Overview

This course takes a hands-on approach to the twin disciplines of archaeology and anthropology, taking full advantage of the superb collection in the nearby Pitt Rivers museum to learn more about how humans have developed and the nature of our societies.

Course description

Archaeology is the study of human activity in the past (both history and prehistory), primarily through the investigation into the artifacts and traces that such activity leaves behind. Anthropology looks at human activity both in the past and the present from a scientific perspective. These two fields are complementary and often taught together.
Students will look at the theory and the practice of archaeology and anthropology, for instance by handling artifacts, participating in a mock archaeological excavation, and considering their own daily lives from an anthropological standpoint.
As with all ORA classes, discussion and student contributions are wholeheartedly welcomed; the diversity of the student body at our summer school will be a tremendous advantage in considering the different ways in which societies operate and have evolved around the world.

Overview

Intended primarily for non-native English speakers who may be considering applying for universities in the English-speaking world, this course develops a key skill: academic writing in English.

Course description

This course covers all aspects of academic writing in English, including planning and structuring an essay, research and referencing, and the style of writing that English-language universities prefer, which may well be different from the style that students have been taught in their home countries.
The course also covers fundamental English skills such as syntax, grammar and vocabulary. As with all ORA courses, collaboration, discussion and constructive criticism are encouraged; students provide and receive helpful feedback on their work in order to improve.
While the course is designed primarily for non-native English speakers, native English speakers who struggle with essay writing may also find this course is of benefit to them.

Overview

The study of stars and outer space is an ancient one, and is in constant development. This option will allow students to tap into that heritage to better understand the universe.

Course description

For millennia, humans have turned their eyes to the heavens and pondered the nature of the celestial objects shining back at them. On this course, students will have the chance to address the same questions with the benefit¬ of modern scientific understanding, charting the history of astronomy and gaining an appreciation of the powerful equipment available to astronomers today.
Students on the fascinating Astronomy option will learn about celestial objects ranging in size from asteroids to galaxies, as well as having the opportunity to debate some of the biggest questions, such as: is there life beyond Earth? Could humans ever populate Mars? What lies beyond the universe?

Overview

This course introduces students to the fundamental skills and techniques that are used by actors for both stage and screen. Alongside using improvisation for skill development, students will carry out scene studies from plays by well-known writers of the past and present.

Course description

Above all, this course seeks to promote a non-judgmental approach to acting; not seeing things in terms of what is good or bad, but instead promoting intuition, imagination, problem solving and freedom of action to bring out true potential and build confidence.
This approach is pursued through use of Viola Spolin’s improvisational techniques, through which students will develop skills in voice, body, characterisation, blocking/use of the stage, stage crafts, motivation and emotion.
Finally, students will get the opportunity to test their new-found skills in a final performance, which uses short scenes or monologues by English-language writers from William Shakespeare to Oscar Wilde, and Harold Pinter to Willy Russell.

Overview

The financials of big businesses are often bemusing to an untrained eye. This option is a perfect primer for students who want to understand this integral cog in the worldwide economy.

Course description

How are big businesses financed? What happens when a company goes public? How will UK businesses weather the storm of Brexit? These are all questions students will have the chance to address on this fascinating and challenging course.
Students will be introduced to key concepts in business finance, from company-level ¬finance to how businesses fit within the wider economy. Through theoretical study and practical exercises, students will get to grips with a challenging subject and pave the way for future study and careers in this competitive field.

Overview

The aim of the Business Challenge workshop is to introduce students to the practical realities of business management via the fun and interactive method of developing their own business idea in small groups.

Course description

Once students have come up with their own business idea, the workshop goes through a series of activities in order to test the idea against the practical realities of business management, giving students an impression of what is really involved in business and entrepreneurship.
Various sessions introduce students to all that is required to bring a business idea to fruition, including marketing, budgeting, leadership and teamwork, business pitches, market research and general presentation skills.
This lively and dynamic workshop combines the acquisition of useful transferable skills with an insight into the realities of business that will leave students better prepared for their future careers and with an enhanced understanding of the way the world of business operates.

Overview

This course goes beyond the chemistry conventionally studied at secondary school level in order to challenge and excite students about the possibilities of this fascinating subject, exploring topics from molecular structure to organic chemistry.

Course description

A wide variety of different teaching styles are used in this course to help students understand and engage with chemistry at an advanced level and give them a taste of the study of chemistry at university.
Topics covered will include atomic structure, the concept of moles, solutions, acids and bases, equilibria, oxidation and reduction and organic molecules. The class also looks at some simple thermodynamics and kinetics, including the concepts of enthalpy and entropy and the collision theory of reactions.
Class discussions, debates, presentations, role plays and written work are all used in the course to present challenging material in different ways. Inspiring teaching helps students think creatively and fosters students’ confidence and curiosity.

