Summer Study Abroad in Oxford, England

My recent experience on the 2024 Summer Oxford Royale program at Oxford was incredibly disappointing, and a source of much regret. I attended as part of a school group, and had heard great things about the program both at school information webinars and from my own research. It was advertised as a fantastic balance of both educational and social rigor, but my personal experience was anything but that.

Firstly, the program was shockingly disorganised. From a manually 'registering' over a hundred students for campus exits/entries and curfews, to relying on a whiteboard for timetable changes/announcements and submission/returns of assignments. The lack of communication between the staff themselves was obvious and caused much confusion on a daily basis.

Secondly, the academic side wasn't at all like what is advertised. The quality of teaching was appalling, partly due to the lack of certifications and experience the teachers had. My business teacher was not an 'expert tutor', simply a business start-up with very little teaching experience. Many periods of class time were spent with both the teacher and students aimlessly on their phones to pass time. The content prepared often didn't take up the entire lesson, even though the lack of enrolment screening meant some students were not proficient in English to the point where their inability to understand the content resulted in slowing down the classes. The Law & Politics course I switched to also had no lectures, guest speakers or masterclasses.

Thirdly, the social activities were beyond unsatisfactory. The lack of variety between whatever last-minute activities the poor staff could produce with their limited resources (which they themselves admitted) and the miscommunication that occurred during this process swiftly eliminated any enjoyment during this 'entertaining extracurricular calendar' (as the website calls it). The glamorous graduation shown on the Oxford Royale website was also incredibly misleading; the final event that most students were looking forward to turned out to be hosted on campus in the very same foyer we arrived and registered in, which was really a mundane room/classroom except with the addition of a DJ stand and food table. The students that couldn't fit into the room had the charming option of spending their time outside in the field.

Safety was also another huge concern, mainly on our weekend trip to London, where we wandered around unsupervised for 4 hours before being trusted with making our way back to where the bus had dropped us off. A lot of students at my campus also fell unwell, and the protocols for caring for them were below par. The nurse was not always on campus and only available for a few hours a day. One of my friends was scolded for exiting the campus to get some lunch and was told she should've stayed in her room, despite no communication on how she would receive food. Although it wasn't a huge concern for me, it's worth mentioning that many students also felt unwell after eating some dinners and opted for eating out instead.

I'm sure this review sounds overwhelmingly negative, but I really did expect more from a course that cost me $17k (in my home currency) and one that was advertised to be so much more. I did meet and make many new friends from all across the world, and the campus itself was truly gorgeous, but the experience Oxford Royale seems to promise was lacking. The staff on my campus seemed to share these opinions themselves, and were often extremely stressed and overworked. It appeared that they were lacking the experience and organisation befitting a company that has supposedly run for over 20 years with great success. It might also be of use to mention that many aspects I mentioned in my experience were vastly different from that of my peers on other campuses, and that it itself is inexcusable in light of the fact we all paid the same amount.

In short, my experience with Oxford Royale was not only underwhelming, but also incredibly disheartening. I regret the time and enormous amount of money my family spend on it, and wish I didn't go. I could only wish it was an experience like the one many others describe it as.

Words cannot explain my experience at Oxford Royale Academy.
I am Louise Paludan Mogensen from Denmark. I was 14 years old when i attended the course.
I had a splendid time in Oxford! The teachers were excellent and I learned so much on the course. I attended the English course, where I got friends from all around the world. The whole experience gave me an understanding of how it is to study at an Oxford university.
I will definitely recommend Oxford Royale Academy! It is an unforgettable experience!

I had such an amazing time at ORA! It made me a more confident person and was an amazing opportunity to meet lots of people from all across the world!

The support from counsellors was great and i felt comfortable talking to them, they were so friendly and welcoming.

I would 100% recommend this experience to anyone who has the opportunity to do it, i will remember it forever and keep in contact with all of the friends i made there!

I would definitely do it again, it was the best part of my summer.

I went to Oxford not really sure what to expect from the program... It all felt too good to be true... All the promotional videos I had watched and all the reviews I had read weren't enough to paint a picture of what it was like to spend 2 weeks in Oxford studying what I liked with people from all over the world. But as soon as I arrived to my college I had people right outside the campus ready to help me!! It was unreal!! I couldn't have asked for better staff, teachers, program and even food!
I was once reading the reviews and asking myself whether or not it was worth it... And after the experience, I can say that the only thing I regret is that I didn't spend more time there! As soon as I left the college I realized how precious all of the moments I spent there were... So my advice to you is to take advantage of every moment and record them in your memory, don't be shy and make friends with everyone you possibly can! I still talk with people from Italy, Germany, Ireland and even Brazil.
Applying to ORA will be the best decision you'll ever make!!

The two weeks I spent at Oxford Royale Academy were undoubtedly two of the best weeks of my summer. The course was, expectedly, academically stimulating, but also included cultural experiences which I would not have been able to enjoy had I not attended. The classes were taught by exceptional teachers, and gave me the opportunity to explore areas of academia not traditionally covered by a secondary school syllabus, but in which I had an interest. Meeting new people allowed me to expand my worldview, as well as make some friends. We were given the freedom to explore the city as we desired, but still felt safe and looked after the entire time. Visiting colleges, tourist attractions, and even museums provided an abundance of things to do in our free time. Optional events also occurred daily, from subject specific discussions, to sports activities, social events, a debate, and even advice on university applications. Overall, the course was a holistic academic, and cultural experience and something I would highly recommend.

I went to Oxford expecting what a normal summer course would be like, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much the program exceeded my expectations. The academical side of the program was very stimulating, the classes were small and very interactive. The teachers listened to our ideas and opinions and replied with valuable advice. We had a lot of freedom to explore Oxford, as well as enough activities to keep us busy if we wanted to stay on campus. The staff were all very friendly and more than willing to help with anything that we needed. I received a lot of information about UK Universities, which is very helpful when the time comes to apply to universities. I would recommend this program for anyone seeking a stimulating environment to spend their summer.

The city of dreaming spires is amazing and so is Oxford Royale Academy’s summer school. I made life-long friends from all around the world, spoke in different languages and appreciated diverse cultures. I really enjoyed my time at the magnificent manor house in Yarnton, Oxford shire. Everyone was friendly and all the staff welcomed us very warmly. I would love to return just to try out new courses because there is a wide range to choose from. I studied law, and this exciting course paved the way for more opportunities. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and made me realize that the world is my oyster. The teachers were passionate about their subjects too. I am grateful to ORA and I highly recommend this summer school program for a life-changing and great experience.

My experience with ORA this summer was an exceptional one. I was awarded a full scholarship by ORA to attend its two-weeks Broadening Horizons Program, where I took courses on Political Science, Medical Biology, and Public Speaking & Debate. This program's academic depth and outstanding flexibility provided me with invaluble skills on each subject; and, most importantly, it gave me the confidence to make the choice to pursue a liberal degree--in social sciences and the humanities--rather than a scientific degree. This was a turning point in my life, which would have never been possible without the amazing ORA professors. The professors were amazing and their guidance was invaluble. The memories made and the knowledge gained were life-changing and they will forever motivate me to pursue my academic dreams and fullfill my true potential.