A happy, fruitful year, and a unique place that I will always remember. Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

While the academic resources are abundant and the courses rigorous, the tutorial system is hard to adapt to at first given the limited access to guidance and help. Some tutors may be better at teaching than others despite their academic achievements.

On-site administration of your program

Questions get answered and things get done quite swiftly.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

St Edmund Hall's visiting students all live about 15 minutes walk off-campus. The rooms are single, some are en suite rooms with individual bathroom. Scouts help clean the room and take the garbage out about twice a week during the term. And our housing is available for the whole school year, even during the vacations in between terms.

The food is expensive here, so I chose not to eat too big a meal for lunch to keep my daily expense on meals to about 10 pounds. Formal halls are a must because they are reasonably priced three-course meals with wine in old halls of Oxford. St Edmund Hall, Lady Margaret Hall, have the best halls among the ones I've been to.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Probably due to my living off-campus, I didn't find myself surrounded by local students. I didn't like drinking or clubbing, so I missed some opportunities to hang out with local students. I tried to start several lunch conversations with local student but received cold responses, which stopped my future endeavors. In the end, I made friends with quite a few visiting students and with local students sharing my cultural backgrounds but not with the British students. This was a pity.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

For students who are visiting for the whole academic year, NHS provides free health care services.

Oxford is a rather safe town except for bicyclists. Good bicycles frequently get stolen and accidents may occur. While people say Cowley Road is not a safe place to be at night, I've been there several times with friends and was fine. There was once when my wallet (in my pocket) got stolen on the street during the day, and I lost my national identity card along with bank cards. But this incidence could have been avoided had I been more careful.

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

2. I spent over $150/week

Select all that apply

• Dorm

Select all that apply

• Local Students
• Americans
• International Students

Select all that apply

• Local Students
• Americans
• International Students

• The academics
• The town of Oxford
• The accomodation

• More guidance on course selection
• More opportunities to mingle with the local students
• More help with quantitative materials

The Avid Adventurer