Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Excellent Academics but socially isolated from local students August 07, 2022

By (Economics and History, Wellesley College) - abroad from 10/03/2021 to 06/17/2022 with

St Edmund Hall, University of Oxford - Visiting Students Program

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I think it was academically worthwhile.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I felt that we were not well integrated or informed of the resources that Oxford had to offer and that St. Edmund Hall had to offer. I loved the academic rigor and format of the program however. St. Edmund Hall however, when one of the other visiting students sexually harassed 3 or 4 of the visiting students, myself included, said that there was insufficient reason to have him removed from the college or from the study abroad program. As such, out of fear of running into him at social events, I, and a few of the other girls he had harassed, functionally could not go to multiple events. I found the University of Oxford's response to sexual harrassment absolutely abhorrent. He went on to do the same thing to multiple other girls, including a graduate student later on in the year. To my knowledge, St. Edmund Hall and the University of Oxford did nothing about these incidents and allowed him full privileges as a member of the JCR. This was a significant blow and hampered my study abroad experience.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Administration was incredibly bureaucratic, inflexible, and did little to inform the Visiting Students of the resources available to them.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

We were given individual suites, which was very much appreciated, and our buildings had scouts that cleaned once a week. It was lovely, if a little isolating because we had no access to any other housing.

* Food:

It was British food, so not particularly well-seasoned, but I really enjoyed the formal halls that we had the option of attending 3x a week.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

St. Edmund Hall did little to make sure that we were integrated with the British students. I think it is arguable that Oxford went out of their way to ensure that the Economics students were grouped with other visiting students only, which was not what I had wished for when I applied to the program.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

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

I think I would have gone to LSE instead, as it seemed like LSE had more structure given to their visiting students program.

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? 100 pounds

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Academics
  • Flexibility
* What could be improved?
  • Response to sexual harrassment
  • Integration with local culture
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? That we would be functionally isolated from the actual Oxford students

Reasons For Studying Abroad

To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you.
The Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!