Please note

It is not possible to choose Chemistry from both List A and List B, as the course content is the same. All option choices must be unique.

Overview

This course looks at a wide range of contemporary environmental, economic, social, and political concerns over the course of a series of seminars. Students will benefit from a truly global viewpoint, discussing these issues with classmates from all over the world.

Course description

Whether students are interested in pursuing further studies in the field of politics and international relations, or simply want to learn more about the issues dominating the headlines with the benefit of a global perspective, this class offers a great opportunity for learning and discussion.
Students are heartily encouraged to offer up their own experiences and their own points of view for discussion, learning how to put forward their opinions and challenge those of others in a mature and respectful way.
Students taking the Global Issues workshop can expect to learn about parts of the world that they might never have considered before, and explore both issues that they might never have encountered before and those about which they might feel strongly.

Overview

This course explores all aspects of life in the world of the Ancient Greeks and Romans, from history to belief systems, and encourages students to engage fully with the past through debates, interactive exercises and reenactments.

Course description

The ancient world has been studied in Oxford for nearly a millennium, making this the ideal place to learn about the distant past.
Using resources such as Oxford’s world-class collections and original texts, this course looks not just at the major events of history, but also at the colourful reality of daily living in Ancient Greece and Rome.
A focus of this course is the contrast and comparison between the ancient world and the world we live in today. Lessons will address the myriad ways in which the ways we think and work today were influenced by people thousands of years ago.
In these ways, the course seeks to make the past less remote and more comprehensible, creating a lively and interesting environment in which to learn.

Overview

This workshop will give students the chance to hone their graphical creativity and technical skills in a highly vocational manner, through fun tasks and with expert guidance.

Course description

From the websites you visit everyday to the boxes from which you pour your cereal each morning, many of the things you use in your day-to-day life will have had a graphic designer involved at some point in their creation.
This fun afternoon workshop will introduce students to this useful skill, taking them through the design process from thinking creatively to turning an idea into a finished design. This workshop is ideal for students seeking to learn practical skills that harness their creativity, at the same time as opening their eyes to the thought processes behind modern design.

Overview

Looking at literature from William Shakespeare’s The Tempest right up to contemporary postmodern writing, this course is a thorough introduction to literary analysis and interpretation.

Course description

Ideal for any student with a curiosity about literature, this course teaches students how to write an Oxbridge-style essay, how to engage with complex and difficult writers like TS Eliot and Virginia Woolf and how to build arguments from close analysis of texts.
Students will also get the chance in their second week of study to engage in an Oxford-style tutorial discussion of their views, in which their ability to put forward and defend their thoughts will be thoroughly honed and tested.
The broad span of this course enables students to gain a thorough understanding of how English Literature is studied at levels above what they may have had the opportunity to experience at school. ORA’s passionate and dedicated teaching staff encourage lively classroom discussion and delight in passing on their love of literature to their students.

Overview

This course explores world history from the ending of the Second World War up to the present day, looking at topics from the decolonisation of Africa and Asia to conflict in the Middle East. Students are encouraged to engage with debates and think like professional historians.

Course description

The events that this course looks at are those which directly shaped the world that we live in today, and which are frequently subject to intense discussion.
Special emphasis is given to the most recent historical events, such as the rise of global terrorism and the Iraq War. This enables students to consider how historians interpret events that are still ongoing.
Students will use primary sources, including extensive use of video from the British Pathé archive, in order to approach history in a mature and sophisticated way. They will be encouraged to go beyond rote learning of facts and look at themes, methodology, and analysis of events.

Overview

Leadership and teamwork are useful in a huge range of contexts, whether academic, professional or social. This workshop series hones the skills that students will be required to be effective leaders and good team players.

Course description

The value of a team is that the various strengths and abilities of different team players can be utilised in combination in order to complete tasks or overcome obstacles. The activities of this workshop are designed in order to show students how this can best be achieved.
The workshop will also explore different styles of leadership and the different roles that both leaders and team members can be called upon to play. Students will be enabled to work out which styles of leadership and which team positions they are best suited to.
Students will be encouraged to reflect upon the ways in which they have used leadership and teambuilding skills in the past, and how such skills might be of value to them in the future, as well as analysing and drawing inspiration from the styles of famous leadership figures.

Overview

The world of fashion is highly competitive, and hard to break into. Getting early experience of the methods of design and prototyping used in the industry will be of huge help to interested students.

