Frequently asked questions.

Leading Future UK (智领未来) is an education services company based in London. It connects students, educators, universities and companies with UK academic and industry resources through university programmes, short courses, research internships, PhD application support, exchange visits and career programmes.

Leading Future's office is at 25 Wilton Road, Pimlico, London SW1V 1LW, United Kingdom. It runs programmes in the UK and works with participants and institutions in China.

Leading Future works in three areas. Academic Development covers short courses at leading UK universities, summer and winter schools, educator training, academic research internships and PhD application support. Global Exchange covers university visits, company and industry visits and bespoke delegations. Innovation & Careers covers UK company internships, youth career development, innovation competitions and industry–talent connection.

For winter 2027 Leading Future runs the UK University Winter Programme (10 days at Cambridge, UCL and Imperial), the Oxford MBA Winter Programme for managers (8–17 February 2027), the UK University Exploration & AI Business study tour for undergraduates, and the SQA / UK Final-Year Study Experience. Research internships and lab training run year-round.

No. Programmes and application support help participants build experience and prepare strong applications, but admission decisions are made by the universities themselves. Recommendation letters, where offered, depend on the supervisor's independent evaluation.

Fees depend on the programme, its length and the group size, and are provided on enquiry. Email info@leadingfuture.co.uk or WeChat LeadingFuture-73 with the programme you are interested in.

Yes. Leading Future designs bespoke delegations and visit programmes for schools, universities, companies and public bodies, and some programmes are offered to groups — for example, the Oxford MBA Winter Programme runs for groups of 15 or more.

No. The Oxford MBA Winter Programme is a short-term business management training programme, not an MBA degree. Participants who complete the programme requirements receive a programme certificate.

Leading Future works in English and Chinese. This website, the team and the AI advisor all handle enquiries in both languages.

Email info@leadingfuture.co.uk or add WeChat LeadingFuture-73. The London office is open Monday to Friday, 9:00–19:00 UK time.

It is designed for students who are thinking about university study in the UK and want to experience it first-hand before deciding. Participants visit Cambridge, UCL and Imperial College London, meet academics and students, and finish with a clearer personal plan for their future studies.

The programme runs in winter 2027 and lasts 10 days and 9 nights. Exact dates have not yet been published, so please contact Leading Future for the latest schedule. Places are limited.

Fees are available on enquiry. Contact Leading Future by email at info@leadingfuture.co.uk or on WeChat (LeadingFuture-73) and we will send the current fee and full itinerary.

Depending on nationality, participants may need a UK visitor visa for a short study trip. Please mention your nationality when you enquire so we can advise on what to prepare and when to apply.

No. The Oxford MBA Winter Programme 2027 is short-term business management training, not an MBA degree programme. Participants who complete the programme requirements receive a programme completion certificate.

The programme runs from 8 to 17 February 2027 (10 days, 9 nights) in Oxford, with visits to London and Cambridge. It is designed for company managers and professionals who want to strengthen their business management capability and broaden their international perspective.

Fees are available on enquiry and the programme runs for groups of 15 or more. The fee covers Oxford hotel accommodation, programme meals, tuition and materials, local UK transport, itinerary activities, a UK SIM card and travel insurance; flights, visa and personal expenses are extra.

Participants who need a visa to visit the UK must apply before travelling. The visa fee (approximately CNY 1,800) is not included in the programme fee, so please allow time for the application once your group is confirmed.

It is for undergraduates currently studying in China, and is especially suited to students considering a master's degree abroad. The tour helps them see eight UK universities, try a UK-style class and form a clearer view of what they want to study.

No coding background is needed. The 8 hours of classes, held over two days in Cambridge, focus on how AI is used in business and consumer insight, through case discussions, marketing experiments and a team pitch.

The tour lasts 9 days and 8 nights during the 2027 winter break, arriving in Birmingham and departing from London. Fees and exact dates are available on enquiry, and university group bookings are welcome.

