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Oxford Royale 2024

Engineering Summer School

Experience life as an undergraduate at the world’s top universities as you explore your interest in Engineering

Engineering Summer School

Engineering Summer School

Our Engineering summer programmes are available at all of our campuses in Oxford, Cambridge, London, Yale and Berkeley. These locations are hubs of global engineering research and education, making them the ideal locations in which to study engineering and technology while walking in the footsteps of history’s greatest scientific minds.

Our programmes for 13-15-year-olds introduce students to the world of engineering and introduce vital study skills, and our programmes for 16-18-year-olds prepare students for university and future careers.

The workplace may seem a world away for the time being, but we believe it is never too early to introduce curious young minds to the world of the professional engineer. By bringing the subject to life and considering its impact and achievements in the modern world, we hope to ignite students’ enthusiasm, providing them with the habits of mind and transferable skills to thrive in the field of engineering and beyond.

Location UK & US
For Ages 13-18
Duration 2 weeks
Start Dates 30 Jun, 14 Jul, 28 Jul
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Engineering Summer School for Ages 13 to 15

With students joining us from over 175 countries, this is the perfect place to build a global network of aspiring engineers. Our students will meet like-minded classmates, all excited by engineering, but each providing unique insight into industry differences across different countries. With engineering opening doors to a wide range of international opportunities, who knows where a meeting of minds might lead you in the future?

Our Engineering programme for ages 13 to 15 offers access to the finest academic tutors and industry experts in the sector. Under their guidance, students will master the foundations of engineering and build their academic skills by:

– Learning the fundamental principles of engineering needed to solve challenges

– Reinforcing their knowledge of mathematical, scientific and technological concepts

– Comparing and contrasting different fields and disciplines of engineering

– Taking part in hands on practical workshops to apply their knowledge

– Developing interpersonal skills working on group projects with peers

For budding engineers, adaptability is key: they will be entering a workplace undergoing seismic changes caused by technological advances, as well as an increasing emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration. Our programmes will help your child gain transferable early professional and life skills, which they will develop by:

– Growing communication skills and confidence through opportunities like group projects and our public speaking and debate society

– Learning about how to apply the six ‘Engineering Habits of Mind’ (as determined by the Royal Society of Engineers) conducive to well-rounded career development

– Meeting a new network of ambitious, like-minded peers from around the world

– Exploring an incredible cultural destination, guided by our supportive team on campus

Engineering is a career at the forefront of modernisation, designing path-breaking technologies across the broadest array of sectors imaginable. Our Engineering Summer School for ages 13 to 15 is an incredible opportunity for students at the start of their academic journey to learn about the breadth of potential careers that lie open to them, providing essential early insight to support formative career choices:

– Learning a wide variety of engineering disciplines in lessons, from mechanical and structural engineering, to aeronautical and electrical

– Taking part in challenges to solve both everyday problems and future challenges such as global sustainability

– Understanding what skills are needed to pursue a degree or career in different fields of engineering

– Experiencing life as an engineer in practical workshops and simulations

We never forget that this is also part of your child’s holiday, and are committed to providing a harmonious life-work balance for attendees. In between sessions of world-class education, our students will take part in:

– Exciting social activities with their new friends, from karaoke to arts and crafts

– A broad range of sports including football, tennis, running club, and the Oxford Royale Olympics

– A weekend excursion on either Saturday or Sunday to London in the UK, or another exciting destination, or New York in the USA

– Friday Night Party where students can enjoy a night of music and excitement with their new friends

– Formal Graduation ceremony and dinner, followed by a final party

Our Engineering Summer School for ages 13 to 15 offers a whole host of academic and social opportunities, providing two unforgettable weeks of learning and discovery.

Applying knowledge, understanding and skills from all topics in the engineering course, the task is to design an exploration rover vehicle for a mission to Mars, from materials selected through modelling and testing. This is an incredibly exciting project where our students can apply their knowledge to a real world challenge.

This is a full day challenge on the final Thursday of the programme. Our engineering students will work in teams with others from different fields of engineering to research, design and evaluate imaginative ways for us to live in a sustainable future city.

