The Oxford and Cambridge Experience
Dear Students, Parents, and Teachers,
The Experiences were founded over twenty years ago in response to parental demand. Families that had taken part in our programs for older students were seeking similar opportunities for younger siblings: the opportunity to experience life in two of the world’s great universities and the opportunity to engage with academic and creative subjects they are passionate about in the way students engage with them at university.
For over twenty years, the Oxford and Cambridge Experiences have answered that demand by combining the high academic standards for which Oxbridge is known with the rather more protective structures required for younger participants.
Whether they join us in Oxford or Cambridge, our Experience students immerse themselves in the subject(s) of their choice – we offer over 35 academic and creative options – in small classes, guided by university professors, researchers, Rhodes and Gates scholars, and creative professionals. In Oxford, they select a Major, which they attend six mornings a week, and a Minor, which takes place three afternoons a week. In Cambridge, they take one subject per two-week session. On both programs, students work from syllabi that privilege research and project work over traditional classroom learning and are designed to use the venues, and their great resources, as teaching tools. They study Medicine and Robotics in world-renowned labs, Literature in the venues that inspired Lewis Carroll and J.R.R. Tolkien, Aerospace Engineering in Duxford, and Espionage in Bletchley Park.
When not in class, students have access to a full calendar of activities designed to help them discover their new homes, English culture, and, of course, entertain them. Alongside field trips to London, they can hear eminent speakers, attend Shakespeare plays, discover the colleges that make up the universities, including the ones used in the Harry Potter movies, visit extraordinary libraries and museums, participate in paint wars, coffee-houses, talent nights, and sports programs that includes yoga, basketball, Quidditch and English sports such as rowing, cricket, tennis, soccer, and touch rugby.
Whether they join us from Australia, Canada, Malaysia, Spain, the US, or Vietnam, to name a few of the many countries represented in recent Experiences, our students will get their first taste of university life, and a chance to immerse themselves in their passions in safe and nurturing settings.
We hope you will consider joining us in Oxford or Cambridge this summer.
Sincerely,
Richard W. J. Michaelis, DPhil (Oxon)
Richard W. J. Michaelis, DPhil (Oxon)
Executive Director | Oxbridge Academic Programs by WorldStrides
BA University College London MPhil, DPhil University of Oxford
Richard taught history for 15 years at Oxford University before joining Oxbridge 25 years ago. During his tenure with the organization, he has taught on the Oxford Tradition as well as directed the Paris Teacher Seminar, the Paris Connection, and Oxbridge in Paris. Richard also edited Walter Scott’s Life of Napoleon, which he presented at Scotland’s premier literary festival in 2015, and is now writing a life of François-René de Chateaubriand, the French author and statesman.
Academics
Educational Philosophy
Oxbridge is not an extension to school. Our courses are designed to give bright and enthusiastic students a university-level introduction to topics about which they are passionate. Our syllabi are designed to be experiential. Our students engage through argument, debate, and experiment, while turning Oxford and Cambridge, into classrooms.
To make the experience even more meaningful, and to consolidate the learning process, each course culminates in a final performance piece, presentation, portfolio, project, or staged exhibition.
Faculty
Our faculty is drawn from some of the world’s leading universities, including Oxford, Cambridge, Yale, Harvard, and the Sorbonne. In a typical year, we employ over 25 Rhodes, Gates, Marshall, and Fulbright scholars. Our creative courses are taught by professionals selected for their talent, experience, and ability to inspire students.
The Oxford Experience
Grades: 8-9
Tuition:
$12,225 (before Dec. 31)
$12,495 (after Dec. 31)
Session: July 5 - July 31
Paris Connection (optional): July 31 - August 4
The Oxford Experience takes place in Corpus Christi College, which was founded in 1517. Early visitors included Catherine of Aragon and Erasmus of Rotterdam. College President John Rainolds led the scholars who produced the King James Bible in 1611. Corpus is located on a quiet street in the medieval center of Oxford. Students choose a Major and a Minor for the month and, outside class, have access to a host of activities, such as attending Shakespeare plays, playing Quidditch, touring worldfamous museums, or visiting the many local sites that witnessed pivotal events in British and world history. They also go on two program-wide field trips: one to London and the other to an historic site such as Stonehenge, Bath, or Blenheim.
Paris Connection:
$2,015 (before Dec. 31)
$2,075 (after Dec. 31)
Course options (for descriptions please scan the QR code):
Astronomy
Business and Finance
Creative Writing
Criminology
Engineering
Genetics and Biotechnology
Harry Potter and the Creation of the Fantastic
International Relations
Law
Medical Science
Photography (Minor only)
Psychology
Skills for Success (Minor only)
Speech and Debate (Minor only)
Studio Art (Minor only)
Theater War in World History
Corpus Christi College, University of Oxford
The Cambridge Experience
Grades: 8-9
One session:
$7,125 (before Dec. 31)
$7,395 (after Dec. 31)
Session one: July 12 to July 25
Session two: July 26 to August 8
Combined session:
$12,225 (before Dec. 31)
$12,595 (after Dec. 31)
Paris Connection (optional): August 8 to August 12
Housed in the oldest college in the University, dating back to 1284, Cambridge Experience students choose one subject per two-week session, which they study six mornings and three afternoons a week, using Cambridge as a teaching tool. They have breakfast and dinner in the oldest hall in continuous use in the University, built in 1286. Beyond the classroom, there is something for all tastes each day, as they immerse themselves in local life and culture— visiting King’s College, the Fitzwilliam Museum, or the Museum of Archeology; attending a Cambridge United football match; punting on the Cam; walking to Grantchester Meadows; visiting London; taking part in the optional full sports program; and much more.
