Sustainability & the Environment Summer School
Oxford Royale 2025
Location: UK & San Francisco
For ages: 13-18
Duration: 2 weeks
Course Dates: 29th Jun to 12th Jul | 13th Jul to 26th Jul
Oxford Royale Sustainability & the Environment Summer School
At our Sustainability & the Environment Summer School, students will strive to preserve life on planet Earth, collaborating in small groups to generate solutions to some of humanity’s most challenging issues. Students will learn, and experience, how the fields of climate science, politics, and leadership can work together to beat extinction through thought-provoking case studies. Our young learners will collaborate with peers to develop a list of ideas and innovations to solve these challenges.
Be inspired by extraordinary global thought leaders and diverse faculty working on the front lines of climate change, water resources, food instability, and wildlife conservation.
Further Details for Ages 13 to 18
Why attend?
In designing a programme to prepare the next generation of global leaders, we recognised that our educational offer must have at its heart solutions to climate change as humankind and its environment face unprecedented existential risks. This uniquely interdisciplinary course, drawing together global politics, leadership, and sustainability, offers conscientious young students from all over the world the opportunity to put their heads together in mapping out how we can win the race against extinction.
Many students may be contemplating a career in a variety of high impact sectors. We endeavour to provide them with a solid foundation in both theoretical and practical skills, instilling in them the confidence to pursue their life’s ambitions. Students will explore roles within high impact sectors, such as climate science, government, diplomacy, or sustainable enterprise.
Develop public speaking skills through regular debates, both in academic sessions and as part of our extracurricular debating society. Practice negotiation and compromise through collaboration with students from a wide variety of international backgrounds, and master project management skills like time management, whether working alone or alongside peers.
Students will critically analyse the aims and methods of different strategies and climate change campaigns, including the Sustainable Development Goals set by the UN. They will also confront popular myths about climate change, and address points of global contention through diplomatic debate and dialogue among peers.
Programme highlights
Ready to see how your programme comes together? Discover the exceptional features we love to highlight.
Our students will be immersed in a real-world legal scenario, allowing them to apply their understanding of law and politics in the context of a mock murder trial. This will enhance students’ analytical, communication, and teamwork skills.
This is a full day challenge on the final Thursday of the programme. Our students will work in teams with others to research the responsibilities, challenges and skills required to become the UK Prime Minister, before presenting their finding back to the group in the from of mock campaign speeches, posters and manifestos.
Students at our London Summer School will not only have the chance to study Law and Politics in the home of parliamentary democracy, but also relax with exclusive trips like seeing an immersive performance of Guys and Dolls.
Our students spend two weeks filled with learning and new friends, and we make sure to send them off in style at their formal graduation event! The ceremony is held at a beautiful venue on their campus, followed by an unforgettable party.
All students receive a personal graduation certificate and report card, and, where possible, parents are welcome to attend!
As the programmes draw to a close, students are invited to attend an illustrious graduation ceremony to honour their achievements, in which they will receive their certificates in an amazing venue on campus. This is followed by a final graduation party on campus for students to celebrate and say goodbye to their new friends.
On offer at these campuses
UC Berkeley
California, USA
Boasting a reputation as the world’s best public university, UC Berkeley is situated at the heart of the vibrant San Francisco Bay Area, home to striking natural beauty as well as the world’s hub of technological innovation: Silicon Valley. Students can soak up the Californian sun and enjoy a host of outdoor activities while benefiting from a life-changing educational experience.
University of Oxford
Oxford, UK
Join us on campus at the University of Oxford, officially known as the world’s best research institution. Follow in the footsteps of Nobel prize-winning authors, scientific pioneers, and world leaders as history comes alive in hallowed dining halls, atmospheric libraries, and cobblestone streets. Experience life as an undergraduate in this city where the myriad possibilities speak for themselves.
Want to find out more?
Book a call with us today.
Our friendly admissions team will be delighted to answer any and all questions you may have about our summer programmes.
How You'll Learn
Escape ordinary classroom teaching and learn through interactive and immersive lessons.
Workshops
Hands-on classes designed to help students learn through practical application.
Masterclasses
An interactive forum with an expert in the field, giving students valuable insights into related and new topics.
Guest Speakers
Successful and famous guest speakers offer students the chance to pose their most important questions.
Debates
Essential for honing students' reasoning abilities and public speaking skills.
Group Projects
An opportunity to work closely with, and learn from, different perspectives.
Seminars
Working in pairs and small groups, students have plenty of opportunity for discussion and debate.
Challenge Days
Apply the skills and knowledge gained throughout your two-week programme in an immersive full day simulation event.
Interactive Lectures
Dynamic lectures given by passionate teachers packed with facts and viewpoints to engage the audience.
Take a look at our brochure
Find out more about our inspirational venues, award winning academic programmes, and the life changing impact our summer schools can have.
Reviews
We have a 4.8 rating based on 867 reviews on Reviews.io
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."
Frequently Asked Questions
If, after reading our FAQs, you still require assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact our Customer Services team.
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
All enrolments require an enrolment fee to secure the booking. For Summer 2023, enrolment fees are structured as follows:
- Summer Schools for ages 13-15 and 16-18 (Oxford, Cambridge, London, Berkeley and Yale) –£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 and then settle 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 programme 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. If you would like to pay your enrolment fee 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.
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 programme start date, the remainder of the programme 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 programme will not receive any refund.
Our English language requirements are as follows:
- B1 for EFL courses
- B2 or IELTS level 5.5 – 6.5 for IELTS Preparation
- 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.
Yes, all students will be awarded an Oxford Royale Graduation Certificate upon satisfactory completion of the programme. This will be presented in a graduation ceremony on the final evening of the programme. 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 programme and combine a variety of study programmes. This can be done by enrolling on two different programmes. For example, you may wish to have two weeks on the Film Academy and then two more weeks on Architecture.
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 programme please do not hesitate to contact us.