Oxford Summer School Scholarships 2024.
For students with exceptional academic abilities but limited financial means, a number of our trusted partners are offering full or partial scholarships for summer school programmes across the UK. Read on to find out what’s available in 2024 and how to apply.
How to Win an Oxford Summer School Scholarship: A Complete Guide
You’ve achieved top grades, done your research, and you’ve got your sights set firmly on a summer of learning and fun at a top UK summer school. You know it’ll be the summer of a lifetime. You want to explore the subject you’re most passionate about in more depth, bolster your university application and broaden your horizons through travel and by meeting new friends from all over the world. And what better place to do it than in the world-famous university cities of Oxford or Cambridge?
There’s one small problem – how will you afford the fees?
For the very best students from all over the world who demonstrate financial hardship, there are various opportunities to apply for financial aid to study at a UK summer school in 2024. Read on to find out what’s available and how to apply.
What are scholarships?
Exceptional education should be available to everyone, regardless of prospective students’ financial situations. Luckily, several top summer schools in the UK recognise this and offer partial or full scholarships to the brightest students from less well-off backgrounds.
A scholarship to attend a residential summer school in a major UK university town will give you the opportunity to learn alongside ambitious students from all over the world and from teachers who are leading experts in their fields. You’ll get to experience authentic university life, try out subjects not offered at your own school, and enjoy exciting excursions and immersive cultural activities.
Some summer schools will offer up to a 100% reduction in your course fees, and although you’ll usually have to pay for your own travel expenses, everything else will often be included. As you might expect, scholarship places are very competitive, and each school has its own specific application process and deadline.
Who offers scholarships and what do they cover?
Immerse Education
Immerse Education provides exceptional programmes in immersive academic environments, including at the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge. Their two-week residential scholarships are available to ambitious students aged 13-18, with a maximum 100% reduction in programme fees. Read more here.
Summer Boarding Courses (SBC)
To support their vision to ‘unite the cultures of the world through education’, the multi award-winning SBC offers an annual fully funded two-week scholarship to students aged 8-17 years at three different UK locations. This includes 30-50 hours of expert tutoring in a range of subjects – such as International Relations and Natural Sciences – as well as accommodation, meals, excursions and a social programme – all free of charge, except for travel expenses. Find out more here.
Oxford Scholastica
Oxford Scholastica provides excellent university-style teaching and cultural adventures. As part of their commitment to provide 10,000 free hours of support to scholars over the next three years, Oxford Scholastica offers free access to a range of online courses through its sister site OxBright, as well as online internships and one-day conferences for exceptional students aged 15-18. With a huge range of subjects to choose from, you’ll be guided by an inspirational mentor and can enjoy interactive learning, including live tutorials, podcasts, vlogs and blogs. Learn more here.
University of Oxford Conted
This list wouldn’t be complete without the one and only University of Oxford! A world-leading centre of learning, teaching and research, and the oldest university in the English-speaking world, Oxford is consistently ranked number one. Its Department for Continuing Education has a huge array of funding options for different circumstances, including financial hardship, as well as for international students. Read more here.
How do you apply?
Each summer school has its own specific application process; you’ll need to check their website carefully for detailed guidance on how to apply. Almost all applications are completed online and will require evidence of your grades and details about your financial background. You might need to provide strong teacher references and even submit an application essay or short video.
Any advice?
Winning a summer school scholarship can be highly competitive as there are usually only a handful of available places up for grabs – and a lot of applicants.
To maximise your chances of success, think carefully about what the scholarship would mean to you – how would it help you to achieve your ambitions and what personal qualities would you bring to your chosen summer school? Are you deeply passionate about a certain subject, or has walking the hallowed halls at an Oxbridge University been a long-term dream for you?
Keep busy with extracurricular activities and hobbies, whether that’s sports, playing a musical instrument or writing for your school newspaper. This shows that you’re a well-rounded candidate with good social skills and can mix well with students from different cultures – essential for an international summer school environment!
Be organised! It goes without saying, but make sure you meet the application deadline and don’t forget to thoroughly proofread your application for spelling and grammar mistakes. If you’re recording a video, make sure that it is of decent audio and visual quality. Make it as easy as possible for the judges to love your application!
Which scholarships are running in 2024?
Here is our pick of summer school scholarships and bursary initiatives available for 2024 – some application deadlines are fast-approaching so don’t delay, apply today!
Immerse Education
Bursary Programme: Students seeking financial aid may apply for a bursary award at Immerse Education, which could result in a maximum 100% reduction in programme fees.
Entries now closed for summer 2024.
Oxford Scholastica
Oxford Scholastica is committed to supporting the learning of as many students as possible, no matter their financial circumstances. They aim to provide 10,000 hours of support for students over the next three years.
The Oxford Scholastica scholarship programme is offered through their sister site, OxBright, and its partner charities. OxBright makes it easy to explore your future from anywhere with expert-led online courses, internships, and conferences for students aged 12-18.
Live online summer school courses run from June to August. They are designed to help students aged 12-18 explore new subjects or dive deeper into an area of interest with expert tutors and small class sizes.
Apply now via their online form here.
Oxbridge Academic Programs
Every year, Oxbridge Programs awards a number of full and partial scholarships to prospective students. These are awarded based on academic performance, financial need, leadership, and other factors, including an application essay.
The scholarship application process is entirely separate from the regular application process. Students applying for a scholarship must use the online scholarship application (see below) and may not apply using the regular online application at the same time.
Click here to submit your application. Deadline: February 3, 2024.
Avernus Education
Scholarship and Bursary Initiatives:
Avernus Education is pleased to offer financial assistance to exceptional students for all programmes and courses through its Honorary Scholarship and Bursary Support initiatives.
The Honorary Scholarship programme offers students with exceptional academic abilities and critical thinking skills the chance to receive significant financial assistance on course and programme fees. For students in need of financial support, the Bursary Programme offers up to 100% reduction on course fees, enabling them to attend in-person summer camps, online programmes, or other residential courses.
For more information about Avernus scholarships and bursaries please click here.
International Essay Competition:
​Winners receive a unique 100% scholarship award to the Avernus Oxford University Summer Programme. Outstanding shortlisted entries receive partial scholarships or credits for exclusive online courses.
Submission Deadline: February 19th, 2024. Click here for further details.
University of Oxford Conted
The University of Oxford offers a range of fee reduction options (up to 50%) available for 2024 and beyond, including for international students. Check out the details here.
Summer Boarding Courses (SBC)
SBC is not currently accepting applications for their 2024 scholarship programme. Please enquire via: scholarships@summerboardingcourses.co.uk and a member of the SBC team will contact you once the scholarship programme goes live.
Summer in Oxford (World Strides, CBL International)
Apply for an early bird reduction in course fees or for a blogging, video or photography scholarship with World Strides. Up to £100 off your course fee is available by getting in touch at least 3 months prior to the start of your course.
ONES TO WATCH FOR 2025:
Immerse Education
Essay Competition:The Immerse Education Essay Competition provides the opportunity for students aged 13-18 to submit essay responses to a question of their choice relating to a subject of interest. 10 winners will receive a 100% scholarship to study with Immerse at a world-leading university of their choosing. Outstanding runners-up also receive partial scholarships.
Please note that application process has now closed for the 2024 essay competition (end date January 4th, 2024). Check back later in the year for information on the 2025 competition dates!
Reach Cambridge
Scholarship Essay Competition: The next call for scholarship essay competition applicants will be in autumn 2024 for the summer of 2025. Full details will be released here later this year.