The programme does not guarantee any master's admission outcome. What it offers is first-hand experience of UK universities and classes, plus tangible outputs — a one-page marketing concept, an AI service idea and a team pitch — to inform your own decisions.

It is for SQA programme students who plan to move to the UK to complete the final year of their undergraduate degree. The programme helps them get used to UK campuses, lectures and academic writing expectations before they start.

Travel is planned for mid-January 2027 and the programme lasts 9 days and 8 nights. The planned route is Shanghai to Birmingham and London back to Shanghai; exact dates and flights are still to be confirmed.

No. Progression universities and entry eligibility are confirmed according to each university's own requirements. This is a reference programme plan and not a statement that any university has confirmed it will host the programme.

Fees are available on enquiry. Individual students and partner schools or SQA centres are welcome to contact Leading Future at info@leadingfuture.co.uk or on WeChat (LeadingFuture-73) to discuss group arrangements.

Undergraduates and postgraduates who want to explore research and deepen their subject study can apply. Language and subject requirements vary by position and are set by the department, research team or project.

Representative directions include the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge and UCL, with further opportunities at universities such as Reading, Surrey, Leicester, Plymouth, Birmingham, Liverpool, Nottingham and York. Specific institutions and positions depend on what is open at the time and on project review.

Duration and format vary by position. The specific tasks, length, mode of participation and requirements are set by the department, research team or project, and we confirm these with you when you review open positions.

The process is: discuss your research interests, explore open positions, submit your application materials, then project review and arrangement. Fees depend on the position and are available on enquiry; Leading Future also offers PhD application support if research is part of a longer plan.

Current students in science, engineering and related subjects can apply, provided they have foundation skills in the direction they are applying for. Applicants go through an initial review of materials, an interview assessment and position matching before admission.

Training runs for 4–8 weeks in person: a 4-week foundation stage that can be completed on its own, plus an optional 4 weeks of deep training. It takes place mainly during the winter and summer holidays, with other times arranged according to need and project schedules.

Students receive a certificate of training, a project report and a personal development report. After mentor review they may request a recommendation letter or overall evaluation, but its content and strength are based on actual participation and the mentor's independent judgement and are not guaranteed.

Fees depend on the length of training and the research platform, and are available on enquiry. Contact Leading Future to request the latest positions list, which sets out the current platforms, positions and cities.

Yes. Participants who complete the course requirements receive an official certificate issued by the college or institution that runs the course. The exact completion requirements vary from course to course.

No. The Oxford MBA Winter Programme 2027 is short-term business management training for managers, running from 8 to 17 February 2027 and based at a historic Oxford college. Participants receive a programme certificate, not a degree.

Short courses suit students, graduates and working professionals, and entry requirements depend on the course and provider. Tell us your background and goals and we will suggest courses that match your level.

Programmes combine academic sessions, university campus visits, team projects and cultural activities. The UK University Winter Programme 2027, for example, runs for 10 days and 9 nights and explores universities including Cambridge, UCL and Imperial. Exact inclusions and fees are confirmed for each programme.

Yes. The UK University Exploration & AI Business study tour is a 9-day, 8-night programme for undergraduates in China, visiting eight universities and including eight hours of AI business classes over two days in Cambridge. No coding background is needed, and the programme does not promise any master's admission outcome.

Our programmes can provide certificates and academic feedback, and some offer recommendation opportunities based on performance. What each participant receives depends on the specific programme, so please check the details with our team.

Core themes include educational psychology, curriculum design, AI in teaching, and UK higher education and talent development. Programmes for groups can be shaped around the priorities of your school or institution.

Yes. We plan programmes for groups from schools, universities and other organisations, agreeing themes, dates and format with you. Contact the team with your group size and goals to get started.

Yes. The Oxford MBA Winter Programme 2027 runs from 8 to 17 February 2027, based at a historic Oxford college with time in London and Cambridge. It is short-term business management training with a programme certificate, not an MBA degree.

UK research internships are for undergraduates and postgraduates who want to explore research and deepen their subject knowledge. Specific tasks, duration, format, and language and subject requirements are set by the department, research team or project concerned.

