The course will begin by introducing students to the approaches and techniques required to carry out a successful International Relations research project.
The course will begin by introducing students to the approaches and techniques required to carry out a successful International Relations research project. At the same time, the instructor will propose a range of topics students might wish to concentrate on. Students will finalize their choices – in concertation with the instructor – at the end of the first week, after which the instructor will provide them with the materials required to carry out their research. The students will work on their projects, under their supervisors, during morning class and, as the program progresses, several afternoons will also be set aside to enable them to complete the project. The results will be presented, conference-style, to the team. Research papers might include topics such as assessing the effectiveness of global climate agreements or whether the UN and its agencies still serve a purpose and, if not, what, if anything, could replace them? Is the American century really over? Or are we simply obsessed with declinism? How effective are sanctions, using two case-studies as examples? Is Globalization actually improving lives? Is there a case for reparations to the developing world and how might they be calculated and disbursed? Naturally, wherever possible, our supervisors will do their best to accommodate specific interests.
This course equips students with the skills to design and execute a research project in international relations. After selecting a topic in consultation with their instructor, students investigate global issues such as the role of the UN, the impact of sanctions, or the realities of globalization. Working under supervision, they develop their analyses and present their findings in a professional, conference-style setting.
This course is part of the programme
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A unique, pre-college summer experience for ambitious students, residential in the finest historic colleges of the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge.
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Apply NowOur programs take place in university residences or, in the case of our Paris program, at a centrally located boarding school. Each program has single and double rooms available and we are happy to take requests for single rooms or roommates via email. In the UK, students can purchase a private bathroom for an additional fee. In Barcelona, each room is equipped with an en-suite bathroom. In Paris and New York, there are shared facilities on each floor.
Students spend 21 hours in class on the one-week programs, 45 - 50 hours in a class on a two-week program (depending on the age group), and 90 -100 hours on a four-week program (depending on the age group).
Our programs are conducted primarily in English, and our programs in Oxford and Cambridge are taught exclusively in English. We want to ensure that our students can integrate fully and feel comfortable with the program community. In France or Spain, immersion courses are taught exclusively in French or Spanish, but program information, materials, and literature are all available in English. We are happy to have a short conversation with prospective students to make sure they will be able to follow the courses in English, so please feel free to contact our Admissions office if you’d like to speak with us, or if you have any questions.
We hire a team to work at the programs and look after the students. This team consists of a program director, 3-4 deans, 3 program assistants, and 3-4 activities directors. The program director and deans are professional educators who come from reputable schools across the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. They are experts in working with students in these age groups. The onsite team sets up a program office in the week leading up to the program. Parents will be able to call and email the program office if they have any questions or concerns while their child is at the program. Each evening, students must check in with one of our Deans in the program office between 9 and 10 pm on the Experience programs and between 10 and 11 pm on each of the other programs. This is a great time for students to let the program staff know if they have any questions, or if they need something. Students typically spend their mornings in class and on each program except for the one week seminars, students will have afternoon classes three days a week. We plan a wide range of optional chaperoned activities for students to take part in when they are not in classes. The activities directors and program assistants are typically university students who know the city well. The program assistants help out with administrative duties in the program office and the activities directors plan the afternoon and evening activities - they, along with the program director and deans, reside at the residence where the program is taking place, so there is always an adult nearby if a student needs something.
Yes! We can meet students at the following airports:
UK programs: Heathrow or Gatwick New York: La Guardia, JFK, or Newark Barcelona: Barcelona El Prat Paris: Charles de Gaulle or Orly We will bring students back to these airports at the end of the program as well and make sure they are checked in at the correct airline desk, help them check their bags, and bring them as far as security. A staff member will also remain at the airport until the last student’s flight departs.
We offer both a Tuition and Travel Protection Plan and a Full Refund Program. You can find more information regarding the Tuition and Travel Protection Plan here: https://oxbridgeprograms.com/ttpp/. There will be more information about each of these options within the application and families will also have the option to purchase them after submitting the application.
Yes! Each student receives a comprehensive grade report at the end of the program with a write up from their lecturer detailing their performance during the course as well as a letter grade.
Students from certain countries may need to apply for a tourist visa in order to attend our programs. Our Admissions team can provide these students with a letter of support for their visa application once they have been accepted into the program.
