Oxford Summer Space Course 2027
A transformative summer course at Oxford University for aspiring scientists, engineers, and space enthusiasts. Registration now open for 2027 students.
Following on from the success of 2025 and 2026, dare to dream bigger in summer 2027 and unlock your cosmic potential. Embrace the spirit of discovery at the Oxford Summer Space Course, a transformative space summer programme for students aged 14-18 in the prestigious setting of Oxford University.
If the mysteries of the universe have always captivated you, this is your chance to delve deeper. Learn from inspiring NASA engineers, world-class space scientists, and esteemed Oxford University professors.
What you will learn…
- The immersive 2 week-long course covers all STEM disciplines within space, with a special focus on cutting-edge: Space Science & Engineering, Physics, Maths and Biochemistry.
- Along the way, you’ll master key astronaut skills including: leadership, teamwork, and communication while building confidence and enhancing your educational profile.
Experience authentic student life in Oxford’s iconic academic setting at Jesus College. Stay in historic university halls, explore the city’s cultural treasures, and bond with new friends over exciting activities and meals in Oxford’s vibrant restaurants.
Explore the Universe, Learn from Experts, Build Your Future
- Learn from NASA engineers, leading space scientists & Oxford professors.
- Attend inspiring lectures and Q&A sessions with industry leaders.
- Dive deep into space science, engineering, physics and astronomy.
- Stay at Jesus College's Oxford University historic university halls and experience authentic student life.
- Collaborate with like-minded peers from around the globe.
- Official completion certificate and letter of recommendation.
- Breakfast and dinner at university halls.
- Build lifelong connections and gain insights into STEM careers.
Programme Options & Fees
Summer 2027
Day Programme-
09:00-17:00 daily schedule
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Morning academic sessions led by Oxford professors, NASA trained-engineers & industry experts
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Hands-on workshops & projects (e.g. satellite design, virtual reality)
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Course materials and resources provided
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Afternoon excursions in Oxford (including visits to museums & Oxford Uni science facilities)
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Private Day Trip to Harwell Space Campus, Oxfordshire
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Small group sizes for individual attention
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Opportunities to meet and collaborate with like-minded students from around the world
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Supervised lunch breaks in Oxford city centre
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Certificate of Completion & Letter of Recommendation
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Daily feedback and mentorship from instructors
Summer 2027
Residential Programme-
Everything in Day Programme
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Opportunities to experience authentic Oxford University student life beyond the academic programme
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Personal nightly accommodation in en-suite rooms at Jesus College, Oxford University
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Daily breakfast and dinner provided at Jesus College dining halls
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Full-day weekend excursion to London
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Access to facilities at Jesus College, Oxford University
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Dedicated residential programme staff to support students with daily routines, wellbeing and settling into university-style living
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24/7 pastoral care and supervision from course team
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Daily evening social activities (quiz & game nights, cinema, debates)
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Airport transfer service for international students (optional add-on)
Please note that we offer flexible payment plans for all of our programme options. Please get in touch for further details.
Registration Process
Programme Activities
The programme will cover space topics of study, including maths, engineering, satellite technology and astronomy. Taught by leading space scientists, engineers and industry professionals.
Lectures provided by NASA rocket scientists, space professionals, and even astronauts!
Try on a replica astronaut space suit: Sokol and Starman-inspired. Learn why space suits keep astronauts safe and take some amazing photos!
Experience visiting the International Space Station, go out on a space walk, dive in a simulated Martian cave, and even walk on the Moon.
Hold actual rocks from Space! Learn about the history of the solar system while you hold and identify asteroids. Hold a piece of the Moon and Mars!
Learn about how astronauts stay fit and healthy in space – and take part in competitive activities with your peers…for some awesome space prizes!
Build a real UBO cube-satellite and learn about its components, whilst programming it for a bespoke mission.
Learn about space in an interactive way, bringing the solar system, rockets, and rovers to life in front of your very eyes!
Learn programming basics and immediately apply your learning to space. Create a 2-dimensional pointing vector to point the James Webb Space Telescope!
Curriculum Schedule
Residential students will be welcomed to Oxford over the weekend on the Sunday before week 1 of the course. Courses will begin on Mondays and run for 2 weeks. Below is an example schedule for the 2 week course.
Week one
Rocket Science and Propulsion Systems
Students will learn the fundamentals of rocket science and propulsion, including how rockets generate thrust, the principles of fuel efficiency, and the physics behind launching and manoeuvring spacecraft.
Astrodynamics
Students will explore the principles of motion in space, including satellite orbits, planetary transfers, and gravitational assists, developing an understanding of the dynamics that govern space travel and mission design.
Spacecraft Design
Students will explore the key principles of spacecraft design, including structural engineering, power systems, thermal management, and instrumentation, gaining insights into creating functional and efficient space vehicles.
