Brookes Summer Schools 2023
Find out what it’s really like to be a university student and explore a subject that interests you!
The Oxford Brookes Summer School will give you the opportunity to discover what being a university student is all about, and delve into a subject area of your choice. Don’t worry if you’re not sure whether university is for you - summer schools provide the perfect opportunity to help you decide.
The cost of the summer school is absolutely free with all travel, meals and accommodation provided, free of charge.
Why take part?
- Experience student life and live in a student flat at the university.
- Engage in lots of subject content designed by university academics.
- Explore Oxford and take part in lots of social activities every day.
- Get plenty of information, advice, and guidance about applying for university and your future career.
- Hear all about university from current Brookes students.
If you have any questions about the Summer School, please get in touch with us at brookes.summerschools@brookes.ac.uk.
When will the Summer Schools take place?
All Summer Schools take place mid-week in July 2023. Each faculty will run summer schools on a variety of subjects during the following dates:
- Faculty of Technology, Design and Environment: 4/7/23-7/7/23
- Faculty of Humanities and Social Science: 11/7/23-14/7/23
- Oxford Brookes Business School: 18/7/23-21/7/23
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences: 25/7/23-2/7/23
Accessibility and Additional Needs
If you have any additional needs or requirements that we can help you with, please outline these in the application form, and we will do our best to accommodate everyone who applies to summer school. For example, where possible we can provide:
- Special dietary meals and/or details of what the provided meals will be
- Accessible accommodation
- Printouts of slides or handouts, on coloured paper when needed
- Enable you to sit in your preferred location in a classroom/lecture hall
This list is not exhaustive and we can always have a conversation about other requirements prior to the summer school starting.
Who’s it for?
Students in England who are:
- In the first year (or repeating the first year) of a two-year Level 3 qualification (e.g. A Levels, BTEC, or equivalent)
- Aged between 16 and 18.
- Studying at a non-selective state school or college in England (or receiving a full scholarship to a fee paying school)
- Have 5 GCSEs A*-C/ 4-9, including English and Maths (or expect to have 5 GCSEs including English and Maths by July 2023)
- You must also meet at least 1 of the Eligibility Criteria in the next section.
Eligibility Criteria
You may be made one of the following offers if you meet the criteria below:
Priority Offer: If you meet one of the priority criteria, or you meet 4 or more other criteria, and your qualifications and interests align with the summer school, you will be offered a place as long as one is available .
Deadline Offer: If you do not meet a priority criteria, but you meet 1-3 other criteria and your interests and qualifications align with the summer school, you will be offered a place should one be available after the final deadline
Priority criteria (Meet 1 to qualify for a Priority Offer):
- You are of Black or Mixed Black Ethnicity
- You are of Asian or Mixed Asian Ethnicity
- You live in local authority care, or have lived in care
- You live in an area of higher socio-economic disadvantage (IMD decile 1 or 2) Find out whether this applies*.
- You live in an area where progression to university is low (POLAR4 quintile 1) Find out whether this applies*.
*we can assess this for you when reviewing your application
Other accepted criteria (Meet 4 or more to qualify for a Priority Offer, meet 1-3 to qualify for a Deadline Offer)
- You are a young carer (are under 18 and help to look after a relative with a disability, illness, mental health condition, or drug or alcohol problem).
- You have a disability or specific learning difficulty.
- You are of minority ethnic origin
- You live in an area where progression to university is low (POLAR4 quintile 2) Find out whether this applies*.
- You live in an area of higher socio-economic disadvantage (IMD decile 3 or 4) Find out whether this applies*
- You are currently eligible for free school meals, or 16-19 bursary fund.
- You are a refugee or asylum seeker
- You are irreconcilably estranged from both of your birth parents
*we can assess this for you when reviewing your application
When will I hear back about my application?
Should you be eligible for a Priority Offer, you will hear from us within 2 weeks of submitting your application. All other offers will be made once the deadline has passed, and you will hear back from us on 3rd May.
Additionally, you may get an email from the summer school team should we have questions about your application or require additional information from you.
Why are there Priority Offers and Deadline Offers?
As we are often oversubscribed for summer school places, we must prioritise student groups that have been identified as being the most underrepresented in Higher Education. That does not mean if you do not meet a priority criteria you are not eligible for a place.
As long as you meet at least one of the other criteria, and your interests and qualifications align with the summer school, you will be offered a place should one be available after the final deadline.
Information for Teachers
If you would like to schedule a virtual or in person assembly at your school, please contact the team by emailing brookes.summerschools@brookes.ac.uk and we can arrange a talk at a time that works best for you.
Gatsby benchmarks
This activity support Gatsby benchmarks 2, 4 and 7.
Download our document to see how we have broken down which Gatsby Benchmarks our offerings can support with.
You’ll have the opportunity to take part in a range of sessions including subject tasters and work on an individual or group project. Where relevant you will also use university facilities such as labs and technical equipment.
