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International Relations & Diplomacy

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graduate

For Ambitious Scholars Aged 14–18

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2-15 August
2026

earning

£6,499 OSP Experience Fee

global education

100 Exceptional Global Scholars 

WEF Future Employment Skills

Skills Gained

Leadership and Social Influence

Analytical Thinking

Resilience, Flexibility and Agility

Empathy and Active Listening

Systems Thinking

Join OSP's International Relations & Diplomacy Summer School in Oxford

On the final morning, you’ll stand before a room of Scholars representing nations not your own, defending a position you’ve spent nine days learning to hold. The crisis is live. The clock is running. The resolution turns on what you say next.

  • Build a strong understanding of international relations, diplomacy, and global affairs.

  • Analyse major global challenges through political, economic, and cultural perspectives.

  • Develop critical thinking, research, and communication skills while exploring careers in international policy and governance.

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  • Prepare through introductory readings and guided learning materials.

  • Explore key concepts in tutor-led sessions using real-world case studies and contemporary global issues.

  • Apply learning through simulations, debates, negotiations, research projects, presentations, and academic discussion.

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

  • Learn from expert tutors while exploring real-world global challenges through research, debate, and collaboration.

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

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The Programme

Fourteen days. Thinking globally. Leading confidently.

Study in an academically rigorous summer programme alongside ambitious students from around the world. Learn from expert tutors, work through real global challenges by research and debate, and leave with a stronger university profile and an international network of future leaders.

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Understand the system

Build a strong grounding in international relations, diplomacy, and global affairs, then read major challenges through political, economic, and cultural lenses.

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Sharpen the thinking

Learn to analyse world events with clarity and nuance, weighing competing interests, assessing evidence, and navigating complex geopolitical challenges.

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Apply it under pressure

Test your judgement in realistic diplomatic scenarios, negotiating solutions, responding to crises, and making strategic decisions under time constraints.

 

The Course Plan

Nine teaching days.
One summit.

Mornings build the theory. Afternoons put it straight to work in a project workshop. Every day climbs toward the Final Diplomacy Summit.

International Relations & Global Affairs

The map, the actors, and the rules everyone claims to follow.

Power, National Interest & Foreign Policy

Why states act, and how to read the interest behind the statement.

Diplomacy, Negotiation & Statecraft

Where to hold firm, where to trade, and how to read the person across the table.

Global Institutions & Multilateral Cooperation

How the UN, blocs, and treaties move, and where they stall.

Conflict, Security & Crisis Management

Decisions under pressure with the clock running, then defend the calls you made.

Economics, Trade & Globalisation

Run a full trade exercise and find the leverage inside a deal.

Culture, Soft Power & Public Diplomacy

How narrative and media move opinion before any vote is cast.

Contemporary Global Challenges

Apply the whole toolkit to a live issue that has no clean answer.

Final Diplomacy Summit & Presentations

Present your nation's position, field challenges live, and help broker the resolution in front of an audience.

“The whole programme builds to one morning. Everything you practised gets tested in front of an audience.”

The Final Diplomacy Summit
The OSP Challenge

Theory into practice

Collaborate with peers to solve real problems. Think creatively, work strategically, and apply everything the course gives you.

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Live Simulation

Diplomatic Simulation

You are allocated a country, briefed on its interests, and given a seat at the table. For nine days its wins and its compromises are yours to argue. Act as a delegate negotiating solutions to pressing global issues.
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Independent Research

Policy Research Project

Run an in-depth investigation into a global issue that interests you. Apply theory to a real political challenge while you build 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

Explore Now
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Where This Leads

A first step toward
a serious path

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Diplomacy &
Foreign Service

Embassies, missions, and the negotiating teams that represent a country abroad.

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Government &
Think Tanks

Policy research and advisory roles that shape decisions before they reach the public.
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Human Rights
& Law

Legal and advocacy careers built on the analysis and argument you practise here.
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International Organisations

The UN, NGOs, and multilateral bodies that coordinate across borders.
OSP Tutors

Taught by academics & practitioners

Our Scholars are mentored by an outstanding team of accomplished professionals who bring real-world expertise, insight, and a passion for teaching. Their mentorship inspires curiosity, critical thinking, and confidence, creating a truly transformative Pre-College Summer Program experience. Meet some of the distinguished educators leading this journey below.

 

Dr. Cristiana Tisca

Dr. Cristiana Tisca

AI & Programming

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

Dr. Waqas Kamal

Dr. Waqas Kamal

Engineering

Research Fellow at University of Oxford

DPhil in Engineering Science

Dr. Nick Dickinson

Dr. Nick Dickinson

Politics

Bingham Fellow in Constitutional Studies, University of Oxford

Juliana Choi

Juliana Choi

Medicine

DPhil Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics

University of Oxford

Dr. Daryna Dvornichenko

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

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.

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Why OSP?

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

Learn from expert tutors while exploring real-world global challenges through research, debate, and collaboration.

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

02

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

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Strengthen your university profile, experience campus life, and build an international network of future leaders.
Your OSP Experience Starts Here

Take the seat at the table

Places in the 2026 Oxford cohort are limited to 100 scholars. Apply now, or request the full brochure with dates, fees, and the day-by-day plan.

Apply for 2026
Download Brochure
FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Oxford International Relations & Diplomacy Summer School at OSP?
The Oxford International Relations & Diplomacy Summer School at OSP is a two-week immersive course designed for high school students aged 14–18 interested in global politics, diplomacy, and international relations. Scholars participate in interactive lectures, case studies, and diplomatic simulations to understand key global issues, international strategies, and the roles of international organizations like the United Nations.
Yes, the pre-university international relations course at OSP provides high school students with a unique opportunity to explore the world of international relations and diplomacy. The summer school offers an introduction to the subject, practical insights into global politics, and a hands-on understanding of diplomatic practices.
A diplomatic simulation is an interactive activity where Scholars assume the roles of diplomats representing different countries or organizations. In these simulations, Scholars negotiate, collaborate, and debate on real-world international issues, mirroring the diplomatic processes used by governments and global organizations. This hands-on format provides Scholars with practical experience in international relations and diplomacy.
It is an International Relations Summer School, open to students aged 14–18 who are passionate about global politics, international law, and diplomacy. Whether you are considering a career in politics, international law, or international organizations, this programme provides a comprehensive introduction to diplomacy and global governance, offering valuable insights into the world of international relations.
Our Oxford Summer School for International Relations & Diplomacy will enhance your university applications by demonstrating your commitment to studying international relations and global politics. The course provides practical experience in diplomacy, global policy analysis, and conflict resolution, showcasing your intellectual curiosity and readiness for university-level studies in political science, international relations, or law. Scholars also receive letters of recommendation from Oxford tutors, adding academic credibility to their applications.
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 provides foundational knowledge of international relations and equips all Scholars with the necessary tools to succeed in this field.
Our Oxford International Relations Summer School provides Scholars with invaluable skills in negotiation, public speaking, critical thinking, and global policy analysis—skills highly valued in careers in politics, law, international organizations, and diplomacy. By participating in diplomatic simulations and engaging with global policy discussions, Scholars gain practical experience that will serve them well in future career pursuits in international relations, public service, or foreign diplomacy.
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.
The total cost of our Oxford International Relations & Diplomacy Summer School 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.
Graduation Dinner

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