Course description

Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes to create iconic fashion designs such as the Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding dress? This enjoyable course explains all, introducing students to the fashion industry and to the methods and materials designers use to create a range of designs.
As well as learning the theory, students on this course will be able to try their hand at creating a design of their own, gaining practical experience that will stand them in excellent stead for pursuing fashion design at university and beyond.

Overview

Students who want to be inspired to produce their best creative work will be well-suited to this course, which aims to help students come up with great ideas and equip them with the skills to realise those ideas to their full potential.

Course description

This heavily interactive course uses multiple techniques to help enhance students’ creative and literary abilities.
First, the course will engage with a variety of literature of different styles and genres to help students learn from great writers. Additionally, students will read and critique each others’ work, which helps develop skills in editing and giving and receiving constructive criticism. Finally, students will be encouraged to do a great deal of writing over the two weeks’ length of this course, to overcome the fear of a blank page.
While the main focus of the course will be on prose, students who are interested in writing in other forms, such as poetry, will also have the opportunity to do so.

Overview

Oxford’s rich architectural heritage makes it the perfect location in which to learn the fundamental principles and history of European art and architecture, in a course that incorporates a daily walking tour so students can see the sights for themselves.

Course description

Oxford’s beautiful buildings include an example of every major British architectural style from the Saxon Tower of St Michael at the North Gate (which was built in 1040) right up to the present day.
Not only that, but 2,500 years of European art are represented in the Ashmolean Museum, which students will also have the opportunity to visit. Students will see some of the city’s most spectacular buildings, such as the Saxon Tower, Christ Church Cathedral and Picture Gallery, New College, the Oxford Union, and many more.
Each workshop begins with 30 minutes of classroom learning, illustrating the artistic point or style under discussion, followed by a ninety-minute walking tour to see ‘case studies’ of these features in the collections or buildings of Oxford.

Overview

The study of human evolution, and of genetic traits, is growing in significance year on year. Get an insight into this field with our specially designed Genetics study option.

Course description

How did you inherit your parents’ grey eyes or blonde hair? Why is it that some people are more likely than others to be predisposed to a medical condition? How did humans evolve to be the way they are today? These are the kind of questions students will address on the fascinating Genetics course option.
Through a combination of theoretical learning and practical scientific exercises, students will explore this challenging scientific field and gain a deeper insight into the building blocks of human life. More broadly, students will gain an understanding of how genetics fit¬ into the bigger picture of human evolution.

Overview

This introductory course familiarises students with the key principles of economics, covering topics such as market, government intervention, policy objectives and instruments, trade and exchange rates.

Course description

Designed for students with little or no pre-existing knowledge of economics, this course provides a thorough grounding in the topics studied at pre-university and university level in economics and related disciplines.
The course will cover microeconomics, macroeconomics and international economics, giving them a good overview of the subject as a whole to use as a launching platform for discussion and debate.
The discussion of current economic issues is central to the course, in order for students to see how the theories that they have studied in the abstract can have concrete applications in the real world. For instance, students will look at issues like the Eurozone and how to combat unemployment.

Overview

This workshop teaches students how to improve their skills in presentation and argument, addressing a variety of topical issues and culminating in a full, formal debating competition.

Course description

The workshop combines theoretical principles of what makes a good speech with practical advice on skills such as body language and clarity of delivery to help students hone their public speaking skills.
Sessions address a variety of issues, from straightforward questions about differing educational systems, to more challenging topics such as the death penalty and euthanasia. Students will learn how to discuss controversial topics in a calm and respectful manner.
The workshop will cover a variety of public speaking needs, from presentations to individual speeches to the particular challenges of group debates, such as rebuttal. Famous speeches throughout history will be analysed in order to consider why they succeeded.

Overview

Environmental Science draws on multiple different branches of science – from biology to meteorology – to form a complete picture of the complex and finely balanced system that is the planet Earth.

Course description

While providing students with a thorough grounding in the relatively new field of Environmental Science, this course focuses on the most pressing issues affecting us as a species today, including climate change and other important environmental concerns.
The course recognises the politicised, multi-disciplinary nature of many of the topics under discussion, and encourages informed and enthusiastic debate among students, taking the priorities, biases and concerns of different stakeholders into account.
As such, this course combines hard science with a discussion of the role that international government and other organisations have to play in solving the problems that face our planet.

Overview

The skills required by managers in modern businesses are diverse and require deft implementation. This option is a chance for students to get an early taste for these skills, and to get some practice in!

Course description

What does it take to lead people? What are the challenges a manager must face, and what are the techniques they can use to overcome them? Management Studies provides answers to these questions and more, introducing students to the reality of management in the 21st century.
Ideal preparation for careers in any field, this course provides students with theoretical and practical insights into the world of business, enabling them to take their first steps into practising skills that will benefit them throughout their working lives.

