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Grades 6–8

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OXFORD ACADEMIA AT

Oxford: Middle School

Oxford, United Kingdom

July 3–16, 2026

Travel Details »

14 days

$8,890

Completing grades 6–8

10-12 students

Highlights

Live and learn at the University of Oxford, experiencing the traditions and academic energy of Corpus Christi College and University College
Engage in an integrated curriculum designed specifically for motivated middle school students—explore science, history, and literature in one dynamic program
Immerse yourself in Oxford’s magnificent architecture, historic libraries, and storied streets through field visits and cultural excursions
Join a diverse and supportive community of young peer-learners in a collaborative environment, partaking in hands-on projects, interactive workshops, and group challenges
Gain exposure to new ideas, build curiosity and confidence, and take your first big academic adventure in the footsteps of scholars and creatives

Esteemed Faculty & Staff

Oxford Academia Middle School is run by a team of accomplished on-site program Directors, Deans, Residential Life staff, and distinguished faculty experienced in guiding, inspiring, and mentoring middle school students.
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Exploration & Excursions

The Radcliffe Camera, Bodleian Library, Ashmolean museums, The Pitt Rivers Museum, Blenheim Palace, Stonehenge, and more!
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University of Oxford

Join us this summer for a two-week experience at the University of Oxford, tailored for middle-school students eager to discover the joys of learning in a world-class setting. Students reside and study at two of Oxford’s most historic and inspiring colleges: University College, founded in 1249, known for its striking medieval architecture and literary heritage, and Corpus Christi, established in 1517, offering an intimate college environment with one of the university’s oldest libraries. This program invites younger learners to dive into a rich multidisciplinary curriculum that introduces key ideas across disciplines, fosters creative problem-solving, and emphasizes collaboration and exploration. Over the two weeks, students develop new skills, form friendships, and connect with an academic community that supports their growth and curiosity.

Academic Excellence

Oxford Academia: Middle School is designed to spark curiosity, deepen academic understanding, and build critical thinking skills through a balanced approach to immersive education. Over the course of the two-week program, students explore Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics in an interdisciplinary format, grouped into engaging seminars, workshops, labs, and field experiences. Students benefit from small-group instruction, lively discussion, hands-on experimentation, and visits with guest experts. Workshop-style seminars, maker labs, design challenges, and field explorations build a foundation of critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration. These sessions are designed to spark interest across subject areas and help students discover what they are passionate about. With the guidance of an academic advisor, students develop an independent project, which they present to the group at the end of the program.

Vibrant & Supportive Community

Our Middle School program stands apart for its attentive, warm, and structured residential experience. Students live alongside a dedicated Residential Life team of Deans, Student Deans, and Health & Activity Coordinators who live on-site and offer daily support. This environment is designed to nurture independence, friendship, and personal growth in a safe, supervised setting. Even more than our older cohorts, middle school participants benefit from the extended peer-community time: making new friends, bonding over shared discovery, and building confidence as learners in a global setting.

Growth & Outcomes

This program is the perfect launchpad for middle school students ready to expand their horizons. Through a survey of science, history, and literature, interactive workshops, and immersive Oxford setting, students leave with expanded curiosity, stronger collaboration skills, and a sense of what’s possible as they transition into high school and beyond. During the program, each student designs, researches, and prepares an independent research project, inspired by the coursework they undertake, which students present in a formal culminating event at the end of the program. At the end of the session, each student receives a Certificate of Completion that recognizes their engagement, growth, and new achievements. They also gain a network of peers and mentors that can support their future academic journey.

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Program Structure

After breakfast, students dive into their seminars, which begin in classrooms, labs, or meeting spaces, then often venture out to local historical sites or museums, or include visits from guest experts. After lunch, taken independently in small peer groups, students head out to explore Oxford’s sites and traditions through guided afternoon activities, such as afternoon high tea, punting on the River Cherwell, a bookstore crawl to Oxford’s world-renowned and centuries-old bookshops, and guest speaker events.

After dinner, students and faculty convene for evening activities, which may include workshops, special guest speakers, taking in a play or concert, football (soccer) at a college pitch, and more. Students spend a total of 30 hours in seminars, and receive a Certificate of Completion at the end of the program.

Seminars

Rather than choosing a single major and minor, middle school students follow a carefully crafted curriculum designed to give them a taste of a variety of subjects. Each day offers a new lens through which to explore how different disciplines connect and inform one another. Students might explore physics through bridge building, experiment with chemical reactions that power art, learn the basics of computer coding, sketch architectural designs inspired by Oxford’s Gothic spires, or investigate sustainability through environmental science. By sampling a range of subjects in an interdisciplinary format, students begin to see how creativity, design, and inquiry intersect—and how they can apply these ideas to real-world problems.

