An academically rigorous enrichment programme designed to nurture curiosity, independence, and early academic excellence.
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Oxford and Cambridge
Oxford and Cambridge are two of the world’s leading universities. They are the oldest universities in the English-speaking world and boast longstanding academic traditions stretching back to the medieval period. Oxford is the oldest of the two universities, being founded around 1096. Cambridge was founded in 1209 by scholars who left Oxford.
A friendly rivalry has existed between these two universities since their inception until this very day in academic competitiveness and sporting fixtures.
The two universities are globally renowned for their academic excellence and distinguished faculty of experts, scientists and leading writers including Nobel prize winners.
Both institutions attract the brightest minds from around the world. The tutorial system, a unique feature of these two universities, provides students with personalized attention and fosters critical thinking.
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Curriculum and lesson design
The Oxbridge Young Learner’s Program is centred around five module areas. High achievement and practice in these modules helps to achieve successful admissions into Oxford and Cambridge universities.
Admissions Test Preparation
Interview Preparation
Personal Statement
Reading and Specialist Knowledge Programme
Research Project and Extended Project Qualification (EPQ)
Preparation for admissions tests is focused around the subject specialism which the student has chosen alongside other general requirements including English language and critical thinking. These include the ELAT, CAT, MAT and GAT tests, covering a broad range of specialisms.
These tests include a Thinking Skills Assessment divided between two sections. Section One is a 90-minute multiple choice assessment testing verbal and non-verbal reasoning under timed constraints. The second section is a 30-minute writing task on philosophically broad questions.
During this module, students will become well acquainted with these tests. All students will be taught essay structure, argumentation and written fluency with a broad range of topics that will also provide assistance and content in their interview preparation.
Admissions Test Preparation
This module will familiarise students with questions they could be asked during the interview. Students will learn how to respond to these challenging questions and practice their answers. One of the biggest challenges students face in the interview is not knowing what to say when posed with questions they have not previously encountered.
Interview preparation includes questions about the personal statement and their motivations for applying for a particular course. During the Oxbridge Young Learner’s Program, students will also be asked subject specific questions and they will practice broader interview tasks.
Interview Preparation
The personal statement is a 4,000 character document of three questions in which students explain to admissions tutors why they are suited for studying their chosen course.
Whilst a large portion of the university application is focused on a checklist of prescribed grades and academic references, the personal statement is important for helping students stand out from their cohort, especially if grades and references are at similar levels with other students. The personal statement is therefore one of the most important factors in securing an offer at Oxford or Cambridge university.
Personal Statement
The Reading and Specialist Knowledge module equips students with unique materials which they can confidently use during Oxbridge interviews and in their Personal Statement. No matter the subject each student applies for at university, the Reading and Specialist Knowledge Programme equips them with extremely important subject specific materials designed for each student’s interests. One of the most popular elements of this module is exposure to Oxbridge style tutorials.
Each lesson is split into learning, writing and research so students can be exposed to a range of ideas and teaching methods. On the English program, students study literary texts, poems and plays with a focus on thematic and language analysis. On this specific course, students gain valuable knowledge of texts which other students in the wider application pool will not have explored. As it is important for Oxbridge applicants to have read widely, the aim of Reading and Specialist Knowledge module is to ensure that enrolled students are successful in the admission process. This is achieved by giving them content to write about in their Personal Statement and explain during the Admission’s Interview. This course also prepares students for the challenges of undergraduate study.
Reading and Specialist Knowledge
The Research Project module is based around the EPQ qualification which high performing students in UK schools undertake. Our tailored project is often merged with the EPQ, but it can also be written independently or alongside an EPQ to demonstrate academic keenness.
The EPQ is an A-level standard standalone qualification designed to develop a student’s abilities beyond the A-level syllabus. It helps students stand out during university admissions by demonstrating their passion for academia outside of school hours. The qualification is worth up to 28 UCAS points which is half an A-level and is recognised by universities including Oxford and Cambridge. As only a few students undertake EPQ qualifications, Oxbridge admissions tutors use it to identify candidates who show a passion for academic work. The EPQ therefore operates as a further method for selection for admissions. By succeeding in this research module, students will achieve a top grade in their EPQ or have a second research project to include during university admissions.
Research Project and Extended Project Qualification (EPQ)
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Standard learning program
Admissions Test
Interview Preparation
Personal Statement
Reading and Specialist Knowledge
Research Project and EPQ
Each of the five modules is broken down into a minimum of ten hours. This means that if a student undertakes all of the modules for the minimum number of hours, they will have fifty direct teaching hours. These teaching hours are supplemented by independent student research, homework assignments and feedback from teachers in the form of reports and marking.
Some students have a higher number of supplementary hours in specific modules. Other students enrol on a fuller package and so the teaching hours are doubled to one hundred. This means twenty hours of direct teaching time is allocated to each module on the course.
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Our teachers
The Oxbridge Young Learner’s Program is led and taught by a small team with years of experience preparing prospective students for Oxbridge admissions. Many of our teachers are Oxbridge graduates who have gone through the rigorous selection process themselves.
We have the expertise of Oxbridge academic tutors who have taught at the two universities and a range of highly knowledgeable admission experts with decades of experience preparing students from leading private school for admissions into Oxford and Cambridge. Our highly qualified and passionate team of teachers is led by Mr James Hanson who previously taught at Harrow and was school Principal at the prestigious UK private school, Aldro.
Start your Oxbridge journey with confidence