Saïd Business School, University of Oxford Future Global Strategists Summer School

Two Oxford professors lead the program: Banu Demir, Professor of Economics in the Department of Economics and at Brasenose College, and Lucas Kello, Professor of Technology and Geopolitics in the Department of Politics and International Relations. Beyond them, Saïd Business School says the teaching comes from leading Oxford academics and practitioners, with the lectures given by University faculty.

Saïd Business School doesn't name the other teachers or say how big the tutorial groups are, and its terms allow the University to make reasonable changes to the academic staff.

You must be between 15 and 18 on 31 August 2027, which includes anyone up to 18 years and 11 months on that date, and your English should be at least B2 (upper intermediate) on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. Your English teacher can tell you your level if you're unsure, and Saïd Business School checks it during recruitment. You don't need to have studied economics or politics before, and students of any nationality can apply.

It isn't first come, first served. The recruitment team reads your written answers and video interview together to judge whether you're suited to the program, and Saïd Business School publishes no cohort size or acceptance rate.

You apply on Saïd Business School's youth programs application form, choosing the Future Global Strategists Summer School from the list. There's no fixed deadline because admissions are rolling, and Saïd Business School encourages early applications.

1. 1

   Fill in the form with your school details, a teacher who can act as your referee, and three answers of about 300 words each on why you want to come, which skills you want to build and what you'd bring.

2. 2

   Once you submit, you're invited to record a video interview on the Kira Talent platform, answering set questions with no live interviewer.

3. 3

   The recruitment team reviews your form and video together, and if you haven't heard within two weeks of finishing, Saïd Business School asks you to contact it.

4. 4

   If you get an offer, you accept it and pay a deposit, and your place is confirmed once the full fee is paid.

The fee is £8,995 for the two weeks, and it covers tuition, accommodation, meals, excursions, field trips and course materials. Flights, visa costs and spending money are extra. Free transfers run from Heathrow and Gatwick at 10:00, 14:00 and 18:00 and from Oxford rail station, so booking flights that land in time for one saves a private transfer.

You pay in pounds sterling, with a deposit when you accept your offer (Saïd Business School doesn't state the amount) and the rest by invoice. You can cancel for a full refund within 14 days of accepting, but after that there's no refund except at the University's discretion.

Instead of canceling, you can transfer once to a later run of the same program, if there's space and you give notice before the program starts. The transfer is free with six weeks' notice or more, costs 25% of the original fee with three to six weeks' notice and 50% with less, and that charge comes on top of the full fee for the later run. The University strongly recommends insurance that covers cancellation, which matters given how short the refund window is.

The application form also asks whether you'd like to be considered for a full or partial fee scholarship, but Saïd Business School publishes no amounts or criteria for it.

• Private airport transfer

  £200 each way from Heathrow and £250 each way from Gatwick, Stansted or London City, for students traveling alone who can't use the free transfers.

• Accompanied train

  £120 each way from London Paddington or London Marylebone.

• Early arrival or late departure

  £300 for the night before, with meals and supervision, and £150 to check out after 10:00.

A trained support team looks after students 24 hours a day, with on-site security around the clock and a dedicated night team in the accommodation. Every student has a single bedroom, and accommodation is separated by sex and age. The University needs to know about medical conditions, allergies and medication before you arrive, and prescription medicine is handed to staff on arrival with instructions written in English.

The rules are strict. The University has zero tolerance for alcohol whatever your age, smoking, drugs, bullying and leaving the premises without permission, and a student who is expelled goes home at the family's expense with no refund. Parents are welcome at drop-off, but visits during the course aren't encouraged, and students keep in touch by phone or email in their free time.

If you complete the program, you receive an official University of Oxford certificate, and Saïd Business School's terms tie it to attendance, so a student who misses required sessions doesn't get one. No academic credit or grades are mentioned. Saïd Business School presents its summer schools as a way to strengthen university applications, but that's its own view rather than a statement from any admissions office. These are the skills it says you'll practice:

• Critical thinking and causal reasoning
• Data interpretation and evidence-based decision making
• Public speaking and presentations
• Teamwork and leadership
• Strategic problem solving and persuasive communication under pressure