The Business & Economics Summer School at Lady Margaret Hall, University of Oxford is a two-week on-campus programme designed for ambitious 13-15 year olds. The course blends foundational business and economics topics-market systems, entrepreneurship, supply and demand and financial literacy-with practical, real-world application. Classes are small (maximum of 8 students) to ensure personalised attention from Oxford tutors.

Students take part in daily seminars, group tasks, independent research and tutor-assigned projects, with directed study sessions and feedback-driven teaching. The published sample day runs from breakfast at 08:00, morning academic sessions 09:00-12:30, lunch 12:30-13:30, afternoon directed study or workshops 13:30-15:00 and masterclasses or enrichment activities 15:00-17:00, with evening social events and supervised lights-out.

The programme includes comfortable full-board accommodation (shared or single rooms), all meals, 24/7 on-site support staff and a range of social activities. Optional airport transfer services from London Heathrow are offered (complimentary for arrivals/departures within specified times; a dedicated unaccompanied minors departure service is available for a specified fee). On completion students receive a certificate of completion, a personalised letter of recommendation, and the opportunity to attend a graduation ceremony.

The University of Oxford's Faculty of English is hosting an Open Day for prospective students on 18 September 2026 at the Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities in Oxford. Visitors can explore the Faculty, meet staff and current students, and learn more about undergraduate study in English at Oxford and the application process. The day includes two English taster lectures, an information talk titled “English at Oxford,” and a Joint Schools Q&A. The Humanities Library will also be open throughout the day, and a stall in the atrium will run from 9am to 1pm so visitors can ask questions in person. Parents are welcome, although they are asked not to attend the morning lectures and talks to avoid overcrowding. No booking is required, but students can register on the University website to receive more information about the Open Days.

Lite Regal Education's Computer Science Summer Course is an in-person, campus-based programme for students aged 15-18, delivered at university college campuses in London, Cambridge and Oxford. The course blends practical workshops and classroom lessons where students build projects such as functioning mobile apps and games, and learn languages and tools including Python, Swift/Objective-C, Xcode, AI and web technologies. Field visits and guest lectures (for example visits to Google Campus) form part of the learning experience.

The programme is hands-on and project-focused: students complete workshops, present their apps/games, and receive an academic report and certificate at graduation. Daily timetables combine morning lessons, afternoon workshops, and a structured social programme with excursions, coach trips and evening activities. Accommodation is provided on campus (typically shared twin rooms), with meals included during the programme.

Applications are processed online (deposit required). The course aims to broaden computing knowledge, strengthen university applications and provide practical portfolio work for students considering further study or careers in computing and technology.

Springpod's Journalism Work Experience is a virtual programme introducing learners to different branches of journalism, including print, broadcast, photojournalism and freelance work. The course features quizzes, interactive activities, webinars with industry professionals and practical tasks such as writing articles and broadcast scripts to help students experience real journalistic workflows.

The programme is self-paced within a typical two-week window and includes live webinars (weekday working hours) which are recorded and made available afterwards. There is no strict completion deadline; assignments are reviewed and a certificate is generated once the programme is marked complete. The course is available on demand, and learners can sign up and start immediately via the Springpod platform.

This programme is aimed at school and college students but is explicitly open to anyone aged 13 and over. It is designed to build transferable skills useful for careers in media, communications and related creative industries.

Explore a range of taster workshops linked to the University of Sunderland’s Media and Journalism courses. The day is designed to give prospective students a practical introduction to what studying in this area can look like, with activities that connect course content to real creative and media careers. Participants will get to experience the facilities used by current students and take part in four workshops: a journalism escape room, a podcasting session, a TV studio experience, and a creative game-writing activity. Each session gives students a chance to try different skills, from verifying sources and presenting on camera to planning, recording, editing, and storytelling. The event is aimed at Year 12/13 students and can be booked by school groups or individuals. It offers a hands-on way to explore university study in media and journalism while learning how the courses link to different career paths.

