2025 Athena Scholars Programme
FUTURE FEMALE LEADERS
At The Oxford Exchange, we believe that an elite intensive residential experience (in addition to a student's regular year school work) is the key to unlocking your true potential. We designed this leadership programme for future female leaders ages 16+. We are committed to providing a supportive and inclusive environment where all students can thrive and achieve their goals.
Each Athena Scholar lives in a single room on the main site in an Oxford University college. The co-directors and Oxford Exchange core faculty team live in college as well, making for a safe, fun, familial environment. Breakfast and lunch are provided in the college dining hall, and we celebrate the end of the course in the second week with a Formal Hall experience.
UNIVERSITY-LEVEL INSTRUCTION
Athena Scholars are future female leaders ages 16+ and we teach courses at a very high-level (Oxford post-graduate). Our team of expert instructors have years of experience helping students prepare for leadership roles and gaining admission to the top universities in the world. They provide individualized support and feedback to help each student maximize their potential.
COMPREHENSIVE AND INTENSIVE CURRICULUM
We conduct classes, seminars and individual tutorials held in the magical university city of Oxford, England. It is here where you will learn from our instructors, tutors, and mentors. The curriculum is designed to enhance each Athena Scholar's ability to research, write, debate, and present her ideas effectively and persuasively.
APPLICATIONS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
We require an essay, a statement of interest, and grades. We operate on a rolling admissions basis, and provide feedback within 1-5 days and offers of admission. We will accept applications (Statement of Interest + Essay) until our cohort is full and every Athena Scholar who achieves MERIT and above on the essay receives a scholarship.
HOW TO APPLY - On this website, or by emailing us for an application.
You may apply through the webpage by scrolling down, or you may email us for a pdf version of the application: athenascholars@oxfordexchange.org. Spaces are very limited and we highly encourage applicants to submit their applications as soon as possible.
The Athena Scholars - Future Female Leaders
WHAT MAKES AN ATHENA SCHOLAR?
The Athena Scholars programme is designed by The Oxford Exchange as an advanced leadership course for a small elite cohort of future female leaders from around the world.
"Athenians" are extraordinary young women destined for greatness who will live, learn, and dine together in the city of Oxford for two weeks.
WHO MAY APPLY?
The Oxford Exchange invites applications from studious young ladies aged 16 to 21 for a place on an elite two-week course in the city of Oxford that takes place in July and August 2025 (we offer two cohorts).
"We admit Athenians from all over the world and seek to build a close-knit cohort of strong individuals who support one another whilst making an individual commitment to excellence and community-building."
- Mrs Louise Formby, FRGS, MA, MSc (Oxon)
Director, Athena Scholars
WHAT WILL I LEARN?
TRACK 1: POLITICS & INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP:
1) Core Themes: Political Systems, International Relations, Security Studies, Diplomatic Studies, and Economics & Business Leadership;
2) Issue Areas: Global Health Systems, Climate Change, and Conflict & Peace Studies.
TRACK 2: STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS + CLASSICS, ENGLISH LITERATURE & CREATIVE WRITING: This course is taught at the university-level and is centred on Strategic Commincations and Public Affairs (Working with the Media, Writing Op-Eds, Controlling the Narrative, and other key areas of written and spoken persuasion. We also explore how the 'Greats' (eg Plato, Aristotle, Thucydides, Shakespeare) have shaped our understanding of the world we live in today.
Discover Your 'Inner Athena' with The Oxford Exchange
Transform Your Future with The Oxford Exchange
This is a Global Female Leadership Programme
Designed into two parts: Track 1 and Track 2.
Track 1 is carefully designed alongside Track 2, as a hybrid course, introducing 21st-century geopolitical scenarios, and international relations theory.
This part of the programme is to help develop future female leaders and build their knowledge of 21st-century international relations theory, from Women, Peace & Security (WPS) to humanitarian aid, and how the works of the classics, (eg Plato, Aristotle, Thucydides) have shaped our understanding of the world we live in today.
It provides the foundational understanding for women on the Track 2 leadership programme to participate in some of the classes to enhance their knowledge and skillsets of geopolitics. Through various theoretical lenses, the student will work with other cohort members in seminars focused on Design Thinking methods.
Track 2 is specifically designed to enhance, broaden and strengthen essential skills for success IN THE POLITICAL WORLD. This includes cutting edge courses on the media and how to interact with the press, how to write op-ed papers, and how to control the narrative in politics. The Athena Scholars also take courses in reading and interpreting written works (Classics and English Literature), and thinking and writing creatively (creative writing).
This part of the programme will broaden and strengthen essential knowledge and help build skills for success in public settings, from confidence in public speaking to presentation skills and writing.
Each student is assigned a private Oxford Exchange Tutor who will help guide the student on creating a piece of written work (an op-ed or a policy paper).
Why Choose The Oxford Exchange?
We are a UK nonprofit educational organisation and our programmes are designed to be flexible and affordable without compromising the highest quality of teaching in the market. Our team of The Oxford Exchange tutors and mentors are here to support you throughout your journey.
Application Process
Applicants will be asked to complete an application providing details of their schoolwork and grades as well as a Statement of Interest and a short essay.
Our Oxford-based team will evaluate the applications closely.
For those applicants for whom an offer of admission will be forthcoming, we will also offer a scholarship scheme based on the marks that the essay receives:
1) Distinction
2) 2.1 High Merit
3) 2.1 Merit
4) 2.2 Merit
2024 Athena Scholars Programme
4 August - 17 August 2024
The 2024 Oxford intake of Athena Scholars was a resounding success! Our cohort of thirty young women included representation from 24 different countries and ranged in ages from 16 to 20. Those 18 and over received a coveted Oxford University Bodleian Library card, and young ladies grew up in two short weeks into women seeking to change the world!
In August 2024, Athena Scholars were taught by Professor Emma Smith (one of the world's foremost authorities on William Shakespeare), Professor Craig Tiedman (International Relations Theory), Dr Simon Waldman (Political Systems), and other distinguished faculty. Dr Rakib Ehsan - a BBC and Uk Media favourite - taught the ladies how to write op-eds and how the global think tank world operates. Dr Max Thompson taught the cohort how to analyse global crises and the importance of WPS (Women, Peace and Security).
The 2024 Athena Scholars are now alumnae for life, and we have rarely seen a cohort bond so well, thereby reinforcing our philosophy of TMI (Transparency, Mutual Respect, and Inclusiveness).
“I am the embodiment of wisdom, a guiding light in a world of chaos.” “Knowledge is power, and I am the goddess of knowledge.” “Love is a powerful force, but it is not always the answer.” “Only through struggle and hard work can we truly appreciate the rewards of victory.”
ATHENA
The Oxford Exchange: Certifications
British Council Accreditation
The Oxford Exchange is accredited by the British Council and we are 'Alumni" of The British Council, which means that we are regularly invited to propose education policy and attend private functions with the leadership.
All of our employees and contractors must pass the appropriate British Council's extensive safeguarding training requirements.
royal society for the prevention of accidents
At The Oxford Exchange we treat each student's safety and wellbeing as our top priority. We are Affiliate Members of ROSPA and we have strict policies on the protection of students, staff, and faculty at all times during our courses.
AEGIS MEMBER
AEGIS MEMBER
The Oxford Exchange and its affiliates, The Cambridge Exchange, and the Oxford IQ Preparatory Academy, are UK members of The Association for the Education and Guardianship of International Students (AEGIS). The purpose of AEGIS is to safeguard the welfare of international students studying at schools, colleges and universities in the UK, making them feel safe, welcome and cared for.