Program Description

Oxbridge Academic Programs

The Oxford Tradition, The Cambridge Tradition, L’Académie de Paris, L’Académie de France, La Academia de España, The Oxford Prep Experience, and The Cambridge Prep Experience
Oxford and Cambridge, England;
Paris and Montpellier, France; and Barcelona, Spain


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For More Information, Contact
Oxbridge Academic Programs
601 Cathedral Parkway, Suite 7R
New York, New York 10025-2186
212-932-3049
800-828-8349 (toll-free in the U.S. and Canada)
Fax: 212-663-8169
http://www.oxbridgeprograms.com
E-mail: info@oxbridgeprograms.com

Type of Program: Academic and cultural enrichment
Participants: Coeducational; grades 8–12
Enrollment: The Oxford Tradition, 410; The Cambridge Tradition, 260; L’Académie de Paris, 175; L’Académie de France, 100; La Academia de España, 134; The Oxford Prep Experience, 160; The Cambridge Prep Experience, 190
Program Dates: The month of July; optional week in Paris in early August
Head of Program: Professor James G. Basker, Director

Location

Established more than twenty years ago, Oxbridge Academic Programs offers academic summer programs at Oxford and Cambridge Universities in England; in Paris and Montpellier in France; and in Barcelona in Spain.

Background and Philosophy

Each program is designed to immerse students in two academic subjects or creative arts while taking advantage of the enormous cultural resources of Oxford, Cambridge, Paris, Montpellier, or Barcelona. All seven programs combine rigorous classroom activity with day trips, eminent guest speakers, cultural enrichment, and the experience of studying in one of the world’s great centers of learning and history. The emphasis is on small classes, individual attention, and innovative teaching methods. Through the use of dynamic, caring, and imaginative teachers drawn from Oxford and Cambridge Universities, the Sorbonne, and other leading global institutions, coupled with a hands-on approach that creates an immediacy and excitement about learning, students are inspired to new levels of performance. The challenging academic program, a rich array of extracurricular activities, and a mixture of independence and structured living help students develop the best in themselves while building a foundation for their college years and beyond.

Program Offerings

Oxbridge Academic Programs offers a wide range of courses in the sciences, humanities, social sciences, and creative arts. In Oxford, Cambridge, Paris, Montpellier, and Barcelona, each student selects two subjects, one as a Major and one as a Minor. Major courses meet six mornings a week and include in-class time for labs, workshops, writing, guest speakers, group discussion, and one-on-one attention. Major courses require homework and project and preparation time in the afternoons and evenings. Minor courses meet three afternoons a week, with all work contained within the class session.
All of the programs aim to provide each student with a unique and tangible interaction with his or her subject in a way that cannot be reproduced in any other location. Using the extensive history and cultural resources of their immediate surroundings, teachers create an environment in which the students learn not only through traditional class instruction but also from firsthand interaction with the famous landmarks, museums, sites, and research facilities that surround them. From Molecular Medicine and Physics and the Future to Creative Writing, Drama, and English Literature to War In World History, each of more than 100 courses is designed to combine the expertise of the faculty member with the enthusiasm and energy of the students. Combine this with the ancient and stimulating surroundings of Oxford, Cambridge, Paris, Montpellier, or Barcelona, and it creates an unforgettable and often life-changing experience. At the end of each program, every student receives grades, reports from their teachers, and formal descriptions of their courses, which can be used to apply for high school and college credit and supplement college applications.

Enrollment

The Oxford Tradition and The Cambridge Tradition are for students who have completed grades 10–12 and enroll 410 and 260 students respectively. L’Académie de Paris, L’Académie de France, and La Academia de España are for students completing grades 9–12 and enroll 170, 100, and 134 students, respectively. The Oxford Prep Experience and The Cambridge Prep Experience are exclusively for students completing grades 8 and 9 and enroll 160 and 190 students, respectively. The 2007 student body included participants from more than forty states, five provinces of Canada, and forty-seven countries, including China, South Africa, Russia, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Kuwait, Venezuela, South Korea, Austria, Hungary, and Germany, giving the programs a truly international flavor. Students come from diverse ethnic backgrounds, from public and private schools, and from cities and rural areas. Participants represent an exceptional range of interests, ideas, and perspectives.

Daily Schedule

Days begin with breakfast in the college or school dining hall, followed by Major classes. After a lunch break, afternoons include Minor classes, museum and gallery visits, guest lectures, sports, walking tours, and time for private study. In the afternoons, students are offered a wide variety of elective options by a full-time activities staff, allowing them to pursue activities of particular interest to them either individually or in groups with their friends. Dinner is served at approximately 6. Evening activities include social events, concerts, films, literary talks, theater, and more. Students are required to sign in at their colleges by 11 p.m. (10 p.m. in The Oxford Prep Experience and The Cambridge Prep Experience.

