Oxford Royale Academy (ORA)

About Us

Oxford Royale Academy (ORA) is a leading provider of summer school education with its head office at St. Catherine’s College, Oxford. ORA offers students a wide range of courses in academic, cultural and sporting areas and prides itself on the exceptional calibre of its teaching faculty. All our courses take place in the buildings of Oxford and Cambridge Universities, two of the oldest and most respected academic institutions in the world.

This summer students will attend courses with ORA from all over the world and we believe studying alongside people from such diverse backgrounds is a central part of the ORA experience. The majority students travel to our courses as individuals rather than groups which means our classes are not dominated by students from one country, creating a truly multicultural learning environment. To view a list of recent registrations click Oxford Summer School or to read more about our nationalities click Oxford Summer School.

Best Educational Product 2010

Recently ORA was proud to be awarded the “Best Educational Product 2010” at the British Youth Travel Awards (BYTA) ceremony in London. These awards serve as a platform to reward successful organisations engaged in youth, student and educational travel. For further details click Oxford Summer School.

Our Courses

We offer a wide range of academic, language, cultural and sporting courses designed for both children and adults. Each course is two weeks in duration although we encourage students to stay longer if they so wish. Towards the bottom of this page you will find a brief summary of each course, explaining the key elements. A list of all the available 2011 courses is also available on our website Oxford Summer School.

Our Teaching Staff

Many of our teaching staff have been educated at Oxford or Cambridge University which fosters a unique learning environment with special insight into the subjects offered.

Summer School Dates

For 2011, our courses will run between the following dates.

• Session 13-16 July
• Session 217-30 July
• Session 331 July – 13 August
• Session 4 (Adults Only)7-20 August

What’s included in a course?

All our courses include the following services:

• 21 hours of tuition per week (15 hours for adult students)
• Accommodation in Oxford or Cambridge University
• At least 2 meals per day (3 meals for students aged 15 and below)
• ORA goodies (t-shirt, ID card, notebook)
• Welcome reception upon arrival
• Graduation event on departure
• ORA attendance certificate
• Course materials
• Social programme

In addition, many of our courses include coach trips to destinations around England. See the relevant course description page for more details.

Practical Information

Accommodation

All our courses are residential and based at either Oxford or Cambridge University. Students enjoy use of the classrooms, lecture theatres and recreational facilities and will get the chance to walk around the oldest parts of the cities on staff-led excursions. Bathrooms are very often shared between several students because of the layout and architecture of the College buildings.

The venues to be used by ORA in 2011 are provided below. You should refer to the relevant course description page to check which building you will be staying in.

Name of College- Accommodation Type- Age Groups- Location

St. Stephen’s House- Singles/Twins/Triples- Ages 10-12- Oxford University

St. Peter’s College- Singles/Twins- Ages 13-15- Oxford University

St. Catherine’s College- Singles- Ages 16-18- Oxford University

Balliol College- Singles- Ages 16-18- Oxford University

Balliol College (Jowett Walk)- Singles- Ages 13-15- Oxford University

Clare College - Twins- Ages 16-18- Cambridge University

Corpus Christi College- Singles/Twins (limited)- Adult students- Oxford University

For further information on all of our summer school venues please click Oxford Summer School.

Dietary Requirements

If you have any special dietary requirements you need to inform us well before you arrive and we will do our best to cater for them.

Registering for a Course

Registering for a Course

 

When you have decided upon the course you would like to take, there are several ways you can make a registration:

• Online: If you would like to register online please click here. You will need a valid debit or credit card.
• Fax or Post: If you would like to make a reservation using Fax or Post please download the relevant application form from our website Oxford Summer School.
• Telephone: If you wish to make an application over the phone, please call +44 (0) 845 130 60 21 between 0900 and 1700 GMT (British time).

Local area representative

If you need assistance in your native language we recommend you apply with the help of an educational or travel agent. Please contact us on admin@oxford-royale.co.uk and we will direct you someone who knows about our courses and speaks your language.

English Language Level Requirements

For students who wish to take English as a Foreign Language courses with us the following pre-requisite language levels apply:

• Students aged 10-12 should be pre-intermediate to upper-intermediate
• Students aged 13 and above should be intermediate to advanced

Please also note:

• We do not offer English courses for complete beginners
• For students taking Tennis with English courses the above rules apply.

