Summer during high school can feel like a pause from exams, deadlines, and routines. But summer camps in the UK for 16-18 year olds can also become a time to explore your ambitions more seriously, build practical skills, and experience what learning looks like beyond the classroom. Imagine spending your days attending seminars at a leading UK university, collaborating with students from around the world, and discussing ideas that challenge the way you think.

These programmes offer far more than a traditional academic programme. They allow you to experience university-style learning while developing skills that are valuable far beyond school. Depending on the subject you choose, you could work on engineering projects, explore business case studies, practise coding, conduct scientific research, or strengthen your writing and communication abilities.

What are summer camps in the UK for 16-18-year-olds?

Summer camps in the UK for 16-18 year olds are academic and enrichment programmes designed to help high school students explore subjects in greater depth while experiencing university life firsthand. Programmes are available in areas such as medicine, law, artificial intelligence, business, literature, engineering, and the arts, allowing you to either deepen an existing passion or discover a completely new field.

You learn from experienced mentors and instructors, participate in collaborative projects, and connect with ambitious students who share similar interests. Alongside academic learning, these programmes help you build confidence, independence, communication skills, and a stronger sense of direction for university and beyond.

However, not every summer programme offers the same level of academic quality, mentorship, or hands-on experience. Choosing the right one can make a major difference in how much you learn and how meaningful your summer becomes. To help you decide, we’ve curated a list of 15 summer camps in the UK for 16-18-year-olds. They’ve been selected as they stand out for their academic rigour, immersive learning experiences, and strong student support.

For adjacent opportunities, consider the online summer camps.

15 Summer Camps in the UK for 16-18 Year Olds 

1. Brown Experiential Education: Oxford

Location: St Edmund Hall, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
Cost/Stipend: $8,270
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 24 students per cohort
Dates: July 6th – July 17th
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Open to students aged 16-18 completing Grades 10-12; international students are eligible to apply

In this programme, you engage in biotechnology, innovation, and experiential learning in a two-week academic session set in one of the world’s most historic university cities. You explore topics such as CRISPR, cancer immunotherapy, artificial intelligence in medicine, and neuroscience through interactive lessons and expert-led discussions.

You visit research institutes, biotech hubs, hospitals, and science parks across Oxford and London to see how discoveries move from laboratories into real-world healthcare. Living at Oxford also gives you a closer look at university life, from shared accommodation to formal dinners and student traditions. 

Why it stands out: You learn biotechnology by stepping directly into Oxford’s research ecosystem rather than simply studying it through lectures alone.

2. Immerse Education’s Pre-University Summer School

Location: Oxford, London & Cambridge, UK
Cost/Stipend: Varies; summer school scholarships available through our bursary programme
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; an average of 7 participants per class
Dates: 2 weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: Multiple summer cohorts; rolling admissions
Eligibility: Open to students aged 13-18 worldwide, including international students

If you want to experience university life first-hand, Immerse Education’s Academic Insights programme offers a close look at that world. You can choose from subjects ranging from medicine and engineering to psychology, law, and business while learning through seminars, workshops, and collaborative discussions. Classes are designed to feel more like university tutorials than traditional school lessons, encouraging you to question ideas and think independently. 

Outside academics, you stay in historic university accommodation and spend time exploring the city with students from around the world. The programme blends academic challenge with cultural immersion, making your summer feel both intellectually stimulating and socially memorable. By the end of the program, you’ll complete a personal project, receive written feedback, and receive a certificate of completion. You can find more details about the application here. 

Why it stands out: You’ll study under expert academics, be guided daily by a university student mentor, complete a project you can show in future applications, and experience genuine university college life.

3. Seren Academy Summer School

Location: Various locations, including Oxford and Cambridge university colleges, UK
Cost/Stipend: Fully funded for selected students, including accommodation and meals
Acceptance rate/cohort size: May vary by year; selective admission
Dates: Varies by location
Application Deadline: Typically February for summer residentials
Eligibility: Students in years 8-13; check here for more information

The Seren Academy Summer School gives you the chance to experience university-level learning at some of the UK’s most respected institutions. Depending on the residential you join, you might explore medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, humanities, or interdisciplinary subjects through lectures, workshops, and practical sessions led by academics and professionals.

The programme is designed to stretch your thinking beyond the school curriculum while helping you build confidence in a university setting. You also spend time meeting ambitious students from across Wales, and learning more about university applications. 

Why it stands out: You gain direct exposure to top UK universities through fully funded residential experiences tailored for high-achieving Welsh students.

4. King’s College London Pre-University Summer School

Location: King’s College London, London, UK
Cost/Stipend: From £3,195 for one week; residential options from £3,965
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 6th – July 31st (4 one-week sessions)
Application Deadline: April 27th
Eligibility: Open to academically motivated students aged 16-17 from around the world, including international students

King’s College London’s Pre-University Summer School gives you the chance to study in one of the UK’s most globally connected universities while living in the centre of London. You can choose subjects ranging from law and psychology to neuroscience, politics, medicine, and computer science, depending on the session you attend.

