University of Oxford UNIQ Summer Schools Engineering Residential Course

You can only apply for Engineering if you're taking math and physics at A level (the UK's advanced school-leaving qualification) or equivalent, on top of UNIQ's general rules. UNIQ matches its subject requirements to Oxford's degree courses, so without both subjects you can't be considered.

UNIQ then looks at three things: whether you meet its minimum criteria, your grades so far, and your background. It normally expects six GCSEs (the exams taken around age 16) with at least one at grade 7 or A, or in Scotland six National 5s with at least one A, and it says its grade bar may be lower than you'd expect. Places are prioritized for students from groups underrepresented at Oxford. Care experience gets strong priority, and UNIQ also takes into account free school meals eligibility and your wider socioeconomic background, which may include checking your home postcode against a measure of deprivation. If your schooling has been disrupted, there's an extenuating circumstances section where you can explain.

The Engineering course took 57 students across two July weeks in 2026, though UNIQ doesn't give an acceptance rate.

• Year group

  Year 12 in England or Wales, Year 13 in Northern Ireland, S5 in Scotland, or the first year of the International Baccalaureate Diploma, taking that year for the first time.

• School

  A UK or Islands state school or college, grammar schools included. Home-educated students can apply, but students at independent or private schools can't, even with a bursary.

• Residency

  You need to be settled in the UK or the Crown Dependencies, or expect home fee status when you apply to university. Overseas residents can't apply.

• Age

  Under 18 at the residential and normally 16 or 17, with narrow exceptions for some Northern Ireland students and students in an offset school year.

• Once only

  You can hold at most one completed A level, and anyone who has already attended UNIQ is disqualified.

Teaching runs on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, with Monday for arriving and Friday for a closing mini conference with every UNIQ student on your week before you head home.

In 2026 the Department of Engineering Science spent much of those three days on lab challenges in small groups. Students designed and built model beams and then tested their strength, explored autonomous flight in drone workshops, and used computer-aided design (CAD) and 3D printing to turn designs into prototypes. There was also an academic lecture followed by small-group tutorials with Oxford tutors, a talk from a graduate researcher about their work, and an engineering admissions talk with a demonstration interview. The first week's group had a visit from the Oxford Robotics Institute, whose researchers demonstrated Spot, a four-legged robot.

Evenings bring optional social activities, the chance to explore Oxford and other colleges, and time in the common room with current students. UNIQ calls the week intensive and suggests finishing any school project due around then before you arrive.

Current Oxford undergraduates act as ambassadors who take you to classes and stay with you in college, and each college is run by a site manager, a senior ambassador who organizes drop-in sessions, tours and evening activities. UNIQ doesn't give a staff-to-student ratio.

You'll have your own lockable bedroom. Some rooms are ensuite, but in older buildings you may share a bathroom with a few other UNIQ students on a single-gender corridor. You won't know your college until you arrive, although UNIQ tries to place you in one that offers your subject. You have to stay overnight for the whole week, even if you live in Oxford.

All colleges offer a vegetarian option, but halal, kosher and other religious diets can't be guaranteed because each college runs its own catering. Tell UNIQ about dietary, medical or access needs as soon as you accept a place so it can make arrangements.

Yes. UNIQ charges no fees to students or schools and pays for travel, accommodation, meals, staffing and teaching. The catches are small but real. Free travel depends on you sending information back on time, so if you miss UNIQ's deadlines or lose your ticket you may have to pay for your own, and fuel isn't reimbursed if you come by car. Snacks, souvenirs and anything you forget to pack are also on you. UNIQ asks families who are worried about any cost during the visit to get in touch.

Applications are made online only, through the UNIQ website.

1. 1

   Register and fill in the form from 15 December 2026, choosing a first and second course and nominating a teacher at your school.

2. 2

   Submit the completed form by 1pm UK time on 19 January 2027. Started but unsubmitted applications aren't considered, and applying early gives no advantage, so take the time to check your details first.

3. 3

   Look for an "application submitted" screen rather than an email, and contact UNIQ quickly about any mistake, since changes are only possible for about three days after the close.

4. 4

   Watch for a decision by email by early March 2027, and accept an offer within one week.

5. 5

   Expect a random allocation if Engineering runs in more than one week, although you can ask to join the reserve queue for another week and you can't switch subjects once places are set.

6. 6

   Your school is then asked to confirm your details, and you attend a spring regional event and an online briefing in May or June before the summer residential.