Visas

Immigration to the UK has become considerably stricter in the last couple of years and we strongly recommend checking whether you require a visa to enter the country. You should go online and check your entry position by visiting http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/. Students from EU and European Economic Area countries will not require a visa.

Although the student is responsible for organizing his or her visa we can provide a letter of invitation to assist on request.

Flights

The cost of air travel is not included in the price of our courses, and students are responsible for making their own flight arrangements. There are many convenient flight connections between London and virtually all destinations in the world, and Oxford Royale Academy can arrange transport for students from any London airport (see below).

Airport Transfers

For travel to and from the University we offer a taxi transfer option which runs from all major London airports and other locations. For travel between London Heathrow and Oxford we also offer a coach transfer option. Taxis and coaches can be booked on our website or by emailing admin@oxford-royale.co.uk.

Course Fees and Deposit Payment

Course fees start at 2,995 British pounds for a two-week course. In order to reserve a place a non-refundable deposit payment of 495 British pounds is required. The remainder of the course fees are payable not less than 60 days before the start date of the course. If you apply for a course less than 60 days before its start date, the full amount will be payable. For information regarding cancellation and refunds, please see our terms and conditions Oxford Summer School.

Information for Parents / Guardians

Supervision of Children on Campus

All summer school venues are safe and well-supervised by our staff. Whilst in the College, students are supervised by the Programme Director who implements the day-to-day running of the programme. The Programme Director is assisted by a team of Counsellors who organise cultural activities and ensure the pastoral care of the students. In addition, a number of staff stay overnight in the College to attend to students’ safety during the course.

Emergency Phone

Each College has a 24-hour emergency telephone number. This number can be used by a student needing to contact a member of staff or by a family needing to contact a student.

Medical Requirements and Nurses

Over the summer we have a trained nurse on campus who helps students if they feel unwell. If the need arises, our staff will also help students visit a doctor or go to hospital in an emergency. Note that we are unable to store or dispense medication for students and we recommend contacting us in advance of the course to discuss any medical concerns you might have. See our terms and conditions for full details.

Discipline and Behavior

All students must abide by the course’s Rules and Regulations, a copy of which is available on our website Oxford Summer School.

Course List for 2011

Please find below general information about the courses we are offering in summer 2011.

English as a Foreign Language courses

Our English as a Foreign Language courses teach students all the skill areas including reading, writing, listening and speaking. Students receive 21 hours of English tuition per week. In addition, students participate in a varied social and activities programme, which includes excursions to places of interest around the UK.

Junior English Program (Ages 10-12)

The Junior English Programme is a well-rounded, fun and exciting general English course which takes place at St. Stephen’s House, University of Oxford. There are 21 hours of lessons per week.

Oxford English Perspectives (Ages 13-15)

Oxford English Perspectives is a well-rounded, fun and exciting general English course which takes place on the campus of St. Peter’s College or Jowett Walk (Balliol College). There are 21 hours of lessons per week.

Oxford English Horizons (Ages 16-18)

Oxford English Horizons is a well-rounded, fun and exciting general English course which takes place on the campus of Balliol College, University of Oxford. There are 21 hours of lessons per week.

Academic Writing with IELTS Prep (Ages 16 to 18)

The Academic Writing with IELTS Prep course is designed for students interested in applying to undergraduate courses in the UK who need to improve their reading and writing skills to take a degree in English. The course also covers an introduction to the IELTS exam. It takes place on the campus of Balliol College, University of Oxford and contains 21 hours per week of instruction.

Academic courses

All our academic courses include 21 hours per week of tuition (15 in the mornings and 6 in the afternoons) with a varied extracurricular activities programme which includes excursions to places of interest around the UK.

Young Prodigies (Ages 10-12)

The Young Prodigies programme is an integrated course which introduces students to various subjects in the arts and sciences, including biology, physics, chemistry, literature, history, public speaking and many more. The course takes place at St. Stephen’s House, University of Oxford.

