+ days | 100% |
| 90-119 days | 50% |
| 45-89 days | 10% |
| 0-44 days | 0% |
Cancellations made after the commencement date of the course will not receive any refund.
Our English language requirements are as follows:
Students who have studies at an English speaking school for two or more years are exempt from English requirements.
Yes, all students will be awarded an Oxford Royale Academy Graduation Certificate in their chosen course upon satisfactory completion of the course. This will be presented in a graduation ceremony on the final evening of the course. In general, the graduation ceremony is for students only, but in certain cases, it might be possible for parents to attend on request. Due to limited seating and viewing facilities in the colleges, it is essential that parents contact the campus office well in advance to ascertain whether space is available.
All students will be well looked after, and security is carefully monitored on campus.
In order to leave campus students are required to sign out and sign themselves back in with a counsellor, and curfews are enforced on campus. Any issues that arise can be taken up with staff.
Students will also always be accompanied during lessons, trips, and excursions.
It is certainly possible to take more than one course and combine a variety of study programmes. This can be done by enrolling on two different programmes.
Students staying for two consecutive sessions will be provided with accommodation for the Saturday night, and their campus will provide supervised activities between their first session ending and second session starting. Should you have any queries about how to take more than one course please do not hesitate to contact us.
