Resilient Thinking Oxford Residential Courses
About the The Oxford IQ Preparatory Academy
Our History
Founded in 2001, the UK nonprofit organisation began as a research institution and a think tank. Due to our thought leadership in studying education systems, many universities and training institutions began to hire us to teach specialised courses at schools, universities, and government training institutions. World leaders and governments hired us to advise them on governance best practices and establishing new school systems or universities.
In 2021, we began offering online courses and residential summer courses. The courses are designed to accelerate a student's progress in school and position them for gaining entrance to top universities in the world through our pre-university preparatory courses.
WE ARE A NONPROFIT ORGANISATION: This means that we are not as expensive as other summer programme providers, nor are we driven by making money. We are driven by our mission to EDUCATE, EMPOWER, and CONNECT our student clients.
Our Executive Team – A company is only as strong as its executive leadership. Our founders have served in senior roles such as:
- MBA and BA Business & Economics Admissions Manager
- Instructor in Economics
- Instructor in International Relations
- Professor of Security Studies
Our Tutors' Previous Teaching Experience -
- Oxford University
- Cambridge University
- King's College London
- The Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies
- The Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies
- Oxford Royale Academy
- WorldStrides - OxBridge Academic Programs, Immerse Education
Co-Founder Craig Tiedman, FRGS, MBA, MSc (Oxon), MSt (Cantab
Unlock Your Potential at The Oxford IQ Academy
We offer residential courses to young scholars in one of the most idyllic university cities in the world - Oxford. These courses are truly transformative for students and staff alike as we all come together as a cohort one moment in time to live, learn, and socialise together. Come join us!
Student Profile
Miss Carmen De Zuniga (Team Herodotus 2024)
"The Oxford IQ Academy course was something very special to me, a truly unforgettable experience. The minute I arrived I was shocked by the overwhelming love and welcome from the leaders and all the friends around me- we immediately become one community.
Throughout these two weeks I grew exponentially, not only in friendship, but in discovering and deepening a budding passion in law, leading me to apply in the coming year to read law as a first year student at Oxford. I’m extremely grateful for all the support and the experience I was part of - from staying up late in the night finishing our essays, to the satisfaction of presenting our ideas to the covert, and even the classic trips to Tesco - this was a truly wonderful course
I would recommend to any curious, passionate and brave individual wiling to put themselves out there and meet new people."
* Carmen was accepted to read Law at Oxford University in 2025. She will be a Member of Exeter College, Oxford.
Innovate in the greatest university city in the world!
We Develop Leaders
Historic Settings Inspire
Our Tutors Challenge
All of the Oxford IQ Prep Academy's courses are taught in university cities and we include skills for success and leadership skill-building courses.
Our Tutors Challenge
Historic Settings Inspire
Our Tutors Challenge
Each of our tutors and mentors are committed to engaging each student and helping them grow and learn in an individual trajectory.
Historic Settings Inspire
Historic Settings Inspire
Historic Settings Inspire
Our students all live, learn, dine, think, and play in the university cities of Oxford and Cambridge.
Pre-University Courses - Students (Ages 13-15, and 16+)
Prepare for Secondary School or University
Oxford IQ Prep - We design and conduct two-week residential experiences in the city of Oxford, and online tutorials and proper courses for serious pre-university students seeking entrance to top universities in the world.
Two-Week Residential Courses (during the summer):
- Each student takes a "Skills for Success" course.
- Each student will take 2 Core Courses (one in the morning, one after lunch) from a list of 4 Core Courses, and each student will then select a third "Elective" course that will be offered in the late afternoons.
- Tutorials: Each student is assigned a tutor and is expected to complete an individual research project.
- University-Style Lectures: Students learn together from prominant professors and experts in subjects.
- Postgraduate Seminars: Students experience what it is like to be a graduate student, and will be expected to participate in group activities.
- Study Trips: We lead our students on a trip to London to experience key sites such as Parliament, the British Museum, and Buckingham Palace.
- City of Oxford Experience: All students live in Oxford University student accommodations in the city of Oxford.
