Engineering Summer Courses in Cambridge
Explore how engineers turn ideas into practical solutions, investigate the principles behind structures, systems and technologies, and develop your creative problem-solving skills with Atlas Summer Courses. Our two-week Engineering summer course in Cambridge, designed for students aged 13–15, gives you the opportunity to explore engineering beyond your usual studies while developing your scientific reasoning, analytical thinking and ability to approach practical challenges.
Through small-group seminars and independent study, you'll investigate engineering ideas, consider how different solutions can be designed and evaluated, and become more confident applying scientific and mathematical thinking to unfamiliar problems while enjoying the wider experience of spending your summer in Cambridge with Atlas Summer Courses.
What's Included?
Your residential Engineering summer course in Cambridge includes academic teaching, accommodation, meals, a certificate on completion, airport transfer and insurance.
Choose from Plus, Superior and Premier packages, with accommodation and additional benefits varying by package.
Study Engineering in Cambridge
Our Engineering summer course in Cambridge gives students aged 13–15 the opportunity to spend two weeks exploring engineering principles, design and problem-solving as part of an Atlas Summer Courses summer experience.
Engineering brings together science, mathematics, creativity and practical thinking to solve problems and develop solutions. Engineers need to understand how and why things work while considering factors such as performance, materials, efficiency, reliability and the needs of the people who will use what they create.
Across the course, you'll be encouraged to think like an engineer: identifying problems, considering constraints, developing possible solutions and evaluating different approaches. Rather than simply searching for one correct answer, you'll explore how different designs can respond to the same challenge in different ways.
Outside your academic sessions, you'll experience the wider programme alongside other students, with time to enjoy Cambridge and take part in the social and cultural elements of your Atlas Summer Courses summer.
What Will You Study on an Engineering Summer Course in Cambridge?
There is no prescribed syllabus that every student follows. Atlas Summer Courses tutors create their own syllabi, drawing on their expertise while taking the interests, abilities and learning needs of their students into account.
Depending on your tutor and group, you could explore different areas of engineering, potentially drawing on ideas from mechanical, civil, electrical or other engineering disciplines.
You might consider questions such as:
- How do engineers turn an initial idea into a practical solution?
- How can mathematics and physics help us understand how structures and systems behave?
- What factors need to be considered when choosing materials for a design?
- How can engineers test and improve a solution?
- Why might different engineers approach the same problem in different ways?
- How do constraints influence engineering decisions?
- How can engineering contribute to solving challenges facing society?
The precise content will reflect your tutor's expertise and the interests and learning needs of the students in your group. Any syllabus shown on our website is an example from a previous course rather than a guarantee of the exact engineering disciplines, projects or topics you'll study.
How You'll Learn on Your Engineering Course
Atlas Summer Courses' Engineering summer course combines interactive small-group seminars with private study, giving you opportunities to investigate engineering principles, tackle problems and develop solutions of your own.
Ages 13–15
24 hours of small-group seminars
You'll take part in eight seminars where you'll explore engineering through interactive discussions, problems, design challenges and activities. You'll be encouraged to apply scientific and mathematical reasoning, experiment with different approaches and explain the thinking behind your solutions.
12 hours of private study
You'll complete a small amount of work for each seminar. Depending on the course, this might involve solving an engineering problem, researching a particular concept, developing a design idea or preparing work to discuss with your group. There will be opportunities to work independently as well as collaboratively with your peers.
Across the course, you'll be encouraged to participate actively, experiment with ideas and become more confident approaching unfamiliar engineering challenges systematically and creatively.
Your Summer Experience in Cambridge
Your time with Atlas Summer Courses extends beyond your Engineering course.
You'll spend two weeks living and learning alongside other students, combining your academic programme with the wider social and cultural elements of the summer experience.
Outside your academic sessions, you'll have opportunities to spend time with other students, enjoy Cambridge and take part in the activities and experiences included within your programme.
Accommodation and additional programme benefits vary according to the package you choose, so you can compare the available options before applying.
Explore the summer experience in Cambridge.
Who Is Our Engineering Summer Course in Cambridge For?
Our Engineering summer course in Cambridge is designed for students aged 13–15 who are curious about how things work and enjoy using scientific, mathematical and creative thinking to solve problems.
You don't need to have studied Engineering before joining. The course may particularly appeal to you if you enjoy Mathematics, Physics, design or technology, like building or developing ideas, or are interested in understanding how engineers create solutions to practical challenges.
You don't need to know which branch of engineering interests you most. The course gives you an opportunity to explore broader engineering thinking and discover the types of problems, systems and design challenges you find most engaging.
You'll develop transferable skills including scientific reasoning, mathematical thinking, creative problem-solving, design thinking, evaluating different solutions, independent study and communicating technical ideas clearly.
Learn from Expert Tutors
Atlas Summer Courses tutors are experienced educators and subject specialists active across academia, research, industry and education.
They bring their own expertise and interests into their teaching and have the freedom to shape their syllabus around both their specialism and the students in their group. This means different Engineering summer courses in Cambridge may explore different engineering disciplines, design challenges and approaches to problem-solving.
Tutors are confirmed closer to the summer, so profiles on our website are examples of tutors who have previously taught with us rather than confirmation of who will teach your course.
Where Can Engineering Take You?
Engineering develops the ability to combine scientific and mathematical understanding with creative thinking to solve practical problems.
Students interested in Engineering may go on to study the subject itself or specialise in areas such as mechanical, civil, electrical, aerospace, chemical or biomedical engineering.
The analytical, technical and problem-solving skills associated with Engineering can also support future paths across technology, manufacturing, energy, infrastructure, transport, sustainability, research and many other scientific and technical fields.
An Engineering summer course in Cambridge gives you the opportunity to explore engineering before making longer-term academic decisions and discover which areas of engineering and problem-solving interest you most.
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FAQs about Our Cambridge Courses
Atlas Summer Courses offers a range of summer courses in Cambridge across subjects including sciences, medicine, technology, humanities, social sciences, business and creative disciplines. Course availability varies by age group and dates, so students can explore the subjects available for their age when choosing what to study.
Our summer courses in Cambridge are available across age groups including 13–15, 16–17 and, for selected subjects, 18–24. The academic approach varies according to age, giving students an appropriate balance of small-group teaching, independent study and academic challenge.
Our residential summer courses in Cambridge combine academic teaching with accommodation, meals and a wider programme of social and cultural experiences. Exact inclusions and accommodation vary by package, allowing students and families to compare the available options before applying.
No. Atlas Summer Courses is an independent summer course provider and is not part of, affiliated with or endorsed by the University of Cambridge. Our summer courses in Cambridge are organised and delivered by Atlas Programmes, with the focus on our academic courses and the wider Atlas Programmes summer experience.
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