Paris Connection:
$2,015 (before Dec. 31)
$2,075 (after Dec. 31)
Peterhouse, University of Cambridge
Course options (for descriptions please scan the QR code):
Advertising
Aerospace Engineering
Banking and Markets
Creative Writing
Criminology
Engineering
English Literature
Environmental Science
Espionage
Fine Art
Global Business
Law
Medical Science
Myths and Mythology
Politics Psychology
Public Speaking
Robotics and Electronics
Science and the Future
WWII
Tuition:
FRANCE Paris Connection
$2,015 (before Dec. 31)
$2,075 (after Dec. 31)
The perfect add-on to your Oxbridge program, the Paris Connection offers four days of fun exploration of the City of Lights. Stay in the Marais, a beautiful and fashionable historic district on the Rive Droite, and peruse the city’s art galleries, cafés, and boutiques. Eat delicious, traditional cuisine, learn about the culture, visit different quartiers, including Montmartre, enjoy expert tours of internationally renowned sites, and much more.
NOTE: To reserve a spot, please include a deposit of $500 US at the time of the initial application. Students should book their flight home from Paris Charles de Gaulle or Orly airports on the last day of their program’s Connection.
Day in the life of an Oxbridge student
Students on the Oxford and Cambridge Experiences live, eat, and study on campus. Every morning, they have breakfast in one of the great campus dining halls.
Class begins promptly at 9:00 AM. Depending on the day, students might visit a nearby lab or museum, sit down with a published novelist, practice suturing a wound, or work as a team to design, build, and test a bridge.
For lunch, students can sample any of the excellent cafés, sandwich shops, and markets near the colleges.
On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, Experience participants have class for two hours in the afternoon. At all other times, students are free to take part in our abundant schedule of activities. Our team organizes three or four optional activities every afternoon.
Every evening, students convene for check-in and dinner in Hall. After dinner, they have the option of relaxing with their friends, working on their projects for class, or taking part in more organized group activities.
Between 9:00 and 10:00 PM, students check in with Deans. After checking-in, students cannot leave campus again, but are welcome to watch movies or hang out in common spaces. 11:00 PM is curfew, when students are required to be in their rooms for a well-earned rest! Our staff will complete final room checks to ensure everything is secure for the night.
Experiences extending beyond the classroom
The Activities Program
Oxbridge provides more than exceptional academic opportunities. When students are not in class, they have their choice of a full calendar of optional cultural, sporting, and social activities that encourage them to have fun with friends and safely explore the city around them.
In Oxford they can hear eminent speakers talk about their work, meet admissions personnel from different UK universities, and visit the University’s extraordinary libraries and museums. They can also participate in paint wars, coffee-houses, talent nights, and a sports program that includes yoga, basketball, and English sports such as rowing, cricket, tennis, soccer, and touch rugby.
In Cambridge, students can visit King’s College, discover the University’s great collections, go punting along the River Cam, or take a stroll to Grantchester Meadows and the Orchard Tea Garden. They are also free to try their hand at staging a Shakespeare play, show off their baking skills in Bake Off-style competitions, or attend a local football match.
Accommodation and rooms
Students live in university student housing in single or double rooms. They can request a private bathroom (for a fee) on a first-come, first-served basis. Students have access to dormitory common areas, as well as a variety of campus facilities and enjoy breakfast and dinner in university dining halls.
Prioritizing health, safety, and well-being
Safety and supervision
Every student is met at the airport upon arrival and escorted to campus. Our staff will also accompany students back to the airport at the end of the program to assist with check-in and departure.
Our staff of on-site Deans and Directors is comprised of experienced educators from reputable schools. Each program has a sizable on-site staff, including a medical officer. Our staff members live in the same buildings as students to offer 24/7 supervision and support.
Curfew
Our students check in with the Deans at dinner time and between 9 and 10 p.m. Students are not permitted to leave campus again, but can make use of the common areas to socialize with friends until curfew. They need to be in their rooms at 11:00 p.m.
Medical emergencies
Every program has a Medical Officer. Oxbridge also has close relationships with doctors in each venue and with leading hospitals in the cities in which they take place. Through our parent organization, WorldStrides, we also provide around-theclock access to a U.S.-based doctor for phone consultations.
Zero-tolerance policy
All students accepted into our programs, even those who may be of legal age in the country of their program, must sign an agreement not to purchase, possess, or consume alcohol or drugs, or associate with any student who does. Any student found in violation of this policy will be expelled immediately and sent home at the family’s expense.
Begin your application today
