Guide
Oxford or Cambridge Summer School: Which Is Right for Your Child?
Oxford and Cambridge are the two names parents ask about most, and they are often treated as interchangeable. For a summer course they are not: our Oxford programme is an academic subject course, while our Cambridge programme is an English language course. Choosing between them is mostly a question of what your child wants to get out of the summer.
The short answer
- Choose Cambridge if the main goal is to improve English, especially for a first stay abroad.
- Choose Oxford if your child already speaks English well and wants to try a university subject such as Medicine, Law or Engineering.
Cambridge: an English course in a university city
The Cambridge course runs at CATS Cambridge, a few steps from King's College and Trinity College. Students have 15 hours of English lessons a week, placed by level after a test on arrival, and can choose the Classic Course or STEM & English for Science.
Individual students aged 14-17 stay in single ensuite rooms at Elizabeth House on campus; groups aged 12-18 may also use Varsity House, a 17-minute walk away. Each week includes a full-day excursion, for example to London or Canterbury, a half-day trip, seven supervised evening activities, and punting on the River Cam.
Oxford: a subject course on the University of Oxford campus
The Oxford programme is run by Oxford Royale on the University of Oxford's campus. Students choose one of 13 subject areas, from Medicine and Law & Politics to Engineering, Economics, Psychology and Film, and live in real Oxford colleges such as Balliol, Keble or St Hugh's.
Courses last 2, 4 or 6 weeks, and a 2-week course includes about 40 hours of academic teaching. Students are taught in two age groups, 13-15 and 16-18. Because lessons are lectures, seminars and case studies in English, a solid level of English is needed from day one.
Side by side
- Focus: Cambridge is English language; Oxford is an academic subject taught in English.
- Ages: Cambridge 12-18 in groups, 14-17 individually; Oxford 13-18.
- Rooms: Cambridge single ensuite rooms; Oxford college accommodation.
- Level of English: Cambridge places every level; Oxford needs a strong level.
Can my child see both cities?
Yes. Oxford is one of the optional excursions from Cambridge. Another option is Bosworth Independent School in Northampton, whose weekly full-day excursions go to London, Cambridge or Oxford.
Not sure which fits? Tell us your child's age, level of English and dates, and we will tell you honestly which course suits them.