Summer Teen Camps in Scotland & England

ISSOS, Summer School 2026 at St Andrews & Cambridge Universities:
In 2026, ISSOS will again offer stimulating, all-inclusive 3-week summer courses for UK and international students aged 13-18 years old. Our stimulating and balanced summer courses will run in July and August at the world-famous St. Andrews and Cambridge Universities, and take full advantage of the facilities, rich culture and history that they have to offer. We so look forward to welcoming you!

Residential Summer School Courses - July & August 2026:
ISSOS offers a range of exciting, educational summer courses in our St. Andrews, Scotland and Cambridge, England summer schools.

St Andrews Session 1: Sun 28 June- Sun 19 July 2026
St Andrews Session 2: Wed 22 July- Wed 12 Aug 2026
Cambridge: Wed 8 July - Wed 29 July 2026.

Our summer camps for international students are all about "Balance".  This means creating a balanced summer program where academic subjects, elective classes, activities, sport and the arts should have equal weighting. This balance educates both the brain and the heart!

Each student therefore combines an academic option with one of our exciting electives; Golf, Theatre, Tennis, Film, Art, Photography or Outdoor Leadership making this unique program a balanced and exciting summer experience.

Choice of Academic Programs:

• English Language Summer Course
- in St. Andrews, Scotland & Cambridge, England

Over a three-week period students will receive daily instruction from experienced TEFL qualified teachers.

The syllabus provides a successful blend of input with opportunities to activate the language studied- and ensures that all core skills (speaking, reading, writing, and listening) are practised. These courses are suitable for beginner to advanced students.

• Advanced English Course
- in St. Andrews, Scotland & Cambridge, England
Aimed for those who want to study or train in an English-speaking university or Institutions of Higher and Further Education.

• Study Skills Summer Program
- in St. Andrews, Scotland & Cambridge, England
Designed for students preparing for their final years of high school. The study course covers advanced level study skills that will give them the essential tools you need for success in a variety of challenging academic curriculums from the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma, to A-Levels, SATs, and for future studies at university or college.

• IB Extended Essay Course
- in St Andrews, Scotland

The extended essay (EE) is a research paper of up to 4000 words, and a mandatory component of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme for all IB students.

The IB Extended Essay summer course at ISSOS International Summer Schools is designed to offer all students currently working towards their IB extended essay the chance to combine interactive skills seminars and in-depth individual research with personal attention from highly qualified mentors.

Seminars cover a wide variety of essential skills designed to equip students with the skills, experience and confidence needed to achieve their personal best in their IB extended essay, as well as to make their progress easier for success in college or university.

Supervised Individual Research periods are designed to help students put these enhanced skills into action, and make significant progress on the Extended Essay.

• Debating Summer Course
- in St. Andrews, Scotland & Cambridge, England

This three week summer debates course, designed to meet the needs of all debaters, will combine interactive workshops with professional coaching and a variety of informal and formal debating opportunities to create an exhilarating and stimulating experience second to none. 

Through the development of skills including oral communication, effective argumentation and critical thinking this debating course will enable students to acquire and enhance valuable abilities.

Debaters of all ability levels from beginners to seasoned debate veterans will benefit from interactive workshops ranging from the most basic of introductions and public speaking techniques to advanced argument theory and the intricacies of formal competitive debate.

• Youth Leadership Camp
- in St. Andrews, Scotland

Over three weeks, our youth leadership training course will give students the unique opportunity to partake in a series of interactive workshops, energetic activities and fun-filled challenges designed to inspire and enable each and every one of them to uncover their unique abilities, develop greater confidence and master strategies for success in the classroom and beyond. 

We want to help students ease school stress, raise their grades and increase their test scores while at the same time showing them ways to express themselves, pursue goals, solve problems, resolve conflicts and bring about positive change.

• Creative Writing Course
- in St. Andrews, Scotland 

Designed for students of all levels and interests who have a desire to explore their potential and challenge themselves creatively. For students who want to learn and harness the forces of creative language to produce original poems, scenes from a play or short stories.

Introductory and advanced workshops will introduce students to all phases of the writing process, including generating ideas, writing and revising drafts and editing.

All students will work together to produce ISSOS's creative writing magazine which will include a selection of their creative work.

• Business Studies & Entrepreneurship
- in Cambridge, England & St Andrews, Scotland. 

Through a series of interactive workshops, practical tasks and case studies, this unique program will teach students about some of the most successful businesses in the world and understand what makes them work.

Students will learn about what it takes to be an entrepreneur and the fundamentals of starting a business and marketing a product. In small groups, they will generate ideas for businesses or products and will present these ideas to a panel, in addition the students will research how to market their product and generate interest.

As well as learning to write a business plan, students will investigate the inner workings of a successful company: how to build a successful team, how a business operates, and the leadership qualities of effective leaders and managers.

• Journalism Summer Course
- in Cambridge, England

Students at ISSOS who choose our journalism summer camp are taught to sharpen their research and writing skills and debate social, political and ethical issues.

