Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Our Advanced summer courses in Cambridge are designed for students who have already completed at least the second year of an undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in a related subject.

These courses are intended for students with existing academic knowledge who are looking to explore their chosen subject in greater depth. If you're unsure whether you meet the entry requirements, our Admissions team will be happy to advise you.

Our Advanced summer courses in Cambridge are available in a range of specialist subjects for students with previous academic experience.

For 2027, these include:

• Advanced Biotechnology & Genetics
• Advanced Business and Entrepreneurship
• Advanced Law
• Advanced Medicine
• Advanced Neuroscience

Please visit the relevant course page for the latest availability and entry requirements.

While both programmes share the same Atlas Summer Courses approach to learning—including small-group teaching, expert tutors and a supportive academic environment—our advanced summer courses in Cambridge are designed specifically for students who have already completed at least the second year of an undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in a related subject.

These courses build on your existing academic knowledge, enabling you to explore specialist topics in greater depth through advanced discussion, critical analysis and independent thinking. Alongside your studies, you'll also enjoy a full social and cultural programme, providing opportunities to explore Cambridge and connect with like-minded students from around the world.

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Our advanced summer courses in Cambridge use the same distinctive teaching approach as our programmes in Oxford, combining expert-led tutorials, seminars and small-group discussions to encourage critical thinking and academic confidence.

As these courses are designed for students with prior subject knowledge, teaching explores more advanced concepts and encourages in-depth discussion, independent analysis and intellectual curiosity. Alongside your academic studies, you'll enjoy a varied social and cultural programme, giving you the opportunity to experience staying in Cambridge while building lasting friendships with fellow students from around the world.

Yes. Many students choose to study two or more courses back-to-back, allowing them to explore multiple subjects or extend their Atlas Summer Courses experience.

If you're interested in taking more than one course, simply let us know during your application. Our admissions team will then discuss your course preferences with you and help you arrange the best combination of courses, subject to availability.

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To apply, complete our online application form with your personal and academic details and tell us which Atlas Summer Courses you're interested in.

Once you've submitted your application, our Admissions team will review it to ensure the course is the right fit for your academic background and goals. If your application is successful, you'll receive an offer and instructions on how to secure your place by paying your deposit.

If you've indicated that you're interested in studying more than one course or have any accommodation preferences, our Admissions team will discuss these options with you after you've applied.

We accept a range of secure payment methods through Flywire, including major credit and debit cards and bank transfers.

Our admissions team is available to answer any questions you have throughout the application process.

Once you've accepted your offer and paid your deposit, our Student Services team will send you your Welcome Pack. This contains everything you need to prepare for your Atlas Summer Courses, including information about your accommodation, what to expect before you arrive, and important travel and arrival details. You'll also receive further course information and pre-arrival guidance as your start date approaches.

Yes. We are committed to making our Atlas Summer Courses as accessible and inclusive as possible and will make every reasonable effort to accommodate medical, learning, accessibility and dietary requirements.

To help us provide the appropriate support, please tell us about any requirements when you apply and include them in any onboarding forms we ask you to complete. This allows us to work with our accommodation and catering partners to confirm what can be provided before your course begins.

If you have any questions about your individual requirements before applying, our admissions team will be happy to help.

Atlas Summer Courses does not currently offer scholarships or bursaries for our summer school courses. If this changes in the future, any available funding opportunities will be published on our website.

If you need to cancel your booking, our refund policy will depend on when you cancel and the stage of your booking.

You have a 14-day cooling-off period from the date you book your course. If you cancel within this period, you may be eligible for a full refund. After the cooling-off period has ended, refunds are limited to recoverable costs, and your initial deposit is non-refundable.

For full details, please see our Terms and Conditions.

Yes. If your parents or guardians are staying nearby, there may be opportunities during your course to spend some time with them, depending on your timetable and the activities planned for your programme.

Any visits must be arranged in advance with our Atlas Summer Courses on-course team to ensure they do not interfere with your academic timetable or scheduled activities.

Alongside your academic studies, you'll take part in a varied social and cultural programme designed to help you make the most of your summer school experience.

Activities are tailored to your age group and course location. Depending on your programme, these may include social events, cultural visits, workshops, guest speakers and activities that help you build confidence, develop new skills and get to know fellow students from around the world.

Students on our older programmes may also have opportunities to take part in curriculum enrichment sessions covering topics such as interview skills, public speaking and university preparation.

If you'd like to see what a typical week looks like, our admissions team can provide a sample timetable during the application process.

Our social and cultural programme is designed to help you experience some of the UK's most iconic destinations alongside your academic studies.

