Psychology

Aged 14–18

For Ambitious Scholars

2-15 August

2027

£6,499

OSP Experience Fee

100

Exceptional Global Scholars

Join OSP's Psychology Summer School in Oxford

The room goes quiet. On the screen behind you is a result you didn’t expect: your own data, from a study you designed and ran this week. You have three minutes to explain what it means, and a room full of questions waiting.

Key Features

Built on WEF 2030 Skills
Project-based learning
Official transcripts
Letter of recommendation
Earn 8 UCAS points

https://ospscholars.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/WEF-768x474.png

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.

The Programme

Fourteen days. Thinking Like a Scientist. Understanding People.

Study alongside ambitious students from around the world, learn from expert tutors, and explore human behaviour through psychological theory, research, and critical analysis, while strengthening your university profile.

Think like a scientist

Learn how psychologists actually work: research methods, ethics, evidence, and how to tell scientific findings from popular myth.

Run your own study

Form a team, choose a research question, design the method, collect the data, and analyse what it really shows.

Make sense of behaviour

Read human behaviour with nuance across memory, attention, emotion, social influence, and the psychology of AI.

The Course Plan

Your two weeks,
day by day.

Mornings build the theory. Afternoons put it straight to work on your research project. Every day moves your study closer to the final project.

Introduction to Psychology

How psychologists think, and how to tell science from myth.

Attention & Decision-Making

How we focus, how we choose, and why multitasking quietly fails.

Memory & Misinformation

Why feeling confident is not the same as being accurate.

Social Influence & Conformity

How the people around us shape what we do.

Emotion, Stress & Wellbeing

How mind and body actually perform under pressure.

Personality & Measurement

What psychological tests really measure, and how well.

The Psychology of AI

Bias, trust, and how algorithms learn our patterns.

Critical Thinking

Reading your results honestly, limitations and all.

Presenting Psychology

Poster, three-minute talk, and a live Q&A.

“The programme provided invaluable exposure to living abroad, teaching us life lessons that will undoubtedly shape our future career paths.”

Yassin Fergany – UAE

The OSP Challenge

Theory into practice

Collaborate with peers to investigate a real question about human behaviour. Think critically, work methodically, and apply everything the course gives you.

Applied Modelling

Collaborative Research

You form a team, choose one research question, and build a real study around it. For nine days the design, the data, and the findings are yours to defend. Work as a research group investigating how people think, feel, or behave.

Capstone Project

Independent Analysis

Write up your investigation as a structured research report, then present it as a poster and a three-minute talk with live Q&A. Build the academic research and writing skills you will reuse at university.

Career Exploration

Top Up With Career Exploration

At OSP, we transform ambition into action and potential into purpose. We bridge academic excellence with personal growth, cultivating ethical leaders who go on to shape the world tomorrow with clarity, confidence, and integrity

Where This Leads

A first step toward a serious path

Clinical & Counselling Psychology

Understanding, assessing, and supporting mental health and human wellbeing.

Neuroscience & Cognitive Science

How the brain produces attention, memory, emotion, and decision-making.

Medicine & Psychiatry

The behavioural science behind diagnosis, treatment, and patient care.

Behavioural Science, UX & Research

Applying psychology in product design, marketing, policy, and academia.

OSP Tutors

Taught by academics & practitioners

Dr. Cristiana Tisca

AI & Programming

Post-Doctoral Researcher in Neuroimaging at the Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, University of Oxford

Dr. Waqas Kamal

Engineering

Research Fellow at University of Oxford DPhil in Engineering Science

Dr. Nick Dickinson

Politics

Bingham Fellow in Constitutional Studies, University of Oxford

Juliana Choi

Medicine

DPhil Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics University of Oxford

Dr. Daryna Dvornichenko

Law

British Academy Researcher At Risk and Visiting Research Fellow at Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Oxford

Abbey Palmer

English

MSc in Applied Linguistics and Second Language Acquisition, University of Oxford

Beyond The Classroom

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 Talent

Why OSP?

Study in an academically rigorous summer programme alongside ambitious students from around the world.

The Oxford Scholars Programme offers the NCFE Level 3 Award in Higher Studies, giving 8 UCAS points and adding weightage to your university application.

Strengthen your university profile, experience campus life, and build an international network of future leaders.

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FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Oxford Psychology Summer School at OSP?

The Oxford Psychology Summer School at OSP is a two-week immersive course designed for high school students aged 14–18 interested in human behaviour, the mind, and how psychological science works. Scholars take part in interactive lectures, classic case studies, and a hands-on research project, exploring cognition, social influence, emotion, and decision-making.

Can high school students study Psychology at Oxford?

Yes. The pre-university psychology course at OSP gives high school students the chance to explore psychological science in a university setting. The summer school offers an introduction to the subject, practical research experience, and a real understanding of how psychologists investigate behaviour.

What is the research project?

Scholars work in small teams to design and run their own psychological study. They choose a research question, build a method, collect and analyse data, and present their findings as a written report, a poster, and a short talk — mirroring how real research is carried out and shared.

Who can attend the Oxford Psychology Summer School at OSP?

It is open to students aged 14–18 who are curious about the mind and human behaviour. Whether you are considering psychology, neuroscience, medicine, or any people-focused field, this programme provides a comprehensive introduction to psychological science and research.

How can the Oxford Psychology Summer School at OSP help with university applications?

The course strengthens university applications by demonstrating genuine commitment to studying psychology. It provides practical experience in research design, data analysis, and academic writing, showcasing intellectual curiosity and readiness for university-level study. Scholars also receive letters of recommendation from Oxford tutors, adding academic credibility to their applications.

Do I need prior knowledge of psychology to attend?

No prior knowledge is required. The summer school is designed for Scholars with varying levels of experience, from complete beginners to those with a strong interest in the field. The curriculum builds foundational knowledge and equips all Scholars with the tools they need to succeed.

How can the Oxford Psychology Summer School at OSP benefit my future career?

The course builds skills in research, critical thinking, data analysis, and communication — all highly valued across psychology, healthcare, education, research, and behavioural science. By designing a study and presenting real findings, Scholars gain practical experience that supports a wide range of future career paths.

How do I apply for the Oxford Psychology Summer School at OSP?

To apply, visit the application page and complete the online application form. Submit all required documents, including academic transcripts and a personal statement. After reviewing applications, successful candidates will be notified with further details about their acceptance.

What is the cost of attending the Oxford Psychology Summer School at OSP?

The total cost includes tuition, accommodation, meals, and all excursions and activities. Scholarships and financial aid options are available to support students from diverse financial backgrounds. Please check our fee page for detailed pricing information and funding options.

A Transformative Journey