Join us in the summer of 2025 at Inspiring Oxford, a unique summer programme held at Brasenose College, in the heart of Oxford close to the iconic Radcliffe Camera.
Choose from more than 40 one-week introductory-level courses in a wide range of subjects including history, creative writing, literature, film, psychology, environmental studies, law, history of art, international relations/development, sociology, and more.
You will learn from highly experienced, friendly and supportive tutors in small groups of up to 16 students.
All are pitched at an introductory level for non-specialists aged 18 and above and no prior knowledge is required.
View all 2025 Inspiring Oxford courses
You can enrol on a single one-week course or join us for two, three or four weeks.
All courses are held at Brasenose College where you can experience what it's like to live as an Oxford University student.
Founded in 1509, Brasenose College alumni include the archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans, former UK Prime Minister Henry Addington, and William Webb Ellis, Clergyman and the alleged inventor of rugby football.
You will participate in two small group seminars each weekday morning, followed by a plenary lecture before lunch.
On the Wednesday of each course there is a an optional field trip which leaves at lunch. Some courses may also include an additional field trip (see details on each course page).
During your free afternoons you can explore the many places of interest in and around Oxford before dinner. The programme also includes a range of optional social activities you can take part in during the afternoon and/or evenings.
On one evening you will also receive an invitation to join the Programme Director and tutors on high table (formal dress is encouraged).
On Friday, there will be a special gala farwell dinner and reception, where Certificates of Attendance will be presented. For this special occasion formal dress is encouraged.
All meals are included and (with the exception of the pizza and salad bar evening) are served in Brasenose College's dining hall.
Each weekday morning you will participate in two 70-minute seminars taught by friendly, expert tutors. You do not need to have studied your course subject previously as all courses have been specifically designed for non specialists.
With students from many different countries in each group, your seminar discussions are likely to be intellectually stimulating, lively and, we hope, hugely enjoyable.
While you may want to complete a small amount of pre-course reading, you will not be required to produce any written work during the week. There are no essays to write or tests to take.
Just before lunch each Monday, Tuesday and Friday, students from all of the different courses come together for a 45-minute plenary lecture, followed by a question and answer session.
This year we're delighted to offer lectures on a wide range of topics including literature, history, diplomacy and politics delivered by distinguished speakers such as:
Learn more about our 2025 special guest lecture series.
We warmly invite all Inspiring Oxford students to take part in our social programme, with all events provided at no additional cost.
Optional social activites may include:
The course fee includes breakfasts Monday-Saturday (residential guests only), four weekday self-service lunches, two self-service dinners and four served dinners Sunday-Friday. All meals included (with the exeption of the pizza and salad bar evening) are served in Brasenose College's dining hall.
You will stay in typical Oxford student accommodation at Brasenose College.
Please note that bedrooms are modestly-furnished and do not have air-conditioning. You can find out more about Brasenose by visiting their website.
The following types of accommodation are available:
A non-residential option is also available whereby students can take classes and have lunch and dinner at Brasenose, having arranged their own accommodation elsewhere.
Non-residential students are encouraged to attend all aspects of the academic and social programme, and they have equal access to Brasenose as residential participants.
We welcome students who want to attend multiple Inspiring Oxford courses. Resident participants staying in Brasenose College for consecutive weeks can have bed and breakfast accommodation arranged for the Saturday night between their courses.
When applying for the Department's college-based summer programmes, prospective participants with mobility difficulties or visual or hearing impairments (for example) may wish to consult the University Access Guide. This includes specific information about University buildings, many of which are centuries old, and the extent to which modern adaptations have been made to support accessibility.
Prospective participants are also encouraged to contact the Programme Administrator at inspiringoxford@conted.ox.ac.uk to make preliminary enquiries regarding access or disability support.
Participants will receive a physical Certificate of Attendance at the end of the course.
You will also be eligible for a digital badge of attendance. Information on how to access this digital certificate will be emailed to you after the end of the course. This digital badge will show your name, the course title and the dates of the course you attended. You will be able to download your certificate or share it on social media if you choose to do so.
Please note the programme is open to those over the age of 18.
The deadline for registration for summer 2025 is 31 May 2025.
If your preferred course is fully booked, you may wish to add yourself to the waiting list and the Programme Administrator will contact you should a place become available.
Single accommodation and non-residential places may be booked directly online by clicking on the 'book now' button on each individual course page. Please do not complete an enrolment form for these.
If you have any trouble booking online, please contact the Programme Administrator by emailing`inspiringoxford@conted.ox.ac.uk.
If you wish to book a twin en suite room for two people, each person should complete an enrolment form and name the other person who they wish to share a room with. Please note these rooms have limited availability. Enrolment forms can be found on each individual course page.
The form is an editable PDF and can be competed electronically, so you should not need to print and scan it. Completed forms should be sent by email to inspiringoxford@conted.ox.ac.uk.
Brasenose College rooms do not have lift access, and the higher rooms can be located up a few flights of stairs. If you need a room on a ground or lower floor please indicate this on your enrolment form, or contact the Programme Administrator directly at inspiringoxford@conted.ox.ac.uk as soon as possible after enrolling online before 31 May 2025.
All fees are charged on a per week, per person basis. Fees are stated on each individual course page.
Please be aware that all payments made via non-UK credit/debit cards and bank accounts are subject to the exchange rate on the day they are processed.
Participants staying multiple, consecutive weeks will be charged an additional bed and breakfast fee for the cost of the Saturday night between courses.
Please note that course transfers may be permitted in exceptional circumstances at the discretion of the programme administrator, up to 1 May 2025. In accordance with our Terms and Conditions, an administration fee of £50 will be charged.
All participants must purchase travel insurance to cover the programme fee, travel costs, and any other expenses incurred. The Department cannot be held responsible for any costs you may incur in relation to travel or accommodation bookings as a result of a course cancellation, or if you are unable to attend the course for any other reason.
Full details of our cancellation policy terms and conditions (both if you wish to cancel or if the Department has to cancel the course) can be found on each individual course page.
If enrolling online: full payment by credit/debit card at the time of booking.
If submitting an enrolment form: full payment online by credit/debit card or via bank transfer within 30 days of invoice date.
Please note, there are no sources of funding (scholarships, bursaries, etc) available for attendees of this summer programme.
A selection of courses are also 'previewed' below, under the gallery of images, or you can browse all courses.
Location: Brasenose College
Level: Non-specialists aged 18+
Enrolment: Online or via enrolment form
Enquiries: inspiringoxford@conted.ox.ac.uk
