Middle School Program

The Oxford Prep Experience

Grades: 8 – 9

Corpus Christi College, University of Oxford

Program Overview

The Oxford Prep Experience offers all the discovery and learning of the Tradition program to students in grades 8 and 9. It takes place at Corpus Christi College, which was founded in 1517. Early visitors to the college included Catherine of Aragon and Erasmus of Rotterdam. Corpus Christi College was also the production sight of the King James Bible in 1611.

Corpus is located on a quiet, cobblestoned street in the medieval center of Oxford. Students choose a Major and a Minor to study for the month.

Costs & Payment

Dates

$10,395

July 2 – July 28, 2022

$10,395

Paris connection

$1,445

July 28 – August 1, 2022

At the end of the program, students can choose to add on the Paris Connection and spend 4 days exploring the French capital before heading home.

$1,445

Tuition Information: Costs include accommodation, classroom instruction, workshops, field trips, two daily meals, and all program-organized activities. We also offer a select number of scholarships based on financial need. For full details, see our Tuition page.

Request Information

Apply Now

A Day in the Life

Communal breakfast
Major classes on topics ranging from Studio Art to Business and Finance meet in classrooms, labs, studios, or out in Oxford
Students can choose to have lunch at any local restaurants or sandwich shops in town
Minor classes meet in classrooms, workshops, labs, or studios
Students attend their Minor classes in the afternoon or head out on group field trips to cultural hubs like London and Warwick Castle
Full group dinner
Evening activities, events, or shows

What's Included

Access to cultural sites and local events

Accommodations

Extracurricular activities, workshops, and event offerings

Continuous support

On-site staff of experienced professionals

Local meals

Full Course List

Astronomy

Students are introduced to one of mankind's oldest and most scientifically advanced areas of study. They learn about Cosmology, the Big Bang, the formation of stars and planets and their deaths, and Black Holes. They discover why astronomers and physicists study phenomena such as quasars, gamma rays, cosmic rays, and pulsars, and how they collect and analyze the data produced by the phenomena. The class also addresses the search for exoplanets and the possibilities of life elsewhere, the exciting work undertaken in Astrobiology, and the technical, legal, and ethical issues involved in the search for habitable worlds beyond ours.

Business and Finance

Creative Writing

Students compose fiction and poetry under the guidance of a published author, with Oxford’s rich literary history as their inspiration. They experiment with new forms and styles of writing. Published authors give workshops in which students learn about the creative process and the practicalities of publication. Students develop a portfolio of their best writing and collaborate to design, edit, and publish a literary magazine.

CSI Oxford

From toxicology and fingerprints to DNA samples, students taking our CSI summer course discover how forensic science has progressed over the years to meet ever-changing legal standards. They learn how modern crime scenes are secured and searched, how material is treated in laboratories, and how different types of evidence are used to sort legal fact from criminal fiction. They also explore how forensic science has achieved breakthroughs in a multitude of disciplines, such as archeology, history, and geology.

Engineering

Genetics and Biotechnology

Students discover how biotechnology combines principles of biology, chemistry, physics, and engineering to create the products, processes, and technologies of the future. Through experiments and seminars they engage with pharmaceuticals breakthroughs, genetic diagnoses and therapies, sustainable biofuels, and genetically modified foods. Students also explore the social, ethical, and economic implications of biotechnology.

International Relations

This course focuses on key issues of the day. Subjects covered include globalization and its political, economic, and social effects; environmental challenges; new forms of war and peace; the changing nature of security challenges; peacekeeping operations; regional complexities of areas like the Middle East, Africa, and South-East Asia; and the relationships and rivalries that define global order today.

Law and Society

Students examine the British and American legal systems and how these systems reflect the values and institutions of their respective societies. Emphasis is placed on legal history and modes of thought, precedent-setting cases, current controversies, and the kind of first-hand courtroom observation that brings these cases to life. Each course includes visits to a court and sessions with lawyers. Major courses culminate in a formal moot court competition.

Literature and the Fantastic

This course examines the masterpieces of four Oxford authors: J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, C.S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia, Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland, and Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials. Students examine their worlds, symbolic systems, and mythologies, as well as their influence on modern-day classics like Harry Potter, through workshops, field trips, debates, and group readings. Prior knowledge of the stories is encouraged.