These skills have wide-ranging applications and will stand students in good stead during their education and beyond. The course combines inspirational seminars and practical workshops with individual and group exercises. Students will return home with a stronger foundation of journalistic skills and values, and will be equipped with the techniques for writing and editing copy. 


Elective Program Options:

Theatre - St. Andrews, Scotland & Cambridge, England
Over the three-week period this elective course will combine a series of skill-based master classes and ensemble workshops in which students will work as a team under the guidance of a professional director to create an exciting piece of original theatre, to be performed in the final week.

This course has been especially designed by theatrical professionals to enthuse all students with a keen interest in the performing arts regardless of previous experience.

Tennis - St. Andrews, Scotland & Cambridge, England
Designed to meet the needs of beginners to advanced. Working with professional coaches to achieve personal goals and a love of the game. All players have the opportunity to play full-length games and learn the rules and etiquette of the game.

Golf - St. Andrews, Scotland
Set in St Andrews, the internationally renowned home of golf, we offer a truly unique and incomparable golfing experience.

Students who choose our golf elective will be offered the unrivalled opportunity to play and learn the game of golf under PGA qualified instructors on some of the most famous and beautiful golf courses in the world.

This three-week course is designed for students of all abilities, from beginners through to experienced players.

Film - St. Andrews, Scotland
Over three weeks our film elective will give students a practical introduction to all aspects of film craft through a combination of interactive seminars, technical training and hands-on experience behind the camera.

Armed with this knowledge, students will then create their very own short films to be screened in front of the entire Summer School. Throughout this course, students of all ability levels will benefit from expert tuition on script writing, directing, production management, cinematography and editing right through to location scouting and set design.

Art - St. Andrews, Scotland
Providing group teaching in an array of styles to ensure that every student finds an area in which to shine. Whether students already have a passion for a particular artistic technique or are beginners hoping to awaken their creativity, this art program offers something for everyone.

Students will study a wide range of methods, from line drawing and oil painting to more contemporary practices such as still photography and cartoon illustration. 

Outdoor Leadership - Cambridge, England
This unique summer school course will develop student’s confidence and personal leadership abilities through varied and exciting outdoor activities.

This three-week summer school course is designed for all students, whatever their previous experience of outdoor pursuits and regardless of fitness level, all activities will be lead by a professional and all students abilities catered for.

Photography - Cambridge, England
The digital photography summer school course teaches the fundamentals in a fun, informative and inspirational way. Photography summer students work with a professional tutor and learn the skills needed to capture, edit and produce quality photographs.

Use the inspiring city of Cambridge as a playground of visual stimulation and learn to photograph landscape, portraits of friends, nature and life in action. Use the art of photography to communicate, tell a story or advertise a product.


University Summer Camp in USA for international students (Paused for 2026):
ISSOS also provides a unique opportunity for international students to spend the summer in one of the USA’s top Ivy League Universities! 

Based on the campus of prestigious Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, we provide 3-week residential academic summer camp programs for middle school and high school students (aged 13-18).

Students study one Academic subject and one Elective subject.

ISSOS at Yale University - Academic Programs:
• English Language
• Pre-IB 
• Debate
• Creative Writing
• Business and Entrepreneurship

ISSOS at Yale University, USA - Elective Programs:
• Outdoor Leadership
• Photography
• Film
• Tennis
• Theatre 


Parent Testimonials:
•  "Casey enjoyed the ISSOS program immensely. She enjoyed making friends from all over the world and stood up to the challenge of being on her own for 3 weeks in a new environment.

She was having so much fun, several days would pass without us even hearing from her! This time away from home taught her and us, that she is ready to take on more responsibility and will be able to handle the college environment without a problem. I fell like she really grew this summer."
Kevin & Wendy, USA

"Our son has attended ISSOS for two summers. We couldn’t have chosen a better school! Our son returned home much more mature and self-confident and we could not believe how much he had improved his English skills.

ISSOS has excellent academic standards as well as highly qualified teaching staff; we met them at the parents reception and were very impressed."
Laura, Italy

"Your program is one of the best I could wish for my daughter. From my point of view it has a perfect balance of learning and fun."
Mother, Russia

"My daughters had a fantastic time this summer and we hear daily more about "when I was in St Andrews...". They have both had a fantastic time and have made many new friends. Both are hoping to return next year."
Mother, Kuwait

"My son has been to ISSOS twice and both times has come back from ISSOS full of life, very happy and his conversations taking on a more mature outlook. The various structured activities and the chance to make friends from different parts of the world was a wonderful opportunity for him.

The independence he was afforded in a secure environment was a boost to his self-development. The interest ISSOS staff took in the students as individuals was evident when he relayed his experiences."
Abdullah, Oman


We also offer a full program of trips, cultural enrichment and the ISSOS Highland Games. For further information on our summer school courses including dates and fees, please email us below.