OXFORD & CAMBRIDGE ADVANCED STUDIES PROGRAM
AN ACADEMIC SUMMER SCHOOL FOR 16-19 YEAR-OLDS
Students on the Advanced Studies Program (ASP) study two challenging university-level subjects in small classes with no more than six students taught by passionate and knowledgeable tutors.
Due to the challenging nature of the course, the Advanced Studies Program is available to native or advanced level students from around the world.
INCLUDED WITH OXFORD & CAMBRIDGE ADVANCED STUDIES PROGRAM
- Full-board accommodation in a Cambridge or Oxford University College
- 26 subjects to choose from to study in depth
- Maximum class size of 6
- 1:1 sessions with your tutor
- Optional IELTS and SAT classes
- Insurance
- Airport transfers
- Entrances to attractions on excursions
- Full activity programme
Course Requirements
- The course is open to both native English speakers and international students
- Non-native English speakers must have an advanced level of English in order to cope with the high-level subject tuition
- The age range for students on the Advanced Studies Program is 16-19
Tutorial Subjects
Students select two topics from the variety of tutorial subjects offered. Students staying for four weeks may study the same subjects for the full duration of the course or may change after two weeks.
Available in both Oxford and Cambridge
Politics & International Relations
With the growth of globalisation few things have a bigger impact on our everyday lives than politics and international relations.
As the University of numerous British Prime Ministers, and also the almae matres of many other world leaders, Cambridge and Oxford are the ideal locations for this course.
The course will introduce students to the theoretical background of international relations before examining historical topics and analysing the behaviour of states and international organisations.
International Business Management
In today’s rapidly developing globalised economy, it is imperative that future leaders of their generation learn how to transcend borders and adopt an international outlook.
In this course, students will explore the issues affecting multinational companies in terms of finance, economics, human resources, organisational theory and marketing. It provides an excellent foundation in how such global enterprises run and paves the way for a degree in a similar subject, helping students build the skills they need to manage an international brand.
Macro and Micro Economics
Now more than ever economic matters are crucial to our everyday lives. While microeconomics studies the economic behaviour of the individual unit, such as a person, household or individual firm, macroeconomics focuses on all of the units combined together and is the study of the system as a whole. This course introduces basic concepts and tools used in macroeconomics analysis such as the theory, measurement and determination of national income, budget deficits, national debt and exchange rates.
Marketing & Advertising
As digital and social media merge with traditional communication methods, changing the way businesses operate, there really couldn’t be a more exciting time to study marketing. In today’s highly competitive global economy, effective marketing and advertising lie at the very heart of every successful business. Ranging from global marketing to brand and corporate communications, this course will help you develop essential career skills like critical analysis, creativity and problem-solving.
Languages
“If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart.” Nelson Mandela eloquently captured the beauty and importance of learning a new language, that of global communication. We can cater for beginners or advanced students, and the tutorials include work on aspects of culture as well as language skills. Languages available: Arabic, French, German, Mandarin Chinese, Spanish. More languages available on a request basis.
Available in Oxford only
Introduction to English & European Law
The English legal system is one that is unique in its set-up compared to the rest of Europe. This course will seek to provide a comprehensive introduction to English law, exploring questions such as what is law, and how is it made? What is the difference between criminal and civil law? What is the relationship between UK and EU law?
Specific areas of law will then be examined including criminal law and the tort of negligence.
Psychology
The study of human behaviour has captured scientific minds ever since ancient Greek philosophers theorised that mental illnesses were of a physical, rather than divine nature. The study of psychology leads to a greater understanding of people and thus a background in psychology can boost your employability, whichever career path you choose to pursue. This tutorial covers key issues in social and cognitive psychology, nature vs. nurture, and psychological research methodology.
Foundations of Philosophy
Oxford University has educated and played host to some of the finest minds and biggest names in the history of philosophy, John Lock being but an example. The course will start from the very origins of philosophical thought, dating as far back as Aristotle and Plato, and will explore the basic principles of philosophy, before moving on to tackle some of the most intricate and fascinating questions which have troubled eminent philosophers in more recent years.
Philosophy in Literature
Many works of fiction explore themes centred around the nature and meaning of the human experience. This tutorial examines serious and thought-provoking philosophical issues that find their expression in the words of authors rather than in philosophy textbooks. A wide range of British, Continental and American authors across a spectrum of genres will be studied, focussing on topics such as the good and evil in the self, despair and redemption and meaninglessness and absurdity.
Creative Writing
The writer Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “There is creative reading as well as creative writing.”
We have taken these thoughts on board in our tutorial. Looking at the working methods of successful traditional and contemporary authors, students build up a writing ‘tool kit’ of their own. Students produce their own work, both in groups and individually, putting what they have learned into practice with verse, prose or drama. This is the perfect tutorial for students with a passion for literature and a fervid imagination.