Medical Science

This hands-on course introduces students to key aspects of medicine and modern medical practice. Combining specialist lectures with experiments and class discussions, students learn the main principles of human anatomy and physiology, the pathology and significance of certain diseases, the main challenges that medical science faces today, and the variety and changing nature of careers in medicine.

Photography (Minor only)

Psychology

Students investigate a wide range of psychological topics, including dreams, memory, consciousness, anxiety, body language, gender, and sexuality. Alongside, they uncover the history of the science itself, complete case studies, and are introduced to various disorders and different research methodologies. They go on to design their own experiments under the guidance of research specialists and practicing clinicians.

Speech and Debate (Minor only)

Studio Art (Minor only)

War in World History

War has been one of the greatest forces for change in human history and continues to shape the world. War has been one of the greatest forces of change in human history and continues to shape the world. From the global 'War on Terror' to civil wars and uprisings, this course will explore mankind's long history of conflict and combat. While covering military history, this course also examines war from other aspects: the political, economic, social, ethical, and psychological. It examines how and why wars are fought, what has changed and what has remained the same, from Ancient Greece to modern day conflicts.

Cultural Enrichment

Every class is designed to use Oxford as a teaching tool. When not in class, students have access to a full range of activities designed to help them discover Oxford and tours of sights like the Bodleian Library and Christ Church, take part in a variety of sports (including Quidditch), attend local Shakespeare productions, or take field trips to Warwick Castle and London.

Residence Info

Accommodation and Rooms

In Oxford, students live in rooms that are occupied by undergraduates during the year. Students are housed in singles or doubles. Students can request a private bathroom (for a fee), on a first-come, first-served basis.

Facilities

Students have access to common areas within the residences as well as a variety of sporting and educational facilities (gyms, basketball courts, tennis courts, pitches, libraries). Oxbridge provides every program with computers, so students have daily access to email and social media. The program staff maintains message boards and distributes mail every day.

Meals

Students enjoy breakfast and dinner in their residence’s dining halls. Breakfast is primarily continental style with choices such as cereal, yogurt, fruit, toast, coffee, and tea. Several options are available at dinner, including a vegetarian dish and a salad bar. Special dinners are regularly held, and each program ends with a formal banquet. Students are responsible for their own lunch, which can be purchased from a college snack bar or one of the many sandwich shops, small restaurants, patisseries, or bodegas near each residence.

After the Program

Shortly after the program, all students and their parents receive a comprehensive set of grade reports, presenting their course syllabus and highlighting their specific contributions and achievements within their course(s). Most of our alumni later ask for additional copies to include in their college applications.

Immerse yourself in some of the world’s greatest cultural centers

Browse Programs

Request Information

Apply Now

What People Are Saying About Oxbridge Academic Programs

This was by far the most informative-while-being-interactive class I’ve ever had, and it made learning easier and more fun. Oxbridge made a huge impact on me by increasing my confidence and uncovering my strong interest in global business that I now hope to pursue.

Avery

Oxbridge Student

Thanks to the Cambridge Tradition experience, my daughter is much more mature, has a better knowledge of how to live abroad without her family, and she’s better prepared for university! Her time at Oxbridge reaffirmed that she wants to study architecture and now she has all the skills to reach her goals.

Ana Maria

Cambridge Tradition Parent

Our daughter had a wonderful experience, and she found the Psychology and Genetics courses engaging and useful. She learned new things, made friends, and had 4 amazing weeks! Many thanks to your entire team for making this possible!

Oxbridge Parent

Our daughter loved the Oxford Prep program. She enjoyed her Major, made nice friends, and really began to feel more independent and confident while exploring beautiful Oxford. A great experience through and through and just what we all were hoping for! In fact, she is already talking about participating in the Cambridge program next year.

Daniel

Oxbridge Prep Parent

Just wanted to reach out to thank you for helping to make my daughter’s summer spectacular! She returned on Saturday and has clearly grown from the summer experience. She raves about her time with Dr. Tijn Van Winden and her French teacher.

Sanjeev

Oxbridge in Paris Parent

Thank you for making my son’s experience at Cambridge so memorable! Usually reserved, he talked the whole way home from the airport about what he learned in class, the friends he made, and the museums he visited. My son was initially a bit reluctant to attend a two-week course, but at the end of the second week - he was sad it was ending so quickly!

Cambridge Prep Parent