WRITE YOUR OWN RESEARCH PAPER WITH AN ACADEMIC MENTOR
A one-to-one research programme delivered in partnership with Oxbridge Applications. Your child chooses a subject, works with an experienced academic mentor, and writes a 5,000-word research paper. The programme starts during the Oxford College summer school and continues online after it ends.
Starts at summer schoolContinues online after the course
Class size
One-to-oneOnline sessions with an academic mentor
English level
B1+Higher level recommended for academic writing
Academic hours
5,000 wordsFinal research paper, with written feedback
Location
OnlineDelivered by Oxbridge Applications
What’s included: mentor matching, a reading list, all one-to-one sessions, marking and written feedback on the final paper, and an invitation to the Research Symposium. Places are limited, so add it when you book.
Oxford Research Scholars is delivered by Oxbridge Applications, a Dukes Education company. Summer Boarding Courses is independent of, and not affiliated with or endorsed by, the University of Oxford or the University of Cambridge.
Optional Extra
What is Oxford Research Scholars?
Oxford Research Scholars is an optional extra for students on our Oxford College programme. It gives your child something most school students never get: the chance to do real academic research, one-to-one, with a mentor who does it for a living.
Your child picks a subject they care about. Oxbridge Applications matches them with a mentor who works in that field. Together they turn a broad interest into one clear research question, build a reading list, and write a 5,000-word paper. The mentor gives feedback at each stage, so the paper gets better draft by draft.
Our two-week summer school is the starting point. The research continues after your child goes home, through individual online sessions, so they have the time to do the work properly. At the end, they receive written feedback on their final paper and the opportunity to present it at the Oxbridge Research Scholars Symposium.
This is university-style work. It suits students who already enjoy Future Scholars and want to go further.
How it works
From first idea to finished paper
Sessions are one-to-one and held online, so your child can take part from anywhere in the world after the summer school ends.
Step 1
Choose a subject area
When you add Oxford Research Scholars to your booking, your child tells us the subject they want to explore. Any academic subject works, from Physics to History. Practical subjects such as Art and Design are not covered.
Step 2
Get matched with a mentor
Oxbridge Applications matches your child with an experienced academic mentor in that field and sends a reading list to get started.
Step 3
Find the research question
In the first sessions, the mentor helps your child narrow a broad interest into one clear, original question.
Step 4
Research and write
Your child explores sources, builds an argument and writes drafts. The mentor reviews each draft and gives feedback on structure, evidence and style.
Step 5
Finish the paper
The sessions continue online after the summer school, so your child can complete the full 5,000-word paper at a sensible pace.
Step 6
Receive feedback and present
The mentor marks the final paper and gives detailed written feedback. Your child is then invited to present their work at the Oxbridge Research Scholars Symposium in London.
Outcomes
What your child gets
All of this sits on top of the full Oxford College programme, which your child completes as normal.
A 5,000-word research paper
An original piece of academic work on a question your child chose. It shows real evidence of interest in a subject, beyond the school curriculum.
One-to-one time with an academic mentor
Every session is individual. Your child works with a mentor who knows the subject and has experience of university-level research.
A reading list and a research question
The programme starts with a reading list for the chosen subject. The mentor then helps turn a broad interest into one clear question.
Feedback on every draft
The mentor reviews the work as it develops, not only at the end. The final paper is marked, with written feedback on what went well and what to improve.
An invitation to the Research Symposium
Students can have the opportunity to present their work to a panel at the Oxbridge Research Scholars Symposium in London. Attendance is optional.
Guidance on publication
Oxbridge Applications shows students how to format a paper for student journals and runs a training session on how to submit. Students submit the paper themselves.
Is it right for your child?
Does this sound like your child?
Oxford Research Scholars is a serious commitment. It suits students who recognise themselves in these points.
What it is not: it is not a replacement for the Oxford College academic programme, and it is not a short extra class. It is a research project that runs for several months, with real work in between sessions.
They have a subject they love.
They already read around it, ask questions and want to go deeper than school allows.
They are thinking about competitive universities.
They want to build real academic experience before they apply, and have something concrete to talk about in a personal statement or interview.
They can work independently.
Most of the writing happens between sessions, after the summer school. They need to manage their own time and keep going when the work is hard.
Their English is strong enough for academic writing.
Oxford College requires B1+ as a minimum. For a 5,000-word academic paper, we recommend a higher level. Your Admissions Manager can advise.
If this sounds like your child, add Oxford Research Scholars when you book Oxford College. Places are limited.
Enrol now
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Our partner
Delivered by Oxbridge Applications
Oxford Research Scholars is designed and delivered by Oxbridge Applications, an admissions consultancy based in London. Like Summer Boarding Courses, Oxbridge Applications is part of the Dukes Education family.
Oxbridge Applications describes itself as the longest-running Oxbridge admissions consultancy, with 25 years of experience. Its mentors are academics and graduates from the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge, chosen for their subject knowledge and their teaching experience.
The mentors who lead the research programme include a practising academic neurosurgeon, a historian and political scientist who has taught at Oxford, and a Cambridge-trained psychologist. Your child is matched to a mentor who works in the subject they choose.
No. It is an optional extra at an additional cost. Your child still takes the full Oxford College programme. Oxford Research Scholars adds one-to-one research sessions on top.
The programme begins during the summer school and continues online after your child returns home. Session times are arranged directly between your child and their mentor.
Sessions are held online. This means your child can continue the programme from home, anywhere in the world.
Any academic subject, from Physics to History, Economics to Literature. Practical subjects such as Art and Design are not covered.
Oxbridge Applications matches your child with a mentor based on the subject area they choose. Many mentors are academics and graduates from Oxford and Cambridge.
The final output is a 5,000-word research paper.
The Oxbridge Research Scholars Symposium is an event in London where students present their research to a panel. Attending is optional. Students outside the UK are welcome but travel is not included.
Yes. The final paper is marked and your child receives detailed written feedback on what went well and where they can improve.
Oxbridge Applications shows students how to format their paper for student journals and how to submit it. Students submit the paper themselves. Publication is not guaranteed.
Oxford College requires B1+ as a minimum. Writing a 5,000-word academic paper needs a higher level of written English. Speak to your Admissions Manager if you are not sure.
Yes, if places are still available. Contact your Admissions Manager.
The mentor works with your child to keep the project on track. Please see the booking terms for the cancellation and refund rules that apply to optional extras.
Places are limited
How to add Oxford Research Scholars
If you are already booked on Oxford College, contact your Admissions Manager to add it.
