Oxford, England
University of Oxford Partnership
Program Overview
11 WAYS TO EXPERIENCE ONE OF THE WORLD’S LEADING UNIVERSITIES
At Oxford, you’ll find wonder at every turn, from the Narnia door that likely inspired C.S. Lewis, to the chalkboard where Einstein dashed off E=mc2. With IFSA, you can attend one of Oxford’s nine elite colleges as a visiting student, and experience a more independent style of learning, featuring the university’s renowned one-on-one or small-group tutorials, led by experts in their fields.
The university campus and the city of Oxford have plenty to explore. And when you’re ready to stretch your legs, London is just 90 miles away, accessible by train in as little as one hour.
Our Oxford programs include IFSA excursions and activities that help you experience and connect with UK culture in ways tourists often miss—without paying extra fees. Possibilities include a West End theater performance, a session in the famous The Great British Bake Off tent, and exploring below ground with a former coal miner in Wales.
Applications are due in mid-December for upcoming fall, academic year, and spring terms. Apply early for these competitive programs.
Details at a Glance
Application deadline
Minimum GPA
3.70
Credit load
12–40
Housing
Residence Hall/Dormitory, Single Room Option
Instruction language
English
Language prerequisites
None
Visa required?
In some cases. Learn more.
Academics
Explore the nine colleges within the University of Oxford system:
- Hertford College
- Lady Margaret Hall
- Lady Margaret Hall (summer program)
- Mansfield College
- Regent’s Park College
- St. Anne’s College
- St. Anne’s College, Premedical Program
- St. Catherine’s College
- St. Edmund Hall
- St. Peter’s College (summer program)
- Worcester College
Tutorial System
The hallmark of the University of Oxford academics is the tutorial system. The tutorial is typically a one-hour meeting between one or two students and the tutor. Tutorials usually meet once a week or every other week, and at the center of the tutorial is an essay on a topic the tutor previously assigned. The tutor will lead a discussion about the essay topic in an effort to provide new insights. At the end of the tutorial, the tutor will assign a new topic and may offer recommended reading. Tutorials are individually arranged, taking into account the subject to be studied and the tutor’s area of expertise. They are similar to independent study courses, but Oxford students bear even more responsibility for conducting independent research and maintaining good academic progress. The University of Oxford organizes weekly lectures on myriad academic subjects, and all students at the University, regardless of college, are welcome to attend. Lectures are not usually mandatory except for some science subjects, but tutors often recommend them as good supplements to tutorials and research.
CHART Your Course
Find the classes you need fast with CHART. Our easy-to-use tool shows you classes recently taken by IFSA students.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Application Deadline
The application deadline is Dec. 15 of the preceding year for Fall Term, Academic Year, and Spring Term for all University of Oxford programs.
Eligibility
- You must be at least 18 years of age. Students under 18 may be accepted on a case-by-case basis.
- You must be currently attending or recently graduated from a U.S. or Canadian community college, technical college, two-year college, four-year college, or four-year university.
- Admission to Oxford colleges is highly competitive. Students typically study abroad at Oxford their junior year, having completed two (2) full-time years of study at their home institution before the start of the Oxford term. Oxford colleges may consider an applicant with just one (1) full-time year of completed study, but those students will be competing with students who have completed greater study in their specific subject area. A student with less than two years of completed study may be limited to first- and second-year classes.
- Eligibility requirements can vary among host institutions. Please ask your IFSA Enrollment Counselor for specific information.
Application Acceptance
This program gives preference to students applying for the Academic Year over students applying for just the Fall Term or the Spring Term.
Recommendation Letters
Your application to this program will require two (2) academic letters of recommendation on home institution letterhead.
TRANSCRIPT
Upon completion of your program, IFSA will send an official Butler University transcript to your home university with your coursework converted to the U.S. semester credit hour system. You will also have access to an unofficial transcript in your IFSA Student Portal. The transcript reflects classes taken, credits attempted, and grades earned during your term abroad. This service is included in your study abroad program at no additional cost. See our Transcripts page for more information.
Excursions
Activities and excursions are designed to pull you into the communities you visit and encourage cultural connections of every kind. There’s no extra fee to participate in these optional outings—everything is included in your program fee.
Below are a selection of activities and excursions from previous terms; options may vary for your program. Due to the seasonal nature of many of program activities, we cannot guarantee a specific activity or excursion will be available in a given term or program.
Activities
- The Uncomfortable Oxford Walking Tour: This tour is dedicated to raising awareness about the “uncomfortable” aspects of history. Tours focus on a specific theme and ask questions aimed at provoking new ways of seeing Oxford’s city landscape and history. Students will engage with the politics of memory in the city while uncovering histories of empire, class divides, and gender discrimination, highlighting how these legacies have left an enduring impact on our modern lives.
- The Pitt Rivers Museum Tour: Go behind the scenes at one of Oxford’s most popular attractions, famous for its period atmosphere and outstanding collections from many cultures around the world, past and present. Receive a private tour of the museum founded in 1884 by Lieutenant General Augustus Pitt Rivers, who donated approximately 22,000 items to be displayed. The collection has now grown to 500,000 items, many of which have been donated by travelers, scholars, and missionaries from across the world.
- West End Theatre Performance: No time in the UK would be complete without a trip to the West End, London’s famous theatre district. Shows are chosen that provide context or different perspectives on London/the UK/Europe. Recent examples include Operation Mincemeat and Cabaret.
- Cotswolds Villages and Blenheim Palace Day Trip: The Cotswolds are designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The famous picturesque villages of mellow honey-colored stone, gentle hills, peaceful pastures, and winding rivers offer a contrasting backdrop to engage with stories about the bloody battles and violent skirmishes that took place during the English Civil War. Next up is a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage site Blenheim Palace, home to the 12th Duke of Marlborough and birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill.
- Big Welsh Weekend: Delve into the rich history of Wales and explore its unique culture and its complex relationship with the rest of the UK on a weekend that takes in the famous Tintern Abbey, the historic Raglan Castle, the Blaenavon coal mines, and St Fagan’s, a museum that has preserved buildings and cultural practices from Welsh history. Spend the night in Cardiff, the Welsh capital, and discover the Cardiff Bay area, home of the Welsh Parliament.
- Yorkshire Adventure: Explore the vibrant and historic county of Yorkshire on a weekend trip where you’ll discover how this English region has contributed to the UK’s cultural landscape. Highlights may include the Bronte Parsonage in Haworth, the Piece Hall in Halifax, the Victorian model village of Saltaire, or the imposing Harewood House in Leeds.
- Waddesdon Manor Visit: Step inside the country home of the Rothschilds, one of the wealthiest families in the world. The house, built in the style of a French chateau, was created to display the remarkable art collection of Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild. Discover the family’s rich and complex history while taking in some of finest pieces of world art, before exploring the extensive landscaped gardens.
Housing and Meals
Housing
Residence Hall/Dormitory, Single Room OptionMeals
Self-CateringDetails
IFSA is proud to partner with nine Oxford University colleges. Each college handles housing and meals a bit differently. Most students live with other undergraduate students in their college’s residences and have opportunities to share meals with fellow Oxford students at college dining halls, a unique experience that’s not to be missed!
For details, please refer to each program’s housing and meal information.
Dates and Fees
Get Started
Kevin Cañas
Enrollment Counselor