Engineering Summer Courses in Oxford
Explore how engineers solve problems, discover how scientific and mathematical ideas can be applied to real-world challenges and develop your own technical thinking with Atlas Summer Courses. Our two-week Engineering summer course in Oxford, designed for students aged 13–15, gives you the opportunity to explore engineering beyond your usual studies while developing your problem-solving, analytical and creative thinking skills.
Through small-group seminars and independent study, you'll investigate engineering principles, consider different approaches to design and become more confident applying scientific and mathematical reasoning while enjoying the wider experience of spending your summer in Oxford with Atlas Summer Courses.
What's Included?
Your residential Engineering summer course in Oxford includes academic teaching, accommodation, meals, a certificate on completion, airport transfer from Heathrow and insurance.
Choose from Plus, Superior and Premier packages, with accommodation and additional benefits varying by package.
Study Engineering in Oxford
Our Engineering summer course in Oxford 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 mathematics, science, creativity and practical thinking to develop solutions to problems. Engineers need to understand how and why things work, identify constraints and evaluate different approaches before deciding how a design might be improved.
Across the course, you'll be encouraged to look beyond finding a single correct answer. You'll consider how different solutions can be compared, how scientific and mathematical principles inform engineering decisions and how factors such as efficiency, materials and design requirements can affect the outcome.
Outside your academic sessions, you'll experience the wider programme alongside other students, with time to enjoy Oxford and take part in the social and cultural elements of your summer.
What Will You Study on an Engineering Summer Course in Oxford?
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, design, mechanics, materials, structures, energy or technology.
You might consider questions such as:
- How do engineers turn an idea into a workable solution?
- How can mathematics and physics help us solve engineering problems?
- What factors influence the materials used in a design?
- How can engineers test and improve their ideas?
- Why might there be several possible solutions to the same engineering problem?
- How can engineers balance performance, efficiency and practical constraints?
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 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 ideas, tackle problems and develop your own solutions.
Ages 13–15
24 hours of small-group seminars
You'll take part in eight seminars where you'll explore engineering concepts through interactive discussions, problems, case studies and activities. You'll be encouraged to test ideas, compare different approaches and apply mathematical and scientific reasoning to engineering challenges.
12 hours of private study
You'll complete a small amount of work for each seminar. Depending on the course, this might involve solving problems, researching an engineering question, exploring a design challenge or preparing a presentation. There will be opportunities to work independently as well as collaboratively with your peers.
Across the course, you'll be encouraged to participate actively, ask questions and become more confident explaining how and why you've approached an engineering problem in a particular way.
Your Summer Experience in Oxford
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 Oxford 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 Oxford.
Who Is Our Engineering Summer Course in Oxford For?
Our Engineering summer course in Oxford is designed for students aged 13–15 who are curious about how things work and want to understand how mathematics, science and creative problem-solving can be combined to address real-world challenges.
You don't need to know which branch of engineering interests you most before joining. The course may particularly appeal to you if you enjoy mathematics and physics, like designing or building things, enjoy solving problems or want to explore engineering before deciding whether you'd like to study it further.
You'll develop transferable skills including mathematical and scientific reasoning, analytical thinking, problem-solving, evaluating different approaches, independent study and communicating technical ideas clearly.
Learn from Expert Tutors
Atlas Summer Courses tutors are experienced educators and subject specialists active across academia, 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 Oxford may explore different engineering disciplines, technical 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 mathematical and scientific knowledge with analytical thinking, creativity and practical problem-solving.
Students interested in Engineering may go on to explore areas such as mechanical engineering, civil engineering, electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, sustainable engineering, robotics or other STEM disciplines.
The technical, analytical and problem-solving skills associated with Engineering can also provide a strong foundation for future study and careers across technology, energy, manufacturing, transport, infrastructure and many other technical fields.
An Engineering summer course in Oxford gives you the opportunity to explore engineering before making longer-term academic decisions and discover which areas of the subject interest you most.
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FAQs about Atlas Summer Courses
Atlas Summer Courses offers a wide range of summer courses in Oxford across subjects including sciences, humanities, social sciences, business, medicine, law, engineering and creative disciplines. Courses are available for different age groups, with the exact subjects available depending on the student's age and course dates.
Our summer courses in Oxford are available for students across several age groups, including 13–15, 16–17 and 18–24. Teaching and independent study are designed around each age group, giving students an appropriate level of academic challenge and independence.
Our residential summer courses in Oxford combine academic teaching with accommodation, meals and a wider programme of social and cultural experiences. Inclusions and accommodation vary by package, so students and families can compare the available options when choosing their course.
No. Atlas Summer Courses is an independent summer course provider and is not part of, affiliated with or endorsed by the University of Oxford. Our summer courses in Oxford 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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