Exoplanets and Habitability
Students will investigate the characteristics of exoplanets and the factors that determine their habitability, exploring concepts such as the habitable zone, atmospheric composition, and methods of exoplanet detection.
Day at Harwell Space Campus, Oxfordshire
Students will gain first-hand insights into cutting-edge space research and industry applications through visits to facilities at Harwell Space Campus, engaging with professionals and exploring real-world projects in space science and technology.
Day Trip to London
Students will explore London’s space and science-related attractions, gaining a deeper understanding of the history and future of space exploration through visits to landmarks like the Science Museum, Royal Observatory, and interactive exhibits, while engaging with professionals in the field.
Day Off
Students can take a day to relax and recover before week 2!
Week Two
Origins of the Universe
Students will explore the origins of the universe, including the Big Bang theory, cosmic inflation, and the formation of galaxies, stars, and planets, while gaining an understanding of the scientific methods used to study the universe’s evolution.
Space Robotics & Artificial Intelligence
Students will understand the use of artificial intelligence and programming in robots used for space exploration, focusing on their applications for planetary exploration, in-orbit repairs, and autonomous operations, while gaining hands-on experience in robotics and automation systems.
Space Weather
Students will explore the phenomena of space weather, including solar winds, solar flares, and geomagnetic storms, and understand their effects on spacecraft, satellites, and Earth’s atmosphere.
Mars Exploration Project (Day 1)
Students will investigate the challenges and technologies involved in Mars exploration, including the design of rovers, landers, and habitats, and work on a project to propose solutions for sustainable exploration and human colonization of Mars.
Mars Exploration Project (Day 2)
Students will investigate the challenges and technologies involved in Mars exploration, including the design of rovers, landers, and habitats, and work on a project to propose solutions for sustainable exploration and human colonization of Mars. The final day will conclude with presentations, prize giving and certificates for students.
Students will depart from Jesus College Oxford. The team will coordinate travel to UK Airports as required.
The Oxford Space Course classrooms include the Buchanan Tower and T.E. Lawrence classrooms at Jesus College, Oxford, giving students the opportunity to learn in an inspiring collegiate setting at the heart of the University of Oxford. These historic surroundings provide a distinctive academic environment that makes the programme feel both immersive and memorable.
Meet our Past Professors & Guest Lecturers
Professors and guest lecturers for the 2027 programme are being finalised! Once confirmed, they will be added here.
Dr Meganne Christian
A British-Australian-Italian scientist, researcher, and explorer, Meganne is a member of the European Space Agency astronaut reserve and Commercial Exploration Lead at the UK Space Agency.
Until 2023, she was a materials science researcher specializing in graphene and hydrogen storage at the National Research Council of Italy. Passionate about developing new technologies for a cleaner and more efficient world, Meganne has an impressive track record in research and exploration. A keen adventurer, Meganne has spent a winter and two summers at Concordia Station in Antarctica, conducting research on atmospheric physics and meteorology, and has also tested materials in zero gravity.
Dr Bethan Gregory
Bethan is a Postdoctoral Research Assistant with a focus on planetary atmospheres and their evolution. She enjoys working on understanding processes that shape atmospheres around different planets, particularly Earth, Mars and Venus, over time.
At Oxford, her research involves modelling variations in trace gases in Mars’ atmosphere to explain observations currently being made by the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter.
Dr. Katherine Shirley
Dr Shirley is a Postdoctoral Research Assistant at Oxford. Her research focuses on using infrared spectroscopy to combine remote sensing datasets and laboratory analyses to learn more about the composition of planetary surfaces, mainly on airless bodies like the Moon, asteroids and comets.
She is part of several NASA and ESA mission and instrument teams including: Diviner Lunar Radiometer, Lunar Trailblazer, Lunar-VISE, OSIRIS-REx, Comet Interceptor.
Miriam Cisneros González
Miriam is the Assembly, Integration and Test (AIT) Engineer of the HARMONI Spectrograph team, at the University of Oxford. HARMONI is one of the first-generation instruments for the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), expected to be in operation during the next decade. Miriam’s area of research is astronomical instrumentation, although she is also interested in Giant Planets atmospheres.
Miriam did her PhD research working on the characterization of the visible and near infrared (VIS-NIR) detectors of the Moons And Jupiter Imaging Spectrometer (MAJIS) on board the JUICE mission. She has also worked on the VIS-NIR radiative transfer modelling of Jupiter’s atmosphere at the Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy (BIRA-IASB) to support the science studies for the MAJIS instrument. She has contributed to other astronomical instruments in a lesser extent, including MEGARA for the Great Canary Telescope, ASPIICS on board the solar PROBA-3 mission, and Sci-HI antenna for radio observations.
