Hopefully going back one day! Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

As an institution, Oxford is known for its rigor -- but also the immense learning that can occur there. My time at Oxford was well-spent in many libraries, writing essays and learning the material, but it was also spent getting to know my fellow students and the rich history of the institution. I loved my time there, and loved the education so much that I hope to one day return for a higher degree.

On-site administration of your program

IFSA-Butler was incredible about having an advisor who visited Oxford frequently. During the time I studied, my advisor was Andrew Williams, who was a fantastic mentor, listener, and lover of cakes/baked goods! He was a great person to have around and really made me feel like IFSA was invested in my experience in Oxford.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I had a nice room -- it was a single, with a hall bath and a shared kitchen. It was in the basement, so I never got to open my windows, but overall it was a nice facility. However, St Edmund Hall puts all of its international students (typically) in two buildings, so I was surrounded primarily by other Americans studying abroad. I wish that I had been able to live with current British (or just non-visiting) Oxford students.

St Edmund Hall provided a certain number of dinner meals to be consumed, and we had a good enough kitchen that food wasn't difficult to figure out. The best things were our Formal Halls, where students got together and we dined in a fancy setting together; there were two a week and it was always nice to try and go to one at least every other week.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

On my own, I didn't feel particularly integrated; however, after a few weeks in Oxford, I decided to join a sports team, and it totally changed my experience. I still felt a little bit isolated from the overall Oxford student body, but I really got to know and spend a lot of time with the girls on the sports team with me.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I did not have any specific medical needs while I was abroad, but I can say that access (and cheap access) to OTC medications such as painkillers or allergy medications is really accessible via pharmacies like Boots and Superdrug.

Oxford feels like -- and is -- a safe city. Even when things were not great in London, Oxford very rarely felt impacted by those outside events. There are, however, a few places that feel a little bit less safe than others during the night; Cornmarket Street, and the further reaches of the Cowley area, are not great places to be alone when it's dark out. You'll be fine as long as you're with friends, but there were a few times when I was walking back from either a restaurant or a library or the train station late at night that didn't feel 100% safe.

I would most definitely go to Oxford again. I might consider trying a different college, just because they are all so unique, but Oxford itself is a wonderful and immense learning institution.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

All of England is an expensive place. Because I was prepared for it, I didn't find it to be particularly bothersome, but I had friends who weren't ready for how much a meal out or a cup of coffee was going to cost them. Groceries, however, can be cheap if you know what to buy!

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• Dorm

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• Americans
• International Students

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• Other

• Academic rigor
• City setting
• Rich history

• Affordability
• Integration of Visiting Students with Others
• Academic preparation

The Academic or Linguist