Depending on your Atlas Summer Courses course location, age group and dates of attendance, you may visit places such as Oxford, Cambridge, London, Bath, Windsor or Blenheim Palace, as well as other cultural and historical attractions.

Excursion itineraries vary between courses and are confirmed closer to your arrival, but every programme is designed to give you a memorable and varied experience of the UK.

Each day is carefully structured to provide a balance of academic study, social activities and time to relax.

Most days begin with breakfast before morning classes or activities, followed by afternoon teaching, workshops or excursions, depending on your programme. Evenings include a range of supervised social activities, with bedtimes and lights out varying according to students' age groups.

As many of our courses are based in university or boarding school settings, you should also expect to walk between teaching, accommodation and activity locations throughout the day.

If you'd like to see what a typical day looks like, you can view sample timetables on our course pages.

Meal arrangements vary depending on your age group and course location, but all students receive the meals included as part of their programme.

Harrow students aged 9–14 receive breakfast, lunch and dinner each day. Students aged 13–15 also have all meals included, with dinner depending on the course location and, at some venues, offering the opportunity to eat both on-site and at carefully selected local restaurants.

Students aged 16–17 and 18–24 receive breakfast and dinner each day. Lunch is not included, giving students the opportunity to explore local cafés and restaurants near their course location, with recommendations available from our on-course team.

Depending on your Atlas Summer Courses course location, students may also enjoy special dining experiences during their programme, including formal dinners at selected venues.

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The dates shown on our website include both your arrival and departure days.

You should arrive at your course location on the advertised start date and depart on the advertised end date. If you're travelling to or from the UK outside these dates, you'll need to arrange your own accommodation before or after your course, as accommodation is only available for the duration of your programme.

Check-in and check-out times will be confirmed in your Welcome Pack before you travel. If you've booked an airport transfer with us, you'll also receive detailed arrival and departure information before your course begins.

Our On-Course team is there to support you throughout your Atlas Summer Courses experience, helping to ensure you're safe, supported and making the most of your time with us.

Each course location has an experienced team responsible for student welfare, supervision and the day-to-day running of the programme. They are on hand to answer questions, provide guidance and support students throughout their stay.

All members of our On-Course team are trained to work with young people and are committed to creating a safe, welcoming and enjoyable environment.

The amount of spending money you'll need depends on your age group, course location and how much you plan to spend during your free time.

As a guide, we recommend:

• Ages 18–24: approximately £300 for a two-week course.
• Ages 16–17: approximately £250 for a two-week course.
• Ages 13–15: approximately £200 for a two-week course.
• Ages 9–14 (Harrow): around £50 per week should be sufficient for optional purchases such as souvenirs.

These amounts are intended to cover personal spending, such as lunches (where applicable), souvenirs and optional purchases. Your course fees already include accommodation, tuition and the meals provided as part of your programme.

You'll receive a detailed packing list in your Welcome Pack before your course begins.

As a minimum, we recommend bringing your travel documents, any required medication, chargers and UK plug adaptors (if needed), comfortable clothing suitable for a range of weather conditions, and any personal items you'll need during your stay.

Your Welcome Pack will include everything you need to know before you travel, so you can arrive fully prepared.

If your child is travelling using an airline's Unaccompanied Minors Service, they will be met by a member of our Airport Arrivals team at London Heathrow Airport.

Before your course begins, we'll provide you with the name, contact details and identification information of the team member collecting your child. Our team carries official identification and documentation confirming their role, ensuring the airline can safely hand your child over to us.

Yes. Travel insurance is included in your course fee for students attending our UK summer courses.

Full details of what is and isn't covered can be found in our Insurance Policy on the Policies page of our website.

Before you travel, please use the UK Government's Check if you need a visa service to find out whether you need a Standard Visitor visa or an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA).

When completing the checker, select:

• Purpose of travel: Study
• Length of stay: Less than 6 months

If you need a Standard Visitor visa, the GOV.UK website will explain the application process and the documents you'll need to provide. Once your course balance has been paid, we'll provide a Visa Support Letter to support your application.

If you're eligible to apply for an ETA instead of a visa, we recommend doing so, as it's usually quicker and simpler to obtain.

It is your responsibility to obtain the correct permission to travel to the UK, whether that's a visa or an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), where applicable.

If your visa application is refused, you won't be eligible for a refund in line with our Terms and Conditions. However, where appropriate, we may offer you a one-time course deferral, giving you the opportunity to reapply for your visa and join a future course.

If you choose to reapply, we recommend carefully reviewing the reason for the refusal and following any guidance provided by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) before submitting a new application.

Please note that the travel insurance included with your course does not cover visa refusals.

