Oxford, England
University of Oxford, St. Peter’s College Summer
Program Overview
INTENSIVE ACADEMICS IN THE HEART OF OXFORD
English lit, medieval studies, and environmental studies take on exciting new dimension with the University of Oxford’s famed tutorial system and access to the world-famous Bodleian Library. The program is hosted by Magdalen College and taught by St. Peter’s College faculty. A four-day Wales Field Excursion, optional for some students but required for Environmental Studies students, is included in the program.
Details at a Glance
Application deadline
Minimum GPA
3.00
Credit load
6
Housing
Residence Hall/Dormitory, Single Room Option
Instruction language
English
Language prerequisites
None
Visa required?
Not in most 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.
To view available classes, visit the St. Peter’s College summer catalog. Choose one of three academic options: English Literature, Medieval Studies, or Environmental Studies.
English Literature & Medieval Studies
A full class load at St. Peter’s is one class for 6 U.S. semester credit hours. However, students enrolling in English Literature or Medieval Studies can earn an additional 2 U.S. semester credit hours if they opt to participate in the four-day Wales Field Excursion: The Development of British Landscapes. Students will write a 2,000-word paper on a subject of their choice relating to the excursion and approved by St. Peter’s College. Those students who participate in the Wales Field Excursion but choose not the complete the written assignment will be awarded a mark of NC (non-credit) on their final transcript. You must let your IFSA Enrollment Counselor know at the time of the application if you would like to opt in, and this decision is binding. There is no additional cost for Wales Field Excursion option.
Previously offered English Literature summer classes have included:
- Rediscovering Shakespeare
- Jane Austen in Text and Context
- The Inklings in Oxford (J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis et al.)
- Prison Literature: the Freedom of Imprisonment
Previously offered Medieval Studies summer classes have included:
- Conquest & Colonisation: England and Her Neighbours 1016-1296
- Death, Nature and the Supernatural in Medieval Literature
- The Arthurian Traditions of King Arthur and the Fellowship of the Knights of the Round Table.
Environmental Studies
Students enrolling in Environmental Studies will earn 8 U.S. semester credit hours which requires the four-day Wales Field Excursion: The Development of British Landscapes. Previously offered Environmental Studies summer classes have included:
- Climate Change in the Anthropocene: Global Catastrophic Risk & Resilience.
- Environmental Change & British Landscape Development 11,500 BP – 1700 AD/CE.
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.
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.
As an IFSA student, you are entitled to enroll in undergraduate courses for which you are qualified and in which space is available. Course descriptions in the online course catalog include prerequisites you must fulfill in order to enroll in each course when applicable. You can only under one program and will take only one course within that program.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
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.
Recommendation Letters
Your application to this program will require one (1) academic letter 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
- Haunted Oxford Tour, Uncomfortable Oxford: Step into the shadows of history and embark on an uncomfortable ghost tour as you explore the eerie and profound tales of hauntings that have transcended time. Researched and designed by two historians who study the history of hauntings and ghost stories, this tour delves into stories of the supernatural, revealing the unsettling moments of the past and the reasons why they continue to haunt the present. This unique tour examines haunting through the echoes of gender disparities, oppression, violence, social division, and the powerful grip of memory.
- Woodstock and Blenheim Palace Trip: Venture out of Oxford for a day trip to Woodstock, a picturesque village in the Cotswolds. With beautiful meadows, river scenes and quaint shops, this is the idea break from the stress and bustle of Oxford. Woodstock is also home to Blenheim Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site, home to the 12th Duke of Marlborough and birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill.
- London’s Southbank Walk and Borough Market. Wander the River Thames then nosh on fish and chips, Thai curry, and more—there are hundreds of produce and street food stalls to choose from. Soak up some history as you refuel—food markets have stood here since the Middle Ages.
- Buckingham Palace. On the bucket list for countless UK visitors, here’s your chance to see the majestic London home of British monarchs since Queen Victoria in 1837. (Look for the Royal Standard’s yellow, red and blue squares that signify the king is in residence.)
- Independence Day BBQ. You may be in the UK, but you can still celebrate the fabulous U.S. Independence Day with a festive get-together and meal.
Housing and Meals
Housing
Residence Hall/Dormitory, Single Room OptionMeals
Most IncludedDetails
IFSA Saint Peter’s students live in the heart of the city, on the Magdalen College grounds or in housing secured by the college just across the street.
- Living space. Most students have single rooms, each with a bed, desk, chair, and storage. Students shared bathrooms and kitchen facilities.
- 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 use the kitchen facilities in their residence halls to prepare meals.
- Nearby. Bodleian Library (7-minute walk). Botanic Gardens (1-minute walk). River Cherwell, The Grove, and The Water Meadow.
Dates and Fees
Get Started
Kristen Clark
Enrollment Counselor