Guy Flint
Guy is a DPhil student in Astrophysics at the University of Oxford, supervised by Prof. Martin Bureau. His research focuses on using integral-field spectrograph observations of planetary nebulae to understand the structure, dynamics and formation history of spiral galaxies.
Before coming to Oxford, Guy completed his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Cambridge. For his final year research project, he investigated the effects of implementing various state-of-the-art stellar wind mass-loss prescriptions on Wolf-Rayet star formation and evolution, under the supervision of Dr Avishai Gilkis.
Dr Kevin Olsen
Dr Kevin Olsen is a Science Fellow at Oxford University. He is working on data analysis for the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter Atmospheric Chemistry Suite. His objective is to measure high quality vertical profiles of gases present in the atmosphere of Mars, to search for undetected species, such as methane and other organics, and chlorine- or sulphur-bearing molecules. He uses these results to help understand the photochemistry, dynamics, and climatology of Mars.
Dr Carly Howett
An Associate Professor of Space Instrumentation at Oxford University, Dr Carly Howett’s main interest is in finding new ways to explore our solar system through the development of new instrumentation, missions and ground-based observations. Her main research interest is in understanding the surface properties of icy worlds, including Saturn’s icy moons, Jupiter’s Trojan asteroids, Europa, and Kuiper Belt Objects (including Pluto and Charon). She is the Deputy Principal Investigator of the Ralph Instrument on New Horizons, an Instrument Scientist on NASA’s Lucy mission and a Co-Investigator on two other NASA missions: Cassini and Europa Clipper.
Lakshya Sethi
Lakshya has over 7 years of experience working in the Space sector as an Engineer and Project Manager. Lakshya has taught at various accredited international Engineering, Physics and Astronomy programmes. Lakshya leads the operations at Space Store for its vast client base, including businesses, schools and universities.
Stephen Ringler
Stephen has over 20 years of experience working in the Space sector as a Pointing Precision Engineer, Programmatic Analyst, and Business & Economic Developer. Accomplishments include developing concept missions for Jet Propulsion Laboratory, supporting the Ultraviolet Spectrograph Instrument on board NASA’s Juno Mission, and capturing £100m+ in contracts and investment for companies he supports. Stephen is founder and CEO of an exciting start-up Space Store, which brings Space Experiences to schools and businesses.
Jon Pineau
Jon Pineau is a Stellar Solutions Senior Engineer with a comprehensive technical background in aerospace engineering, systems engineering, and space systems research. This includes space systems integration and testing, satellite and space instrument operations, spacecraft design, development oversight, scripts and real-time embedded system programming, and space system research. With experience in NASA and ESA science missions, human vehicle systems, space-based instruments, and launch vehicles, Mr. Pineau’s background combines broad systems engineering experience with hands-on technical expertise in space flight and ground systems.
Meet the Course Team
Lea Ringler
As Outreach Manager, Lea has over 25 years working in the charity sector in events and administration. Lea runs Space Store’s after school club programme, holiday clubs, and enrichment activities for 5 – 18 year olds. She is leading Space Store’s newest Oxford Space Course targeted at 12 -18 year olds in summer 2026.
Julian Hitchman
Julian is the Director of Operations & Outreach at Space Store. He brings broad experience across the space, education, and technology sectors, focusing on partnerships, programme delivery, and expanding access to impact space education.
About Space Store
Established in 2017, Space Store are on a mission to bring the wonders of space closer to everyone. Combining education, inspiration, and innovation, we create immersive experiences that ignite curiosity about the universe. We work with NASA & ESA Astronauts, Engineers and Scientists, leading space companies across the UK/Europe and Oxford University professors as part of our programmes.
We’ve worked with over 5000 students from across the world in interactive workshops and experiential activities. Our mission is to connect people of all ages with the excitement of space exploration. Whether you’re a budding astronaut or simply fascinated by the stars, Space Store is your gateway to the cosmos!
Our new Oxford Space Summer Course is an exciting new edition for students aged between 12-18 to propel their space careers, experience life at Oxford University and build lifelong connections in the space industry. See picture below of our Oxford Space Course alumni from previous years!
About SNL Tutoring
SNL Tutoring is an education partner of Space Store, and works closely with the team to organise and deliver the Oxford Space Course.
With experience supporting students across a range of academic subjects and age groups, SNL Tutoring helps shape the programme’s educational delivery, student support and learning experience. Together, SNL Tutoring and Space Store combine high-quality teaching with hands-on space, engineering and technology activities to create an engaging and inspiring summer programme.
Register your interest for Summer 2027
Registering your interest is completely no obligation. Once you submit the form, a member of our team will get in touch to arrange a short meeting where we can discuss the programme, answer any questions, and help you decide which option is best for your child.