Why study with us in Oxford?
Sleep in the rooms, dine in the halls and cross the quads that shaped 30 British prime ministers and more than 70 Nobel laureates. For two weeks, this is where you live.
It was here that Academy Royale International began with a vision: to create an exceptional academic summer in Oxford’s historic college settings. More than 20 years and 50,000 alumni later, students still come to explore future degree subjects, experience university-style teaching and find the confidence and direction to shape their future.
Accredited and multi award-winning summer schools
The Student Experience in Oxford
Imagine studying where Nobel laureates once dreamed and the world's greatest literary works were born. Study and stay in Oxford colleges where every hall, quad and courtyard is a living lesson in greatness. Explore a city steeped in history, discoveries and timeless magic.
Why Academy Royale International in Oxford
Courses
Great futures begin with great learning. From hands-on experiences to thought-provoking ideas, find the course that helps you grow in ways you never expected.
Faculty
Unlike other summer programmes, our curriculum is designed and developed by academic experts who draw from their wealth of experience, crafting programmes that help students grasp core concepts, develop critical-thinking skills, enlighten them on the current issues and innovations shaping the future of their subject.
University of Oxford
Medicine
Co-director of the Green Healthcare Hub and a DPhil Rhodes Scholar at the University of Oxford. Runs the Oxford course on Sustainable Health Care and is co-authoring a forthcoming book on the subject.
University of Oxford
Law
Yamani Fellow in Public International Law at St Peter’s College. DPhil and BCL at Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar; LLM, Yale. Formerly Director of Studies in Law at Queens’ College, Cambridge.
University of Oxford
Engineering
Associate Professor of Engineering Science at the University of Oxford, a member of the Oxford Robotics Institute and Tutorial Fellow at St Anne’s College. He leads the HEAT Lab, developing body-interfacing technologies designed to restore and enhance human abilities.
University of Oxford
Biotechnology & Genetics
Oxford-GSK IMCM Fellow and Group Leader in the Nuffield Department of Medicine at the University of Oxford. Her research focuses on glial-neuron interactions in Parkinson’s disease, using advanced cellular, transcriptomic and imaging approaches to identify potential disease-modifying therapeutic targets.
University of Oxford
Medicine
Lily Mainwaring is an NIHR Academic Clinical Fellow in General Surgery at the University of Oxford. Her research focuses on surgical quality assurance, technical performance, training and patient safety. She studied Natural Sciences and Medicine at Cambridge, graduating with a First-Class degree and Distinction in Medicine alongside several academic prizes. She is also involved in undergraduate medical teaching at Oxford and supports students considering careers in medicine and surgery.
University of Oxford
Engineering
Head of the Teaching and Research Design Group in the Department of Engineering Science at the University of Oxford. She holds a doctorate in Electrical Engineering from Cambridge and has more than a decade of experience across industry and higher education.
MIT
MIT Future Builders
Hannah is the Director MIT Open Learning and is passionate about technology, entrepreneurship, health, and education. She began her career at a DC think tank researching technology trends after completing her MBA at the MIT Sloan School of Management, undertaking projects in collaboration with the MIT Media Lab.
University of Oxford
Medicine
Claire is a public health clinician with a Master’s in International Health and Tropical Medicine from the University of Oxford. Amongst her many achievements, she managed an HIV and tuberculosis project for Médecins Sans Frontières in Khayelitsha, South Africa, leading the project’s COVID response in 2020.
How students learn
This is not two weeks with one teacher. Our curriculum, honed over more than 20 summers, mirrors the variety and intellectual rhythm of university learning. Students encounter several specialist voices, interrogate ideas with their class lecturer, apply their knowledge and learn to present conclusions with confidence.
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Your Oxford Campus
Students stay at Balliol College, St Peter’s College and St Catherine’s College, experiencing daily life in spaces shaped by generations of scholars, world leaders, pioneering thinkers and Nobel Prize winners.
Beyond the classroom
Excursions, socials, sport and a graduation night, filling the hours between lectures.
Exploring Oxford is like stepping into your very own fairytale. Our fully-supervised trips bring the magic of the city to life through guided tours, college visits, riverside walks, and hidden gems. We also offer an optional London trip for those craving a bigger adventure.
Our social programme is all about connection, creativity, and giving students the confidence to try new things. From punting and hands-on workshops to debate evenings, gallery visits, and relaxed welcome events, there's something to inspire everyone.
Our sessions channel Oxford’s strong sports heritage: lively, inclusive, and full of friendly competition. Whether students are into team sports or want to try something new, they’ll enjoy everything from football tournaments to classic English lawn games and our very own park "Olympics."
Our graduation celebration is a wonderful way to end every experience. Held in a beautiful Oxford college, it brings everyone together to celebrate their achievements. Enjoy an exclusive formal dinner, before dancing the night away at our midsummer graduation party.
Reviews
I have never been to Oxford before, and now I love it. The buildings and the history are incredible. My favourite part has been the people. I have met so many people from all over the world, and I have made some lifelong friends.