- Sports and Recreation: It's not all work at Oxford IQ Academy - we want our students to enjoy down-time. Our university-educated Mentors lead student activites.
THE ATHENA SCHOLARS IN OXFORD PROGRAMME. Our parent company - The Oxford Exchange - offers a course to future female leaders who are at least 16 years old by 4 August 2024. This exclusive and intensive course is called The Athena Scholars Programme. webpage. 2024 (females ages 16+ only): athenascholars@oxfordexchange.org
Summer 2025 Courses - Proposed Subjects
Political Leadership: Law, Economics, Politics & International Relations
Because many of our students come from the top schools in the world, and aspire to attend the top universities in the world, chances are high that these students will become national and international leaders. This popular course comes from the tradition of PPE (Philosophy, Politics, and Economics). Dreaming of leading change in the world? This is the place to start.
Business Leadership & Entrepreneurship
Whether you want to run a corporation one day, or start your own company, we teach you the essential basics of business, competition, and innovation. In the past, we taught a cohort of students from Argentina how to analyse the 'business of football' with trips to Arsenal Football Club and Chelsea Football Club. You will research a 'problem,' come up with a solution, write and present a business plan in this course.
Global Healthcare & Medicine
This course is a hands-on practical course for students with an interest in pursuing a career in the global healthcare industry. You will learn the business of medicine in the city and university in which the first COVID-19 vaccine was developed (Oxford University and Astra Zeneca). We also add a rigorous medicine component to this course that covers medical technology, biotechnology, and many other aspects of the field.
Creative Writing for Aspiring Novelists and Screenwriters
Do you have dreams of writing a novel, getting it published, and perhaps selling the rights of your story for a Hollywood film or mini-series? Do you believe you are too young to even think about writing a novel? Did you know that the YA (Young Adult) market is the fastest growing genre, and that more and more teenagers are getting published? We get right to the business of writing in this course because we believe every person has a story to tell. We teach you character development, plot and story evolution, pacing, dialogue, and other essential elements of writing. You will develop an outline for a novel in this course.
Archaeology /Applied Landscape Archaeology) - Drone Technology and GIS
A truly cutting edge course taught at the university level. Students learn how to operate drones and interpret Geographic Information Systems in the context of discovering archaeological sites. This course is taught by archaeologists and you will learn the basics of archaeology and complete a project by the end of the course.
Science & Technology I: Space, Earth Science, Climate Change, Artificial Intelligence, Big Data
Space technology is one the fastest growing tech segments in the world as lower costs are enabling a flood of new entrants to build and launch their own satellites. Learn about the space industry, how to position yourself for a career, and the essentials of satellite tech, space architectures, and space diplomacy from a former NASA official.. Technology can be an essential thread through a large variety of professional activities in which you will engage in the adult world. We cover a number of topics and allow students to focus on their areas of interest.
I had the best experience of my life having classes with you, every day learning something new and in different ways. Thank you so much for all you taught me!
Valentino, Age 16 (Academia Argüello, Argentina)
The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education.
Martin Luther King Jr.
Oxford IQ Preparatory Academy Accreditations
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents
At the Oxford IQ Preparatory Academy, we treat your children as if they were our own. We are Affiliate Members of ROSPA and we have strict policies on protection of students, staff, and faculty at all times during our courses.
British Council Accreditation
Through our parent organisation, the Oxford IQ Academy is an education provider working with the British Council for our Oxford summer courses. We require all of our employees and contractors to pass the appropriate British Council's extensive safeguarding training requirements to conduct pre-university preparatory courses.
AEGIS Members
Through The Oxford Exchange (our parent company), we are members of the Association for the Education and Guardianship of International Students (AEGIS).
DBS Enhanced Certified
We utilise an authorised service of the British Government to run police checks on each and every one of our employees and contractors.
The Oxford Exchange
The Oxford Exchange
The Oxford IQ Academy operates under a UK non-profit corporation that designs and manages educational courses for adults and teenagers. The Oxford Exchange: HMRC Corporation Number 13334657.