Pre-College Robotics Summer Camp
Aged 14–18
Ambitious Scholars
2-15 August
2027
£6,499
OSP Experience Fee
100
Exceptional Global Scholars
Join OSP's Robotics Summer Camp in Oxford
The drone in front of you doesn’t fly yet. Over two weeks at our Robotics Summer Camp, you’ll assemble it, wire it, calibrate it, and program it into the air, then pitch the real-world problem your design was built to solve.
Key Features
- Built on WEF 2030 Skills
- Project-based learning
- Official transcripts
- Letter of recommendation
- Earn 8 UCAS points
WEF Employment Skills
- Analytical Thinking
- Empathy and Active Listening
- Resilience, Flexibility and Agility
Designed around the core skills identified by the World Economic Forum as essential for 2030.
- Build a strong understanding of core engineering disciplines and modern drone technology.
- Assemble, calibrate, program, and fly a working drone through hands-on build projects.
- Develop practical problem-solving, design, and technical skills while exploring careers in engineering and robotics.
- Prepare through introductory readings and guided study skills.
- Explore engineering principles in tutor-led sessions, then apply them in hands-on workshops.
- Build and fly a real drone while designing an original solution to a real-world need.
- Study in an academically rigorous summer programme alongside ambitious students from around the world.
- Learn from expert tutors while solving real engineering problems through design, assembly, and flight.
- Strengthen your university profile, experience campus life, and build an international network of future leaders.
From learning theory, to building drones.
Study alongside ambitious students from around the world, learn from expert tutors, and build and fly your own drone while strengthening your university profile.
Cover the whole field
Build a drone that flies
Engineer a real solution
Fourteen days in Oxford. Nine in the seminar room.
Aerospace & Drone Technology
Aerospace foundations and how drones work, then choose your team's use-case.
Mechanical Engineering & Drone Anatomy
The mechanics of flight and a drone's anatomy, then start the build.
Jet Engines & Drone Sensors
Propulsion and the sensors that let a drone know where it is.
Materials Science & Communication
Materials under stress and how drones transmit data, then wire the flight controller.
Software Engineering & Programming
The fundamentals of code, and programming your drone's behaviour.
Electrical Engineering & Control
Power and control systems, plus flight safety and Flyer ID.
Civil Engineering & Risk
Structures and risk assessment, then plan and log a real flight.
Structures & Flight Simulation
Bridge building and structural design, with flight simulation and control.
Manufacturing & Final Flight
Manufacturing engineering, the final flight, and the team competition.
“Best experience of my life. It changed me as a person. The people I met, the experiences I had, it changed my life.”
Theory into practice
The Drone Build
Use-Case Innovation Challenge
Top Up With Career Exploration
A first step toward a serious path
Aerospace & Drone Technology
Robotics & Automation
Mechanical & Electrical Engineering
Design, Manufacturing & R&D
Taught by academics & practitioners
Dr. Cristiana Tisca
AI & ProgrammingPost-Doctoral Researcher in Neuroimaging at the Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, University of Oxford
Dr. Waqas Kamal
EngineeringResearch Fellow at University of Oxford DPhil in Engineering Science
Dr. Nick Dickinson
PoliticsBingham Fellow in Constitutional Studies, University of Oxford
Juliana Choi
MedicineDPhil Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics University of Oxford
Dr. Daryna Dvornichenko
LawBritish Academy Researcher At Risk and Visiting Research Fellow at Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Oxford
Abbey Palmer
EnglishMSc in Applied Linguistics and Second Language Acquisition, University of Oxford
Oxford is the stage, not the point
Each summer a select group from around the world comes together in Oxford to learn, grow, and find out who they could become.
Oxford Walking Tours
Blenheim Palace
Debating at the Oxford Union
Flying Lessons
Rowing on the Thames
Graduation
Punting on the River Cherwell
Cultural Night
Excursion to London
River Cruise
OSP's Got TalentStudy in an academically rigorous summer programme alongside ambitious students from around the world.
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OSP offers the NCFE Level 3 Award in Higher Studies, giving 8 UCAS points and adding weightage to your university application.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Engineering & Robotics Summer Camp at OSP?
The Engineering & Robotics Summer Camp at OSP is a two-week immersive course designed for high school students aged 14–18 interested in engineering and drone technology. Scholars learn across core engineering disciplines through lectures and workshops, then build, program, and fly a real drone while designing an original solution to a real-world problem.
Can high school students study Engineering & Robotics at Oxford?
Yes. The pre-college engineering and robotics course at OSP gives high school students the chance to learn engineering principles and build real hardware in a university setting. The summer school offers an introduction to the field, hands-on build projects, and a real understanding of how engineers solve practical problems.
Do I need prior engineering experience to attend?
What is the final project?
Scholars work in teams of five to develop an original drone-based solution to a real-world need. They research and design the application, weigh feasibility, safety, and impact, then pitch it at a final competition and submit an individual report — mirroring how engineering projects are developed and presented.
Who can attend the Engineering & Robotics Summer Camp at OSP?
How can the Engineering & Robotics Summer Camp at OSP help with university applications?
The Engineering & Robotics Summer Camp strengthens applications by demonstrating genuine commitment to studying engineering. It provides practical experience in design, build, and technical problem-solving, showcasing intellectual curiosity and readiness for university-level study. Scholars also receive letters of recommendation from Oxford tutors, adding academic credibility to their applications.
How can OSP's Engineering & Robotics Summer Camp benefit my future career?
The course builds skills in problem-solving, design, technical analysis, and teamwork — all highly valued across engineering, robotics, and technology. By building real hardware and presenting an engineering solution, scholars gain practical experience that supports a wide range of future career paths.