Oxford Literary Greats
Oxford has long been a source of inspiration for fantastic fiction. It was from Oxford that a group of children walked through a wardrobe to a place called Narnia. Alice went down a rabbit hole, Bilbo and Frodo Baggins set off for Middle Earth, and Harry Potter even went to school here. What is it about Oxford that made these stories happen here? What do these stories mean? Why have they grown more popular with age? These are only some of the questions that this course will seek to answer.
Shakespeare’s Plays & Elizabethan England
This course sets the works of Shakespeare in context, examining his treatment of social, historical and political themes and the factors that influenced his writing. During the course we will focus on love, the court and marriage; contemporary gender roles and stereotypes; political and religious turbulence in the reign of Elizabeth I; the Tudor Myth and its effects on Shakespeare’s presentation of historical events.
Empires & Revolutions
The period from 1625 -1815 was a time of change for Britain, America and France. At the beginning and end of this period, people in Britain and in the Continent were governed by monarchies that seemed living symbols of the enduring power of traditional forms of rule. In the intervening years, however, kings on both sides of the English Channel had been executed and republican governments had taken their place, whilst emerging empires faced their own threats of ‘nationalist’ rebellion, not least the American challenge to the hegemony of British rule. These dramatic developments will all be considered as part of the course.
History of Art
Since time immemorial art in all its forms has been used to convey feelings and aspects of human life: from religion, to science, to ideals of beauty and beyond.
This course will examine how art has changed over time and what it can teach us about the past, encouraging students to analyse and evaluate art works.
Film Studies
From Charlie Chaplin to Avatar, ‘moving pictures’ have been entertaining audiences for over a century. The growth of Film Studies as an academic discipline testifies to the importance of examining films not only as a cultural artefact, but also as an influential art form. Looking at films from a range of directors, genres and time periods, this course provides an introduction to film history, theory and criticism, perfect for those with a passion for the silver screen.
Available in Cambridge only
Introduction to International Law
This course provides an introduction to the rules and functions of international law by exploring the different areas it encompasses.
The history of international law will be examined, to provide some context, before focusing on the more specific topics of the international protection of human rights, recognition, jurisdiction, the use of force, and the United Nations organs. This subject is ideal for those looking to study law at university and those with a general interest in these topics.
Societies & the Natural Environment
Through a combination of economic and cultural geography you will explore the relationships between humans and their natural environment and learn about the broad social, political and economic patterns that shape human societies. You will come to grips with some of the major challenges that face human society in the 21st century – from climate change to inequalities in health, from the growth of world cities to new trends in international trade – and realize the impact that government, corporate, and individual decisions may have on people and places near and far.
Great British Poetry
Boasting such prominent alumni as Alfred Lord Tennyson, William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Sylvia Plath, what better place to study British poetry than Cambridge University?
This course focuses on some of the most influential poets throughout literary history, including the sonnets of Shakespeare, the mythological themes of Tennyson, the romantic poetry of Wordsworth and Coleridge and the confessional style of Plath. You will also gain some practical writing experience with appraisal of your work and suggestions for further development.
Classical Civilisations
The civilisation of the Ancient Mediterranean made tremendous contributions to the development of Western society as a whole.
Whether you want to learn languages, read literature, explore the effect of the past on the present, or learn to apply science to arts, a grounding in Greek and Roman culture can be beneficial to everyone. This tutorial tracks major intellectual and cultural developments in both societies, including philosophy, mythology, science, history and literature.
Applications of Engineering
As Albert Einstein put it, “Scientists investigate that which already is; engineers create that which has never been.” Engineering is an extremely broad field of study, embracing everything from electronics to space exploration. This tutorial will provide students with an overview of the practical applications of engineering in different fields including electrical and mechanical, and will offer the opportunity for some hands-on design and experimentation. This course is the perfect partner to our mathematics and science tutorials.
The Physical World
The Physical World Physics is one of the oldest academic disciplines, tracing its origins back two millennia when astrologers tried to explain the world around them by gazing at the stars. Since then classic physicists, including paradigm-shifting Cambridge graduate Isaac Newton, have changed the manner in which we understand the world. This course covers the major breakthroughs in classic physics, beginning with Newton. Students will gain a foundation in areas of modern physics including relativity, quantum mechanics and cosmology.
Chemistry Matters
Chemistry concerns itself with atoms and the ways in which these interact to form chemical bonds. After a comprehensive review of the atomic structure, the amount of substance and bonding principles, students will learn the foundations of organic chemistry and will explore some of the more practical applications of chemistry, including energetics, kinetics and equilibria. This is an ideal course for students looking to study chemistry at degree level, although this is not a pre-requisite.
Medical Biology
On the course, you will gain an overview of the workings of the nervous and immune systems, both having profound implications for human health. This will help you examine the arguments of nature versus nurture for the causes of some ‘modern’ diseases such as heart disease and diabetes.
This is an ideal course for students wishing to study medicine, or for those with an interest in the issues surrounding our future health.