New Perspectives (Ages 13-15)

The New Perspectives programme provides students with an exciting schedule of thought-provoking classes, guest lectures, workshops and cultural visits. Students choose their subjects from a variety of options, including many subjects they would not get a chance to study at school. The course takes place on the campus of St. Peter’s College or Jowett Walk (Balliol College).

Broadening Horizons (Ages 16-18)

Broadening Horizons is an academic and cultural course consisting of morning classes and skills-based workshops in the afternoons. Students choose their morning tuition from a wide variety of subjects, from English Literature and Creative Writing to Economics and Business Management, to Applied Mathematics and Experimental Psychology. Afternoon workshops range from Public Speaking to Art and Architecture. The course takes place on the campus of St. Catherine’s College, University of Oxford.

Film Academy (Ages 13-15 and 16-18)

Our Film Academy is a two-week extensive HD Digital Video Production course where students learn the whole process of video production from the initial idea through to a final film. We offer the course for two different age groups: 13-15 and 16-18. The course takes place on the campus of the University of Oxford.

Law School Preparation (Ages 16-18)

The course is designed for students interested in applying to study law as an undergraduate in the UK. During the course students work on strengthening their university application and are introduced to various legal principles. The course takes place on the campus of Balliol College, University of Oxford.

Medical School Preparation (Ages 16-18)

The course is designed to help students prepare their medical school application. Students discuss various aspects of medicine as a career, work on their university application and practise sample medical school entry exams. The course takes place on the campus of Balliol College, University of Oxford.

SAT Preparation (Ages 16-18)

The course introduces students to the core principles in Critical Reading, Math, and Writing. In small classes students learn key concepts necessary for success on the SAT and practise sample exam questions. The course takes place on the campus of Balliol College, University of Oxford.

Oxbridge Preparation (Ages 16-18)

The course is designed for students who wish to make an application to Oxford or Cambridge University. Students receive information about the structure and entry requirements of the universities as well as working on their personal statement and interview technique. The course takes place on the campus of Balliol College, University of Oxford.

Cambridge Enterprise Program (Ages 16-18)

The course focuses on Business, Management and Economics. In the environment of Clare College, University of Cambridge, students participate in lectures, presentations and workshops designed to develop knowledge about running a business, as well as increase their confidence and leadership skills. The course is restricted to 40 students.

Tennis Courses

On our tennis courses, students take intensive tennis lessons during the morning and in the afternoons choose between English or Academic workshops.  All the tennis lessons take place on the grass and clay courts of the University of Oxford. There are three age groups (10-12, 13-15 and 16-18) and the available courses are:

Tennis with English Workshops

Our Tennis with English Workshops courses are designed for students who would like to play tennis in the mornings and improve their English in the afternoons. We have three categories, which are divided by age and separate buildings.

Tennis with Academic Workshops

Our Tennis with Academic Workshops courses are designed for fluent English speakers and give the students a chance to play tennis in the mornings, and participate in workshops (for example Debating/Leadership) in the afternoons. We have three categories, which are divided by age and separate buildings.

Courses for Adult Students

Adult Academic and Cultural courses

We offer courses for adult students in the following subject areas. Whilst no previous knowledge of the subject is required to take these courses, students need to be fluent / advanced in English in order to participate.

• Archaeology and Anthropology in the Modern World
• British Monarchy Past and Present
• Interface between Religion
• Science and Philosophy
• Creative Writing – Fiction
• Jane Austen: Her Novels, Life and Times
• Shakespeare Immersion Program
• Stately Homes and Country Gardens

All courses include 15 hours per week of tuition, accommodation and meals at Corpus Christi College (University of Oxford) and a full cultural and social programme.

General English for Adults

Our General English for Adults programme is designed for students who wish to improve their English reading, writing, listening and speaking skills over summer. Tuition takes places in small seminar groups during the mornings within the College. The course includes 15 hours per week of tuition, accommodation and meals at Corpus Christi College (University of Oxford) and a full cultural and social programme.

Final Note

We hope you have enjoyed reading about our Oxford and Cambridge summer courses. If you would like to make an application or if you require any additional information please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Disclaimer

While we have made every effort to translate this text as accurately as possible we cannot be responsible for any errors in translation which might have occurred. Where there is a conflict between the English and translated version, the English version shall take precedence.