SELECTIVE ENTRY
The key ingredient in what makes the John Locke summer schools special is not our distinguished faculty, and it's not our innovative, intensive teaching techniques: it's our students.
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In order to bring together a diverse group of talented students, ready to challenge and inspire each other, we work very hard to attract the best quality applications from all over the world. Each year we receive around three applications per place. Our Director of Admissions then makes a decision based on the two components of the selection process, below:
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PArt i: WRITTEN APPLICATION
Round 3 deadline: Friday, 1 May
To apply for a summer school, you should submit a written application via our website. This is your opportunity to demonstrate that you are bright, curious, open-minded and ambitious.
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Your school grades should be included in your application. In recent years, the median student admitted to our summer schools has either achieved, or is predicted to achieve, the highest possible grades in nine or ten GCSE subjects, or a GPA within the top decile of their cohort.
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Your academic record, however, is among the least important components of your application. Each year we admit several students whose grades do not fully reflect their potential. We therefore encourage you to use the written application to explain why you would benefit from our course, and how you would contribute to it.
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If your application is successful, you will be invited to an admissions interview within two weeks of submission.
PART II: ADMISSIONS INTERVIEW
At least two-thirds of candidates are invited to interview with our Academic Director or another senior member of faculty. Interviews are conducted online via Google Meet and typically last between 20 and 25 minutes.
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The purpose of the interview is to assess how you listen, how you think, and how you formulate and present arguments. Successful candidates demonstrate precision of thought, intellectual flexibility, responsiveness to new information, and logical discipline. We hope you will find the interview stimulating — this is often a strong indication that you will enjoy our courses.
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You will receive an admissions decision within three weeks of your interview.
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Regrettably, admissions decisions cannot be reviewed. Unsuccessful candidates are, however, welcome to submit another application the following year.
Financial Aid
One in five students at the John Locke Institute summer schools will receive some form of financial support from a philanthropic trust created by the Institute.
If we encounter a student of unusually high ability, or a student who will significantly add to the intellectual, social or cultural diversity of our community, we will invite that student to submit an application for a merit-based scholarship. This will involve writing an essay of 1500 - 2000 words and sometimes an additional interview, this time with our Director. These scholarships are worth £800 or $1,000.
For scholarship recipients from low-income families, this award can be topped up by a means-tested bursary. Means-tested bursaries are awarded to candidates whose financial circumstances make it difficult or impossible to afford the full fees. A merit-based scholarship topped up by a means-tested bursary is typically worth between £1,000 and £2,000 or between $1,250 and $2,500, but the exact value is determined at the sole discretion of the Financial Aid Committee, whose deliberations are confidential.
Before submitting a financial aid application, candidates must first be accepted to one of our courses. Please note that financial aid applications will only be considered if submitted at least 30 days before the start of the course.
ALUMNI GRANTS
John Locke alumni (students who attended one or more of our courses in the past) and their brother and/or sister can apply for our summer school(s) at reduced fees.
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Alumni Grant: 15%
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Sibling Grant: 10%
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Ambassador Grant: 40% (which includes the alumni grant)
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Our alumni-ambassadors help us to raise the profile of the Institute with their schools, their friends and the public, and our donors contribute funds to subsidise the fees for our ambassadors to attend future courses.
If you become a John Locke ambassador you would receive a forty percent reduction in summer school fees. In order to be eligible for the ambassador grant we would ask you to meet some conditions. Please email admissions@johnlocke.com to request further details. You are automatically eligible for the fifteen percent alumni scholarship, of course, even if you don't become an ambassador.
From the Office of Admissions
I am honoured to contribute to the cultivation of intellectual curiosity and excellence in the next generation of thinkers and leaders by selecting the brightest students to join the John Locke Institute community.
The John Locke Institute is where exceptional students meet with world-class professors to develop listening and thinking skills, refine powers of expression, and enhance understanding of how the world works - and how it should work.
If you would like to join our community of like-minded students in Oxford, Princeton, Washington DC or Singapore, I kindly invite you to apply for one of our courses.
Our team is happy to address all your inquiries and guide you through the application process, helping you take the first step towards joining the Institute and an inspiring community that will not only expand your knowledge but also challenge your beliefs and propel you toward new achievements.
We look forward to welcoming you among our passionate learners and future leaders.
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Best wishes,
Victoria Kapeliushna
Director of Admissions
Princeton: +1 (609) 608-0543 . Oxford: +44 (0)1865 566166 . admissions@johnlocke.com
Application Form
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Q. How can I apply to your summer schools?