Algebra and Calculus
For those wanting to further their knowledge in the fundamental mathematical subject of Algebra, the course includes polynomials, linear and quadratic equations, irrational and complex numbers, inequalities, problem solving, conic sections, co-ordinate geometry and logarithms. The module follows on from Algebra in Calculus and focuses on functions, curve sketching, inequalities, complex numbers, defining the derivative, the definite integral and a study of differential and integral calculus.
Probability & Statistics
This course aims to give a broad understanding of numerous areas of probability & statistics. Topics include the concept of conditional probability, an analysis of Binomial, Poisson and Normal distributions, regression, correlation and the concept of a statistical test.
Optional SAT and IELTS Preparation
Students may choose to take two hours of either SAT or IELTS preparation each week.
There is no extra cost but students will miss some of the activity program. The size of the group should be between 10 and 12 students, but it depends on the popularity of the options. The maximum class size is 15 students.
High School Credit
Every student will take home a certificate and full report card written by the Course Director and their personal tutors. Reports include an assessment of progress and achievement as well as suggestions for further studies.
Where requested, a transcript of the report and a detailed syllabus can be sent to schools for academic credit. We can liaise as necessary with a student’s school to ensure that the subject material and delivery fit in with specific requirements. Students who wish to receive a credit transfer should consult their school guidance counsellor.
Please note: academic credit is only available to students studying the four-week course. Students attending for only two weeks may not request credit.
The Oxford and Cambridge Advanced Studies Program provides a well-rounded academic and social experience. In addition to developing their academic skills, students should also have a creative output, in the form of ‘Workshops’.
Students must take park following workshops that occur for three sessions over a two-week stay. Students staying for the full four weeks may change workshop choice after two weeks. All workshops are available at both Brasenose College and Magdalene College.
Workshops
Entrepreneurship
Students can embrace their entrepreneurial skills by identifying a product or service that they could turn into a business. Students will develop a coherent business plan as well as an elevator pitch.
Journalism
A team of students will compile and edit articles from the student body to create a student magazine. Photos, profiles & cherished memories can all be included in this perfect course memento.
Film Production
Students interested in the different aspects of film making and production are given guidance on the basic methods and techniques involved, working towards the production of short films on topics chosen by the group.
Drama
For those with dramatic flair, this is the ideal workshop to release it. No previous experience is required, although enthusiasm and creativity are essential. Ideal for both novice thespians and matinee idols.
Previous weekly workshops have ranged from Shakespeare to stage combat and improvisation classes.
Debating
Both Cambridge and Oxford University and renowned for their debating pedigree.
A range of public figures from Ronald Reagan to the Dalai Lama have spoken at the world-famous Oxford and Cambridge Unions. Students will be coached in the art of constructing coherent arguments and will partake in a formal debate.
Creative Writing
Do you see yourself as the next J.K. Rowling or William Wordsworth? This workshop is the ideal option for students who love the written word and want to express themselves through poetry, short stories or a stream of consciousness.
In addition to tutorials and workshops, students will also join in a weekly Master Class. These sessions explore vital skills crucial for success in further education and future careers.
Master Classes
Leadership
Leadership comes in many different styles with famed leaders adopting different styles and approaches. This Master Class will examine the different skill sets of successful leaders in order to allow students to see how they can go on to lead in the future.
Problem Solving and Critical Thinking
This Master Class presents students with a series of logical problems which must be calculated and assessed. Blundering into complex problems can be disastrous and undergraduate degrees require all students to have a solid grounding in logical reasoning and critical thinking.
Pitching and Presenting
Public speaking is now an integral part of undergraduate programs. Developing and refining oratorical skills will lead to success in education, business and life in general.
Students will learn about the theories behind the successful pitching of ideas and how to engage your audience. This class gives students the opportunity to practise these techniques in a challenging but secure environment.
Negotiating
Negotiating is both a science and an art. Harold Macmillan once famously said, “Jaw-jaw is better than war-war”. It is a vital skill in all aspects of life from politics and business to everyday tasks. This class provides students with a grounding in negotiation theories, strategies and tactics, building towards a final task taken from leading international business school models.
Dates & Fees
The price per week for the Advanced Studies Program is £1530.
| LENGTH OF STAY | DATES | LOCATION |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Weeks | 3 – 16 July | Magdalene College Brasenose College |
| 17– 30 July | Magdalene College Brasenose College |
|
| 4 Weeks | 3 – 30 July | Magdalene College Brasenose College |
Included in Course Fees
Prices are fully inclusive, meaning that the only money students need to bring is for souvenirs!
Accommodation
- Full-board accommodation in an ‘Oxbridge’ University College
- Packed meals on excursion days
- Wi-Fi available throughout
- Personal travel insurance
- Transfers to and from Heathrow and Gatwick airports
- Laundry
The Course
- Creative workshops
- Personalised report card and certificate presented at graduation ceremony
- Welcome packs on arrival
- Study materials
- 1:1 meetings with your tutors
Please visit Global Education Fair 2016 in Yerevan (14 May 2016, Best Western Congress Hotel, Picasso Hall ) for more information about this program and scholarship opportunities