Laura
Business, Innovation & Entrepreneurship
The classes were very different from school. We had the hands-on experiences that are really important for learning the subject and it's helped me decide what I want to do in the future.
Maria
Engineering
I chose to come to Academy Royale International because I wanted an adventure! I also wanted to explore university life, and learn more about the subject. I love the lessons here because the teachers make the lessons fun while teaching, lots of practical work.
Femi
Explore Engineering
In school, we mostly learn simpler topics, but these classes were different. The lessons went much more in depth, and I found them fascinating. If this is what university-level learning is like, I definitely want to go to university. I've really enjoyed the experience, and I hope university will be just like this.
Nicolas
Experimental Psychology
Find out more
Find out more about the incredible summer experience at Academy Royale International. Join over 50,000 alumni in the experience of a lifetime this summer
Frequently Asked Questions
Academy Royale International’s summer school in Oxford is a two-week residential academic programme for students aged 12–18. Students live and learn in historic Oxford college settings, explore their chosen subjects through university-style teaching and enjoy a full programme of activities, excursions and social events.
No. Academy Royale International is an independent summer-school provider that has been running programmes on campus at the University of Oxford since 2004. We contract with colleges of the University of Oxford for the use of their accommodation, dining, teaching and event facilities, but our programmes are not operated, authorised, endorsed or taught by the University of Oxford.
Our summer school in Oxford is open to students aged 12–18. Students study in age-appropriate classes, with programmes and pastoral arrangements designed separately for students aged 12–15 and 16–18.
Each Oxford programme lasts two weeks. The 2027 sessions run from 4–17 July, 18–31 July and 1–15 August. Students can also combine consecutive sessions to stay for four or six weeks.
Students can choose from a wide range of subjects, including Medicine, Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Business, Law, Economics, Architecture, Psychology, Biotechnology, Creative Writing and Sustainability. We also offer multi-subject programmes for students who want to explore several interests during their summer.
Students stay in accommodation at Balliol College, St Peter’s College or St Catherine’s College and other colleges are added when needed. They experience daily life in historic Oxford college settings, with lessons in inspiring classrooms, meals in college dining halls and access to college grounds and facilities.
Families can enrol through our secure online booking system. A deposit of £1,295 per two-week session is required to secure a place, with the remaining balance due no later than 90 days before the programme begins. After enrolment, families receive access to the Academy Royale International Portal, where they can manage payments and submit important student information.
College allocation depends on the student’s age, chosen programme, session and accommodation availability. Families may submit accommodation requests, but a particular college or room cannot be guaranteed unless confirmed in writing.
Oxford accommodation includes a mixture of single and twin bedrooms. Students can request a particular room type, but requests are subject to availability. Some locations may also offer an en-suite room reservation for an additional fee.
Yes. Male and female students are accommodated on separate corridors or staircases. Different age groups are also housed separately wherever possible, reflecting the different welfare and safeguarding arrangements for students aged 12–15 and 16–18.
Student safety is supported by trained residential staff, controlled campus access, 24-hour security arrangements and clear sign-in, sign-out and curfew procedures. Students are accompanied by staff during organised lessons, activities and excursions, and every campus has a 24-hour emergency contact number.
Students must sign out and back in whenever they leave campus. Students aged 12–15 may only leave in groups of at least three, while students aged 16–18 may leave in pairs. Younger students have earlier curfews and tighter limits on independent time.
Each Oxford campus is led by an experienced Programme Director and supported by trained residential, academic, events and welfare staff. Team members are available throughout the programme to help students settle in, remain safe and make the most of their experience.
Our faculty includes academics, and researchers at leading universities such as the University of Oxford and practising professionals with extensive experience in their field. Students learn from several specialist voices as well as a class lecturer who guides their seminars, discussions, practical work and presentations.
Students attending an academic programme should have approximately C1-level English or an IELTS score of 6.5 or above. Students who have attended an English-speaking school for two or more years are exempt from the formal English-language requirement.
Morning classes typically run from 09:00 to 12:30. Afternoon academic sessions usually take place on three or four days each week, followed by activities, excursions, guest lectures or social events. Exact schedules vary by programme and day.
Students enjoy a varied programme of cultural activities, sports and social events. These may include punting, Oxford walking tours, college and museum visits, creative workshops, debate evenings, football, talent shows and a formal graduation celebration.
Breakfast and dinner are included for all Oxford students. Lunch is also included for students aged 12–15. Students aged 16–18 can explore Oxford’s cafés, restaurants and markets at lunchtime and should budget approximately £10 per day for lunch.
We can accommodate most dietary and support requirements when informed in advance. Families must provide details of allergies, medical conditions, disabilities, medication and learning differences through the secure student portal. Where appropriate, an Individual Student Support Agreement may be created with the family.
Yes. Academy Royale International offers an optional supervised airport transfer service for an additional fee. London Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton are the most convenient international airports for Oxford. However students wishing to take the transfer service need to arrive and depart from Heathrow. Eligible airports, travel windows and booking instructions are provided before arrival.
