Bucksmore Education Oxford Brasenose College Advanced Studies Summer Program (Ages 16-18)
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Bucksmore Education offers its Advanced Studies summer school program at Brasenose College for students aged 16-18 with a high level of English. Brasenose College is part of the world famous Oxford University, giving students the opportunity to participate in intensive, university-level courses and experience the real life of a university student on campus. The Advanced Studies Program offers a wide range of subjects and workshops from which to choose, so that all interests are catered for.
Brasenose College
Brasenose College (BNC), officially The Principal and Scholars of the King’s Hall and College of Brasenose in Oxford, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1509, with the library and chapel added in the mid-17th century and the new quadrangle in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Brasenose is home to one of the oldest rowing clubs in the world, Brasenose College Boat Club.
Oxford
Oxford, “The City of Dreaming Spires,” is a beautiful city of stunning architecture, history and culture. For over 800 years, it has been home to royalty and scholars, and since the 9th century, an established town, although people are known to have lived in the area for thousands of years. Nowadays, the city is bustling and cosmopolitan. The visitor will find traditional and modern colleges, fascinating museums and galleries, and plenty of parks, gardens and green spaces in which to relax. The city center is compact enough to cover on foot, and only a few minutes’ walk from both the main rail and coach stations. With its mix of old and new, there is plenty for both the tourist and resident to do, and for more, Oxford is a just a short hop away from many other attractions and from London.
BUCKSMORE OXFORD ADVANCED STUDIES PROGRAM AT A GLANCE
- Location: Oxford
- Age Range: 16 – 18
- Program duration: 2 or 4 weeks
- Maximum class size: 8
- Accommodation: Residential
- Ratio of staff to students: 1 : 7
- Number of full day excursions: 3 over two weeks
Bucksmore Oxford Brasenose College: Radcliffe Sq, Oxford OX1 4AJ, United Kingdom
“The Bucksmore Advanced Studies programs have long been favorites of my most discerning clients. In Oxford, it takes place in Brasenose College, one of the oldest and most traditional of the University of Oxford colleges, in the type of atmosphere that people envision when they think of the famous British universities. Personally, when I look at these programs, I wish that I was 16 again and could just drop everything and go do one, possibly more than any of the other programs for teens on this website. The Bucksmore Advanced Studies programs in Cambridge and Oxford each offer a long list of subject choices, both for studious and non-studious types. As the American teens in the video show, this program is as much for native speakers of English, as it is for non-native speakers who would also like to improve their English while learning about things that truly interest them in the setting of one of the finest and most famous places of study in the world. Students will be in class with just 5 others at the most, ensuring that each one has the time and platform to voice their input, and to be heard and critiqued at the same time. Participants on the program will also be able to really enjoy studying, without the stress of a test or final grade at the end (although the instructors do provide a thoughtful evaluation of the student’s participation at the end—please contact me for a sample of a real one.) Then, outside of class, the social activities are at the same very English (there are trips to London and other university cities), very Oxbridge-y (punting on the respective rivers running through town for example, and the University Challenge game) and overall, a lot of fun for students this age. Finally, like in all of my good programs, the number of participants of a single mother tongue are limited to 20%, ensuring that students will speak English to each other also outside of class. This past August, I received a very pleasant, unsolicited text from the mother of a boy who participated in the Oxford program, and who had not really wanted to go on it. He came from a privileged family and was used to going on camps that were elite and cost quite a bit more than this one. The message pretty much summed up as well as I could about my clients’ satisfaction with the Bucksmore Advanced Studies programs, “My son [and his friend used to going on summer programs with him, who had wanted to go on this one even less than her son did] came back yesterday and were enthusiastic about their experience. They said that it was the best program that they had ever attended . . . thank you for all your help, and we’ll be in touch for next year.” 
Bucksmore Oxford Advanced Studies Program
Why choose the Bucksmore Oxford Brasenose College Summer Program?
- Bucksmore’s Brasenose College summer program takes place at the Oxford University campus, where students can experience life as a university student.
