Combined Sciences


Gain expert insights in an online summer school in Combined Sciences
Our online combined sciences courses offer students an opportunity to explore the subject of science in many areas at an advanced level, through carefully designed programmes that are taught by expert tutors from world-leading universities.
By the end of the programme, participants will have a good understanding, not only of university-level content but also of the variety of degree programmes available in subjects related to biological, chemical and physical sciences. Beyond this, participants will also explore the career opportunities available to progress in these fields.
About Online Insights
Over the course of this programme, participants will take part in virtual seminars, future skills workshops, one-to-one tutorials, as well as group social activities led by current Oxbridge undergraduates.
Students receive a combination of subject-based tuition, one-to-one tutorials, future skills workshops and social activities with students from around the world.
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Average Class Size Of 5
Maximum 10 students -
1:1 Tutorials
2 x 30-minute sessions each week -
Oxbridge Academics
Tutors from Oxford and Cambridge University -
Future Skills Workshops
Develop key attributes such as personal branding, interview skills and academic writing
For students of all time zones
As there are participants joining from around the globe, Online Insights offers two “streams” – Stream A and Stream B.
Stream A starts in the morning whilst Stream B’s classes take place in the afternoon.
Note – as our faculty are all based in Oxford & Cambridge, all times communicated are in UK time.
To see how the Online Insights programme is structured, please view the timetable.

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Stream A
09:00 - 15:00 (UK time) -
Stream B
14:00 - 20:00 (UK time)

Example tutor:
Filip C

The Online Insights programme has exposed me to a lot of knowledge I don’t think I would have learned, especially not in school. It was very in-depth and progressed towards cell biology, which I find particularly exciting.
I feel that this course has prepared me for higher education by teaching me the knowledge that I would be taught at university-level.
I’m planning on pursuing medicine and cell biology at university, so the programme showed me how it would be taught at a higher level.
I found classes online especially interesting. I thought it would be difficult to cope with, and I thought I might not be able to ask what I needed, but I actually found it very surprising how helpful and accommodating my tutors were. They explained a lot of things over and over, and especially in the one-to-one sessions beforehand, I had quite a bit of time to ask them questions about what I didn’t understand.

Network with like-minded individuals
Daily social activities with participants around the world
Students can connect with like-minded individuals from around the world, and are encouraged to socialise and make friends through daily activities and games after classes finish.
Activities include virtual college tours, murder mystery parties and a ‘University Challenge’-style quiz.
These sessions are led by Oxbridge undergraduates who act as Mentors for Online Insights participants. This is a fantastic opportunity for participants to hear from students at Oxford and Cambridge University, and receive guidance and advice on studying at one of the world’s top universities.
Network with like-minded individuals
Online Learning Platform

Virtual Classrooms
All sessions are delivered on Zoom’s education platform – the world’s leading virtual classroom software.
Before the course begins, all students will receive a welcome pack that includes information about their tutors, mentors, guest speakers, as well as their programme overview.
Students will also receive an interactive timetable with links to each of their classes.
We offer 2-day intensives, 1-week, 2-week and 10-week programmes so that you can learn at a time and duration that fits your current activities.
Sample Combined Sciences Modules
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Module 1 - Macromolecules of Life (Biology)
This session explores some key biological macromolecules and examines their role in living systems. Participants learn about the structure of biological membranes by consideration of lipid molecules (phospholipids and cholesterol) and introduce the idea of the membrane being a dynamic structure rather than a passive boundary between intracellular and extracellular compartments. This necessarily requires the introduction of concepts of membrane transport, cell signalling and cell-cell recognition. Participants explore the importance of proteins, carbohydrates and nucleic acids in biology and briefly discuss how these polymeric structures are constructed from simpler components. -
Module 2 - Introduction to Kinematics (Physics)
All experts in the field of physics have a firm understanding of Newton’s Laws of Motion as well as his Universal Law of Gravitation. It’s also important to understand the conservation laws of physics, the laws of electricity (e.g. Coulomb’s and Ohm’s Laws) and magnetism, which is why in this module you will explore all of these topics and their relevance in physics studies. What you learn in this module will set the foundation for further exploration into these subjects in other topics explored in the physics course. -
Module 3 - Atomic Structure and Periodicity (Chemistry)
In the first part of the course, participants take a closer look at the atom, discussing some of the earlier models of atomic structure. These seminal works, and others, led to the discovery of subatomic particles (protons, neutrons and electrons), and their corresponding properties. The class defines key terms relating to the atom, which form the foundation of the chemistry course. The tutor also introduces the mole concept and participants use it to perform important chemical calculations. Finally, participants analyse the modern periodic table (a concise arrangement of chemical elements based on their atomic structure) and discuss the trends that arise from this ordering. -
Module 4 - Charles Darwin and the Theory of Evolution (Biology)
In this session, participants will explore in broad terms the theory of evolution as expounded by Charles Darwin and aim to understand the terms variation, competition, fitness (adaptations and exaptations) and selection. We will look at the sources of genetic variation with reference to mutations, genetic drift, gene flow and natural selection. We will discuss the emerging science of epigenetics – the study of heritable changes in the absence of changes in DNA sequence. We will also briefly discuss some works and views of Richard Dawkins, a leading evolutionary biologist. -
Module 5 - Physics Practicals (Physics)
The experiments and practicals aspect of this course allows you to take part in laboratory practice and laboratory record-keeping. Some of the experiments we will explore include a deep dive into mechanical resonance, latent heat and gas heat, conservation of momentum and the AM radio. This component of the programme allows participants to apply theoretical knowledge and best research practices to real-world experiments. -
Module 6 - Organic Chemistry & Bonding (Chemistry)
Participants explore covalent bonding in more detail and define key terms, such as electronegativity. The resonance structures of covalent bonds in molecules and polar covalent bonds are discussed.
Download Syllabus Overview
Download Syllabus Overview
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1-2 July 2023, Online Insights Summer (Intensive)£695
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29-30 July 2023, Online Insights Summer (Intensive)£695
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27 -28 August 2023, Online Insights Summer (Intensive)£695
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23-24 September 2023, Summer (Intensive)£695
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3 July – 14 July 2023 Summer (Classic)£2,495
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3 July – 14 July 2023 Summer (Classic)£2,495
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17 July – 28 July 2023 Summer (Classic)£2,495
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17 July – 28 July 2023 Summer (Classic)£2,495
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31 July – 11 August 2023 Summer (Classic)£2,495
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31 July – 11 August 2023 Summer (Classic)£2,495
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14 August – 25 August 2023 Summer (Classic)£2,495
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14 August – 25 August 2023 Summer (Classic)£2,495