Oxford, UK// Academy Royale International® (ARI), the Oxford-founded provider of residential summer schools formerly known as Oxford Royale Academy, today announces the next phase of its growth, with an expanded portfolio of academic programmes, new educational partnerships, and continued investment in distinctive learning environments.
At the heart of Academy Royale International’s programmes is the opportunity for young people aged 10–18 to experience life and learning in one of the world’s most celebrated academic cities.
In Oxford, students stay in historic university colleges including Balliol College, St Peter’s College and St Catherine’s College, learn from Academy Royale International’s hand-picked academic faculty – many of whom also teach or conduct research at leading universities – and hear from distinguished academic, professional and industry speakers.
Independently delivered by Academy Royale International, the experience is designed to go beyond subject knowledge. By living and learning in an environment they may previously have known only through books, films or university prospectuses, students can begin to see ambitious futures as tangible and achievable. Academy Royale International’s programmes aim to help young people deepen their academic interests, build confidence and independence, and return home with a clearer sense of direction and renewed motivation for future study.
Founded in Oxford in 2004, the organisation has educated more than 50,000 young people from 175 countries, building an international community around immersive academic and residential learning experiences.
Its new name reflects the organisation’s evolution from its Oxford roots into an international education provider, while retaining the immersive academic experience on which its reputation has been built.
For 2027, Academy Royale International is broadening its academic and career-focused portfolio with new subjects and learning experiences reflecting changing student interests and disciplines expected to shape the future. The expanded offering spans artificial intelligence, technology, cybersecurity, engineering, business, entrepreneurship, medicine, law and the humanities.
These programmes give students the opportunity to explore subjects at greater depth, experience potential university disciplines and careers, and make more informed decisions about the pathways they may wish to pursue.
From 2027, Academy Royale International will also deliver a new portfolio of academic, cultural discovery and selected English-language programmes for students aged 10–18 at Marlborough College, expanding the range of residential learning environments available to students and families. The organisation is also exploring further locations in the UK and overseas as part of its longer-term growth plans.
William Humphreys, Founder and Executive Chairman of Academy Royale International, comments: “For more than 20 years, we have evolved alongside the students and families we serve. At the heart of what we do is a simple but powerful idea: giving young people the opportunity to experience the kind of academic environment they may aspire to join in the future.
“Staying in a historic Oxford college, learning from academics who bring their subjects to life, hearing from exceptional speakers and spending time alongside ambitious young people from around the world can make those future possibilities feel real. Students leave us not only with greater knowledge, but often with more confidence, stronger motivation and a clearer sense of the university or career path they want to pursue.
“Our next phase of growth is about building on that experience by giving students more subjects, disciplines and future pathways to explore. We are particularly excited about our expansion into emerging areas of study and our partnerships with organisations including MIT RAISE and TechSpark, which reflect our ambition to help young people make informed choices about what comes next.”
A significant area of Academy Royale International’s programme development is its partnership with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) RAISE, which has progressed beyond its initial pilot phase.
Designed for students aged 13-18, the programme introduces AI literacy through the MIT RAISE FutureBuilders pathway, with a structured curriculum exploring emerging technologies, responsible AI and the application of technology to real-world challenges. Students who complete the programme are eligible to receive certification from MIT RAISE.
The collaboration marks the first time Academy Royale International has incorporated a formal AI curriculum strand into its academic portfolio, allowing students to engage with one of the defining fields of their generation through a structured educational experience.
Alongside its specialist programmes, Academy Royale International is reintroducing its Broadening Horizons programme in response to demand from students who want to explore more than one potential academic or career pathway before making important decisions about university and future study.
Participants can experience two different academic subjects alongside a skills-focused workshop, enabling them to test different areas of interest while developing transferable capabilities including debating, academic writing, negotiation and interviewing.
“As an independently owned organisation, we have always been able to take a long-term view of education and continue investing in the programmes, partnerships and learning environments we believe will create lasting value for students and their families,” adds Humphreys.
“We are proud of what we have built over the past two decades, but our focus is firmly on what comes next.”
