You want to experience lectures, research, academic writing and presentations before university begins, and develop practical approaches you can take into future study.
College Pathways
AGES 15–17
Future Scholars: Humanities at Oxford College
Spend two weeks developing the academic skills used at university while exploring Law, Politics, Literature and History in Oxford. Learn how to analyse ideas, build arguments, conduct research and present your conclusions with confidence.
- No.1 UK multi-campus summer school
- BAC accredited
- 155 nationalities (since 2008)
At a glance
- Fees from
- £6,295 2-wk residential · Day Programme £3,495
- Ages
- 15–17 College Pathways tier
- Start dates
- 5th & 19th July Two-week sessions, 2027
- Class size
- 15 Max Students per class
- English level
- B1+ Minimum B1 required
- Academic hours
- 25 hours Academic content per week
- Location
- Oxford Oxford College
What’s included: tuition, accommodation (residential option), meals, excursions, social programme, student report, certificate and student insurance.
Transfer service available for an additional fee.
Is this right for your child?
Prepare for university-style study through the humanities
Future Scholars: Humanities is a two-week academic programme for students aged 14–17 who want to experience a more independent, analytical and discussion-led approach to learning. Students develop five core areas of academic practice: Lecture Skills, Academic Writing, Presentation Skills, Critical Thinking and Research Skills.
These skills are explored through themes from Law, Politics, Literature and History. Students learn not simply to express an opinion, but to develop a position, test it against evidence, consider alternative interpretations and communicate their conclusions persuasively.
- Five dedicated modules in essential pre-university academic skills
- Humanities exploration through Law, Politics, Literature and History
- A two-week group research project culminating in the Time to Shine Presentation Ceremony
What you'll study
Five academic skills for future study
Each module develops a distinct area of academic practice. Within the Humanities pathway, activities, examples and challenges are tailored to humanities study, while all five skills are brought together through the Time to Shine research project.
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Module 01
Lecture Skills
Students develop strategies for following academic-style teaching, recognising important ideas and recording information efficiently. They practise active listening, structured note-taking and identifying arguments, evidence and different points of view within lectures and discussions.
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Module 02
Academic Writing
Students explore the foundations of strong academic writing: developing a clear argument, organising ideas logically and supporting conclusions with evidence. Humanities-focused activities examine how writers engage with alternative viewpoints and build persuasive arguments.
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Module 03
Presentation Skills
Students learn how to communicate ideas clearly and confidently to an audience. Sessions explore oral presentation, rhetoric, academic posters, visual communication, responding to questions and adapting complex arguments for an audience.
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Module 04
Critical Thinking
Students examine how arguments are constructed and challenged. They learn to identify assumptions, recognise weaknesses in reasoning, compare competing interpretations and consider what evidence would be needed to support a particular claim.
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Module 05
Research Skills
Students explore how researchers turn broad interests into focused academic questions. They practise finding and evaluating sources, distinguishing different types of evidence, organising research and drawing conclusions that can be justified by the material they have found.
The signature experience
Research it. Argue it. Present it.
Throughout the two weeks, students work in groups of three on a humanities-focused research question of their own choosing. They refine their question, investigate relevant sources, consider competing interpretations and develop an evidence-based response.
The programme culminates in the joint Time to Shine Presentation Ceremony, where Humanities and Sciences students come together in an Oxford academic setting. Each group presents its research through both an academic poster and an oral presentation.
- A pathway-specific research project developed across the full two weeks
- Academic poster and oral presentation delivered as a team
Is this programme for you?
Does this sound like you?
Students arrive with different interests and ambitions, but many recognise themselves in at least one of these.
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You want to be ready for university-style learning.
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You love questions without simple answers.
Law, Politics, Literature and History interest you because they involve competing ideas, interpretations and arguments rather than a single answer to memorise.
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You want to make stronger arguments.
You want to become better at examining evidence, challenging assumptions, considering different viewpoints and explaining why your conclusions should be taken seriously.
Sound familiar? This course was built for you
Outcomes
What your child leaves with
Future Scholars gives students practical experience of the ways they may be expected to learn, think and communicate in future university study, while allowing them to explore a range of humanities disciplines.
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Certificate of Completion
An SBC certificate recognising completion of the two-week Future Scholars programme.
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Personalised Letter of Recommendation
A personalised written letter reflecting the student’s participation and engagement during the programme.
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Academic Skills
Practical experience of academic listening, writing, research, critical thinking, discussion and presentation.
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Time to Shine
A completed group research project presented through an academic poster and oral presentation.
Independently recognised
The UK's most trusted summer schools — inspected, ranked and reviewed to prove it.
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No.1
Ranked the UK’s leading multi-campus summer school provider
EL Gazette
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Accredited
Accredited for teaching, welfare and safeguarding
BAC
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Excellent
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot by families
SBC STAFF
Meet some of the SBC team
SBC staff support students throughout their summer — in lessons, activities and daily life. They help students settle in, grow in confidence and make the most of their time with us, in a safe and friendly environment.
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Natalia Mavromoustaki
MA Careers Guidance, BSc Psychology
As a tutor, Natalia teaches through discussion, activities and real examples. "It's rewarding to see someone grow in confidence or find a real passion. Summer schools let students learn outside the classroom, build confidence and meet new people."
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Cas Slater
Office Coordinator
As Office Coordinator, Cas handles arrivals, departures, excursions and daily site running. "Watching students go from shy and overwhelmed to leading group presentations is inspiring. They get to know themselves, make friends for life and really come out of their shells."