Overview

This course covers the fundamental concepts and the most influential theorists in experimental psychology, and then allows students to undertake research within the field of psychology on a topic of their own choosing.

Course description

Reflecting the material that students would encounter on an undergraduate psychology course, this course covers both the theory and the practice of experimental psychology.
It addresses famous psychological experiments, looking at their conclusions as well as their ethical implications and shortcomings. It then goes on to teach students how to design and carry out their own psychological experiment and produce a report on their findings.
The course aims to allow students to gain insight into their own personalities and development and to relate the material to their own lives and experiences, teaching them about the way that people’s minds work and the realities of human nature.

Overview

Students on this option will explore the contemporary world of marketing, learning how to harness trends and exploring the varied techniques of this omnipresent modern industry.

Course description

In a world in which we are continually bombarded by marketing, this course will unlock some of the secrets of modern marketing and the many forms it takes. This fascinating course will give students a deeper understanding of a wide range of media, as well as the psychology behind it.
Students will explore traditional aspects of marketing, such as television advertising and public relations, in conjunction with the techniques used by digital marketers to increase a brand’s visibility online.

Overview

Intended to build confidence and curiosity about mathematics, this course goes beyond the average schoolroom in teaching basic concepts from higher mathematics that shows the exciting topics that modern mathematics can include.

Course description

The range of topics covered on this course is broad, spanning game theory, logic, geometry and computer science, designed to demonstrate the wide variety of interesting uses to which mathematics is put in the modern world.
Students’ existing interest in mathematics is nurtured and encouraged by this course. Activities will include solving riddles and critical thinking puzzles, drawing tessellations and fractals, playing strategic mathematical games, and even building a primitive computer.
The course reflects the most exciting and dynamic aspects of mathematics in the modern age in its content and teaching.

Please note

It is not possible to choose Mathematics from both List A and List B, as the course content is the same. All option choices must be unique.

Overview

This course explores the science that supports modern medical practice, ranging from the biology behind human health and disease to medical ethics and the political and environmental factors affecting public health.

Course description

Ideal for any student interested in studying subjects allied to medicine in future, or who is considering a variety of different areas of science, this course gives a thorough overview of the scientific background of medicine while exploring its interdisciplinary interactions.
The course is designed to be interactive and engaging, with all students encouraged to contribute their thoughts to class discussions and debates.
Additionally, ORA’s expert teaching staff are able to advise students on the best ways to pursue their interest in this challenging and competitive field.

Please note

It is not possible to choose Medical Biology from both List A and List B, as the course content is the same. All option choices must be unique.

Overview

The skills required by managers in modern businesses are diverse and require deft implementation. This option is a chance for students to get an early taste for these skills, and to get some practice in!

Course description

What does it take to lead people? What are the challenges a manager must face, and what are the techniques they can use to overcome them? Management Studies provides answers to these questions and more, introducing students to the reality of management in the 21st century.
Ideal preparation for careers in any field, this course provides students with theoretical and practical insights into the world of business, enabling them to take their first steps into practising skills that will benefit them throughout their working lives.

Overview

The human brain is incredibly complex, and the science surrounding is made to match. This option will give students an insight into this complicated area of science, and practical experience in dealing with it.

Course description

Ideal for aspiring medics and anyone with an interest in human biology, this fascinating course introduces students to the phenomenally complex workings of the human brain. As well as exploring the anatomy of the brain and how it is structured, students will gain an understanding of how the brain handles emotions, memory and other functions.
As well as learning the theory, students will undertake scientific research exercises and group work that will provide them with practical experience, helping to consolidate learning and building valuable skills for future study.

Overview

Students on this option will explore the contemporary world of marketing, learning how to harness trends and exploring the varied techniques of this omnipresent modern industry.

Course description

In a world in which we are continually bombarded by marketing, this course will unlock some of the secrets of modern marketing and the many forms it takes. This fascinating course will give students a deeper understanding of a wide range of media, as well as the psychology behind it.
Students will explore traditional aspects of marketing, such as television advertising and public relations, in conjunction with the techniques used by digital marketers to increase a brand’s visibility online.

Overview

This course introduces students to the fundamentals of analytic philosophy, an area of study which dates back to the 6th century BC. Students will analyse and debate some of the most fundamental questions of life and thereby develop skills in discussion and public speaking.

