Oxford: the Museums are free and the Pubs are famous. Past Review

By (English, Trinity University) for

Rhodes College: Oxford - British Studies at Oxford

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Yes it certainly was, I learned a great deal academically and otherwise.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The workload was a bit overwhelming in the last week, to the point where there was no time to do any last minute exploring of the area, which was regrettable.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

They were very organized and offered many activities for the participants.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

It seemed to be a very safe neighborhood.

* Food:

It was possible to get gluten free and vegetarian food items from the school. The pubs were pretty tasty and there was great Thai food available.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

All of the plays were very interesting, I found the field trip to the palace incredibly tedious.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

Very safe, keep watch over your belongings outside because it gets crowded in Oxford and many tourists visit there, attracting pick-pockets. I didn't need any additional vaccines.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?

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

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? ranging from about 40 or 50 pounds to about 20 pounds
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Food gets to be expensive if you eat out often, entertainment is also expensive.

Language

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? None

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
  • Hostel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Academics and Teacher/student interaction
* What could be improved?
  • The workload was just a bit overwhelming
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? An academically oriented student would benefit most from this, someone who is interested in synthesizing History and English literature.