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Olivia Clark
Theatre & Performance · University of Warwick
As Activity Leader, Olivia runs the daily sports, arts and evening activities. She studies Theatre and Performance at Warwick. "Knowing I played a part in watching students have fun, learn and try new things is very rewarding. You will make friends from all over the world."
Beyond the classroom
Humanities in Oxford
Students explore Oxford’s academic heritage through visits to University of Oxford colleges, discovering the distinctive environments in which generations of students have lived and studied. These visits offer a closer look at college life, architecture and traditions while helping students understand how the collegiate university system works and experience the atmosphere of one of the world’s most famous academic cities.
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Academic experience
Explore the humanities beyond the classroom
Programme experiences may include visits to Oxford colleges, museums, libraries and other historic or academic settings across the city.
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Debate & discussion
Test ideas through argument
Debates and discussions give students opportunities to construct arguments, respond to opposing viewpoints and communicate their position clearly.
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Subject exploration
Encounter four humanities disciplines
Subject tasters introduce different questions and approaches from Law, Politics, Literature and History.
A day in the life
University-style days, unforgettable evenings
Seminars and research by day, societies and campus events by evening. Here’s how a typical day on Future Scholars: Humanities runs — and how each one quietly builds toward the Time to Shine Presentation Ceremony.
Roll over a moment in the timetable to see it — and what it’s really like.
Evening activities
- Arts & Crafts
- Badminton
- Basketball
- Board Games & Puzzles
- Circuit Training
- Creative Writing
- Cricket
- Film Festival
- Football
- Karaoke
- Murder Mystery
- Museums
- Photo Challenge
- Picnic in the Park
- Punting
- Rounders
- Silent Disco
- Taskmaster
- Trashion Show
- Volleyball
- Yoga
Excursions
A sample of what recent groups have done. Excursions vary by session.
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London
See famous landmarks, visit world-class museums and cultural attractions, take epic photos, shop some big-name stores, and soak up London's unforgettable energy.
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Oxford
Wander through the historic city of Oxford, home to the world-renowned university, stunning architecture, and centuries of academic tradition.
Safeguarding & welfare
Safe days, settled nights
Sending your child abroad is a big decision. So we start with your child’s wellbeing, and build everything else — lessons, activities, boarding life — around it.
- 24/7 On-site pastoral support
- 1:6 Staff-to-student ratio on programme
- 100% DBS-checked, trained residential staff
- BAC This course is offered under British Accreditation Council quality assurance standards.
Accommodation & campus
Live like an Oxford undergraduate
At Oxford College, students live and study in a University of Oxford college — an authentic taste of university life, close to the city centre and the university parks. It is a summer that feels like a step towards higher education: seminars, discussion and independent study in one of the world’s most famous student cities. Most rooms are singles with shared bathrooms, in the traditional style of Oxford colleges, and students can relax in the on-site common rooms or explore the historic city with their group in free time.
- Laundry Service
- Modern Dining Hall
- Oxford College Campus
- Shared Bathrooms
- Single Bedrooms
- Student Common Room
- Twin Rooms
- Wifi
Why SBC
Trusted, accredited and part of Dukes Education
Dates & fees
Two Options. One transformative fortnight.
Whether your child boards with us or returns home each evening, your fee covers everything in their programme. See what’s included with each option below.
Residential
From £6,295
per 2-week course · Boarding — full days plus evenings and weekends
- Full board — all meals & accommodation included
- Multi-activity programme
- Evening activities & excursions
- 24/7 pastoral care
Non-Residential
From £3,495
per 2-week course · 09:00–21:30 daily · varies by campus
- Same academic programme as residential
- Lunch & evening meals included
- Full activity programme and excursions
- Return home in the evening
2027 dates
Flexible lengths
2 or 4-week options at Oxford available
Programme start dates
5th & 19th July 2027
Places are limited and allocated on a first-come basis. Check availability before you plan.
Places can start to fill from spring — book early
Questions
Frequently asked questions
All residential staff are DBS-checked and trained, with a high staff-to-student ratio and 24/7 pastoral support.
Residential programme includes:
Tuition, accommodation, all meals, evening activities and excursions. Airport transfers are offered at an additional cost.
Non-residential programme includes:
Tuition, accommodation, all meals, evening activities and excursions. Students return home at 21:30.
No. Future Scholars is a Summer Boarding Courses programme. We use the buildings and grounds of a University of Oxford college so students can live and study in an authentic college setting, but the course is designed and delivered by Summer Boarding Courses. Summer Boarding Courses contracts the use of these facilities and has no formal connection with the University of Oxford or its colleges, and they do not deliver, partner in, or endorse our programmes.
Explore before you enquire
Take the detail home
No call, no pressure. Just the documents that help you decide — sent straight to your inbox.
Academic Overview
Every module, the learning outcomes and how the programme builds over the fortnight.
Free PDF download
Sample Timetable
A full fortnight, hour by hour — lessons, activities and excursions. Please note that timetables are given as an example and are subject to change.
Free PDF download
Dates & Fees
Full pricing, what's included, and when the programmes take place
IGNITE YOUR SPARK
Arrange a free consultation
Our friendly Student Experience team are happy to answer any questions, big or small, and help you find the best summer experience for your child — no pressure, ever.
What happens after you enquire
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Step 1
We read it personally.
A member of our Student Experience team reviews your enquiry.
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Step 2
You're matched with an advisor.
Someone who knows this course and can answer your specific questions.
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Step 3
We arrange a call.
Phone or video, at a time that suits you, to talk through dates, options and any concerns.
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Step 4
You decide — no pressure.
We help you find the right fit. You book when you're ready.
One student's summer
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155+
Nationalities represented since 2008
21,000+
Alumni since 2008
№1
UK multi-campus summer school (ranked by EL Gazette)