Course description

Discussion is central to this challenging and energetic course. From “what makes an action right or wrong?” to “What is truth?”, students will be asked to consider some of humanity’s deepest and most enduring questions, and learn how to assess and defend their own points of view.
The course will address four branches of philosophy: logic, metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics. The philosophy of science will also be considered.
Students on this course will be asked not merely to question the views of others, but also to examine their own beliefs and to give and receive constructive criticism, thereby learning valuable transferable skills in objectivity and mature approaches to disagreement.

Overview

This course aims to serve as students’ first taste of advanced physics of the kind that is taught at university. Its up-to-the-minute approach shows the challenges and rewards of studying physics in the present day.

Course description

The major areas of physics covered by this course include relativistic and quantum physics, which are looked at not only from the perspective of science and maths but also analysed from a philosophical and technological point of view.
This course uses multiple teaching and learning methods; problem-solving in groups is a key technique, as this mimics the way physics research occurs at higher levels.
There should be minimal overlap between high school physics and the content covered on this course. Due to the fast-paced nature of recent developments in physics, much of what is conventionally taught in schools is out-of-date – this course aims to keep students abreast of the very latest discoveries in physics and their thrilling implications.

Please note

It is not possible to choose Physics from both List A and List B, as the course content is the same. All option choices must be unique.

Overview

Starting with an introduction to the principles of liberal democratic politics and moving on through discussion of contemporary issues dominating world politics, this course familiarises students with the study of political science in conjunction with international relations.

Course description

Students first learn about the basics of democratic politics and then explore their effects from an international perspective – for instance, by looking at the evolution of warfare in an age of global terrorism.
In the second week of the course, students use this knowledge to explore the field of International Relations further, for instance by looking at the function and effects of global governance.
More than 90 different nationalities were represented at ORA’s summer school in 2014. This diversity of background and experiences is particularly valuable in Political Science and International Relations, as it enables students to learn from one another and gain new international perspectives that they may not previously have considered.

Overview

The human brain is incredibly complex, and the science surrounding is made to match. This option will give students an insight into this complicated area of science, and practical experience in dealing with it.

Course description

Ideal for aspiring medics and anyone with an interest in human biology, this fascinating course introduces students to the phenomenally complex workings of the human brain. As well as exploring the anatomy of the brain and how it is structured, students will gain an understanding of how the brain handles emotions, memory and other functions.
As well as learning the theory, students will undertake scientific research exercises and group work that will provide them with practical experience, helping to consolidate learning and building valuable skills for future study.

Overview

This course introduces students to the fundamentals of analytic philosophy, an area of study which dates back to the 6th century BC. Students will analyse and debate some of the most fundamental questions of life and thereby develop skills in discussion and public speaking.

Course description

Discussion is central to this challenging and energetic course. From “what makes an action right or wrong?” to “What is truth?”, students will be asked to consider some of humanity’s deepest and most enduring questions, and learn how to assess and defend their own points of view.
The course will address four branches of philosophy: logic, metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics. The philosophy of science will also be considered.
Students on this course will be asked not merely to question the views of others, but also to examine their own beliefs and to give and receive constructive criticism, thereby learning valuable transferable skills in objectivity and mature approaches to disagreement.

Overview

Course description

Students are taught the principles of business management, economics and finance in small groups, and will be given the opportunity to learn the principles of accounting, finance, marketing, human resources and business ethics.In addition to the academic classes, skills-based workshops will develop the students’ presentation and leadership skills for the benefit of their future business goals. The programme will culminate with an Enterprise Fair during which students will have the opportunity to present their ideas to others within the school.

Overview

Course description

The course aims to introduce students to the wide range of options they have when studying engineering at university, as well as the challenges facing the modern engineer.
Students will consider university engineering courses and how they differ, looking into a variety of engineering fields, such as mechanical, electrical, civil and chemical, and the associated opportunities and potential careers. They will also have the opportunity to work on their university application, developing their personal statement and interview technique, as well as practising potential admission tests. Students will examine a typical set of tests used to select engineering students, and discuss what it is that universities are looking for in engineering candidates.

Overview

Course description

This course provides a complete introduction to the thriving field of Computer Science, using the web to illustrate key concepts. Students will learn website design using HTML for structure and CSS for formatting, and Python to provide them with a foundation in a more scientific programming language.

Overview

Course description

This course is designed for students who are considering applying to British medical schools. This course will advise students on medical school application best practices, demystifying the process and addressing any concerns they may have. It will guide students through what they need to know before applying, from a discussion of why Medicine might be the course and career for them to the differences between various medical schools and their application processes. Below is a list of topics covered during the course, Medicine as a Career, UK Medical Schools, Medicine at Oxford and Cambridge, Personal Statement, Advice on BMAT and other tests, Interview Technique, Practical Skills Workshops.