Arrival & Departure
Welcome to Oxbridge Summer Scholars
Your Oxbridge Summer Scholars experience begins the moment you start planning your journey. All students travel via London before proceeding to either Oxford or Cambridge, depending on the programme you are attending. This page provides essential guidance for arrivals and departures to help your journey go smoothly.
Please note that OSS cannot take responsibility for flight delays, cancellations, or other travel disruptions, and our support is only available for travel within the official programme dates.
Preparing for your journey
Before you travel, make sure all your documents and arrangements are in place.
- Visa or travel authorization: Confirm you have the correct visa. Students from visa-exempt countries may require an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA). Check your eligibility carefully. We strongly recommend that you start the visa application process at least three months before your program start date.
- Health insurance: Mandatory for all students, covering the full two-week programme.
- Travel insurance: Optional but strongly recommended. This can cover flight delays, lost luggage, or medical emergencies. Insurance must be issued in your country of residence.
Arrival Informaton
Flights should ideally arrive at London Heathrow (LHR) or Gatwick (LGW). From London, students travel to campus via bus, train, or private transfer.
For a smooth arrival experience:
- Keep all travel documents easily accessible for airport and border checks.
- Allow extra time for immigration and baggage claim, particularly during the busy summer period.
- Have OSS admissions contact details ready in case of any issues during travel.
- Plan your independent travel carefully if you choose to take public transport – research train or bus schedules in advance.
OSS support is only available during programme dates. Students should arrive on the published programme start date and depart on the published programme end date.
If arriving one day early is necessary, please get in touch with the OSS team in advance. We can arrange one additional night's accommodation before the programme begins for an additional fee, subject to availability.
Departure Information
At the end of the programme, careful planning ensures a stress-free departure.
- Confirm your flight and airport ahead of time.
- Arrive at the airport at least three hours before international departures to allow for check-in and security.
- Keep your passport, boarding pass, and visa/ETA easily accessible.
- If your plans change last-minute within the official programme days, contact OSS immediately for guidance.
Please note that accommodation cannot be extended after the programme ends, and all students are expected to depart on the official end date.
If you plan to stay in the UK longer or leave earlier than the official schedule, you will need to make independent arrangements for those days.
Travelling to the UK Independently
Students aged 14–19 are generally allowed to travel to the UK independently. However, parents should make sure that all UK immigration requirements and airline policies are followed before departure.
1. Parental Consent Letter
For students travelling without a parent or legal guardian, we strongly recommend carrying a signed parental consent letter. The letter should include parental contact details and confirm that the student has permission to travel independently.
While requirements may vary depending on individual circumstances, having this document available can help make the arrival process smoother if requested by UK Border Force officers.
2. Airline Unaccompanied Minor (UM) Requirements
Airline policies regarding Unaccompanied Minor (UM) services vary significantly.
For students aged 14 and above, a mandatory UM service is relatively rare, but we strongly recommend checking the requirements directly with your airline before booking flights. In most cases, a parental consent letter is sufficient for teenagers travelling independently.
If your airline requires a mandatory UM service, please inform OSS in advance. In this case, the airline may require the student to be handed over to an authorised adult at the airport. If you need a member of the OSS team to meet your child at the airport for this handover, this can be arranged as an additional service at an extra cost.
Please note that the airline’s UM service and OSS airport assistance are separate services and neither can replace the other.
Still have questions?
If anything remains unclear, please contact us at students@oxbridgesummerscholars.org
Download our programme brochure
