“Oxford still remains the most beautiful thing in England, and nowhere else are life and art so exquisitely blended, so perfectly made one.” - Oscar Wilde

The program is in the heart of the academic community at Oxford, one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the world. You will study at Wycliffe Hall and enjoy all the benefits of the great city of Oxford.

Oxford is located an hour to an hour and a half from the center of London by train or bus.

 

Weather in Oxford is much like weather in the Pacific Northwest of the U.S. In the summertime, the weather is mild, and frequently rainy. It’s perfect weather for boots, scarves, and layers: the fall wardrobe, in the summer.

 

The area surrounding Oxford is rural with lots of farmland, but Oxford itself is a city with a small-town feel. Bordering the academic castles are cobbled streets and small shops. Bicyclists weave in and out of traffic. It is flat enough that you can bike everywhere and small enough that you can walk from your dorm at Wycliffe Hall to the center of Oxford in under 30 minutes!

 

Day trips to local historical sites are a part of your program. You will take three field trips during your 5 weeks in Oxford to places like Salisbury, Stonehenge, Glastonbury, Bath, or Coventry. You can also travel in your free time to London, a short bus or train ride away, or any number of other local destinations.

 

You will receive 6 credits for your coursework in Oxford. During your 5 weeks you will attend 2 seminars, with associated tutorials, for 3 credits each.

 

Your seminars will take place in Wycliffe Hall, and your tutorials may take place anywhere within Oxford. The specific location is dependent upon the office of your tutor and the Oxford school with which he or she is affiliated. While Wycliffe Hall will be the location of your dorm, meals, and seminars, much of your free time will be spent in the Bodleian Library, one of the oldest, most extensive, and most prized library collections in the world. Very few people ever gain access to the exclusive volumes within this library system; but as affiliate students of Wycliffe Hall during your time at OSP, you will find these doors open. Prepare yourself to see, smell, touch, and learn from books whose wisdom has withstood the test of time.

 

OSP seminar topics range from "Business, Ethics and Christianity in London" to C.S. Lewis and his classic literature. For a complete list of seminars offered during this term at the Oxford Summer Programme, visit the Academics section of the OSP website: https://bestsemester.com/locations-and-programs/oxford/osp/academics/sem...

You will participate in seminar discussions during the first three weeks of your time in Oxford. Following your seminar sessions, you will meet with your seminar tutor for two one-on-one sessions to develop, defend, and discuss an essay on a topic of your choosing related to your seminar. The tutorial system at Oxford is the most distinct element of Oxford’s teaching. As an OSP student, you will have unparalleled access to the mind and mentorship of an Oxford faculty member who will help you hone your writing and critical thinking skills, preparing your for graduate studies or professional work.

The lecture series, The Christian Tradition in the British Isles, explores the development of Christianity across the nation's landscape, covering the Celtic People of Britain to the Roman province of Britannia. These lectures, along with three field trips to historic places throughout England, provide the historical context of your academic work and experience in Oxford.

 

You will be taught by University faculty, including staff of the Oxford Summer Programme. These are scholars of the highest order, well-regarded and well-published. Your tutorials will be taught by tutors from Wycliffe Hall and other colleges in the University. Please see the faculty page for more info on the OSP faculty: https://bestsemester.com/locations-and-programs/oxford/faculty-and-staff

 

Your seminar groups will be comprised of students of the Oxford Summer Programme, who will be from a variety of North American universities. Your tutorials will be one-on-one discussions with your tutor.

 

You will purchase your flight to the UK a few months before the program. If you are accepted, we’ll send you more details on when to book the flight and how to find your way to your new home. If you fly from the East Coast of the U.S. to London, it’s about a 7-hour flight, and from London's Heathrow airport to Oxford city center, it's an hour and a half bus ride.

 

Yes! Make sure to check the expiration date. You will need a passport that does not expire within 6 months of your return from the program. Start your immigration stamp collection now!

 

Well, that depends. If you are a US or Canadian citizen and only staying in the UK for the duration of the Oxford Summer Programme, you will not need a visa. If you are not a US or Canadian citizen, or are planning to extend your time in Oxford for more than 6 months total, you should look at the UK Border Agency website to learn if you need a visa.

 

You will live in the North Wing of Wycliffe Hall, the college at Oxford that hosts the Oxford Summer Programme. This is a prime location within Oxfordshire, only a short walk from the city centre. The North Wing has rooms spread over four floors with bathrooms on each floor. There are common rooms, laundry facilities, a dining room, and a large kitchen.

 

The Oxford Summer Programme provides 8 lunches over the course of the term; all other meals will need to be provided by the students.

You are free to prepare your meals in the kitchens of Wycliffe Hall, and, of course, there are myriad cafes and pubs in Oxford - including the famous Queen's Lane Coffee House (reputedly the oldest cafe in Europe) and The Eagle and Child, where Tolkein and Lewis met with other Inklings.

And then, of course, there is tea. In Oxford you will become accustomed to (if not dependent upon) the tea culture. Be prepared to sit, sip, and share with your friends and OSP staff several times a day. Many students acquire such a taste for tea, and for the social rejuvenation of these respites, that they bring the custom home with them at the programme's end.

 

Bikes and your own feet. Start breaking in your shoes now! Oxford is city of bicyclists and pedestrians. Although buses are frequent, most students prefer the freedom and pace of foot travel. You will have the option to rent a bike to access the city center even faster.

 

Absolutely. We encourage you to find a local church home in one of the many local cathedrals, house churches, or other diverse places of worship. Not only will these communities support you spiritually, but they will connect you to other students, faculty, and families from colleges throughout the University.

 

Your new community will be made up of 20 to 30 other students from various schools throughout North America. As expats, you'll form quick bonds within a British culture that seems familiar upon first glance, but soon reveals fascinating differences in custom, humor, faith, and more.

 

On a daily basis! While your lectures will be with other North American college students, you’ll be studying in the library with, purchasing coffee from, walking/biking alongside, and attending church among local people.

 

Because your time at Oxford is relatively short, we do not recommend that you invite friends or family to visit you. However, as Oxford and the British Isles in general are a wonderful destination for short visits from North America, we do encourage you to share Oxford with friends and family before or after your term at OSP!

 

Many students find it refreshing to be without a cell phone for a semester. However, if you would like to bring your own, make sure to talk to your service provider about your options. If your phone is unlocked and compatible with overseas SIM cards, you can purchase a card upon arrival. You could also purchase a pay-by-the-minute track phone. More information on this is given during orientation. See Jacques Ellul’s 76 Questions for more details: https://www.bestsemester.com/locations-and-programs/76-questions