Exceptional Creative Writing Program for High Schoolers at Oxford University
Residential Creativewriting Cambridge 16 18_mobile
University of Oxford Campus, UK

Exceptional Summer Pre-College Creative Writing Program for High Schoolers at Oxford University Campus

age icon 16-18 years old

time icon 2 weeks

book icon Weekly hours: 20

See Dates

Session Dates

Choose your preferred session from the options below and submit your details in order to complete your booking.

July - Day

Start 7/5/2026
End 7/18/2026
Duration 2 Weeks
Price £5,995

July - Boarding

Start 7/5/2026
End 7/18/2026
Duration 2 Weeks
Price £7,495

July - Day

Start 7/19/2026
End 8/1/2026
Duration 2 Weeks
Price £5,995

July - Boarding

Start 7/19/2026
End 8/1/2026
Duration 2 Weeks
Price £7,495

August - Day

Start 8/2/2026
End 8/15/2026
Duration 2 Weeks
Price £5,995

August - Boarding

Start 8/2/2026
End 8/15/2026
Duration 2 Weeks
Price £7,495

Course Description: Exceptional Summer Pre-College Creative Writing Program for High Schoolers at Oxford University Campus

✍️ Creative Writing Summer Program | Oxford & Cambridge University | Ages 13–18

📖 Course Overview

Step into the world of storytelling at Oxford or Cambridge, where some of history’s greatest literary minds — from John Milton to William Thackeray — once walked.

This immersive creative writing course is designed for ambitious young authors eager to:

  • 🌟 Refine their writing techniques

  • 🌟 Push the limits of imagination

  • 🌟 Develop compelling characters and stories

  • 🌟 Explore different forms and narrative styles

Guided by skilled university professors, you’ll enhance your craft through workshops, group discussions, and one-to-one feedback — all while drawing inspiration from the rich cultural environment of Oxford and Cambridge.

***

🎓 Campus Experience

🌍 Join small, international groups of like-minded peers.

👩‍🏫 Learn from tutors with teaching experience at Oxford, Cambridge & Harvard.

👨‍👩‍👦 Average class size: 7 students (max: 12).

✨ Tutors are carefully selected for being engaging, supportive, and inspiring.

This program offers a once-in-a-lifetime academic opportunity to live and learn like a true Oxbridge student.

***

📚 Sample Modules

  • An Introduction to Creative Writing

    Challenge conventional approaches to 21st-century writing. Discuss writing methods, routines, and strategies to defeat writer’s block.

  • The Importance of Character

    From Sherlock Holmes to Jay Gatsby — explore how iconic characters drive stories. Learn how clichés, tropes, and character choices shift tone and shape plotlines.

  • Learning the Industry: The Basics

    Understand the publishing world — from competitions and magazines to traditional publishing, e-books, self-publication, and even screenwriting.

  • Written Portfolio

    Produce a portfolio of creative works or a novella during the program. Receive detailed written and verbal feedback to guide your future as a writer.

***

🛠️ Academic Skills Workshops

Alongside subject modules, you’ll gain key transferable skills for university and beyond:

  • Productivity Tips

  • 21st-Century Technology Skills

  • Academic Writing, Interview Skills & Public Speaking

These sessions prepare you for future academic success while unlocking your potential as a writer.

***

📌 Key Facts

  • Average class size: 7 students

  • Maximum class size: 12 students

  • ✔️ 1:1 tutorials & mentoring

  • ✔️ Certificate of completion

  • ✔️ Personal tutor’s report & feedback

  • ✔️ Create and present a personal project/portfolio

  • ✔️ Experience authentic Oxbridge student life

***

🎉 Social Activities

Your experience extends beyond the classroom with a busy social calendar:

  • 🚤 Punting on the River Cam

  • ⚽ Zorb football

  • 🎭 Murder mystery night

  • 🎬 Movie & quiz nights

  • 🎤 Talent show

All activities are guided by friendly mentors to ensure fun and bonding with peers from around the world.

