FAQs

Have questions? You’re in the right place.
We’ve answered some of the most common questions about our Research Programmes, Lecture Series, and Academic Conference Days - from who they’re for and how they work, to how schools can get involved.

If you can’t find what you’re looking for, contact us at info@inquisitas.com.

General FAQs

  • Our programmes are designed for motivated students who enjoy independent thinking. While there is no formal academic threshold, our programmes require meaningful engagement and willingness to be challenged.

  • Students work independently with their tutor or in their online class setting, but we’re happy to communicate with parents or guardians about logistics, safeguarding, or general progress where appropriate.

  • Yes - students are welcome to enrol individually or alongside friends. Research Programmes are always 1:1, while Lecture Series and Conference Days bring students together in small academic cohorts.

Independent Research Programmes

  • Our programmes are designed to be flexible and manageable for busy students.

    • Time commitment: Around 4-6 hours per week, including one weekly 1:1 supervision

    • Flexible scheduling: Sessions can take place in the evenings or at weekends

    • Personalised pace: Each project is tailored to the student’s schedule, exams, and other commitments

    This ensures students can engage deeply without feeling overwhelmed.

  • Yes - we offer three formats across the year, all with the same academic depth and supervision:

    4-week programme (year-round)
    Steady progress in a focused timeframe

    6-week programme (Spring & Autumn terms)
    More flexibility during term time, with additional check-ins

    2-week intensive (Christmas & Easter holidays)
    A faster-paced option for concentrated academic focus

  • Students aged 16+ from any academic background. There are no grade or subject requirements - just curiosity, motivation, and readiness to engage.

  • Projects are shaped by student interest, using Humanities and Social Science approaches such as critical analysis, argumentation, and ethical enquiry. Each project is designed to explore a topic students are genuinely excited about. 

    Students have explored topics ranging from:

    • AI and legal systems

    • Medical ethics

    • Literature and cultural history

    • The politics of imperial resistance 

    Interdisciplinary projects are especially welcome.

    • A 2,000-3,000 word university-style research essay

    • Professional academic editing and feedback

    A formal letter of recommendation from their Oxbridge supervisor

  • Students gain a concrete example of independent academic work they can discuss in:

    • Personal statements

    • Admissions interviews

    • EPQs or super-curricular profiles

    This is particularly valuable for competitive courses and Humanities and Social Sciences applicants.

  • We understand that unexpected commitments arise. Where possible, sessions can be rescheduled with advance notice, and tutors adapt the research plan to ensure students stay on track.

  • Yes. Many students continue reading or refining their work independently after the programme. Tutors also provide guidance on how a project might be developed further - for example, into an EPQ or extended piece of writing.

  • No - students receive detailed qualitative feedback rather than a numerical grade. This reflects university-style academic practice and focuses on developing ideas, argument, and clarity of expression.

  • Our programmes are not formally assessed or accredited, but many students use the skills and research developed through Inquisitas to support EPQs or other independent school projects.

Lecture Series

  • Students aged 16+ who enjoy academic discussion and want to explore subjects at university level - whether they’re deepening an existing interest or discovering something new.

    • Five lectures over five weeks

    • Evening sessions (approx. 1.5 hours)

    • Each lecture explores a different theme or question

    • Live Q&A and discussion after each talk

  • Lectures are delivered by Oxford and Cambridge academics actively involved in teaching and research.

  • Yes - students are encouraged to ask questions and engage in discussion. The aim is thoughtful academic exchange, not passive listening.

  • Where possible, recordings are made available to registered students who are unable to attend live. If permission for recording has not been given, students will receive the lecturer’s presentation slides and further learning resources.

  • Students receive a certificate confirming attendance, which can be included in academic portfolios or super-curricular records.

Academic Conference Days

  • Academic Conference Days are one-day, fully online interdisciplinary events bringing together researchers from different fields to explore a shared theme - such as climate change, democracy, or technology.

  • Curious, motivated students aged 16+ who want to:

    • Explore big contemporary questions

    • Experience university-style academic discussion

    • Engage with ideas beyond the school curriculum

  • Past conference themes have included:

    • Climate Crisis: Environment, Policy, and Responsibility

    • Artificial Intelligence & Technology: Ethics, Society, and the Future

    • Democracy: Past, Present, and Future

    • Post-Colonial Legacies: Politics, Culture, and Thought

    • Geopolitics: Migration, Borders, and Identities

    Future themes are announced via our website and mailing list.

    • Keynote lectures

    • Panel discussions

    • Interactive Q&A sessions

    • Expert-led small-group policy and ethics tasks 

    • Opportunities to engage with peers and academics

    Each day is designed to replicate the feel of a real academic conference, adapted for sixth-form students.

  • No prior specialist knowledge is required. Conference Days are designed to be intellectually challenging but accessible, and speakers introduce key concepts as they go.

  • Yes - our Conference Days are explicitly interdisciplinary and ideal for students with interests across multiple subjects or who enjoy connecting ideas from different fields.

  • Students receive a certificate of participation and recommended follow-up reading to support further exploration of the theme.

  • Yes - we work with schools to design tailored academic events that fit into enrichment weeks, INSET days, or curriculum extension programmes.

  • Yes. We offer bespoke interdisciplinary conference days for schools, aligned with curriculum extension, enrichment provision, or themed academic days.
    More details are available on our Schools page.

Still have questions?

If you’re unsure which option is right for you, or would like to discuss a school partnership, we’re happy to help.

Get in touch via email: info@inquisitas.com