Atlas Summer Courses is an independent education provider and is not affiliated with the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge or any of their constituent colleges.

Our founders studied at the University of Oxford, and we offer tutorial-style teaching and small, focused seminars — a rigorous, university-style learning experience.

Our academic programme is designed to be engaging and genuinely challenging. Depending on your course, you will study at university and boarding school venues in Oxford, Cambridge or Harrow alongside students from around the world.

Our courses are suitable for students with a wide range of academic abilities, provided they have a genuine interest in their chosen subject and a good standard of written and spoken English.

As part of your application, you'll be asked to submit a personal statement so we can learn more about your academic interests, previous experience and motivation for studying with us.

Our Admissions team reviews every application individually to help ensure each student is placed on the course that's the best fit for their experience and academic background. In some cases, we may recommend an alternative course if we believe it would provide a more appropriate learning experience.

Our tutors are selected for their academic expertise, teaching experience and passion for their subject.

For students aged 16–24, many tutors are academics, researchers or subject specialists with experience of teaching in universities or higher education. They use tutorial- and seminar-style teaching to encourage discussion, critical thinking and independent learning.

For students aged 9–15, tutors have significant teaching experience or recognised teaching qualifications, together with expertise in working with younger learners to create engaging, supportive and interactive classrooms.

Across all of our courses in Oxford, Cambridge and Harrow, students benefit from small-group teaching delivered by knowledgeable tutors who are committed to helping every student develop academically and gain confidence in their chosen subject.

Our teaching approach is tailored to each age group while sharing the same goal: helping students develop academically through engaging, small-group learning.

For students aged 16–24 (Oxford & Cambridge)
You'll learn through tutorial- and seminar-style teaching led by expert tutors. Sessions encourage discussion, critical thinking and independent learning, supported by curriculum enrichment opportunities and guided independent study between classes.

For students aged 12–14 (Scholars at Harrow)
Students benefit from small-group teaching in a supportive boarding school environment. Lessons combine interactive classroom learning with collaborative activities designed to build subject knowledge, confidence and academic skills.

For students aged 13–15
Teaching takes place in small groups of no more than 8–10 students, and often fewer. Lessons are interactive and discussion-based, with activities and workshops designed to build confidence, strengthen subject knowledge and develop skills that support future study.

For students aged 9–12
Students learn in small groups of no more than 15–20 students, and often fewer, divided by age where appropriate. Lessons combine academic learning with engaging, hands-on activities that encourage curiosity, teamwork and confidence.

For more information about how we teach, including tutorials, seminars and age-specific teaching approaches, visit our Teaching Methodology page.

Most Atlas Summer Courses are not credit-bearing.

However, some universities may recognise study completed on our 18–24 courses towards academic credit. Recognition varies between institutions and countries, so we recommend checking with your home school or university before you apply.

Where required, we can provide transcripts and supporting documentation to help your institution assess your studies.

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At the end of your course, you'll receive a signed certificate from Atlas Summer Courses confirming your participation, including your name, course and course dates.

You'll also receive written feedback from your tutor, providing a summary of your academic engagement and progress during the course.

Please note that these documents are issued by Atlas Summer Courses and are not awarded by the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge or any of their constituent colleges.

Before your course begins, please make sure you've completed any outstanding onboarding tasks and carefully read all the information we've sent you, including your Welcome Pack and Student Handbook.

Depending on your course, you may also receive pre-course reading or other information from your tutor to help you prepare before you arrive.

If you have any questions before your course begins, our Admissions and Student Services teams will be happy to help.

All student bedrooms include the essentials you'll need for your stay, including a bed, desk and storage space.

A standard room includes shared bathroom facilities, while an en-suite room has a private bathroom attached to the bedroom.

The type of accommodation available varies by course location, so please check your chosen course page for the available room options.

Yes. If you're travelling with a friend and would like to be accommodated together or in nearby rooms, please let us know during the application process or contact our Student Services team as soon as possible afterwards.

We'll do our best to accommodate your request, but room allocations are subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed.

No. Our accommodation is reserved for students and authorised Atlas Summer Courses staff, so parents and family members cannot stay on site.

If your parents or guardians are travelling with you, they'll find a wide range of accommodation options close to our course locations. If you're under 18, they'll also have opportunities to see you during your course, subject to your timetable and with prior agreement from our On-Course team.

It depends on the course you choose.

Most of our programmes are residential, giving students the opportunity to live on site and enjoy the full academic and social experience. However, we also offer a selection of non-residential (day) courses.

Please check the individual course page to see whether residential, non-residential or both options are available for your chosen programme.