Each engineering student will develop their individual passion over the course of the two weeks. Exhibition Day is a unique opportunity for our attendees to glean inspiration for the future as they demonstrate their work in a professional environment, learning from their peers, sharing their findings, and taking pride in any projects they have produced.

To help our students discover everything that their location has to offer, we will be offering the “Immersive Quest”, a two week long virtual scavenger hunt. In teams, our students will answer questions and explore their city – and winners will receive a prize at graduation!

Our students spend two weeks filled with learning and new friends, and we make sure to send them off in style at their graduation event! The Oxford Royale graduation ceremony is held at a beautiful venue on campus, followed by an unforgettable party.

All students receive a personal graduation certificate, and, where possible, parents are welcome to attend!

Our Engineering Summer School for ages 13 to 15 offers a whole host of academic and social opportunities, providing two unforgettable weeks of learning and discovery.

Full timetable

Click here to download a full sample of our Oxford programme timetable.

Typical Day

A typical weekday on our Engineering Summer School for ages 13-15 looks like this:

  • 8AM: Students wake up for breakfast on campus before heading to lessons
  • 9AM: Morning lessons, with two short breaks
  • 1PM: Lunch break for students to eat on campus, and some free time to relax
  • 2PM: Afternoon lessons
  • 3:30PM: Engineering academic workshop to develop key skills, cultural activities such as walking tours, and study support
  • 6PM: Dinner on campus
  • 7PM: Public Speaking and Debate Society
  • 8PM: Social activities such as quiz nights, movie nights or karaoke
  • 10PM: Curfew

Week 1

The first week begins with a chance to get to know your peers and your location, through inductions and tours of the campus and its surroundings. Lessons in week one will introduce your child to the fundamentals of engineering, materials, machines and forces. After lessons, students will take part in hands-on workshops, before having the opportunity to attend study support and public speaking society. Throughout the week there will be social, sporting and cultural activities, culminating in a mid-session party and coach excursion to a nearby city such as New York or London at the weekend.

Week 2

Over the second week, students will learn about more advanced fields of engineering, such as aeronautics, electronics and programming, as well as the many career paths an engineer can take. In the evenings, your child will take part in exciting extracurriculars like the talent show, karaoke, or debate competition. The prgramme culminates in a challenge and exhibition day, allowing students to demonstrate all that they have learned, before celebrating their achievements at the graduation ceremony and party.

Discover Engineering on Campus at Incredible Universities

Engineering Summer School for Ages 16 to 18

Engineering is a competitive field, but it is also one brimming with opportunities for international collaboration. Join students from over 175 countries across the world and build a global network of like-minded future engineers. Your newfound friendships may well become sources of mutual inspiration and collective contribution for years to come.

We offer students the very best of modern education, selecting as tutors and visiting speakers subject experts and industry figureheads to give attendees the edge as they face a formative moment in their early careers. Every student on our Engineering Summer School will be taught key academic skills to help them excel in their future learning. They will:

Master the fundamentals of the different fields of engineering

Enhance problem solving and critical thinking skills through engineering projects and challenges

Develop a portfolio of specific and transferable skills to strengthen an application

Gain insight into emerging technology, advanced robotics, and the grand major challenges of engineering facing 21st-century engineers

Join the next generation of technological thinkers and leaders

Young engineers are on the cusp of entering workplace undergoing significant restructuring caused by technological progress, as well as an increasing need for interdisciplinary imagination. Student will grow not only in academic prowess, but we will help them grow personally as successful future leaders by:

Strengthening their capacity and skills for project leadership

– Providing opportunities for public speaking and debate to build confidence and communication skills

– Supporting participation in independent research and group projects to promote collaboration and commitment

–  Understanding the six ‘Engineering Habits of Mind’ (as determined by the Royal Society of Engineers) conducive to well-rounded career development in the field

– Exploring an incredible novel location with new friends, broadening their global world view