***

🏛️ Excursions

  • Full-day trip exploring Oxford and its historic colleges

  • Optional London trip 🏙️ to see famous landmarks and enjoy shopping

  • Afternoon tea in Oxford for those staying behind

***

🍴 Food & Formal Hall

  • Daily breakfast & dinner provided in college dining halls.

  • 🍽️ Twice during your stay: dress up for Formal Hall, a candlelit dinner in a grand Oxford or Cambridge hall — a once-in-a-lifetime tradition.

  • All dietary, religious & medical requirements are catered for.

***

🏠 Accommodation

  • Assigned to a central Oxford or Cambridge college a few weeks before arrival.

  • 🛏️ Single bedrooms with shared bathrooms (1 per 4).

  • Limited ensuite rooms (priority for additional needs).

  • Gender-separated corridors (mixed only for ensuite).

  • Historic, study-focused college buildings (some 500+ years old, no AC).

  • Wi-Fi throughout; secure rooms with locks; housekeeping included.

  • Requests to room with friends/siblings considered when possible.

***

🛬 Arrival & Transfers

  • Arrival Day: Sunday, 2 pm – 5 pm (rooms ready by 3 pm).

  • Shared Airport Transfers: London Heathrow (Terminal 3).

  • Departures: 11:00, 14:00, 17:00 (arrival Sunday)

  • Returns: 07:00 & 12:00 (final Saturday)

  • Pastoral team escorts from any Heathrow terminal to Terminal 3.

  • Fee: £150 each way

Alternative arrival options provided in your Welcome Pack.

***

💷 Pocket Money Advice

Bring £80 per week for lunch, shopping, and souvenirs.

💳 Visa & Mastercard widely accepted; ATMs across Oxford & Cambridge.

***

🎓 What’s Included

✔️ 13 nights accommodation in an Oxford or Cambridge college

✔️ Breakfast & dinner daily

✔️ 30 hours of academic sessions with Oxford/Cambridge tutors

✔️ Carefully prepared study materials

✔️ Mentor program & support access

✔️ Academic skills workshops

✔️ 1:1 tutorials & full tutor’s report

✔️ Social & cultural activities

✔️ Excursions (Oxford + optional London)

✔️ 2 Formal Hall dinners

✔️ Summer school insurance

✔️ Graduation ceremony & certificate

✔️ Notebook & pen

✔️ Mentor family photo

Activities

  • Outside of lessons, enjoy a busy and diverse social program including punting on the River Cam, zorb football, games night, movie night, quiz night, talent show and a murder mystery night at the college.
  • All activities and excursions are led by our team of friendly mentors, dedicated to maximizing your enjoyment.

Accommodations

  • College allocation based on dates and subject choice, assigned a few weeks before arrival.

  • All colleges are central, historical, with unique culture and character.

  • Accommodations designed for study, not luxury; many buildings over 500 years old, no air conditioning.

  • Accommodation requests for friends/siblings considered where possible.

  • Separate male and female accommodations in each college; wi-fi available throughout.

  • Single occupancy rooms with shared bathrooms (one per four participants); some ensuite facilities available, prioritized for additional needs.

  • Mixed-gender corridors for ensuite facilities; gender-separated corridors for shared bathrooms.

  • Welcome Pack includes possible college details for program dates.

  • Rooms secured with locks, housekeeping access for maintenance.

  • Breakfast and dinner included on campus

  • Host venues accommodate all dietary requirements, special attention to religious observances and medical needs (Please let us know if you need to follow any particular religious observances or have any medical requirements that we need to know about.)

  • As a student, you will experience formal dinner three times during your stay: once per week in Oxford and at an Cambridge University college on the excursion day, making formal hall a memorable occasion, so remember to bring some smart clothes!

Excursions

  • Two excursions offered: a day trip to visit Oxford and its colleges, and an optional day out in London to see famous landmarks and enjoy shopping.
  • If you opt out of the London trip, you're invited to afternoon tea in Oxford.

Transportation

  • Arrival Time: Participants should arrive between 2 pm and 5 pm on the first Sunday of the program, with registration and accommodation showings upon arrival (accommodation ready by 3 pm).