Seminar Offerings

Oxford: Middle School Track

Outstanding Faculty & Experts

We are proud of the truly outstanding faculty and staff members who join our middle school students each summer in Oxford. They are Rhodes, Marshall, Gates, and British Academy scholars, with teaching posts at Oxford, Cambridge, Yale, Columbia, and other top institutions.Faculty and staff are experienced in working with middle school-aged students, and fostering academic and personal growth to prepare them for the future. They bring a rich breadth of knowledge of Oxford–its vibrant culture, rich traditions, and enduring history as the global heart of academia–and provide an authentic, immersive experience into life as an Oxford student.

In addition to the incredible faculty who teach seminars each summer, Oxford Academia programs feature guest speakers and experts who are leaders in their respective fields. Through evening lecture series and workshops with individual seminars, students enjoy unparalleled access to inspirational thought leaders, entrepreneurs, authors, political leaders, and historians.

Program Details

Accommodations & Meals

Oxford Academia programs are based at two of Oxford’s most renowned colleges (Corpus Christi and University College), immersing students in the true Oxford experience. Students and residential faculty stay in private singles or doubles, each with either bathrooms ensuite or on the hall. Student Deans and Residential Life staff members live in residences with students throughout the program. Students begin each day with breakfast at their college, and often enjoy dinners in the colleges’ historic dining halls. Lunches are a combination of restaurants in the city and picnics in nearby parks and greens. Please note that lunches are not included in the tuition.

Teaching Methodology

At Oxford Academia, learning is an immersive and transformative educational experience. We combine rigorous academics in the tradition of the Oxford-Cambridge tutorial system with hands-on exploration and cultural enrichment. Whether studying history, science, literature, or the arts, students have the opportunity to engage deeply with their passions while discovering new ones. Guided by expert faculty and surrounded by peers from around the world, students leave each program with a profound sense of achievement and inspiration. Click here to read more about Our Approach to Learning.

Final Projects, Certificates, & Evaluations

On the program’s final evening, all students present their independent projects during a commencement event for all students, faculty, staff, and Directors. This celebratory evening includes presentations, a formal dinner, and culminating social events to celebrate with peers and new friends. During Commencement, each student is presented with an Oxford Academia Certificate of Completion in acknowledgment of their hard work and accomplishments, signed by the Oxford Academia Director and Professor James Basker. A digital copy of the certificate is also available upon request after the program. Additionally, each student and their family will receive a personalized written report from their faculty in which the instructor summarizes the curriculum and content learned, and provides an individualized assessment of each student’s achievements, progress, and growth. The commencement events and instructor feedback serve to inspire and motivate students to continue their academic pursuits and encourage them to achieve their highest potential.

Weekend Excursions

On weekends, students have the opportunity to travel outside of Oxford. Head to nearby Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of Winston Churchill, to explore the palace as well as its vast parks and gardens. Continue your studies on visits to some of London’s most impressive museums, or experience modern London while appreciating its role as an important muse to Charles Dickens. Or journey to Stratford-upon-Avon, birthplace of William Shakespeare and where he is buried, to catch a performance at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

Travel Logistics

The program dates reflect the days that students commence, and consequently complete, travel to and from their program. For Oxford, this assumes students will fly on an overnight flight with their group to Europe.

July 3–meet your group and one or more of your program staff and fly overnight to London
July 4–program officially begins
July 16–program ends, onward travel home with your group and staff

Oxford Academia organizes a round-trip group flight from New York to London for this Oxford middle school program. One or more of your program staff will be at the airport with all student e-ticket confirmations and will welcome and fly with the group on the round-trip itinerary. Families are responsible for travel costs and arrangements to and from the U.S. Gateway Airport (JFK). The group flight cost is not included in the program tuition and will appear as a separate line item on your invoice. To learn more about how we organize travel, click here for our FAQ.

Tour of Blenheim Palace

Blenheim Palace

Head to nearby Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of Winston Churchill, to explore the palace as well as its vast parks and gardens.

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Punting on the River Cherwell

Go for a punt on the River Cherwell and learn the history of this traditional activity.

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Ashmolean Museum

Marvel at the architecture and the collections of the Ashmolean Museum, the oldest public museum in Britain.

“I left the program having made amazing connections with teachers and peers, and having discovered the beauty and history of Oxford.”

“I learned what university life is like, and made so many new friends and strong connections I value deeply.”

“Lizzie gained independence traveling in another country, and gained confidence in her ability to make friends and navigate new situations. The academic level was very appropriately challenging and the seminars were fun!”

Next Steps

Start your application, connect with us to choose the right program, or schedule a call with with Program Director Josh Harkins.