These are exciting times for early career engineers, as technological advances such as automation see new design opportunities arise across the broadest array of sectors imaginable. Our emphasis on career insights and practical applications represent an incredible opportunity for our 16 to 18 age group to begin to solidify their plans for the future. Through attending our Engineering Summer School, students will:

Prepare to pursue an Engineering, Computer Science, or Technology degree at university

Compare multiple fields of engineering and find their potential career pathway

– Learn the key academic and professional skills like leadership, collaboration and confidence to take them into a successful future

– Discover how Engineering can help solve the future challenges facing the world

We never forget that this is a busy two weeks and attendees are here to enjoy their summer as well as to learn. A good work-life balance is especially crucial for students facing formative examinations and entrance to university. In between sessions of world class academic learning, our students will take part in:

– Exciting social activities with their new friends, from karaoke to arts and crafts

– We offer a wide range of sports including football, tennis, running club, and the Oxford Royale Olympics

– A weekend excursion on either Saturday to London in the UK, San Francisco in Berkeley, or New York in the USA

– Friday Night Party where students can enjoy a night of music and excitement with their new friends

– Formal Graduation ceremony and dinner, followed by a final party, where students can dress in their best and celebrate in style

The two weeks your child spends with Oxford Royale will be unforgettable, filled with key academic and career insights and unmissable cultural exploration.

Exclusively for our 16 to 18 group, the ‘Shaping Your Future’ seminar series will provide an opportunity for students to learn more about the world of academia and work that they will soon enter. Held by our expert staff, this will include university application advice, careers advice, and help students grow as the future leaders of tomorrow.

The Headline Address is an incredible opportunity for our 16 to 18 Engineering students to join the rest of their cohort and be inspired by an expert guest speaker who will speak on some of the key, future-facing issues in the world today.

Using the new skills and knowledge gained on the programme, our engineering students will work in teams to solve challenges facing the world tomorrow. Past examples have been building scale models of bridges, planning for future human life on Mars. Each year, our challenge is designed and updated to respond to contemporary developments in the field by our expert programme designers.

Our engineering students will also have the opportunity to take part in our Public Speaking and Debate Society, and extracurricular event where your child can build their communication, public speaking and debate skills. The sessions will culminate in a Grand Final, an exciting end to two weeks of building new skills.

Held on campus at a special venue, our students will take part in a graduation ceremony hosted by their Programme Director. They will receive a personal graduation certificate, and enjoy a celebratory dinner followed by a final party to end their programme with their new friends.

The two weeks your child spends with Oxford Royale will be unforgettable, filled with key academic and career insights and unmissable cultural exploration.

Full timetable

Download a full sample timetable of our programme in Yale here.

Typical Day

Weekdays on our Engineering Summer Schools for ages 16-18 follow this structure:

  • 8AM: Students wake up for breakfast on campus before heading to lessons
  • 9AM: Morning lessons, with two short breaks
  • 1PM: Lunch break for students to buy food and relax with friends
  • 2PM: Afternoon lessons
  • 3:30PM: Engineering academic workshop to develop key skills, cultural activities such as tours of university buildings
  • 6PM: Dinner on campus
  • 7PM: Study support sessions
  • 8PM: Public Speaking and Debate Society, or a Shaping Your Future seminar
  • 9PM: Social activities such as games nights, capture the flag or karaoke
  • 10:30PM: Curfew

Week 1

Our programme begins with an introduction to the different fields of engineering and the careers your child could have as an engineer. Students then thoroughly learn the fundamental principles of mechanics that need to be understood in and out for a strong engineering application. After lessons, students will take part in workshops and study support – as well as exploring one of our amazing locations – before relaxing in the evening with games nights, sporting events and parties. The first week will culminate in the Oxford Royale olympics and a coach excursion at the weekend.

Week 2

Week two involves learning advanced fields of engineering, such as electronics and programming, in more depth, as well as delivering a presentation and a group research project of the students’ own work. Students will get the chance to try hands-on engineering on our challenge day before displaying their work at our exhibition day. In the evenings, we host events such as parties and our public speaking and debate grand final. The programme will end with an exclusive graduation ceremony and party.