The University of Oxford Department of Engineering Science Undergraduate Open Day is a chance for prospective students to explore the undergraduate programme and find out more about studying engineering at Oxford. Visitors can attend taster lectures, demonstrations and talks across the day, with department and college spaces open for those wanting to look around and ask questions. The event is designed to help students understand the course, the admissions process, and student life at Oxford. Student ambassadors and admissions tutors will be available to answer questions, and there is also a parents and carers session included as part of the day. This open day is aimed at prospective undergraduate applicants and is a useful introduction for students considering engineering at university. No booking is required, so attendees can simply come along on the day.

The Immerse Education Bursary Programme provides financial assistance for motivated school students who otherwise could not attend Immerse Education summer programmes. Awards are granted based on household income and academic potential and are open to students from all school types worldwide. Applicants must be aged between 13 and 18 at the start of their chosen programme session. Applications are open year-round and are reviewed monthly by the Bursary Selection Committee. The application requires a written essay (maximum 500 words), a short video (maximum 3 minutes), and financial verification documents submitted together in a single form. Financial verification documents must be submitted in .docx, .pdf or .jpg format and written in English. Applicants are advised to draft their essay in advance as forms cannot be saved mid-completion. Successful applicants may be offered full or partial bursaries covering up to 100% of the programme participation fee. Bursaries apply only to Immerse Education summer programmes (online or residential) and are not redeemable for cash. Successful applicants will be given a deadline to confirm their place once an offer is made.

The British Astronomy & Astrophysics Olympiad (BAAO), run within the BPhO trust, offers schools across the UK a series of competition papers focused on astronomy and astrophysics. Launched in 2015, the competition is syllabus-independent and builds on core physics applied to astronomical contexts; no prior specialist astronomy modules are assumed. It provides a pathway for students to explore current research topics and to progress to higher education in related fields.

Students are encouraged to attempt the Astro Challenge Paper in the Autumn term and must take at least one of the BPhO Round 1 (November) or the BAAO Round 1 (January). Top performers are invited to the BAAO Round 2 in February, with final selection of the five students who will represent the UK at the IOAA taking place at an Easter training camp in Oxford in April. Past papers and solutions are available online and studying them is strongly recommended to prepare.

Assessment outcomes use medal boundaries (approximately 60%+ Gold, 40%+ Silver, 20%+ Bronze, below 20% Commendation). The BAAO is closely linked with university-based training camps and provides an opportunity for motivated school students (including GCSE and A-level students) to gain advanced problem-solving experience and compete internationally.

Surrey County Archaeological Unit offers a range of volunteering opportunities across fieldwork and post-excavation activities. Summer community projects include excavations, surveys and field walking; no previous experience is needed and training is provided. Volunteers can join digs during the warmer months to gain hands-on experience in archaeological field techniques.

Year-round Wednesday sessions are held at the Surrey History Centre in Woking, focused on processing finds and samples; these sessions run 11:00-16:00 and require booking. The unit also provides limited work experience placements targeted at students in Year 11, sixth form and college, and publishes career resources online for those considering heritage and archaeological careers.

To get involved or for further details about placements, sessions and summer projects, contact the Surrey County Archaeological Unit directly. Note that placement availability can be limited, so early enquiries are recommended.

Join Blue Rivers for a three-part online Summer Poetry Reading Series held over Zoom. Each session features poets published on Blue Rivers followed by an opportunity for other attendees to read if time allows. Sessions are intended as readings rather than workshops: there is no critique, only shared listening, brief Q&A as time permits, and a welcoming space for community. Each session runs for about an hour and aims for roughly 8-10 minutes per reader (a little more if the group is small). Reading is optional - you can register to listen only, or register and indicate interest in a reading slot via the reader sign-up made available to registrants. The hosts will share the Zoom link and reader sign-up form with those who register through Eventbrite. The series emphasizes respectful conduct (no hate speech, erotic content, or disruptions) and sessions will not be recorded. Individual sessions stand on their own, so you are welcome to attend one, two, or all three dates.

