Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between doing the International School online and In-Person?

Both the Online and the in-person Schools have the same tutors and very similar course content. The learning goals of both are the same. The advantage of the in-person School is that discussions will take place face to face in the captivating environment of Oxford and it offers the chance to mingle in person with the other participants and the tutors. The Online School is a less expensive alternative for those who want to enjoy the intellectual benefits of the School without leaving home.

When do this year's International Schools take place? What are the closing dates for applications?

2023 and 2024 Online Schools

The Online School will run twice in the 2023/2024 academic year.

The first School will be held on 4-8 December 2023.

Participants will be admitted on a rolling basis and admissions/bookings will close when maximum capacity has been reached. 

The second School will be held on 11-15 March 2024.

Participants will be admitted on a rolling basis and admissions/bookings will close when maximum capacity has been reached.

If you are making a bursary application, the deadlines are:

DECEMBER: Sunday, 8 October 2023

MARCH: Sunday, 14 January 2024

You will be notified of the outcome of a bursary application 1 month before the course is due to take place.

Where do this year's Schools take place?

The Online School will take place where you are and online!  While we will do everything we can to ensure that we try to make the course as inclusive as we can for participants across all time zones, it is worth noting that the course will be primarily running to a UK schedule.

The in-person Summer School will take place in Oxford, UK. Dates for the 2024 in-person School are yet to be announced.

How much does it cost?

The fee for the December 2023 Online School is £620. For the March 2024 Online School, the fee is £670.

The fee for the in-person Summer School will be announced in due course.

What is included?

For the Online School, you will have access to online materials, videos and content, as well as to daily, live seminars, break-out sessions and the Online School’s extra-curricular events.

The fee for the in-person Summer School covers all tuition; all course materials; 5 lunches overall; and a range of social activities including welcome and farewell dinners. Evening and weekend meals are not included in the course fee. Participants will need to meet their own travel costs and arrange any country entry and transit requirements

What are the requirements?

Applicants for the Schools should have:

• experience in working with, or on issues related to, refugees or other forced migrants;
• a first degree;
• proficiency in the English language. As a guide, foreign-language English speakers should be able to obtain a score of:  TOEFL iBT: 88  /  TOEFL PBT: 570  /  IELTS: 6.5.*

* Please note that if your first language is not English, or if your first language is English but you are not a national of the UK, Ireland or a majority English-speaking country recognised by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), you must supply suitable evidence that you have reached the relevant higher or standard level before any offer of a place can be confirmed. The requirement to provide English language test scores may be waived in cases where you have successfully completed or are currently completing a degree-level or postgraduate course that is: full-time, at least nine months long, undertaken at a recognised institution where the medium of instruction and assessment throughout the course is entirely in English.

I am a refugee or someone with lived experience of displacement. How do I apply for a free place?

There will be a limited number of places at the Online Schools and the in-person Summer School available free of charge for people who have been displaced. Further details can be found upon application.

How many participants will there be?

In order to maintain high teaching standards and ensure genuine engagement and interaction, the Online Schools will have around 50 participants each.

The in-person Summer School will have around 40 participants.

Is this course assessed?

No. Successful completion of the course is gauged by active participation in the week's activities. Participants will need to take the core modules and at least two options.

Is this course accredited?

No, completion of the course will not earn an academic accreditation.

Those who complete the course will be awarded a digital certificate of participation which is signed by the School’s Co-Directors Professor Matthew Gibney and Professor Catherine Briddick. Physical certificates can be requested.

What preparation will I need to do?

For each of the Schools, participants will be given access to the School’s virtual learning environment, Canvas, one week before their course commences. On Canvas, participants will be able to access a range of readings and lectures for the School’s core and optional modules. Participants will be advised what to complete and when to ensure that they are properly prepared for, and able to fully participate in, the School’s activities and live seminars.

How long is each School?

The Online School is 5 days long (Monday to Friday); the in-person Summer School is 6 days long (Monday to Saturday). Materials will be available both before and after the relevant week to enable students to prepare for, and then implement, their learning.

Can I attend more than one School?

Unfortunately not.

What will I need?

A desire to learn!

For the Online School you will also need a computer with a webcam and microphone and an internet connection that can support web conferencing tools, such as Zoom.

All materials for the each of the Schools will be provided to participants via Canvas, a virtual learning environment. Participants at the in-person Summer School will need to ensure they have their own device with them to access these materials. You will be provided with Internet access.

What is your cancellation policy?

• Cancellations received between 2-3 weeks before the start date: 100% of the course is refundable.
• Cancellations received 2 weeks before the start date: 50% of the course is refundable.
• Cancellations received less than 1 week before the start date: 0% of the course is refundable

Apply

Apply to the ONLINE SCHOOL held in December 2023 and March 2024 by following this link and completing the online application form. For further information on applications, please see the separate Apply page.