- Bucksmore Brasenose College’s Advanced Studies Program offers a wide variety of subject tutorials and workshop options.
- Students have the option to attend Master Classes, where they receive help with exam preparations, improve their presentation and writing skills, and learn to fortify their university applications.
- The accommodation residence is located next door to Oxford Union, with gated security and music rooms.
- The program includes three full day excursions every 2 weeks, ensuring sure that students make the most of their summer vacation.
- Students are able to partake in a variety of afternoon sports activities and evening leisure activities outside the academic timetable.
The facilities
BRASENOSE COLLEGE OXFORD FACILITIES AT A GLANCE
- 12 Tutorial classrooms
- Old quad college library
- On campus gift shop
- 24-hour porter’s lodge
- 18thCentury formal dining hall
- Chapel of Brasenose College
- Brasenose College bar
- Brasenose College sports fields
MORE ON THE BUCKSMORE OXFORD SUMMER SCHOOL SERVICES
Student Welfare
The well-being, security and safety of students are Bucksmore’s number one priority and the school’s dedicated staff are on-site and available 24 hours a day to assist with any needs that might arise during students’ stay.
Airport Transfers
A complimentary airport transfer service is offered to students arriving at Heathrow, Stansted and Gatwick airports.
The courses
COURSE CONTENT AND SAMPLE TIMETABLE
Oxford Advanced Studies Program
The Advances Studies Program, available to students with at least an advanced (C1) level of English, offers students the opportunity to select two university-level subjects to study over a two-week span. A typical week includes 25 hours of academic tuition consisting of subject lessons, workshops and master classes. Classes consist of maximum 8 students and students are also offered private sessions with their tutors. For students staying four weeks, they can choose to study the same subject for 4 weeks, or may change subjects after 2 weeks.
Subjects offered:
Architecture
Every year, millions of tourists are awestruck by the architectural masterpiece of Oxford’s city center. What better backdrop for students who are looking to embark upon their journey of becoming a qualified architect? This course will introduce the basics of design and implementation, as well as exploring some of the historical and cultural issues that influence the field.
Business
In today’s rapidly developing globalized economy, it is imperative that future leaders of their generation learn how to transcend borders and adopt an international outlook. In this course, students will explore the issues affecting multinational companies in terms of finance, economics, human resources, organizational theory and marketing. It provides an excellent foundation in how such global enterprises run and paves the way for a degree in a similar subject, helping students build the skills they need to manage an international brand.
Economics
Now more than ever economic matters are crucial to our everyday lives. While microeconomics studies the economic behavior of the individual unit, such as a person, household or individual firm, macroeconomics focuses on all of the units combined together and is the study of the system as a whole. This course introduces basic concepts and tools used in macroeconomics analysis such as the theory, measurement and determination of national income, budget deficits, national debt and exchange rates.
Engineering
As Albert Einstein put it, “Scientists investigate that which already is; engineers create that which has never been.” Engineering is an extremely broad field of study, embracing everything from electronics to space exploration. This tutorial will provide students with an overview of the practical applications of engineering in different fields including electrical and mechanical and will offer the opportunity for some hands-on design and experimentation. This course is the perfect partner to our mathematics and science tutorials.
English Literature
Studying texts predating 1914 provides students with the opportunity to understand the cultural and historical context of various time periods that shaped the art emerging from its era. From Beowulf to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, classical literature has provided inspiration to generations of writers and thinkers over the years.
Film Studies
From Charlie Chaplin to Avatar, ‘moving pictures’ have been entertaining audiences for over a century. The growth of Film Studies as an academic discipline testifies to the importance of examining films not only as a cultural artifact but also as an influential art form. Looking at films from a range of directors, genres and time periods, this course provides an introduction to film history, theory and criticism, perfect for those with a passion for the silver screen.