Isaac Science's "Mentoring: Physics Problem Solving" is a free mentoring series aimed at students studying A Level Physics from Year 12 (from February) through Year 13 (until November). The scheme provides challenging problem sets drawn from A Level material (with some questions requiring A Level Maths) and a monthly live webinar where mentors discuss solutions and answer questions on Zoom. Recordings of webinars are posted afterwards on the mentoring page. There will be 10 mentoring sessions in 2026, each focused on a particular A Level Physics topic. For each session a question deck (around eight questions) is released for students to attempt before the webinar; students are encouraged to try the problems themselves and to discuss approaches with peers. The mentoring group on Isaac Science displays assignments and tracks the problems you have been assigned. No certificates will be awarded for this scheme, but completed questions can feed into the Isaac Senior Physics Challenge if you choose to apply. To participate, join the 2026 Mentoring Group on Isaac Science, read the Code of Conduct, and register for webinars on Zoom. The Y11 mentoring scheme remains available separately.

Shape the future of highways through AI, innovation and collaboration at this multidisciplinary hackathon hosted at the University of Northampton. The event brings together people with different backgrounds to tackle practical challenges facing highways services and explore new ideas that could make a real difference. Participants work in teams throughout the day, developing ideas and practical solutions with support from facilitators and subject experts. The hackathon is designed to be collaborative and accessible, and you do not need to be an AI expert, software developer or highways engineer to contribute. Challenge areas include potholes and road maintenance, asset management, and communication and public engagement. The event is open to engineers, developers, designers, researchers, students, communications specialists and others with useful experience or local insight to share.

The Debussy International Music Competition is an open, international competition for musicians across a wide range of classical categories including All Instruments, Conducting, Composition, Voice, Chamber, Choir, Ensemble, Orchestra and Music Creator. The competition accepts performers, conductors, composers and groups of any nationality and age; category-specific age brackets determine eligibility. Submissions may be video or audio (composers may also submit MIDI files), and for many categories video evidence is required. Age for an application is determined on the day of the application deadline (or the average age of the group for group entries).

The competition defines many categories with explicit repertoire and duration rules (period-specific categories require works from the indicated eras). Multiple categories may be entered using the same link if the recording meets each category's requirements, but if multiple works are submitted in a single application only the first work will be considered. Additional requirements and FAQs cover submission formats, visibility of performers in video submissions, acceptable accompaniment (including audio backgrounds), and limits on submitted writing (1500 words) or video length for innovative writing. Specific prize details vary by category; winners in the Music Video category receive an e-certificate and a listing on the Beeffie Creative Musical Artists page.

The Ban Ki-moon Foundation’s "Your Future in Green Jobs" is a free, self-paced online course made up of six interactive modules that help young people explore climate change, green career paths, and the skills needed to pursue them. The course includes interactive assignments, videos, reflection spaces, and a virtual Green Job Career Fair to expose learners to a range of green careers and entrepreneurial pathways. Learners who complete the course can receive a certificate signed by Ban Ki-moon. In addition to the online course, the programme runs an annual Mentorship Program in which around 20 young people (aged 14-20) from across the world are selected to receive guidance from green jobs experts and develop SDG micro-projects. Insights from the course and mentorship feed into a Policy Recommendations Paper advocating for youth access to green jobs. The programme is presented in collaboration with Dubai Cares, Plan International, and Unbounded Associates, and aims to empower youth to connect their passions, interests, and skills with meaningful careers that address climate change.

The Faculty of Psychology is a two-week pre-university summer school in Cambridge for students aged 14-17. Through interactive lectures, practical workshops and live experiments you will study cognitive, developmental and social psychology, learning how psychological theories apply to real behaviour.

Students take part in group research projects and lab activities (for example memory and social influence experiments), present findings at the end-of-week Time to Shine ceremony, and receive dedicated academic coaching to support progression towards university study. The programme also includes English language development to build confidence in discussing psychological concepts.