Air conditioning varies depending on your course location and accommodation.

Many of our courses take place in historic university and boarding school buildings, which are not always equipped with air conditioning. Some classrooms and accommodation may have air conditioning, but this cannot be guaranteed.

We do our best to ensure students are comfortable throughout their stay, and we'll provide guidance if warm weather is expected during your course.

Students on our Junior Programmes stay at Harrow School, one of the UK's most prestigious boarding schools.

You'll stay in boarding accommodation used by Harrow pupils during term time and be supported by our experienced On-Course team throughout your stay.

Meals are served in the school's dining facilities, with packed lunches provided for day trips where needed. You'll also have access to Harrow's outstanding campus and facilities, with opportunities to take part in a wide range of sports, activities and social events as part of the programme.

The safety and wellbeing of our students is our highest priority.

Our programmes are supported by experienced On-Course teams who are available 24 hours a day throughout each course. Staff are trained in safeguarding and student welfare, and our policies are designed in line with UK standards for the care of young people.

Students are supervised throughout the day, with the level of supervision tailored to their age group and the activities they're taking part in. Regular check-ins take place, and accommodation is managed with appropriate security measures in place to help ensure students' safety and wellbeing.

Atlas Summer Courses is accredited by the British Accreditation Council (BAC), reflecting our commitment to providing high-quality educational programmes and student support.

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Staff-to-student ratios vary depending on the age group, course and activity to ensure students receive the appropriate level of supervision at all times.

Our staffing levels are carefully planned to support students' safety, wellbeing and learning experience, with supervision adjusted to reflect the needs of each activity. All activities are risk assessed as part of our safeguarding procedures.

If you'd like more information about the staffing arrangements for a specific course, our Admissions team will be happy to help.

There is some free time in the 13-15, 16-17, and 18-24 course programmes, where students may be permitted to leave the course site and explore the local area. Our rules that are adhered to for student safety are: 13-15 year olds: in groups of at least 3, for short durations (e.g. an hour). 16-17 year olds: in at least pairs, for short durations (e.g. an hour). 18-24 year olds will be allowed to leave the course location alone. However, for fire safety reasons, we ask that they sign in and out of the site. 9-12 year olds will always have staff members with them.

If you become unwell during your course, our On-Course team will ensure you receive the appropriate care and support.

Where necessary, we'll help you access local medical services and support you throughout your treatment and recovery. For students under the age of 18, we'll contact parents or guardians as appropriate and keep them informed of any significant medical concerns.

If you're unable to attend classes due to illness, we'll do our best to help you catch up on any missed learning where possible.

If you need to leave your course early because of illness, course fees are non-refundable. Depending on the circumstances, you may be able to claim eligible costs through your travel insurance. Please refer to your insurance policy for full details of the cover provided.

We only collect and use your personal information where it's necessary to process your application, deliver your course and support you during your time with Atlas Summer Courses.

This may include sharing relevant information, such as contact details, medical or dietary requirements and accommodation preferences, with trusted partners where it's necessary to provide your course or keep you safe.

We handle your personal data in accordance with applicable UK data protection laws, and you remain in control of your marketing preferences at all times.

For more information about how we collect, use and protect your personal information, please see our Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy and Data Protection Policy.

We may take photographs and videos during our courses to celebrate student life and, where you've given your consent, for marketing purposes.

You'll be asked about your photography preferences before your course begins, and you can choose whether you'd like to be included in promotional photography.

We may also use photographs from course activities in student updates or course communications shared with students and, where appropriate, parents or guardians.

For more information about how we use images and your choices, please see our Privacy Policy.

What's included depends on your course, tier and age group, as well as whether you've booked a residential or non-residential programme.

Depending on your chosen programme and tier, your course fee may include:

• Tuition and academic materials
• Accommodation (for residential programmes)
• Meals, as specified for your course and age group
• A programme of social activities and excursions (where included)
• Pastoral care and on-course support
• Airport transfers from London Heathrow during the published transfer windows (where included)
• Travel insurance for eligible UK-based residential programmes

Please refer to your chosen course page for a full breakdown of what's included with your selected programme and tier.

If you're staying with us for more than one course, we'll take care of you during the changeover between programmes.

Where applicable, this includes accommodation, meals, transport between course locations and a supervised programme of activities during the transition weekend. You'll then join your new course and meet your tutors and fellow students when it begins.

If you have any questions about staying for multiple courses, our Admissions team will be happy to help.

We want every student to have a positive experience with Atlas Summer Courses. If something isn't meeting your expectations, we encourage you to let us know as soon as possible so we can work to resolve it.

