Exceptional Engineering Program for High Schoolers at Oxford University
Residential Engineering Oxford 16 18_mobile__
University of Oxford Campus, UK

Exceptional Summer Pre-College Engineering 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 - Boarding

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

July - Day

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

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 Engineering Program for High Schoolers at Oxford University Campus

🛠️ Engineering Summer Program at Oxford & Cambridge (Ages 16–18)

📖 Course Overview

Step into the world of future engineers with this exciting two-week program designed for high school students (ages 16–18). You’ll live in an Oxford or Cambridge University college, join small classes led by world-class tutors, and explore first-year university engineering topics through both theory and hands-on projects.

This program is carefully designed to help you decide if engineering is the right path for you, while giving you practical exposure to the field and the experience of living like an Oxbridge student.

***

📚 Sample Modules

  • Electrical Engineering ⚡

    Explore electromagnetism and electrical components such as digital circuits and sensors. Construct your own radio receiver while learning how modern laptops and smartphones function.

  • Mechanical Engineering 🔧

    Dive into kinematics and Newton’s laws of motion, study rigid body dynamics, and design earthquake-resistant buildings. Pitch your solutions in a real-world engineering scenario.

  • Material Engineering 🧪

    Enter the fascinating world of nanoscience and nanotechnology. Evaluate cutting-edge materials, explore their testing, and consider new substances at the forefront of research.

  • Engineering a Solution 💡

    Work in pairs to solve a real-world problem using engineering principles. Create, demonstrate, and present a working prototype — and field questions from your peers.

***

🎓 Academic Skills Workshops

Go beyond engineering and prepare for your academic future:

  • Interview techniques & university applications 🎤

  • Academic writing & presentation skills ✍️

  • Public speaking & confidence building

  • Productivity tips & 21st-century tech skills 💻

Each student develops a personal project or portfolio, presented at graduation.

***

🎉 Activities & Excursions

When you’re not studying, a vibrant social program awaits:

  • Punting on the River Cam 🚣‍♂️

  • Zorb football ⚽

  • Murder mystery night 🕵️‍♀️

  • Quiz night, games night, talent show & movie night 🎬🎤

Excursions:

  • Day trip to explore Oxford & its colleges

  • Optional London trip to see landmarks & shop 🏙️

  • If not London, enjoy afternoon tea in Oxford 🍰☕

Led by our team of friendly mentors, these activities make the summer unforgettable.

***

🍽️ Food & Formal Hall

  • Daily breakfast & dinner in historic college dining halls

  • Two Formal Hall dinners ✨ — dine by candlelight in true Oxbridge tradition

  • All dietary needs & religious observances catered for

***

🛏️ Accommodation

  • 13 nights in a central Oxford or Cambridge University college

  • Single bedrooms (shared bathrooms 1:4; limited ensuite available)

  • Male & female corridors separated (mixed-gender only for ensuite)

  • Wi-Fi included throughout

  • Buildings rich in history (many over 500 years old!)

  • Rooms are designed for study, not luxury; secure with locks

  • Accommodation requests for friends/siblings considered

***

✈️ Arrival & Transfers

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

  • Heathrow transfers:

  • Departures at 11:00, 14:00, 17:00 on arrival Sunday

  • Return transfers at 07:00 & 12:00 on final Saturday

  • Fee: £150 each way

  • Pastoral team meets arrivals at Heathrow and escorts them directly to Oxford/Cambridge

  • Alternative arrival options detailed in Welcome Pack

***

💼 What’s Included

✔️ 13 nights’ accommodation

✔️ Breakfast & dinner daily

✔️ 30 hours of academic sessions with Oxbridge tutors

✔️ Study materials & resources

✔️ Academic Skills Workshops

✔️ Excursions (Oxford & London)

✔️ Cultural & social activities

✔️ Graduation ceremony & certificate

✔️ Tutor’s personalized written evaluation

✔️ Notebook & pen

✔️ Mentor family photograph

✔️ Comprehensive summer school insurance

***

💷 Pocket Money Advice

We recommend bringing £80 per week for lunch, souvenirs, and personal spending. ATMs are widely available, and Visa/Mastercard are accepted.

***

🔑 Key Facts

  • Average class size: 7 students

  • Maximum class size: 12 students

  • 1:1 tutorials and feedback

  • Hands-on projects & prototype presentations

  • Learn from tutors from Oxford, Cambridge & beyond

  • Certificate + detailed personal report included

  • Experience life as an Oxbridge student

***

👉 The Engineering Summer Program is perfect for ambitious teens curious about mechanical, electrical, and material sciences — blending world-class academics with unforgettable cultural adventures.

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: Electrical Engineering

  • Apply electromagnetism principles to understand electrical components like circuits and sensors
  • Explore digital circuits in modern technology, construct a radio receiver

Module 2: Mechanical Engineering

  • Review kinematics, Newtonian laws of motion
  • Explore rigid body dynamics, design earthquake-resistant buildings, pitch ideas

Module 3: Material Engineering

  • Dive into nanoscience and nanotechnology
  • Evaluate and consider new materials in current research
  • Learn about development and testing of new materials

Module 4: Engineering A Solution

  • Solve a real-world problem in pairs using engineering principles
  • Present and demonstrate a working prototype, answer peer questions

Sample timetable Academic insights 2024

Sample Tutors

Kimberly B:

  • PhD researcher in Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology at the University of Cambridge, having previously been a lecturer at the University of Calgary.

  • Research involves autonomous robotics, biomechanics and the self-assembly and structure of carbonaceous nanoparticles.

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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