Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Turn your own idea, or Oxford research, into a prototype or business case, and earn a University certificate for it.
What it is
The Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Innovation is a new University of Oxford programme for students who want to start a venture. It’s run by Oxford Edge and supported by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Innovation, EnSpire Oxford and Oxford University Innovation.
It runs from Hilary to Trinity in three stages. In Hilary there are weekly sessions with founders, investors and academics about how ideas grow into real impact. Over Easter you spend four full-time weeks in Oxford, working in a small team on your own idea or on Oxford research through Oxford University Innovation. In Trinity there are two more sessions, a hackathon weekend and a final pitch to an expert panel.
You don’t need entrepreneurship experience or an idea to apply, just the commitment to see it through.
Who can apply
- Matriculated Oxford students, undergraduate or postgraduate, from any department or college
- Undergraduates must have passed their Preliminary Examinations
- You’ll need permission to take part from your tutor or supervisor
What you get
- Teaching from founders, investors and academics
- A four-week team project over Easter, with a £1,000 bursary towards accommodation. You arrange your own accommodation, so check early whether your college offers vacation residence.
- A hackathon weekend and a pitch to an expert panel
- A University of Oxford certificate on completion
How to apply
Complete the online application by 5pm on Wednesday 2 December (Week 8). Shortlisted applicants are interviewed in Week 9. Once the cohort is confirmed, teams of two to four are formed, and any idea you propose needs approval before a team forms around it.
Details
| When | Applications close 5pm, Wed 2 Dec 2026. The programme runs Hilary to Trinity 2027, with full-time weeks over the Easter vacation. |
| Where | Oxford Edge, 37 St Giles, Oxford OX1 3LD |
| Cost | Free, with a £1,000 bursary for the Easter project |
| Who it's for | Matriculated Oxford students from any department or college. Undergraduates must have passed Prelims. |
| Places | 20 in the first cohort |
| To earn the Certificate | Attend the teaching sessions, take part in the Easter project and hackathon, and deliver your team’s assessed final presentation |
| Organiser | Oxford Edge, with EnSpire Oxford and Oxford University Innovation |
| Questions | programme.manager@edge.ox.ac.uk |
Apply
20 places. Applications close at 5pm on Wednesday 2 December.
