Summer experience

Programme Pathways

Participants may choose one of the following pathways, each of two weeks (students staying 4 weeks may choose two pathways):

1 Humanities: Art, History and Literature

Oxford is a wonderful place for the study of the Humanities , with over 1000 years of cultural history, art and architecture. It is the home of many galleries and museums, including Europe’s oldest, the Ashmolean. It is also the place where many writers produced their finest work , such as Tolkien, Carroll, and Shelley . And of course Shakespeare’s Stratford is only one hour away.

This pathway includes :

The study of modern and medieval art, based in the Ashmolean

Major writers including Shakespeare, the Romantic Poets , and Victorian novelists

The History of the 20th century

2 International Relations, the Global Economy and the Environment

This pathway includes:

Seminars in International Relations and sustaining peace. We include a visit to the Oxford University Union (www.oxford-union.org ) which is world famous for its debates, including leading international politicians.

Seminars on Economic Development and globalisation.

Seminars on Environmental issues , especially on a global scale.

Create your own Oxford Adventure!

This pathway offers students the opportunity to flexibly design their own programme and to discover the joys of Oxford, whilst continuing their education and broadening their horizons.

Some students take these programmes to enhance their existing studies, and possibly gain accreditation from their own high school or college. Others see the Oxford programme as an exciting way to widen their cultural and educational experience as part of a gap year. Some students love the city so much that they take the programme in order to enter a British university and stay in Oxford!

These programmes are very much tailor-made – they are unlike any other academic programme we offer. Over 30 subjects are offered, ranging from the Sciences, Mathematics, Liberal Arts, Languages , Business and Economics and many others. The choice of subjects (two for each stay of two weeks) is agreed with OISC in advance, and our staff are always happy to offer advice. The most important thing about these courses is their flexibility. We allow our study abroad students to shape their own programme in order for them to get a truly personalised, diverse experience.

Accommodation

The Oxford Summer Experience programme is fully residential in the University of Oxford. The emphasis is on an immersive cultural and social experience. The rooms are single and usually en suite, and breakfast and dinner are taken in the Dining Hall. The minimum age for University Residence is 16 years.

Cultural Visits and Excursions

There are visits to places of historic and cultural interest locally each weekday afternoon. At weekends students enjoy a full day excursion, for example London, Stratford and Warwick, or Bath and Stonehenge.

Other Summer programmes

We offer a range of other programmes, which are open to all ages, including:

Oxford and Cambridge University preparation

School revision courses , including IB, ALevel and (I)GCSE

Critical Thinking , Study Skills and Academic Enrichment

English Language programmes

A range of accommodation options are available, including University (16+); the Residence (14+) and host families (all ages).

What people say
about us

We work for you, all our efforts are reflected on the feedback presented and we couldn’t be happier.

The Literature course was outstanding. Everybody in the OISC office makes an extra-ordinary effort to be flexible and nice and to make you feel at home. I will indeed recommend you to colleagues - I have learned a lot. Thank you!

- Ulla, Oxford Summer Experience student, Denmark