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Oxford University

Biological & Chemistry

Summer Programme

A 14-day academic experience designed for students aged 16 and above who are interested in chemistry, biology, biochemistry, biotechnology, biomedical science, and related life science disciplines.

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About Programme

Hosted in Oxford, the programme offers students early exposure to university-level study, combining academic lectures, laboratory-based learning, research guidance, and cultural immersion in one of the world’s most historic academic environments.  

 

Jointly delivered by the University of Oxford Department of Chemistry and the Oxford Suzhou Centre for Advanced Research (OSCAR), the programme is taught by Oxford professors, researchers, and doctoral mentors. Students who successfully complete the programme receive an official certificate jointly issued by the University of Oxford Department of Chemistry and OSCAR, together with personalised academic feedback from the Oxford Department of Chemistry.  

 

Through a combination of specialist lectures, undergraduate laboratory sessions, doctoral mentoring, academic debate, field research, and industry visits, students gain insight into how biochemistry and related disciplines are studied and applied in real academic and research settings.  

Programme Overview

  • ​Location: Oxford, United Kingdom

  • Dates: 26 July – 8 August 2026

  • Duration: 14 days

  • Eligibility: Students aged 16+

  • Suitable for: Students interested in chemistry, biology, biochemistry, biotechnology, biomedicine, and life sciences

  • Format: Academic lectures, Oxford laboratory sessions, doctoral mentoring, field study, academic workshops, and cultural visits

  • Outcome: Official certificate of completion and personalised academic feedback    

Academic Experience

The programme is structured to reflect a serious academic experience, introducing students to current research frontiers in biological chemistry and the wider life sciences.

Students will:

  • Attend academic lectures led by Oxford professors, senior researchers, and doctoral mentors

  • Study interdisciplinary topics across chemistry, biology, biochemistry, medicine, and biotechnology

  • Take part in laboratory-based teaching in Oxford undergraduate facilities

  • Receive project guidance from Oxford doctoral students

  • Develop academic skills through workshops, debate, and research presentation preparation  

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According to the programme brochure, around 50% of the programme is built around laboratory research experience, giving students substantial exposure to practical scientific work rather than classroom learning alone.

Areas of Study

The programme introduces students to a broad range of topics in biological chemistry and related disciplines, including:

  • Frontiers in biology, chemistry, and medical research

  • Introduction to molecular biology, medicine, and biochemical techniques

  • Microbiology and pathogenic organisms

  • Fundamental organic and biochemical laboratory work

  • Medicinal chemistry and applications

  • Analytical chemistry and molecular detection techniques

  • Green chemistry and enzyme engineering

  • Bioinformatics and AI applications in life sciences    

 

The reference teaching content shows that the academic scope is intentionally interdisciplinary, linking core scientific knowledge with current developments such as precision medicine, synthetic biology, immunotherapy, RNA therapeutics, CRISPR, pathogen detection, sustainable chemist

Learning Approach

The programme emphasises an applied and research-oriented learning model.

 

Students may participate in:

  • Specialist lectures on current research topics

  • Oxford undergraduate laboratory teaching

  • Mini lectures before experiments to establish scientific foundations

  • Academic workshops on research tools, databases, data visualisation, and presentation

  • British-style academic debate on topical scientific issues

  • Final academic presentation and tutor feedback    

 

The programme also adopts a small-group tutorial style for project guidance. Oxford doctoral students support students in topic selection, academic research tasks, and project development, helping translate classroom knowledge into meaningful academic output.  

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Laboratory Experience

A major feature of the programme is the opportunity to study in the Oxford Chemistry Teaching Laboratory, a modern undergraduate teaching facility opened in 2018 and equipped with research-grade instrumentation worth over GBP 2 million. The materials describe equipment including NMR, GC, HPLC, TLC-MS, ICP-MS, and X-ray diffraction systems.  

 

Students work under close supervision from senior lecturers, laboratory instructors, and specialist technicians, and may gain practical exposure to techniques and equipment such as:

  • NMR

  • IR spectroscopy

  • Rotary evaporation

  • Vacuum filtration

  • Sterile culture systems

  • TLC

  • Melting point testing  

 

The brochure explains that students experience the full research process from experimental design to practical execution, data recording, and results analysis. Example past lab themes include aspirin synthesis, limonene extraction and analysis, antibiotic synthesis and activity testing, and green synthesis of ester molecules.  

Industry and Field Exposure

In addition to classroom and lab study, the programme includes targeted field research and industry visits linked to the subject area.