Financial Technology
Cryptocurrency, mobile banking and e-finance are just a few of the innovations that have emerged from this new sector of financial innovation and technology. Students investing their time and studies in this tutorial subject will not go unrewarded. Fintech looks at developments in the financial field, risks involved and analyzing opportunities for future peer to peer lending and consumer products.
History
The late 19th and early 20th century saw rapid and wide-ranging changes to the political, social, cultural and economic fabric of the United Kingdom. Studying these chronologies and the British influence on global conflicts gives an insight into the society we currently live. Understanding our links to the past helps to interpret possible mechanisms of change of the future.
History of Art
Since time immemorial, art in all its forms has been used to convey feelings and aspects of human life: from religion to science, to ideals of beauty and beyond. This course will examine how art has changed over time and what it can teach us about the past, encouraging students to analyze and evaluate artworks.
International Law
This course provides an introduction to the rules and functions of international law by exploring the different areas it encompasses. The history of international law will be examined, to provide some context, before focusing on the more specific topics of the international protection of human rights, recognition, jurisdiction, the use of force, and the United Nations organs. This subject is ideal for those looking to study law at university and those with a general interest in these topics.
Marketing and Advertising
As digital and social media merge with traditional communication methods, changing the way businesses operate, there really couldn’t be a more exciting time to study marketing. In today’s highly competitive global economy, effective marketing and advertising lie at the very heart of every successful business. Ranging from global marketing to brand and corporate communications, this course will help you develop essential career skills like critical analysis, creativity and problem-solving.
Medicine
On the course, you will gain an overview of the workings of the nervous and immune systems, both having profound implications for human health. This will help you examine the arguments of nature versus nurture for the causes of some ‘modern’ diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. This is an ideal course for students wishing to study medicine, or for those with an interest in the issues surrounding our future health.
Philosophy
Oxford University has educated and played host to some of the finest minds and biggest names in the history of philosophy, John Locke being but an example. The course will start from the very origins of philosophical thought, dating as far back as Aristotle and Plato, and will explore the basic principles of philosophy, before moving on to tackle some of the most intricate and fascinating questions which have troubled eminent philosophers in more recent years.
Politics and International Relations
With the growth of globalization few things have a bigger impact on our everyday lives than politics and international relations. As the universities of numerous British Prime Ministers, and also the almae maters of many other world leaders, Cambridge and Oxford are the ideal locations for this course. The course will introduce students to the theoretical background of international relations before examining historical topics and analyzing the behavior of states and international organizations.
Psychology
The study of human behavior has captured scientific minds ever since ancient Greek philosophers theorized that mental illnesses were of a physical, rather than divine nature. The study of psychology leads to a greater understanding of people and thus a background in psychology can boost your employability, whichever career path you choose to pursue. This tutorial covers key issues in social and cognitive psychology, nature vs. nurture, and psychological research methodology.
Sustainable Development
What will the world look like in 10 years? How can we solve the current climate crisis? This can be fostered through cooperative leadership, engineering, technology, politics and science. Students explore how scientific ideas and technology are translated into policies before being put into action through networks and global institutions.
Students participate in one three-hour workshop per week for each of their two chosen subjects. These sessions allow students to experience a more “hands-on” approach to the subject, and are delivered by external experts. For example, students choosing Engineering as a subject might design electric cars.
Student also take part in Master Classes that take place on three afternoons during a two-week program.
Master Class options:
- SAT Preparation
- Introduction to UCAS
- Personal Statements
- Interview Skills
- Presentation Skills
- Essay Writing Skills
- Study Skills
- IELTS Preparation
- UK Undergraduate Experience
- How to Choose a University Degree
A sample timetable:
RESIDENTIAL ACCOMMODATION
Both classrooms and the accommodation are located in Frewin Court, a quiet residence with gated security, while meals take place in the historical Brasenose College dining hall. Student accommodation consists of single bedrooms with shared bathrooms.
Meals
Residential accommodation includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks every day, and packed meals on excursion days.
Laundry
The use of the laundry room is free of charge.
Dates and Fees
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