Classes combine lectures with interactive seminars, so you are encouraged to contribute ideas, ask questions, and work through real academic challenges. The experience feels fast-paced and independent, offering a realistic glimpse into university life before you apply to college.

Why it stands out: You can choose from a wide variety of courses across different disciplines and have a college-level experience. 

5. University of St Andrews Summer Academic Experience Courses

Location: University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Scotland, UK
Cost/Stipend: £6,850 all-inclusive fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 11th – August 1st
Application Deadline: Varies
Eligibility: Open to students aged 16-18 from around the world, including international students

The University of St Andrews Summer Academic Experience Courses give you the chance to study in one of the UK’s oldest and most respected universities while living in a coastal Scottish town known for its close-knit student atmosphere. You can choose from subjects such as medicine, psychology, economics, creative writing, computer science, and sustainable development.

You’ll be taught by university faculty through lectures, tutorials, and collaborative activities. The programme balances academic intensity with cultural exploration, so your days move between classrooms, excursions, and social events with students from across the world. 

Why it stands out: You experience a traditional Scottish university environment while studying specialised subjects in a small, highly immersive academic setting.

6. Imperial Global Summer School 

Location: Imperial College London, London, UK
Cost/Stipend: £7,695
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not officially specified; selective admissions process
Dates: June 29th – July 10th; August 3rd – August 14th
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions until spaces fill
Eligibility: Open to students aged 16-17 worldwide, including international students

Imperial Global Summer School allows you to explore STEM subjects inside one of the UK’s most research-intensive universities. You can study areas such as engineering, medicine, physics, chemistry, or data science through lectures, lab sessions, workshops, and collaborative projects designed for pre-university students.

The programme also includes an Innovation Challenge, where you work with students from different subject tracks to solve real-world problems and present ideas as a team. Outside academics, you stay in student accommodation in South Kensington and take part in social activities across London. 

Why it stands out: You experience STEM learning through hands-on projects and interdisciplinary collaboration at one of the world’s leading science universities.

7. University of Glasgow Sutton Trust Summer School 

Location: University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
Cost/Stipend: Fully funded
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive
Dates: June 29th – July 3rd
Application Deadline: March 5th
Eligibility: Open to students in Year 12 (England and Wales), Year 13 (Northern Ireland), or S5 (Scotland) who attend state-funded schools or colleges. Applicants must meet Sutton Trust widening participation criteria. International students are not eligible

The University of Glasgow Sutton Trust Summer School gives you a realistic introduction to university life while helping you explore subjects in greater depth. You can choose from streams such as engineering, medicine, life sciences, arts, social sciences, or law, with sessions led by university academics and researchers.

Alongside lectures and workshops, you take part in discussions, collaborative activities, and academic skills training designed to prepare you for higher education. The residential experience also allows you to stay on campus, meet students from across the UK, and experience the social side of university life. 

Why it stands out: You experience academically rigorous university learning in a fully funded programme designed specifically to support underrepresented students.

8. Warwick Pre-University Summer School 

Location: University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
Cost/Stipend: £5,250 plus a £50 application fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 14th – July 24th
Application Deadline: May 31st
Eligibility: Open to students aged 16-17 from around the world, including international students

The Warwick Pre-University Summer School gives you the chance to study university-level subjects while living on one of the UK’s most modern and internationally diverse campuses. You can choose from courses in economics, computer science, law, psychology, business, and other popular fields, all taught through lectures, seminars, and collaborative workshops.

The programme encourages you to apply concepts through discussions, projects, and practical problem-solving. You also take part in social events, excursions, and activities that help you settle into campus life quickly. Here’s the application form.

Why it stands out: You experience a highly international university environment while exploring academic subjects through interactive and discussion-driven learning.

9. Oxford Saïd AI and Machine Learning Pioneers Summer School 

Location: Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
Cost/Stipend: £8,995 residential; limited scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not officially specified; programme is selective due to limited capacity
Dates: Two weeks starting July 19th
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions until places are filled
Eligibility: Open to students aged 15-18 from around the world, including international students

The AI and Machine Learning Pioneers Summer School at Oxford Saïd is one of the most future-focused summer camps in the UK for 16-18 year olds, introducing you to the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence through a mix of technical learning and real-world application.

You explore topics such as machine learning, neural networks, ethics in AI, and data analysis through seminars, collaborative projects, and hands-on workshops. The programme also encourages you to think critically about how AI shapes business, healthcare, and society. Living in Oxford adds another layer to the experience, giving you a glimpse into university life through residential stays, discussions, and cultural activities. 

Why it stands out: You explore both the technical and ethical sides of AI while learning inside one of the world’s most influential academic environments.

