Frequently asked questions
Find clear answers to the questions we are most often asked
The city of Oxford in 1893 and 2025. Victorian photos and illustrations by Joseph Foster.
The programme is open to three age groups:
-
Juniors (13–15);
-
Middles (15–18);
-
and Seniors (18–25).
Applicants are expected to have at least B2-level English, and all students must complete short motivational questions on the application form so we can assess suitability for the tutorial format.
-
Both the Oxford Summer Programme and Executive Leadership Programme will run from 19 July to 31 July 2026, and takes place in Oxford University colleges and facilities.
The fee covers:
-
Oxford University accommodation (single bedrooms)
-
All meals (including halal and dietary options)
-
Daily Oxford-style tutorials and seminars
-
Foundational skills training (leadership, debating, critical thinking)
-
Cultural and extracurricular activities
-
Airport transfers on arrival and departure
-
All internal travel
-
24/7 pastoral care and supervision
-
Certificate of Completion and Letter of Recommendation
The fee does not cover:
-
Airfares
-
Visa costs
-
Teaching is delivered exclusively by Oxford and Cambridge academics and graduates, including doctoral researchers, postdoctoral fellows, and professors who teach undergraduates at their universities. Most are directly involved in admissions and interview processes.
The application deadline is 31st March, although places may fill earlier due to limited capacity.
Admission is selective, since places are limited in order to keep tutorial groups small. We review applications for academic motivation, maturity, and readiness for the tutorial style, and we recommend applying early as popular subjects can fill quickly.
For the Oxford Summer Programme, teaching is organised around two academic subjects, one taken as a major and one as a minor. The core teaching is delivered through small tutorials, typically at a 2:1 student-to-tutor ratio, which allows discussion to be sustained and feedback to be detailed.
This is complemented by seminars in larger groups, as well as a foundational skills module that combines taught sessions with team-based exercises. There is also the opportunity for independent study as part of students' independent research papers.
Yes. Every student follows a personalised academic plan. Tutors tailor lessons to the student’s background, interests, and goals, in line with the Oxford tutorial tradition.
Pre-course calibration is part of our ‘Scholars’ package. Before the programme begins, each student receives two one-to-one online sessions with their tutor. These sessions help assess academic level, interests, and goals, allowing tutors to personalise teaching during the programme.
Two one-to-one post-course mentorship sessions are included in the Scholars Package. These provide structured follow-up on university applications, academic planning, and any personalised guidance the student would find most useful.
More generally, support does not end when the programme finishes. All participants join our Oxford Global Courses Ambassador community, and may continue to contact our Residential Deans and academic tutors for advice on applications and next steps as needed.
Students stay in secure Oxford University college accommodation, in single bedrooms on gender-segregated corridors.
-
Residential Deans live on site
-
24-hour university security and controlled access
-
Daily registers and curfews
-
24-hour emergency contact for parents
Student safety and wellbeing are our top priorities. Learn more about how seriously we take this matter by clicking below.
-
Welfare is supported by constant pastoral cover and clear routines. Residential Deans live on site and are visible throughout the day and evening, with sign-in and sign-out procedures, evening registers, and quiet hours for under 18s so that students are accounted for and properly rested.
Under-16s may only leave campus when accompanied by staff, while 16 to 18 year olds may go off campus only in small groups after signing out, must return for the next register, and are not permitted to leave after curfew. Accommodation is in single rooms within college buildings with controlled entrances, with single-sex and age-separated corridors, and nightly headcounts and walk-throughs to confirm everyone is safe. All staff are fully vetted (enhanced DBS or international police clearance) and safeguarding trained, and parents have both a daytime contact number and a 24-hour emergency line.
Yes. Airport transfers are included. Residential Deans meet students on arrival at the airport and accompany them to Oxford using transport arranged by us. At the end of the programme, they escort students back to the airport and assist with drop-off at the appropriate departure terminals.
No. Visa applications and fees are the responsibility of parents or guardians. We provide full documentation support but do not submit applications on families’ behalf.
If a visa application is refused, all fees will be refunded on receipt of the official refusal notice, with the exception of the reservation deposit.
We understand that plans can change, and we try to keep our approach clear and fair. The reservation deposit (£1,299) is non-refundable. Where the 14-day cooling-off period applies, you may cancel within 14 days for a refund of amounts paid, less the enrolment fee, provided the service has not started. If you have asked us to begin providing services within those 14 days, a proportionate charge may apply for what has already been delivered.
After the cooling-off period, refunds of tuition and accommodation fees depend on how far in advance you cancel: 120 days or more before the programme start date (100% of fees paid, excluding the enrolment fee), 90 to 119 days (50%), 45 to 89 days (10%), and 0 to 44 days (no refund). Refunds are made to the original payer within 28 days of confirming eligibility, net of bank, card, and foreign exchange charges. If a student cannot attend due to a visa refusal, fees paid will be refunded except for the reservation deposit, on receipt of the official refusal notice.
Once a programme has begun, we are not able to offer refunds for missed sessions or early departure, and optional extras and third-party costs are generally non-refundable unless the external provider issues a refund.
Dietary and religious requirements are treated as a practical matter rather than an afterthought. We ask families in advance about any dietary, allergy, or medical requirements so we can plan properly and brief staff. Our catering teams can accommodate Halal and Kosher needs, as well as vegetarian, vegan, and allergen-specific diets, with suitable alternatives arranged where needed.
We can also arrange access to multifaith prayer rooms and quiet spaces, so students can observe their beliefs comfortably during the programme.
Yes, in many cases. We ask families in advance to share any learning differences, accessibility needs, or support plans, so that we can make sensible arrangements before the programme begins rather than improvising on arrival.
Where appropriate, we can match a student with a tutor who has relevant SEN experience, for example supporting students with ADHD, anxiety, dyslexia, dyscalculia, or mild autism spectrum traits. The tutorial format is often well suited to this, since pace, structure, and feedback can be adjusted without lowering expectations. Common adjustments include clearer weekly planning, structured note-making support, breaking tasks into manageable steps, allowing short breaks, and agreeing a predictable approach to discussion and written work.
We cannot provide clinical care or specialist one-to-one learning support beyond what is reasonable within a short residential programme, so where a need is complex or requires dedicated provision, we will be candid at the outset. If you share details early, we will advise honestly on what we can accommodate and what would be necessary for the student to thrive.
Oxford Global Courses contracts with the University of Oxford for the use of its facilities and works exclusively with Oxford and Cambridge academics. However, the programme is not operated by the University of Oxford itself.
No programme can guarantee admission. However, our programme significantly strengthens applications by developing academic maturity, critical thinking, and interview readiness valued by top universities.
Students must depart according to the agreed travel arrangements unless prior written permission is provided by parents or guardians.