 

Students may visit:

  • Begbroke Innovation & Enterprise Centre (CIE), Oxford’s innovation incubation platform

  • Oxford MEStar, a biotechnology company incubated from Oxford biomedical engineering research

  • Oxford Botanic Garden

  • History of Science Museum

  • Oxford University Museum of Natural History

  • Pitt Rivers Museum  

 

These visits are designed to help students understand both the scientific foundations of the discipline and the pathway from laboratory research to real-world application and commercialisation. On page 3, the programme structure visually presents this as a core pillar alongside lectures, lab work, doctoral mentoring, and field study.  

Teaching Faculty

The uploaded material provides sample past faculty from Oxford’s academic and teaching community, including professors and senior lecturers from chemistry, chemical engineering, medicinal chemistry, and laboratory teaching. Final teaching arrangements remain subject to official programme scheduling.  

 

Past reference faculty include:

  • Prof. Mark Moloney

  • Prof. Zhanfeng Cui

  • Prof. Angela Russell

  • Dr Malcolm Stewart

  • Dr Charlotte Hancox

  • Dr Andrew Frawley

  • Dr Ewan Forsyth  

Student Experience

Participants live in Oxford college accommodation and experience university life in a structured and supervised environment. The programme includes a formal Oxford high table dinner, academic community life, and wider cultural exploration. This is presented on page 1 as one of the programme’s signature elements.  

 

The programme also includes cultural visits to:

  • Oxford landmarks

  • Central London landmarks

  • The Cotswolds countryside    

 

This combination of academic depth, laboratory work, and cultural immersion is intended to help students build subject confidence while also experiencing British university life more directly.

Academic Outcomes

Students who successfully complete the programme will receive:

  • An official certificate jointly issued by the University of Oxford Department of Chemistry and OSCAR

  • Personalised academic feedback issued by the University of Oxford Department of Chemistry  

 

The programme also culminates in an academic presentation, with tutor questioning and feedback built into the final stage of the schedule. Page 6 shows that the final days include presentation preparation, presentation delivery, tutor feedback, and a closing ceremony.  

Admission Requirements

Applicants should demonstrate the ability to engage with demanding academic content in English and show strong subject interest in chemistry or biology-related fields.

 

Indicative requirements include:

  • IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 90

  • Strong subject performance in biology or chemistry, typically at grade A or above, or IGCSE biology/chemistry at grade 7 or above

  • Students who do not yet meet these requirements may be assessed through an English interview  

Support from PEC

PEC provides guidance and support throughout the application and preparation process, including:

  • Programme selection advice

  • Application guidance and documentation support

  • Pre-departure preparation

  • Ongoing communication with students and families

  • Practical coordination before travel and departure

 

PEC’s role is to help families understand both the academic expectations and the practical preparation needed for a programme of this level.

Programme Fees & Payment

Programme Fee

The total programme fee is:

 

NZD equivalent of 6600 GBP   

 

(Final amount may vary slightly depending on exchange rates at the time of payment.)

 

Administrative Fee (non-refundable)

An administrative fee of NZD 300 applies to cover application processing and programme coordination.

What is Included

 

The programme fee includes:

  • Full tuition for the academic programme

  • Accommodation in Oxford University residence

  • Breakfast

  • Five laboratory-course English lunch meals

  • Formal high table dinner

  • Extracurricular activities and cultural visits

  • Academic materials

 

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What is Not Included

 

The following costs are not included:

  • International flights

  • Visa application fees and related costs

  • Personal expenses

  • Airport transfers

  • Travel and medical insurance

  • Lunches on 9 non-laboratory days

  • Daily dinners

  • Visa and visa service fees  

Optional Services

  • Visa guidance and preparation support (students are responsible for submitting their own visa application)

Payment Details

Payments can be made via bank transfer using the details below:

 

Bank: ANZ Bank

Account Name: Pinnacle Education Group Limited

Account Number: 06-0241-0684634-00

 

Reference:

Please include the student’s full name and programme name when making payment.

Payment Process

  • A deposit may be required upon acceptance to secure a place

  • The remaining balance must be paid prior to the programme start date

  • Detailed payment instructions will be provided upon offer confirmation

 

 

General Notes

  • Final teaching content, faculty, and schedule may be adjusted according to the official programme arrangement

  • The order of activities may change depending on actual delivery

  • Final admission remains subject to programme review and confirmation    

2026 PEC Summer School

Academic Programs Registration Form

Oxford Biological Chemistry

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