Oxford, England
University of Oxford, St. Catherine’s College Partnership
Program Overview
OXFORD’S LARGEST AND YOUNGEST COLLEGE
The college motto Nov et Vetera—the new and the old—sums up the St. Catherine’s attitude perfectly. Founded in 1962, it is Oxford’s youngest undergraduate college, yet it more than holds its own academically, with noted programs across a variety of disciplines, from philosophy to languages, art history to math, and economics to music.
Designed by the famous Danish architect Arne Jacobsen, the college’s modern architecture reflects the college’s contemporary outlook. You can even store your bike in the historic circular shed between classes.
In addition to an incredible Oxford experience, your program also includes IFSA excursions and activities that give you deeper cultural insights, with no 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.
Details at a Glance
Application deadline
Minimum GPA
3.75
Credit load
12–36
Housing
Residence Hall/Dormitory, Single Room Option
Instruction language
English
Language prerequisites
None
Visa required?
In some cases. Learn more.
Academics
CHART Your Course
Find the classes you need fast with CHART. Our easy-to-use tool shows you classes recently taken by IFSA students.
Because of the individualized nature of the tutorial system, most colleges at Oxford do not have an online class catalog. You can view the list of subjects that have been taken by previous visiting students, visit the St. Catherine’s Visiting Students page.
Students take one primary (major) and one secondary (minor) tutorial every term. Students are not permitted to receive extra credit by taking two primary tutorials in one term. Students will be awarded 8 U.S. semester credit hours for each primary tutorial and 4 U.S. semester credit hours for each secondary tutorial. No credit will be awarded for additional work undertaken even if the University of Oxford approves it.
Students will earn:
- 12 U.S. semester credit hours for the Fall Term (Michaelmas Term)
- 24 U.S. semester credit hours for the Spring Term (Hilary Term and Trinity Term)
- 36 U.S. semester credit hours for the Academic Year (Michaelmas Term, Hillary Term, and Trinity Term)
Science and math students may be required to attend University lectures or to take one or more short tutorials. Regardless of the number of tutorials or lectures required, science students will earn the same number of credits as other students.
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 classes, 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.
Lab & Field Trip Fees
Please review syllabi and course materials when registering for direct-enroll classes. Certain classes may have a one-off lab or field trip fee disclosed in the syllabus or during the first meeting of the class. These fees are not included in your IFSA program fee. You will be responsible for these fees, whether they are billed and paid by IFSA or billed to you.
St. Catherine’s College is unable to offer positions to study abroad students in the Engineering Department and computer science.
Your tutorial topics should be limited to no more than two subjects, and those subjects should be related. For instance, the tutors reviewing your application will look more favorably at a tutorial request form that has choices limited to Politics and History Departments. They would not be as impressed with a tutorial request form that lists choices in chemistry, economics, and art history.
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
Saint Catherine’s is just northeast of Oxford city center. Students live on the modernist-style college campus in residence halls. Halls are divided into units known as staircases. Each staircase typically houses about 20 students.
- Living space. Students have private rooms, each with a single bed, desk, chair, and storage. Roommates within a suite share a bathroom and living room. Bed sheets are provided.
- Meals. There is no meal plan, but the college dining hall serves lunch and dinner for nominal fees. Give it a try—dining hall meals are a big part of the Oxford experience. Students can also cook for themselves in shared kitchen facilities in their residence halls.
- Nearby. Bodleian Library (10-minute walk). Oxford city center (15-minute walk). College grounds border the River Cherwell, The Grove, and The Water Meadow.
Students have private rooms, each with a single bed, desk, chair, and storage. Roommates within a suite share a bathroom and living room. Bed sheets are provided.
Dates and Fees
Get Started
Kristen Clark
Enrollment Counselor