Maths-talented students aged 16-18: 6-week summer immersion at Oxford University

PROMYS Europe at the University of Oxford is an intensive six-week summer immersion in mathematics for mathematically talented pre-university students. PROMYS Europe is a partnership with the Mathematical Institute of the University of Oxford; the Clay Mathematics Institute (CMI); Wadham College, University of Oxford; and the Program in Mathematics for Young Scientists (PROMYS). Closely modelled on the 27-year-old PROMYS programme at Boston University, PROMYS Europe had an extremely successful first summer in 2015.

Need-based financial aid and travel reimbursement are available thanks to support from our partners.

We seek European students aged at least 16 who would benefit from the opportunity to delve deeply into fundamental mathematical questions within a richly stimulating and supportive community of fellow first-year students, returning students, undergraduate counsellors, research mentors, faculty, and visiting mathematicians. First-year students focus primarily on a series of very challenging problem sets, daily lecture, and exploration labs in Number Theory. Advanced seminars and numerous mini-courses and guest lectures tackle a wide range of topics. Guest lecturers in 2015 included Professors Sir Andrew Wiles and Ben Green.

The application deadline is 31 March. The application is available HERE on the PROMYS Europe site (www.PROMYS-Europe.org) and includes a challenging problem set. PROMYS Europe 2016 will run from 10 July to 20 August at Wadham College, University of Oxford.

Successful applicants do not need to have taken advanced courses in mathematics but do need to show exceptional readiness for thinking deeply about mathematics.

  • PROMYS Europe 2016: Six-week summer immersion in mathematics closely modelled on the 27-year-old PROMYS programme at Boston University.
  • Partners: Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford; Clay Mathematics Institute (CMI); Wadham College, University of Oxford; and PROMYS, Program in Mathematics for Young Scientists.
  • Eligible to apply: European pre-university students age 16 and up (by the start of the programme)
  • Location: Wadham College, University of Oxford
  • Dates: 10 July – 20 August, 2016
  • Application and application problem set at www.promys-europe.org
  • Application deadline: 31 March, 2016
  • Director of PROMYS Europe (and of PROMYS): Glenn Stevens, Professor of Mathematics at Boston University
  • Cost to families: £1,000 (Cost is heavily subsidized by our partners.)
  • Financial Aid: Full and partial need-based financial aid is available (also travel reimbursement)
  • PROMYS Europe community: 18 first-year students, 6 returning students, 6 undergraduate counsellors, research mentors, faculty, and visiting mathematicians * Highly supportive, collaborative, and stimulating environment
  • Mathematical focus: First-year students focus primarily on a series of very challenging problem sets and exploration labs in Number Theory. Advanced seminars, research projects, and numerous mini-courses and guest lectures are on a wide range of mathematical topics.
  • Primary goals: Development of mathematical habits of mind that support independence and creativity in facing unfamiliar mathematical challenges * Asking good questions * Precision of thought * Depth of understanding
  • Exceptional features: Intensity and six-week duration * Rigorous discovery by students of fundamental mathematical truths * Individualized programme to ensure each student is fully challenged mathematically
  • Details and testimonials: www.promys-europe.org
  • Contact: Julia Rolnick, Director of Outreach: Esta dirección de correo electrónico está siendo protegida contra los robots de spam. Necesita tener JavaScript habilitado para poder verlo.


"PROMYS is all about exploration and learning through experimentation, building the tools to ask and then tackling progressively more difficult and interesting questions. This makes the work deeply satisfying, because the results one discovers not only feel but truly are deep and meaningful mathematics." Student, PROMYS Europe 2015