During your course, you should speak to a member of the On-Course team in the first instance. Before or after your course, please contact our Student Services team using the contact details provided in your booking information or via our Contact Us page.

We take all feedback seriously and will always do our best to resolve concerns promptly and fairly.

Yes. Wi-Fi is available at our course locations, including student accommodation and teaching spaces, although coverage may vary depending on the venue.

Many cafés, public spaces and other locations in Oxford, Cambridge and Harrow also offer Wi-Fi, although availability is outside our control.

We recommend bringing a laptop if you have one, as it can be helpful for note-taking, independent study and completing course activities.

A laptop is required for Computer Science courses. For most other subjects, it's possible to participate without one, although many students find having their own device useful.

Atlas Summer Courses does not provide laptops, and students are responsible for the security of any personal devices they bring. Lockable storage is available at most residential course locations, but we also recommend ensuring valuable items are covered by appropriate insurance.

Yes. Students are welcome to bring mobile phones and other personal electronic devices to Atlas Summer Courses.

We encourage all students to use their devices responsibly so they can make the most of their academic, social and cultural experience.

For students aged 13 and over, phones and personal devices can be used during appropriate free time, although we encourage students to engage fully with activities and spend time getting to know their fellow students.

For students aged 9–12, we operate a supervised restricted screen-time policy. Phones and personal electronic devices are available during designated free time and are securely stored by our On-Course team at other times to help create a safe and balanced environment.

Students are responsible for their own personal devices, although younger students receive additional support in line with our safeguarding procedures.

No. Students are responsible for arranging their own travel to and from the UK, including booking flights and any travel outside of our airport transfer service.

You should book your arrival flight for the advertised course start date.

If you're using our complimentary Heathrow airport transfer service, please ensure your flight arrives between 08:00 and 15:00 on your course start date.

If you plan to arrive in the UK before your course begins, you'll need to arrange your own accommodation until your course starts, as accommodation is only available from the published arrival date.

All of our course dates are inclusive, meaning the advertised dates include both your arrival and departure dates.

You should book your departure flight for the advertised course end date. You must leave your course location on that date, with check-out from your room by 10:00 and departure from site by 12:00.

If you're using our complimentary Heathrow airport transfer service, please ensure your flight departs within the published transfer window.

Yes. We offer a complimentary airport transfer service from London Heathrow Airport (all terminals) for students arriving between 08:00 and 15:00 on the advertised course start date.

If you would like to use this service, please ensure your flight arrives within the published transfer window.

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If your flight arrives outside the 08:00–15:00 Heathrow transfer window, or you're arriving at a different airport, you'll need to arrange your own transport to your course location.

If you're unsure whether your travel plans are compatible with our airport transfer service, please contact our Admissions team before booking your flights.

Yes. We can arrange transfers to London Heathrow Airport on your course departure day.

During your course, our On-Course team will confirm your flight details and provide you with information about your transfer, including your departure time from the course location.

Yes. We offer an Unaccompanied Minors departure service for £155.

A member of our team will accompany your child to the airport, assist with the airline's check-in process and hand them over to the airline's designated Unaccompanied Minors representative.

Please note that airline requirements for unaccompanied minors vary, so it's your responsibility to ensure you meet your airline's conditions before travelling.

Before your course begins, we'll provide you with a dedicated contact number for arrival day.

This number is monitored by our Airport Arrivals team and Head Office, so you'll be able to get in touch if you need assistance while travelling.

No. Our airport transfer service is for students only.

Students should arrive and depart on the advertised course dates.

If you plan to arrive in the UK earlier or leave later, you'll need to arrange your own accommodation and travel outside the course dates.

If you're making your own way to your course location, please arrive for check-in between 14:00 and 16:00 on your course start date.

We'll send you the exact check-in location before your course begins, and it will be clearly signposted when you arrive.

On your course departure day, you'll need to check out of your room by 10:00 and leave the course location by 12:00.

If you're using our airport transfer service, your departure time from the course location will be confirmed during your stay.

If your flight is cancelled, delayed or rescheduled, please let us know as soon as possible by phone and email.

For arrivals: If you're still arriving on your course start date, we'll do our best to help arrange an alternative airport transfer where possible. If your flight arrives on a later date, you'll be responsible for arranging your own transport from the airport to your course location.

For departures: If your flight still departs on your course end date, we'll do our best to help arrange an alternative transfer to the airport. If your flight is rescheduled to the following day, our team will help you identify suitable accommodation options, although any associated costs remain your responsibility.

Depending on the circumstances, you may be able to recover these costs from your airline or through your travel insurance. Please check the terms of your airline and insurance policy for details.