Oxford Centre for Advanced Research — 1:1 Research Mentorships with Oxbridge and Ivy League PhD Candidates for High School Students

Now accepting applications for Fall 2026 - final deadline August 30. Apply Now →
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Knowledge Network

the

Oxford  Centre

for Advanced Research

Academy
Rigorous 1:1 online research mentored by PhD candidates from Oxbridge, top UK, and Ivy League universities.
Outreach
Not-for-profit outreach connecting academia and the public.
OCAR Research Fellowship

Applications Now Open — Inaugural 2026–2027 Cohort of PhD Research Fellows

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PhD Researcher Podcasts

In-depth conversations with researchers at Oxford, Cambridge, and beyond

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Essay Competition

Oxford Essay Prize Competition — our annual essay competition for secondary school students

Enter Now →
Latest from OCAR

PhD Researcher Podcasts

Cancer Immunology · King’s College London

Ines Martins-Thomas: Immune Cells & Head & Neck Cancer

Ines discusses how immune cells fight head and neck cancers, why treatment must be personalised, and the promise of immunotherapy and CAR T-cell therapies.

Watch Episode 1
Political Science · University College London

William Bacon: Clientelism & Electoral Violence in Africa

A PhD candidate at UCL, William explores subnational politics and clientelism in Kenya and Nigeria — examining what drives electoral violence during high-stakes elections.

Watch Episode 2
Data Privacy & Cybersecurity · King’s College London

Janjira: Ethical AI, GDPR & the Future of Data Privacy

An Assistant Professor at Chiang Mai University with a PhD from King’s College London, Janjira discusses EU-funded research into ethical AI compliance and data protection.

Watch Episode 3
View all episodes →
Oxford Centre for Advanced Research

Dive Deep

Discover the world through research.

We work with PhD candidates from Oxbridge, top London and UK universities, and leading Ivy League institutions to connect ambitious high school students worldwide with world-class academic mentors.

Oxford Scholar Programme

Work directly 1:1 with a PhD candidate from Oxbridge, a top UK university, or a leading Ivy League institution to produce an original research paper.

Fall 2026 — Rolling Admissions OPEN
Learn More

Oxford Publication Fellowship

Our most intensive 1:1 experience — includes additional mentor meetings and guided preparation toward peer-reviewed journal submission.

Admission Open All Year — Rolling Admissions
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The Think Tank

Make an Impact.

Connecting researchers with the public.

The OCAR Think Tank operates a range of non-profit initiatives that aim to empower researchers as public intellectuals.

Fellows
We fund and support early-career researchers to do public intellectual work.
Podcasts
Explore the cutting edge of academic research with OCAR.
Oxford Essay Prize Competition
Inviting students to reflect on the most important issues of today.
OCAR Blog
Expert insights on research, admissions, and academic life.
Learn More

Latest News

01
The Oxford Essay Prize Competition 2026
OCAR saw over 3,800 submissions from more than 45 countries. In 2026, we are looking forward to another round of global submissions and will be welcoming winners to the Oxford campus.
Learn More →
02
Nobel Laureates at OCAR
Nobel Laureates speak annually at OCAR. Our inaugural 2026 Nobel Laureate keynote speaker for the Summer Research Symposium and Essay Prize Ceremony will be announced in October.
Watch Keynotes →
OCAR Research Fellowship

Supporting early-career researchers as public intellectuals.

The OCAR Research Fellowship supports PhD candidates and early-career academics at Oxbridge and leading UK universities to bring their research to a wider public audience. Our inaugural cohort begins in the 2026–2027 academic year.

Podcast Series

Fellows produce and host original podcast series, bringing their research into conversation with leading academics and public figures.

Public Writing

Fellows contribute essays and commentary to the OCAR Blog, translating cutting-edge research for a broad, intellectually curious audience.

Learn About the Fellowship →
About OCAR

About OCAR

Oxford Centre for Advanced Research (OCAR) is a UK-based academic organisation offering rigorous 1:1 online research mentorships for ambitious high school students, paired with PhD candidates from Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, MIT, and other leading institutions. Founded by Oxford graduates, OCAR is committed to making elite academic research accessible to students worldwide.

Our Mission
Admitted Student Profile
Our students come from over 40 countries. Nearly one-third of our US-bound alumni go on to Ivy League universities, MIT, or Stanford.
Our faculty come from Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, MIT, Columbia, Yale, Brown, UC Berkeley & more
Our alumni go on to Cambridge, Oxford, Harvard, Columbia, Cornell, Johns Hopkins, Yale, Stanford & more
Our students publish in IEEE MIT URTC, Columbia Undergraduate Research Journal, Microbiology Society & more
Oxford Scholar Programme — Fall 2026
Download the 2026 Prospectus for programme details, course catalogue, faculty bios & tuition.
June 1st
Early Admissions Deadline
Rolling
Regular Admissions Deadline
Open
Oxford Publication Fellowship — All Year
Start Your Application