A Semester Abroad at Oxford
Hello from Oxford! My name is Charlotte, and I’m a junior at Barnard, studying Political Science and Human Rights with a minor in Environmental Science. This semester, I’m abroad at St. Catherine’s College (known as St. Catz) at Oxford University, and I wanted to share what it has been like and how it differs from Barnard. For anyone interested in studying abroad at Oxford, or studying abroad in general, I hope my reflections will be of use!
Sunday Brunch at Christ Church (the Harry Potter dining hall)
The Oxford Academic Calendar
Oxford’s academic year is divided into three terms: Michaelmas (fall), Hilary (spring), and Trinity (summer). As a visiting student for the spring semester, I am enrolled for both Hilary and Trinity terms, which essentially equates to two full academic terms at Oxford. The terms are eight weeks long, with a six-week break in between. This means the structure is very intense—eight weeks of non-stop work followed by a long break. The pace can be overwhelming at times, but it’s all worth it when you get that break!
An Overview of the Tutorial System:
One of the defining features of Oxford’s academic experience is the tutorial system. Students are assigned a tutor who is an expert in their field. In a typical tutorial, you and your tutor meet one-on-one or in small groups to discuss your work—usually an essay, presentation, or problem-set. This system is unlike the lecture-heavy format common in many American universities, and it takes a bit of adjusting to. The one-on-one dynamic is incredibly rewarding but also a bit intimidating at first—there’s nowhere to hide, and you have to be well-prepared to engage. It also means that you’re held to a higher standard of accountability, but that’s part of what makes the system so valuable.
For visiting students like me, we typically have two tutorials: a primary tutorial and a secondary tutorial. Each requires a 2,000-word essay before the meeting. My primary tutorial is on Global Justice, which is actually a law class on international human rights law, and my secondary tutorial is Politics of Russia and the Former Soviet Union. Global justice had a largely predetermined syllabus with one essay question each week. The last two weeks, however, I was able to choose the topic we focused on. On the other hand, my tutor for Former Soviet Union Politics gave me a syllabus with 11 topics and asked me to select the ones that piqued my interest—this was before I even arrived at Oxford. Former Soviet Union politics also had two essay questions to choose from each week.
The primary tutorials are worth 8 credits, while secondary tutorials are worth 4 credits. By the end of the two terms, I will have earned 24 credits.
Independence and Autonomy
Studying at Oxford is definitely an exercise in independence. You’re largely in charge of planning your schedule and managing your time. Unlike at Barnard, where we have set class times and lectures, at Oxford, you don’t have a traditional timetable with back-to-back classes. Instead, you have to decide when to fit in your reading, writing, and research, which means learning how to manage your workload on your own.
This lack of a rigid structure also means that, unlike the typical American study abroad experience where weekends are for relaxing, the students here are often more focused on their academic work during the weekends. In fact, many Oxford students don’t even go out on Fridays and Saturdays regularly—it's much more common to go out during the weekdays!
Developing Your Own Voice
What I’ve found to be the most challenging—and rewarding—aspect of the tutorial system is the emphasis on developing your own voice as an academic. My tutors don’t just want me to be a good writer or to synthesize other scholars’ arguments; they want me to engage critically with the material and form my own opinions. It’s not enough to simply repeat what others have said—you have to develop original thoughts, supported by the scholars you read. They encourage you to think independently and provide supplementary research that goes beyond the assigned reading.
An inside look at the Radcliffe Camera, one of Oxford University’s libraries and my favorite study spot.
For example, in Global Justice, sometimes the required reading was as minimal as one article, which meant I had to conduct a lot of supplementary research to back up my ideas. On the other hand, my Former Soviet Union Politics tutorial often had over 500 pages of reading, which was incredibly challenging but also intellectually enriching. The combination of deep readings and the pressure to contribute original thoughts made each tutorial an exercise in critical thinking and intellectual growth.
The Workload
As you’ve probably already surmised, if you’re considering coming to Oxford for a semester, don’t expect a “chill” study abroad experience. The Oxford system is academically demanding, and it’s not uncommon for students to feel overwhelmed at first. Every week, I have to produce a 2,000-word essay for my primary tutorial, and for my secondary tutorial, I’m working on one every other week. This might sound like a lot, but I’ve quickly realized that it’s manageable as long as you stay organized and plan ahead. The key here is time management—because there are no midterms or finals, all your work culminates in your tutorial essays, and those essays are your main assessments.
One of the unique things about Oxford is the absence of regular lectures or classes. In fact, for both my tutorials, I only have one class per week for Global Justice and one class every other week for Former Soviet Union Politics. My tutors didn’t require me to attend supplementary lectures, though some tutors might encourage this.
Pros and Cons
One of the challenges of this system is the lack of a clear-cut schedule. At Barnard, we have classes and regular lectures with a structured timetable, but at Oxford, my week is more flexible. My essays and reading take priority, but it requires a different level of self-discipline to stay on top of the workload. At the same time, this flexibility allows me to shape my learning and focus on the topics that interest me most.
Another challenge is the sheer intensity of the work. The Oxford system is not for the faint-hearted. The pressure can feel immense at times, especially when the deadlines seem to sneak up on you. But despite the workload, there’s something incredibly satisfying about the depth of knowledge you gain from this system. I’ve already learned more in a few weeks here than I could have imagined. Also, after eight weeks of hard work, the six week vacation is all the more rewarding.
Conclusion: A Unique Experience
In conclusion, studying at Oxford is not your typical study abroad experience. It’s academically rigorous, intellectually stimulating, and at times, downright intense. But for anyone who thrives in a challenging academic environment, the rewards are immense. If you’re ready to engage in deep, personalized learning and push yourself, then Oxford’s tutorial system might be the right fit for you!
P.S - Some additional photos from my time here!
Rugby game against Cambridge in London, but we lost :(
European night in Oxford’s town hall…they love their black-tie events here, let me tell you.
My £3.50 St. Catz breakfast. Baked beans are delish.
My walk through College Park to my tutorial featuring the Tolkein bench.