  • London Heathrow Airport Transfers: Shared airport transfer service available from Heathrow Terminal 3 directly to Cambridge/Oxford colleges. Pastoral team to meet participants at any Heathrow terminal and escort to Terminal 3.

  • Transfer departures at 11:00, 14:00, and 17:00 on arrival Sunday; return transfers to London Heathrow Airport depart at 07:00 and 12:00 on the final Saturday.

  • Transfer Fee: Available for booking post-enrollment at £150 each way.

  • Detailed information is provided closer to the program date, including contact numbers.

  • Alternative Arrivals: For those arriving at different airports or by other means, details are in the Welcome Pack sent after enrolment confirmation.

Lesson Plan

  • 40 hours of academic sessions from Oxford University and Cambridge University tutors
  • Carefully designed study and lecture materials
  • Mentor program and access to support material
  • Average class size of 7, maximum class size of 10 students
  • 1:1 tutorials: Supportive, challenging and engaging
  • All participants receive an individual report from their tutor
  • Develop a personal project or a creative portfolio to present at the end of the course
  • Interview skills, academic writing and presentation

Academic Skills Workshops:

  • Unlock participants’ potential, giving them the tools to prepare for the next steps of their education and future goals.
  • Focus on enhancing study skills
  • Support for university-level learning
  • Diverse and enriching range of topics – past examples have ranged from ‘Productivity tips’ to ’21st Century Technology Skills’.
  • Unique learning experience outside traditional schools

Sample Modules:

Module 1: An Introduction to Creative Writing

  • Challenge assumptions of 21st-century writing
  • Discuss writing methods, goals, and overcoming writer's block

Module 2: The Importance of Character

  • Examine the role of characters in fiction, from clichés to complex traits
  • Analyze character-driven shifts in tone and plot

Module 3: Learning the Industry: The Basics

  • Understand the publishing industry and various options
  • Explore traditional publishing, e-books, self-publication, and film writing

Module 4: Written Portfolio

  • Develop a portfolio of creative writing or a novella
  • Receive personalized written and verbal feedback for future development as a writer

Sample timetable Academic insights 2024

Sample Tutors

George M:

  • Lecturer in Medieval English at St Anne's College and St Hilda's College, Oxford

  • BA in English Literature from Durham University

  • MSt in English (650-1550) from Mansfield College, Oxford

  • DPhil (PhD) from St Anne’s College, Oxford

  • Doctoral thesis on anger in Old Norse-Icelandic Íslendingasögur (Sagas of Icelanders)

Guest Speakers from Previous Summers:

  • Abi Oyepitan - Former Olympian: A two-time Olympian and Commonwealth Gold and Silver winning track and field athlete.

  • Dr Lynda Shaw - Neuroscientist & entrepreneur: A journey in personal development - how to create your own set of tools to fast track success

  • Dr Nigel Warburton - Philosopher, author & journalist: How do great people find answers to deep and meaningful questions?​​

Extras

  • Transfer Fee: £150 each way.

  • Pocket Money Advice: Money we recommend that participants bring £80 per week to cover lunch each day, plus any souvenirs that they may wish to purchase. Various banks and ATMs are available throughout Cambridge, and Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted.

Security

  • This program is accredited by British Accreditation Council (BAC)

  • Meets global standards for academic provision and student welfare

  • Top priority for participant safety

  • Staff undergo enhanced background checks and safeguarding training

  • Participants assigned to a “Mentor Family” of 10 students

  • Mentors offer support, advice, and share their experiences

  • School management and supervision is managed by senior, experienced College Managers in Cambridge, Oxford, London, and Sydney

  • College Managers trained to Level 3 Safeguarding standards

  • Resident summer team and college personnel supervise sites 24/7

  • Encourage student independence within safe boundaries

  • Team supervision ensures safe and rewarding experience

Requirements

  • This program is designed for students with at least an upper-intermediate level of English (B2). If you are unsure if you meet this requirement, please contact with our advisor.

Video

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