What are the different types of summer school in Oxford? (And what jobs do they have on offer?)

In this week’s short read, we take a look at the different types of organisation that make up Oxford’s summer education industry – and the differences in the summer job opportunities that they have available.

If you were to ask anyone who’s been in Oxford during a (pre-pandemic) summer to sum up the city, they’d probably use one word – busy.

Every year, thousands of tourists flock to the city, keen to see for themselves the buildings of the oldest university in the English-speaking world, and the number-one-ranked university in the world.

The university’s academic reputation rubs off on the city, making the city is a particularly popular destination for educational travel, with large groups of teenage students flying from all around the world to spend summer soaking up both the sun (never guaranteed) and the academic atmosphere of Oxford (always guaranteed).

But where are these groups of students studying? What are they learning? And how do the job opportunities differ between the different types of summer school in Oxford?

1. English language schools

Many of the international students who flock to Oxford in the summer are coming to work on their English. And there are many large providers who cater for precisely that niche – English language is all they do, and they do it well!

Students at the English language schools will typically stay in homestay accommodation in with a local host family, with lessons taking place either at the language school’s own facility or another venue leased by the language school in the city. Students are trusted to make their own way from their accommodation to their campus.

In terms of price point, the homestay arrangement (where meals are also provided) helps the language schools to keep the prices of their Oxford summer schools competitive, making it an affordable and good-value option for many students around the world.

The homestay arrangement also impacts upon the staff and roles required. Because responsibility for breakfast and evening meals is given over to the host family, the pastoral support requirement from the summer school’s perspective is reduced. And the limited extracurricular timetable provided also means that that fewer staff members are needed to support the students.

There is, of course, a requirement for English language teachers – and because of the increase in demand during the summer there is a temporary additional requirement for trained EFL specialists. Complete our form here if you’re an EFL teacher (or if you can teach another subject!) and we’d be happy to help you find your place this summer.

One thing that is worth noting is that the English language travel market has taken a big hit during COVID, with many language schools forced to close or downsize. So, it remains to be seen how big the bounceback will be in 2022, but with plenty of pent-up demand to be released, there’s a good chance these language schools will be back firing on most (if not all) cylinders this year.

2. Premium, college-based summer schools

For those students looking for the opportunity to experience what undergraduate life in Oxford is actually like, there are several large summer schools whose programmes are residential in the accommodation of different colleges of the University of Oxford.

These tend to be sold on an ‘all-inclusive’ basis (or close to) – meaning all accommodation and meals are included in the price, alongside the cost of the teaching, as well as an extra curricular programme that typically features guest talks, debates, organised punting trips, sports in the university parks…the list goes on.

All of this comes with a high price point; however, the providers themselves will point to the (not insignificant) cost of staying in a college, with meals provided in the college hall (also not cheap), alongside all of the academic and social opportunities afforded to the students, too.

These summer schools typically operate in two-week blocks, with some students choosing to stay for longer by combining blocks of two weeks.

And with so much to pack in during each two-week session, the providers need a range of pastoral staff with a variety of skills and knowledge to help them deliver memorable experiences for their students and a feeling of value for money for their customers. And, with students supervised 24 hours a day by the summer schools themselves (compared with the host families model above), they need a good number of them. Fill out the form here if you’re interested in a pastoral or activity leader role – we’re not sure there are many summer jobs in Oxford that offer more job satisfaction than spending the summer working outside with a fascinating collection of international students!

Also important to note is that these premium providers don’t cater for just English language. Many students around the world have been learning English since kindergarten and are already fluent, so they typically come to explore new subjects that they might want to take forwards to university or college study, and ultimately to a career. This opens the door to a much wider spectrum of disciplines for which they need expert teachers – if that sounds like you, click on the link to complete our form.

Finally, because competition between the summer schools offering this kind of service is fierce, they all have a strong marketing presence and active social media and blog feeds – this means they’re often looking for staff in those fields, too – fill out the form at the end of this article if you’re interested in a summer marketing and content role!

3. Closed groups in colleges

A number of Oxford colleges have long-standing relationships with other universities overseas.

In particular, universities and colleges in the United States often run their own, credit-bearing study abroad programmes on campus at an Oxford college.

These programmes also require staff over the summer, although as they are not open to the public they tend to be smaller, and staffed via the college’s internal teams and undergraduate / graduate students. If you study at a college that offers such a programme, it’s worth making yourself known to the team there if you’d be interested in helping out.

4. UNIQ

Part of the University of Oxford’s widening participation activities, UNIQ is the university’s access programme for state school students. Featuring a combination of online admissions support and short (typically 4-day) residential stays in college, UNIQ is designed to encourage students from backgrounds that are typically under-represented at Oxford and in applications to apply.

As with any residential programme, UNIQ needs a range of staff to operate their residential courses successfully. They typically favour current Oxford undergraduates for their pastoral staff and mentors, in line with their key themes of de-mystifying the application process, encouraging students to apply who wouldn’t normally do so, and supporting them with that application.

5. Online programmes

Out of the necessity of the pandemic, many of Oxford’s leading summer schools diversified into offering an online experience.

Although not the same as an in-person residential course, many have continued this provision despite travel opening up and on-campus programmes once again being a more realistic possibility for students around the world.

Of course, the lack of a residential element means that the staffing requirements are significantly reduced. However, the providers still need organised, technically capable individuals to help facilitate the online summer schools – making sure students have log in details and know their way around the platform, arranging virtual tours of Oxford and its colleges, co-ordinating student report and certificate production, handling customer service, and so on.

And it goes without saying that they still need teaching staff too! This can be quite an attractive gig as, provided your internet connection is stable and you have a suitable space, it can be done from the comfort of your own home. If you’re interested in teaching online, please fill in the form and specify your preference for online.

Summary

Oxford really contains a world of opportunity when it comes to summer roles. The city’s popularity with educational tourists, who flock to Oxford to experience the university and the unique culture, means that there are a variety of roles available. And, as the UK emerges from the COVID pandemic ready to welcome visitors back, 2022 is going to be a great year for those looking for an Oxford summer job.

If you would like some assistance with finding your summer job in Oxford this year, fill out the form below to join our mailing list and start your journey. Oxford Summer Jobs is free and independent, and we’d be delighted to help you take the stress and hassle out of your search.