FAQs
Below are the frequently asked questions our parents and students ask us.FLIGHTS & TRAVEL
How do I get to Oxford?
Most of our international students fly to London Heathrow or London Gatwick airports, which are around 60-90 minutes away. We recommend Heathrow if you can fly there as it’s closer, we will have Oxford Scholastica staff present there on our arrival days and our airport transfers go to and from Heathrow (see below for more information)
Oxford can also be reached from other airports such as Birmingham, Luton or Stansted, and we are also reachable by train. Oxford train station is around an hour away from London Paddington. Please note, Oxford has two train stations – ‘Oxford’ and ‘Oxford Parkway’. ‘Oxford’ is much closer to our accommodation.
We are very happy to advise you on your travel plans. We can send you a link to book a taxi with a chauffeur firm who will meet you at arrivals and take you directly to our campus. Alternatively, you can use our own Oxford Scholastica minibus transfer service from Heathrow airport (£150), which involves meeting us at our central meeting point at Heathrow. As well as these options, there is a regular public coach from Heathrow and Gatwick to Oxford which we are happy to provide further information about.
If you have any questions please get in touch with Photis who will be happy to help.
My child isn't used to travelling alone, how can you help?
- If you are flying, we recommend arriving at London Heathrow airport as this is the easiest airport to get to Oxford from. Our friendly staff members will be present on arrival day at Heathrow, and we will also give you their contact number so that if there’s any problem you can contact them
- We can provide a link for you to book a taxi from any airport or arrival destination. Their driver will have your name on a board and will meet you in the arrivals part of the airport. They will then chauffeur you directly to our campus
- Alternatively, you can join our Oxford Scholastica minibus transfer from Heathrow Airport (£150). You will receive extremely detailed instructions (with lots of photos) on how to find our meeting point at Heathrow Airport and will head to our accommodation in Oxford with a group of new summer school friends
- As a final option, we can give you the details of the direct bus service which is accessible from Heathrow and Gatwick airports and which will take you to Oxford. Our campus is only a couple of minutes from the bus station
- For extra peace of mind, we have members of staff at every terminal at Heathrow airport on arrival and departure day to help the students finding their way to their preferred method of transport and to support them in case they have any issues
We want to make your travelling experience as easy and stress-free as possible, so please contact Photis if you have any questions.
Do I need a visa?
If you are from another country we recommend you click here to find out more information about whether you will need a visa.
As we are fully accredited by the British Accreditation Council, we are able to welcome students who need a visa. We will issue you with an official, stamped acceptance letter so you can use it to apply for your visa. Please note that by law we can only provide this when you have paid all the fees for your place, so we typically issue your letter from April each year.
It can take a while for visas to be processed, so please let us know as soon as possible after you have paid the balance if you require a letter from us. You’ll need to make sure you apply for your visa with plenty of time to spare before the summer school starts.
Please note that we can only offer informal advice on visas, and that it is your responsibility to check the latest information and make sure you apply for the correct visa in a timely manner. If you have an existing visa, it is also important that you check that your visa allows you to study with us.
If your visa application is rejected, unfortunately we can’t offer a refund outside of the refund period outlined in our terms and conditions.
When is the earliest I can check in? What if I want to arrive earlier?
When is the latest I can depart? What if I want to stay for a few more days?
PREPARATION
Should I get travel and medical insurance?
Can I get to know my fellow participants before the summer?
What clothing should I bring?
We only have two occasions when you will want to wear something a little bit more formal – our Graduation Ceremony and our Oxford Scholastica International Ball. For the Graduation Ceremony we ask that you dress at least smart casual. For the Ball it is really up to you, and we encourage you to consider wearing something that represents whichever country you call home! You can find out more about the Ball here.
We recommend bringing shoes durable enough for walking as Oxford is a relatively spread out city and there will be a fair amount of walking. You may also wish to bring trainers if you want to do any sport such as tennis/football.
We have more information on what to bring to Oxford in our Welcome Pack which we’ll send to you when you register with us.
What academic things do I need to bring with me (such as stationery etc.)?
How much money do I need to bring with me?
Do I need to bring my laptop with me?
If you are studying on our Computer Science Academy or our Discover Technology Academy, a laptop is essential.
Do I need to bring my mobile phone with me?
Do I need to do much pre-reading?
ABOUT THE PROGRAMME
Where are the other students from?
What are the activities to unwind/relax?
How much free time will I get?
When outside of our accommodation, we ask you to be in groups of at least two people (if you are on our Discover summer courses we ask you to be in groups of at least three people).
What is a typical day like?
When do we have to go to bed?
Who are my tutors?
Will I get a certificate/accreditation at the end of the course?

All students who successfully complete the course will be given an Oxford Scholastica Academy certificate at our Graduation Evening on the last night of the summer programme at the Saïd Business School. Parents or relatives are very welcome to attend this.
I'd like to study for four weeks, what's the difference in the timetables between the first and second fortnights?
While there will be some parts of the programme which are the same, you’ll get to experience a new class, choose some different Masterclasses, experience different trips and make new friends. We’ll sit down with you at the end of your first session (along with the other students attending for four weeks) to discuss what you would like to do in your second two weeks (for example, whether you would like to participate in some of the activities again with the new friends you’ll make on the second session, or whether you’d prefer to do something different).
Do you accept students who are at university?
Are you officially connected to Oxford University?
SAFETY AND WELFARE
Sending your child away from home is an important decision. The safety, happiness and welfare of your child are significant factors in making your choice and this is something we take seriously at the Oxford Scholastica Academy.
Below are some of the key questions parents have asked us. If you require any further information, please don’t hesitate to call Photis on +44 (0)1865 522 166 or email him here.
What if my child has a minor illness or injury during the summer school?
What happens in the case of an accident or emergency?
How do we monitor where the students are?
From dinner time onwards, students are always supervised. They must either participate in one of our group activities or relax at our accommodation.
How secure is the accommodation?
Can I visit my child?
ACCOMMODATION & FOOD
What are the arrangements for food?
I have dietary needs – can this be accommodated?
I have an allergy - can this be accommodated?
How does laundry/washing work?
Will boys and girls be separately housed?
I'm coming with a friend, can we be put in the same room?
Please note that we place males and females in different parts of our accommodation, and 12-14 year olds may be in a different building to 15-18 year olds (our buildings are close together though so you won’t be far away).