The Oxford Summer Academy - an academic and cultural program in Oxford, England, for high-school students

Students choose one elective each fortnight. Electives lead to a recognizable achievement - an achievement that students can use in university applications to show that they have extensive and broad abilities and interests.

With the support of the academic staff, electives take place during the afternoons and are designed to lead to recognizable, tangible outcomes.

Electives, more than anything, are designed to be fun, and to allow students to let off steam!

Options available include:

Orienteering: Students have a unique opportunity to get off the beaten track and explore the countryside surrounding Oxford. Basic compass and map-reading skills are taught, and then each afternoon, students use these skills, exploring the beautiful Cotwold villages, forests and countryside nearby Oxford.

Tennis: Students may elect to attend a tennis academy held at Esporta, Oxford. Tuition is provided either on an individual or small-group basis by Lawn-Tennis qualified coaches.

Debate and Public Speaking: Oxford has a long tradition of debate - many UK and US politicians learnt their public speaking skills in the Oxford Union. Students will gain confidence and competence in constructing, rebutting and presenting arguments. Based on a proposition that the students decide themselves, a debate is conducted in front of all the students, and a vote taken, to decide the winning team

Photography: The unique architecture, cityscapes and landscapes of Oxford will be used in this elective. Each afternoon, students visit a different Oxford location and build a portfolio of work. At the end of the course, an exhibition of students’ work is mounted. Images also contribute to the Academy Magazine.

Creative Writing: The skills of writing prose, poetry and journalism are developed as students design, write and create The Oxford Summer Academy Magazine. This will be distributed to all students at the course end, as well as published on-line.

Drama - From Page to Stage: Students write, direct and perform their own play at the end of each course. This elective is led by a published playwright and experienced actor.