Personal statement sessions will enable you to get a head start and individualised support and guidance around applying to university, and if you wish you can also get 1:1 support and feedback from our team on your draft statement.
Social activities will help you get to know each other and experience student life in Oxford. This will include activities such as a games night, going for an evening meal in town, and the opportunity to experience the historic city or do some shopping if you just want a bit of retail therapy!
You will be staying in Brookes undergraduate student accommodation.
- All flats include a kitchen/social area that will be stocked with free snacks (crisps, chocolate bars, cereal bars, fruit, squash and fizzy drinks etc).
- Everyone is allocated their own en-suite room, and there are accessible rooms available where this is required.
- You will select which single-gendered flat you should be assigned to when you complete the application form.
- Each flat is also supervised overnight by a member of staff who is available at any time, should a problem arise.
- You will be provided with a full list of what we provide and what you will need to bring, prior to summer school.
Please do get in touch via our email address if you have any questions or concerns about accommodation.
“Beforehand, I was extremely hesitant about if university was the right pathway to undertake after sixth form, but what I can say is that I come out of this programme feeling a sense of confidence. The work that I have been able to do, the social activities I have taken part of, the support from everyone has really allowed me to gain that bigger understanding of university.”
Summer School participant, 2020
Technology, Design and Environment - Dates: Tuesday 4th July - Friday 7th July
CLOSED TO APPLICATIONS | Engineering, Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence and Maths
Our Engineering, Computer Science, AI and Maths summer school will give you a wealth of new knowledge and hands-on practical experience. You will explore our Engineering and robotics lab spaces, work in our specialist computer science rooms, meet our robots and use some of the equipment our students use at degree level. Our maths sessions will also allow you to apply key maths knowledge to real life problems.
CLOSED TO APPLICATIONS | Built Environment and Architecture
Ever wanted to experience what it is like to work in the Built Environment industry or as an Architect? Look no further as this summer school will give you the practical, hands-on experience of how we plan, design and construct our buildings and cities. You will follow the Built Environment life cycle, applying new knowledge to real life case studies and visiting construction sites and recent developments within Oxford. Over the four days you will also work with some of our academics and industry experts which will give you a great networking opportunity.
CLOSED TO APPLICATIONS | Graphic Design and Photography
Are you currently a student of the arts and want to explore more? In our graphic design and photography summer school you will have the opportunity to understand what is studied at undergraduate level, view work from students and take part in practical workshops exploring these different art forms.
Humanities and Social Sciences - Dates: Tuesday 11th July - Friday 14th July
CLOSED TO APPLICATIONS | Crime and Justice
This Summer School will explore ideas and thinking on the themes of Crime and Justice. What is crime and have changing times led to changing crimes? What can we do to prevent and address the causes and problems of crime? How do we create a justice system that treats everyone fairly, from the least to the most powerful? We will consider why it's important to scrutinise and challenge conventional thinking and approach issues with open minds and fresh ideas.
The Summer School will have a strong legal thread but will include sessions from other humanities and social science subjects including History, Criminology, Philosophy, Communication Media and Culture and Sociology. Working in a range of disciplines you'll undertake enquiring investigation into the world around us and our relationship to society and power, at the same time building the critical and creative thinking skills vital for future success.
Business School - Dates: Tuesday 18th July - Friday 21st July
CLOSED TO APPLICATIONS | Business, Marketing and Management
The Business, Marketing and Management Summer School covers all aspects of business, including management, marketing, events, finance and operations. You’ll step into the role of the events manager during the opportunity to plan and pitch your own event project, giving you a true taste of what it is like to study a Business degree at Oxford Brookes.
Health and Life Science - Dates: Tuesday 25th July - Friday 28th July
CLOSED TO APPLICATIONS | Nursing with Midwifery
In this Summer School, you'll be discovering lifelong care through the lens of both Nursing and Midwifery. Explore competence in meeting the physical and psychological needs of patients at key stages across their lifespan, with a focus on neonatal care, pediatric care and geriatric care.
CLOSED TO APPLICATIONS | Biomedical Science
The Biomedical Science Summer School will be structured to provide you with an overview of biomedicine specifically relating to diseases and you will learn what indicators are used to assess frailty. The knowledge you’ll acquire during the Summer School will provide you with an insight into what it is like to study Biomedical Science at Oxford Brookes.
CLOSED TO APPLICATIONS | Healthcare
Our Healthcare Summer School, will provide you with a fantastic experience of studying different areas of health-related degrees at university. It can be hard to decide which course you would like to choose, so we will introduce you to many options and help you to decide which area you would be most interested in - including Paramedic Science, Sport and Nutrition.
You will explore lifelong care with a particular focus on the subjects mentioned and examine the benefits of leading a healthy lifestyle.
“Overall, the summer school has not only met but exceeded my expectations of Brookes.”
Summer School participant, 2020