On offer on campus at the following locations

Discover Engineering with Oxford Royale

Get ahead in Engineering

Students with an interest in the sciences and mathematics at school will benefit from the more applicable subject matter on our Engineering courses, ensuring that they consider the implications of their study far beyond the classroom. This tutelage and experience will stand them in great stead as they move towards higher education – guiding students towards a field in which they can excel.

Prepare for a career in Engineering

The workplace may seem a world away for the time being, but we believe it is never too early to introduce interested students to the world of the professional engineer. By bringing the subject to life and considering its impact and achievements in the modern world, we hope to ignite students’ enthusiasm and provide them with a wider set of transferable skills. Engineering is a discipline in which students can pursue a variety of directions and specific careers, so being able to put thought into these at this stage is extremely helpful for the majority of students who have not yet decided on their Engineering path.

Embark on Your Journey to Excellence

Our Engineering summer school offers a holistic education which responds to a rapidly evolving industry. Responding to a high demand throughout the field for individuals capable of creative thinking, interdisciplinary teamwork, and stellar leadership skills, we have designed a bespoke programme of extracurricular activities to support young scientists in becoming the well-rounded engineers of tomorrow. Students will have access to a series of workshops, lectures from thought leaders across a wide range of sectors, and interactive challenges which call for problem solving in real-world scenarios. They’ll look back on their time at Oxford Royale as a watershed moment on their personal journey.

Our Brochures

Find out more about our inspirational venues, award winning academic programmes, and the life changing impact our summer schools can have.

Download Brochure

Reviews

We have a 4.8 rating based on 769 reviews on Reviews.io.
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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!

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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!

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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!

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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.

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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.

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Katherine

Oxford Royale was a great expreince. It was amazing to get to know people all over the globe and form life long relationships.

Frequently Asked Questions

Once you have decided which programme 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 programme or programmes you would like to study, and a credit or debit card to pay the relevant enrolment fee.

We are happy to accept enrolment fee 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 enrolment fee 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 enrolment fee 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 an enrolment fee to secure the booking. For Summer 2024, enrolment fee payments are structured as follows:

  • Summer Schools for ages 13-18 (University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, Imperial College London and the University of California, Berkeley and Yale University) – £1295 GBP for each 2-week session

You may either pay the full programme fee when you book your place, or pay the enrolment fee 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 programme. 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 enrolment fee amount. If you would like to enrol and make your enrolment fee 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 programme fees include the following:

  • Classes and tuition
  • Study files/materials
  • Guest lectures by academic speakers
  • Personalised academic reports and graduation certificate
  • Accommodation at a top university
  • Meals in the dining hall of your college, every day of your programme (Meals provided are typically as follows: breakfast, lunch and dinner for ages 13-15; breakfast and dinner for ages 16-18)
  • Free WiFi (subject to availability)
  • A wide selection of afternoon and evening activities
  • Coach excursions (kindly note that excursions can be to local attractions or to sites further afield)
  • Welcome and graduation events
  • A multitude of extras, including an Oxford Royale notebook and branded clothing

If you wish to change your programme or study options (including dates), please do not hesitate to contact us. However, changes to programmes 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 programme start date.

Oxford Royale’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:

  • No refund of enrolment fee will be made under any circumstances once the two-week cooling-off period has concluded;
  • For cancellations before your course start date, the remainder of the course fees excluding the enrolment fee amount will be proportionally refunded as per the table below:
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:

  • B1 for EFL courses
  • C1 or IELTS level 6.5 or higher for all academic courses

Students who have studied at an English speaking school for two or more years are exempt from English requirements.

It is certainly possible to take more than one programme and combine a variety of study programmes. You can simply book onto 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.

All our programmes take place in a secure environment. Our students are supervised 24 hours a day by campus staff. All students must check-in regularly during the day: at breakfast roll-call; at their morning classes; in the afternoon for lessons, workshops or activities; at dinner and in the evening before curfew. All campuses have a curfew.

Each campus office has its own safe where students may deposit items of value such as passports, travel documents, bank cards etc.

All campuses have residential staff who can be contacted 24 hours a day.

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