Extra Opportunities and Activities

Each program offers group field trips, theater and concert outings, and guest lectures. These include poetry readings by the Poet Laureate of England, Andrew Motion; a private tour of Broughton Castle by Lord Saye and Sele; and watching a play at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London. In addition, each class features outings and cultural activities appropriate to its course of study. There is also a daily program of sports and recreational activities.
Students enrolled in The Oxford and Cambridge Traditions have the opportunity to extend their experience by participating in the Paris Connection. In the Paris Connection, students are introduced to major elements of French culture, to prominent features of Parisian society, and, of course, to the wonders of the City of Light for one week. While there are no formal class sessions, the participants are led through Paris by expert scholars and art historians, who give in-depth and informative presentations at many of the main historical and cultural sites.

Facilities

Students in The Oxford Tradition live in Pembroke and St. Peter’s Colleges of Oxford University. Students in The Oxford Prep Experience live in Oxford’s Corpus Christi College. Students in The Cambridge Tradition live in Jesus College, and Cambridge Prep Experience students live in the oldest college at Cambridge University, Peterhouse. The Lycée Notre Dame de Sion, one of the most prestigious schools in the center of Paris, is the host of L’Académie de Paris. The 400-year-old private school Notre Dame de La Merci is the host of the L’Académie de France in Montpellier. The Residencia Universitària Josep Manyanet hosts La Academia de España in central Barcelona. All the students live in college rooms—singles and doubles—with shared bathroom facilities. In some cases students can pay a supplemental fee for their own private bathroom. Each facility has its own dining hall and communal recreation areas.

Staff

The program faculties contain distinguished scholars from Oxford, Cambridge, the Sorbonne, and other leading universities from around the world as well as writers, artists, and other professionals in their fields. Each year, these select groups include Rhodes, Marshall, Fulbright, and Gates Scholars as well as university professors, senior research fellows, published writers, professional actors, and internationally recognized artists. Oxbridge Academic Programs employs faculty members who not only have the highest academic credentials but the personalities and passion to teach teenagers. Each program also has a full administrative staff of experienced deans (all with extensive secondary school experience), assistants, and activity coordinators. The programs are fully residential, and members of the administration and faculty live among the students to provide around-the-clock supervision and support.
All programs were founded by Professor James G. Basker. Still the Director of Oxbridge Academic Programs, he was educated at Harvard (A.B.), Cambridge (M.A.), and, as a Rhodes Scholar, Oxford (D.Phil.). He is currently the Richard Gilder Professor of Literary History at Barnard College, Columbia University, and President of the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History in New York City.

Medical Care

Each program is affiliated with a local general practitioner who is available to see students who require care. Prior to the program, attendees submit information regarding allergies to food and medication and other health issues that the administration closely monitors and refers to.
The policy of Oxbridge Academic Programs is to forbid any behavior that is illegal, antisocial, or dangerous either to the student or to the group. All programs are nonsmoking and strictly forbid the use or possession of drugs or alcohol.

Religious Life

The programs are nondenominational. Students interested in attending religious services may consult the staff in each program for information regarding local places of worship.

Costs

The comprehensive fees for the programs in 2008 were as follows: The Oxford Tradition, $6795; The Cambridge Tradition, $6795; L’Académie de Paris, $6795; L’Académie de France, $6795; La Academia de España, $6795; The Oxford Prep Experience, $6495; and The Cambridge Prep Experience, $6495. These fees included all tuition and instruction, accommodation, breakfast and dinner daily, transportation to and from the airports, all books and course materials, guest lectures, workshops, field trips, sports and activities, theater tickets, museum and gallery admissions, and social events. Fees did not include airfare, lunch daily, unscheduled (elective) activities, lab fees (specific courses only), or personal expenses such as snacks, laundry, and souvenirs. The fee in 2008 for the optional Paris Connection was $1650.
A deposit of $1000 should accompany the application and is fully refundable until March 31, 2009. Medical emergency cancellation insurance is available for $100 per application. This insurance can only be purchased at the time of application and is not refundable. Refunds for those with insurance are possible until May 1, 2009. Families are invoiced for the balance, which is due by March 31, 2009.

Financial Aid

A limited number of full scholarships are available based on financial need, academic excellence, and the ability to contribute to the program in the broadest sense. Those interested should call the office for the separate application forms and information about the process that accompanies the scholarship application. Depending on the scholarship applied for, the deadline is either February 11 or March 25, 2009.

Transportation

Students are met by staff members at the local airports and transported on buses to their program. At the end of each program, they are chaperoned back to the airport and are supervised right up to the security gate that leads to the passenger departure area.

Application Timetable

Inquiries are welcome all year. Students whose applications are postmarked by their program-specific course guarantee deadline (from January to early February) are guaranteed a place in their program and first choice of courses (subject to being admitted and to enrollment minimums). The programs fill very quickly, so early application is recommended.
Office hours are 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. (During the summer, the local program office hours are usually 8 a.m. to midnight, local time, seven days a week. Staff members can also be reached 24 hours a day in case of emergencies.)