Tufts in Oxford
Location: Oxford, England
Program option: Academic Year
The University of Oxford, with 12,000 undergraduates and 10,000 graduate students, is now over 800 years old and consists of thirty-eight independent, self-contained, self-governed colleges and numerous other institutes and organizations. Tufts’ agreement with Pembroke College allows a select number of qualified Tufts students to spend an academic year as fully integrated visiting students. Pembroke College was founded in 1624 and has a student body of 500. It is a friendly and informal college which balances intellectual activity with sports, drama, and music (Pembroke has its own boathouse and playing fields).
Program Staff
Director: Meredith Hyde, BA, Yale University; MPhil, Oxford University; DPhil, Oxford University
Assistant Director: Vicky Hill, BA, University of Birmingham; MA Goldsmiths College, University of London
Program Administrator: Nicollette Kabat, BA, Arcadia University
Prerequisites
Students at Oxford study a single subject or for a specific course, such as PPE (Politics, Philosophy and Economics). Applicants must have substantial background in the subject they wish to pursue and the ability to study that subject intensively for one year. In addition to meeting Tufts’ general eligibility requirements, applicants to Tufts in Oxford must have a minimum 3.7 cumulative grade point average at the time of application and through participation in the program. Pembroke will accept applications only from students who are prepared to study in one of the academic subjects offered to visiting students (check under the FAQs).
Additional Application Procedures
You must make an appointment with the Associate Director of Tufts Global Education by November 1 to discuss the program and application process. If you meet the basic application requirements and the program seems suitable to your academic plan, you will then be approved to interview with the Director for the program, Dr. Meredith Hyde, to receive approval to apply. If approved, you will be granted access to the application and must submit your completed application to Tufts Global Education by December 1, 2022 (for the 2023-2024 academic year). The following items are required as part of the application submission:
- A completed Pembroke College Visiting Student application form, provided by Tufts Global Education.
- Two letters of recommendation from full-time members of the Tufts faculty. Both recommendations should be from the Tufts department corresponding to the subject you wish to study at Pembroke (or one from each department if pursuing a combined subject).
- Two term papers, problem sets, or other relevant pieces of sample work in the subject you wish to study at Pembroke.
Tufts will select nominees to submit to Pembroke. Pembroke, in turn, will choose the candidates to study at Pembroke, depending on the availability of spaces in the various academic subjects and the strength of individual applications. This process may take two to three months, so applicants should not expect a decision before late February or March.
Fees
2022-23
$82,002 for the full year includes:
- Orientation program
- Full tuition and fees at Pembroke College
- Accommodation within Pembroke College for the duration of the program (October through June)
- College 'flexiplan' meal plan
- Weekly cost-of-living stipend to cover additional meals (academic terms only)
- Use of the University of Oxford facilities including computers, email, and library access
- Extracurricular activities
- A "Clubs & Societies" stipend to support membership in the Oxford Union or other fee-based student groups
- Opportunity to attend events in London with Tufts-in-London students (subsidized tickets are provided)
- Please note that airfare and certain other travel costs (visas, etc.) are *not* included in the program fee- student is responsible for these charges.
Academics
Courses at Oxford, called "tutorials" or "papers," involve a small group of students (one to three) meeting with a tutor (a member of the faculty) once per week. Each meeting requires an assignment of either a short research paper or presentation, and students are expected to work independently using reading lists. For more information on how the system works, please visit the Oxford website. This is a unique form of learning, requiring a high degree of independence and original thought, which offers students a chance to focus on what they want to learn within subject areas.
Pembroke's calendar is divided into three teaching terms of eight weeks each, taught over the course of the academic year: Michaelmas (October through December), Hilary (January through March), and Trinity (April through June). In the humanities and social sciences, students take two tutorials (courses) per term, for a total of six over the full academic year. Each tutorial is typically worth 6 SHUs. Science majors have an equal amount of work through a combination of tutorials and laboratory work. The final assessment is based largely on tutorial assignments and participation, so although you may be required to take a final test at the end of each course of tutorials (called 'collections'), visiting students do not take end-of-year final exams as they would at other UK universities.
Students may study in one of the following subjects, depending upon available faculty. For the most up-to-date list and more information, please consult the Pembroke College website.
- Biochemistry
- Biological Sciences
- Chemistry
- Computer Science
- Computer Science and Mathematics
- Economics
- Economics and Management
- English
- English and Modern Languages (French, German, Italian)
- History
- History and Economics
- History and English
- History and Modern Languages
- History and Politics
- Mathematics
- Mathematics and Philosophy
- Modern Languages
- Oriental Studies (Arabic, Islamic Studies)
- Oriental Studies (Japanese, Chinese)
- Philosophy
- Philosophy and Modern Languages
- Philosophy, Politics, and Economics
- Physics
- Physics and Philosophy
- Politics
- Psychology
- Psychology, Philosophy, and Linguistics
- Theology
Program Details
Accommodations and Meals
Tufts students are housed in single rooms within the college in one of Pembroke’s residence halls, which range from older, renovated buildings to modern ones, all in the college's main site in central Oxford. Students can remain in their rooms throughout the duration of the program (October through June) and do not need to move out between terms.
During Michaelmas term, the meal plan includes six dinners per week in the college dining hall, while during Hilary and Trinity terms, students can use the 'flexiplan' meal plan to eat either in Hall or at the college café, Farthings. Students are also provided a term-time stipend to meet the cost of other meals as well as some basic living expenses.
Orientation
Pembroke has a comprehensive orientation for new students which lasts several days before the beginning of the first term. There are additional events for students on the Tufts-in-Oxford program, including sessions on topics like British language, traveling around the UK, positive mental health, and how to plan out your time abroad.
Student Activities
A large variety of student clubs, teams, and societies are offered through Pembroke and Oxford. Tufts in Oxford provides a 'Clubs & Societies' stipend to support membership in the Oxford Union and/or other student groups that require a membership fee.
Tufts-in-Oxford students are warmly encouraged to participate in the events of the Tufts-in-London program, and the cost of traveling to London to participate is covered. Recent events have included a behind the scenes tour of the House of Commons, a fish and chips dinner at one of London’s oldest ‘chippys’, and the England vs Germany football match at Wembley. More information can be found on the Tufts in London and Oxford website.
Program Dates
Dates are approximate.
The program runs from October to late June, and students should be aware that they must complete the full program through mid-June and cannot leave early for an internship, summer job, or other obligation.