Fieldwork sessions and supervised excursions in Cambridge (and London) connect classroom learning with real-world settings. By the end of the course participants gain research and analytical skills, improved critical thinking, and a certificate of completion to support university applications.

The Reading Scholars Programme gives Year 12 students a real taste of life as a university undergraduate and provides practical support as participants begin their higher education application process. The programme features input from leading academics, current undergraduate e-mentors and university alumni, and is designed to challenge participants academically and enhance their current studies. The programme takes place in-person at the University of Readings Whiteknights campus and comprises four events across the academic year. These events include subject masterclasses led by academics, a Student Experience Day in February, a study skills session and a two-day summer school. Events typically run from 09:30 to 15:30, and transportation costs are covered in advance for participating students. Eligibility requires Year 12 study, at least five GCSEs at grades A* - C and being on course for good A-Level grades (around BBB or equivalent). Priority is given to applicants with no parental experience of higher education and those living in identified postcode areas. Participants who later apply to the University of Reading are guaranteed either an invite to interview or a conditional offer, and those who firmly choose Reading may apply for a £1,000 Scholars bursary in their first year.

The Cambridge Chemistry Challenge is a UK school competition designed to stretch and challenge students interested in chemistry and to give insight into studying chemistry beyond the school syllabus.

The competition is set by an experienced team of teachers and university chemists and is designed to be accessible to Year 12 students while encouraging university-style scientific thinking. The assessment takes the form of a 90-minute written paper, consisting of two or three questions, which is sat at school under supervised conditions within a specified time window after AS exams.

Registered schools (those entering at least one student) are sent the paper at the beginning of June. Teachers may enter as many candidates as they wish; for schools submitting more than five scripts, teachers should mark these themselves, while schools entering five or fewer may submit papers unmarked. Students who perform well receive certificates, and the highest performers are invited to a residential camp at the University of Cambridge at the end of August.

Sol Camps London is a summer English programme for students aged 12-17, hosted at University College London (UCL). It is designed as an immersive, all-inclusive experience where students can improve their English while living and learning in one of the world’s most famous cities. The programme combines interactive English lessons with hands-on projects, cultural trips and city-based activities. Students can choose from different attendance formats, including School, Day, Overnight and Family, depending on the style of experience they want. Typical daily elements include breakfast, morning assembly, classes, lunch, afternoon activities, dinner, evening activities and residence time for overnight participants. The package includes accommodation for residential students, daily meals, course materials, insurance and Sol Camps swag. The overnight option also includes weekend excursions and extended evening activities, while the day and school options focus more on lessons and daytime activities. Overall, the programme aims to help young people learn English in a social, active and city-focused environment.

Jesus College’s Open Days give prospective applicants and visitors the chance to explore the college and learn more about studying at Oxford. They are designed for young people considering university, especially those in sixth form or approaching undergraduate applications. During the day, visitors can join student-led tours of the college facilities or explore the site at their own pace. There are also drop-in sessions with tutors, giving attendees an opportunity to ask questions about academic life, study choices, and the application process. Academic Office staff are on hand throughout the day to answer questions about admissions and student support. Refreshments are available, and some first-year accommodation can be viewed as part of the visit. If you cannot attend in person, Jesus College also signposts its online content, including virtual open day material and video resources about applying to Oxford.

Oxford Summer Courses' Business and Entrepreneurship summer school is hosted at Cambridge University colleges and designed for ambitious 13-15-year-olds who want to explore how businesses are built, run, and grown. Students study core business ideas such as marketing, promotions, customer satisfaction, and profit generation, while also looking at real-world case studies that show how companies attract customers and respond to market demand. The course focuses on active, discussion-based learning in small groups, with tutors adapting sessions to the interests and abilities of the class. Learners also develop entrepreneurial thinking through pitch-style projects, teamwork, competitor analysis, independent research, homework tasks, and reflection activities. Alongside the academic programme, students experience a social and cultural environment that helps them build confidence, collaboration skills, and a stronger understanding of what it takes to turn ideas into action.