A. You should complete the online application form on our website.
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Q. What is the word limit for the personal statement?
A. Your personal statement should be between 200 and 1,000 words.
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Q. What should I include in the “Reference Details” section?
A. Please provide the name and contact details of an academic referee, such as your School Principal, Headmaster, Head of Year or teacher, who can answer questions about your suitability for a programme such as ours, in the event that our admissions team would like more information.
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Q. Should my academic referee send a reference letter directly to the John Locke Institute?
A. No. If required, we will contact your referee directly with instructions on how to submit a reference. Please ensure you have obtained your referee’s consent before providing their contact details.
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Q. What if I make a mistake in my application form?
A. Please email admissions@johnlocke.com. Our admissions team will amend your application as necessary. Please do not submit a second application.
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Q. What should I do if I lose the link to complete my application at a later date?
A. Please email admissions@johnlocke.com and we will resend the link.
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Q. May I change my course selection after submitting my application?
A. Please email admissions@johnlocke.com at the earliest opportunity. While we cannot guarantee that changes can be accommodated, we will do our best.
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Q. May I apply for more than one summer school?
A. Yes, you can apply for up to two summer schools. Please indicate the courses for which you wish to be considered when submitting your application.
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Q. Will I receive confirmation that my application has been submitted successfully?
A. After submission, you will be redirected to a confirmation page and will also receive a confirmation email. If you do not see the confirmation page or receive an email, please contact admissions@johnlocke.com.
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Interview Process
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Q. When will I receive an invitation to interview?
A. If your application meets our requirements, you will normally be invited to interview within two weeks of submission.
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Q. How should I prepare for my interview?
A. After you receive an invitation, the Director of Admissions will send detailed instructions and a short preparatory video. Please review these carefully before booking your interview.
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Q. May I reschedule my interview?
A. Yes. You may reschedule using the link provided in your confirmation email. Please avoid rescheduling less than 24 hours in advance. Do not book a second interview if you already have a confirmed slot — instead, reschedule or cancel your existing booking. Multiple bookings or missed interviews may result in the disqualification of your application.
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Q. I cannot see a suitable time on the booking link. What should I do?
A. Please keep an eye on the Calendly link we have sent you, as we are constantly updating our availability. Refrain from emailing us about such issues unless we send you a reminder to book your interview.
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Q. I cannot find the interview link after booking. Where is it?
A. The interview link can, at times, be in your junk, spam, or promotions folders. Please look into those folders, and or search for "John Locke Institute" and you should be able to locate it. If you still cannot find it, please email us at admissions@johnlocke.com.
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Admissions Decision
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Q. When will I receive an admissions decision?
A. Admissions decisions are normally sent within three weeks of the interview. If you have not heard from us after this period, please contact admissions@johnlocke.com.
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Q. I have not received any emails from you. Does this mean my application was unsuccessful?
A. We send admissions decisions to all the candidates, so if you didn’t receive any emails from us, please check your inbox, including the spam folder, again. If you can’t find any emails, please email us at admissions@johnlocke.com.
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Q. Whom should I contact for advice about course selection?
A. Please email admissions@johnlocke.com and a member of our admissions team will respond as soon as possible. Please note that during particularly busy periods, responses may take up to five working days. If your enquiry is urgent, please telephone us.
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Financial Aid
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Q. Can I apply for financial aid?
A. You can apply for financial aid only after being accepted onto a course. Once you receive an acceptance letter, you can email us at admissions@johnlocke.com to request consideration for financial aid.
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Q: Will I get a payment extension when I apply for financial aid?
A: Yes, you will be given a payment extension should you be applying for financial aid.
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Summer Schools
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Q. Can I apply to your summer school(s) if I have participated in a John Locke course in a previous year?
​A. Yes! We love to see alumni coming back. Please submit an application form on our website. You will have the opportunity on the form to tell us if you have attended one of our courses in the past.
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Q. When will I be able to choose electives for a Flagship Summer School?
A. Further information will be provided as the summer school approaches. We will do our best to accommodate everyone’s preferences.
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Q. Where can I find more information about the course schedule?
A: The scheduling of our programmes is currently in progress. However, you are welcome to browse our website for further information about our summer schools. Our social media pages will also provide more information that you may be looking for.
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Q. Who teaches on your programmes?
A: Our programmes are delivered by world-class, high-profile faculty. You can browse through some of our professors from previous courses here.
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If your question is not addressed above, please email admissions@johnlocke.com and we will be pleased to help you. During particularly busy periods, responses may take up to seven days. If your enquiry is urgent, please telephone us.