10. Imperial College London Sutton Trust Summer School 

Location: Imperial College London, London, UK
Cost/Stipend: Free, including accommodation, meals, and activities
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified; highly competitive selection process
Dates: July 21st – July 25th
Application Deadline: March 5th
Eligibility: Open to Year 12 students attending UK state schools who meet Sutton Trust widening participation criteria; international students are not eligible

The Imperial College London Sutton Trust Summer School gives you the chance to explore STEM subjects in one of the UK’s leading science and engineering universities. You take part in lectures, laboratory sessions, workshops, and academic projects. The program is designed to introduce you to university-level learning in areas such as engineering, medicine, physics, and computing.

The programme also includes application guidance, career insights, and opportunities to interact with Imperial students and researchers. You experience the rhythm of university life while building independence and confidence in an unfamiliar environment.

Why it stands out: You get hands-on exposure to STEM learning at a globally respected university through a fully funded widening-access programme.

11. Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Summer Schools 

Location: Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
Cost/Stipend: Fees vary by course and duration
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified; classes are generally kept small for practical training
Dates: Multiple sessions from June to August
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Open to students worldwide, including international students with many programmes specifically designed for students aged 15-18

The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Summer Schools allow you to train in performance and creative arts within one of the UK’s leading conservatoires. You can choose from programmes in acting, musical theatre, filmmaking, music production, dance, stage design, and other creative disciplines, depending on your interests.

Most courses are highly practical, so you spend your time performing, creating, rehearsing, filming, or collaborating. You meet students from different countries and artistic backgrounds, which makes workshops and performances especially dynamic. 

Why it stands out: You train in a conservatoire environment where learning is built around hands-on creative practice rather than traditional classroom teaching.

12. Notre Dame Pre-College Study Abroad: London

Location: University of Notre Dame London Global Gateway, London, UK
Cost/Stipend: $8,750
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 5th – July 19th
Application Deadline: January 21st
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors who are at least 16 years of age by or on August 1st

In Notre Dame’s Pre-College Study Abroad programme, you engage in academic exploration with cultural immersion. You study topics connected to British history, politics, literature, and international affairs through seminars, discussions, and site-based learning experiences across London.

The programme uses museums, historic landmarks, and cultural institutions as part of the academic experience. The experience works particularly well if you enjoy the humanities and want to connect academic ideas with real places and historical contexts.

Why it stands out: You study London by actively exploring it, turning the city itself into an extension of the classroom.

13. University of Edinburgh Summer School 

Location: University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
Cost/Stipend: £5,250
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 29th – July 10th
Application Deadline: May 19th
Eligibility: Open to all students aged 16-18

The University of Edinburgh Summer School allows you to study in one of the UK’s most historic and academically respected cities while exploring university-level subjects in an international environment. Depending on the course you choose, you will study design, humanities, life sciences, or social sciences through seminars, workshops, and collaborative discussions.

The programme encourages independent thinking, so classes often revolve around debate, analysis, and applying ideas. You experience life in Edinburgh through cultural activities, city exploration, and interactions with students from around the world. 

Why it stands out: You combine university-style learning with the cultural experience of living in one of Europe’s most intellectually vibrant cities.

14. Oxford Saïd Future Climate Tech Innovators Summer School

Location: University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
Cost/Stipend: £8,995
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 19th – August 1st
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions until places are filled
Eligibility: Open to students aged 15-18 from around the world

At the Future Climate Tech Innovators Summer School at Oxford Saïd, you explore how technology, entrepreneurship, and policy can work together to address climate challenges. You engage with topics such as renewable energy, sustainable business, climate innovation, and emerging technologies.

You’ll explore topics such as extreme weather, AI and climate change, and ecosystems while developing a sustainable business proposal that leads to a final project and presentation at the Oxford Climate Innovation Conference. The programme encourages you to think across disciplines and develop solutions with real-world impact.

Why it stands out: You explore climate change through the combined lens of technology, business, and innovation while learning in one of the world’s leading academic hubs.

15. Hillsdale College Land and Literature in England 

Location: Various locations in the UK
Cost/Stipend: $4,995
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 30-50 students
Dates: July 2nd – July 16th
Application Deadline: February 15th priority deadline; applications reviewed until spaces are filled
Eligibility: Open to rising high school students aged 15 and above; primarily designed for U.S. students

In Land and Literature in England, you engage in literary study with travel across some of England’s most historically and culturally significant locations. You explore places connected to writers such as Shakespeare, Wordsworth, and C.S. Lewis while discussing literature in the environments that shaped it.

The programme blends seminars, guided excursions, and reflective writing, creating an experience that feels immersive. You travel through cities, countryside landscapes, and university settings while learning alongside a small group of students who share an interest in literature and history. 

Why it stands out: You study classic English literature by travelling through the real landscapes, cities, and cultural sites connected to the works themselves.

Move From Summer Study to Stronger Applications

By 16, summer study can become useful evidence of initiative, curiosity, and readiness for more demanding academic environments.

Through these 15 summer camps in the UK for 16-18 year olds, you can test possible degree subjects and experience learning beyond school.

The projects, discussions, feedback, and campus routines you encounter can give your applications more focus, detail, and personal reflection.

Want to turn that experience into stronger applications? Use our University Preparation blogs for course choices, personal statements, interviews, and academic readiness.