No. After supervisor review, participants may apply for a recommendation letter or evaluation, but it is based on their actual participation and the supervisor's independent assessment. Its content and strength cannot be guaranteed.

It starts with four weeks of foundation research training, with an optional further four weeks of in-depth work, and runs mainly during the winter and summer holidays. Fees depend on the duration and platform and are available on enquiry.

Support covers clarifying your research direction, planning the application, guidance on your research proposal and application materials, and identifying potential supervisors. Academic writing support and longer-term academic and career planning are also available.

No. Admission decisions are made by universities and supervisors. We help you build a coherent research direction and strong application materials so that your application is as competitive as it can be.

We support students and young scholars with academic writing, editing and preparing submissions to international journals and conferences. Acceptance depends on each journal's or conference's own review process.

Yes. As well as campus tours, visits can include departmental exchanges, thematic lectures and education cooperation discussions. All meetings depend on confirmation and availability from the host university.

Itineraries are planned around your goals. Our programmes include campus visits to universities such as Cambridge, UCL, Birmingham, Coventry, Leicester, Reading, Surrey and Queen Mary University of London; access to specific departments and facilities depends on each university.

They suit schools, universities, education organisations and student groups. Individual students can also experience university visits through scheduled programmes such as our winter study tours.

Company visits are planned to show how an organisation works, and can include a briefing from the host, a look at operations where permitted and time for questions. Content varies by host and is confirmed when the visit is arranged.

Yes. Industry visits are often part of wider programmes. The Oxford MBA Winter Programme 2027 lists reference visits to MINI Plant Oxford and Silverstone, subject to confirmation.

Students, young professionals, managers and business delegations can all take part. Groups can request a programme focused on a specific sector or business theme.

We design programmes for schools, universities, companies, government bodies and other organisations. Itineraries can combine university visits, company visits and exchanges on policy and talent strategy.

Yes. Programmes for government and public-sector groups can include exchanges with UK institutions on policy and talent strategies. Meetings are arranged subject to the host institutions' confirmation.

Send us your delegation's size, purpose, preferred dates and areas of interest. We will propose a tailored itinerary, then confirm visits and meetings with UK hosts.

Yes. These internships are with UK-based companies and are carried out online, so you can take part without relocating. You work on real tasks as part of a cross-cultural team.

University students, graduates and young professionals can apply. Placements are matched to your field and skills, and each role's tasks and requirements are confirmed before it starts.

A company internship focuses on real business tasks and workplace skills inside a UK company. An academic research internship focuses on research tasks with a university department or research team, and suits students planning further study or a research career.

We run industry talks, career exploration activities, employability skills sessions and mentor conversations. One-to-one academic and career planning is also available for those who want tailored, longer-term guidance.

Alongside career activities, we offer research assistantships, internships and study programmes that give students practical experience. Our team can suggest which route best fits your goals.

Both are possible. You can start with a single consultation, or choose longer-term mentoring that tailors your academic and career pathway to your interests, goals and resources.

It is an innovation and entrepreneurship competition initiated by Leading Future and held in 2026. Results and post-event materials will be published on this website once they are ready.

We organise academic competitions, from research paper contests to interdisciplinary innovation challenges, as well as project pitches and showcases. Recent examples include the 2025 UCL Academic Competition, the 2026 IC Zero Labs Youth Challenge and the 2026 UCL Autonomous Driving Engineering Maker Challenge.

Contact our team by email or WeChat, or ask the AI advisor. We will share information about future competitions and challenges as it becomes available.

We connect employers with international talent through career fairs that bring master's and PhD graduates together with employers across the UK and Europe, and through tailored headhunting for research, management and technology roles. Tell us the roles and profiles you need and we will suggest the best route.

Innovation incubation links research with industry. It can include project evaluation, mentoring, access to resources and connections to potential investment, helping researchers turn ideas into real-world impact.

Yes. Through our Global Talent Initiative, we help governments and enterprises attract international talent through overseas promotion, talent events and long-term partnerships.