Tufts in Oxford

Oxford is the oldest university in the English-speaking world, established in the 12th century, and the Tufts in Oxford program allows Tufts students the opportunity of spending a year at Pembroke College, one of the thirty-six constituent colleges of the university, as a visiting student.  Oxford’s renowned tutorial system allows students to work one-on-one or in small groups with an expert in their specific area of study, focusing on the subject in depth and preparing for graduate-level work. 

Oxford is a quintessential college town, with a population of 162,000, and is home to the famous Bodleian Library, the Ashmolean and Pitt Rivers museums, Blackwell’s, the largest bookstore in the world, and the Queen’s Lane Coffee House, founded in 1654 and the oldest continually serving coffee house in Europe.  Located in the midlands, Oxford is just an hour train ride from London. Alice in Wonderland, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings were all written by Oxford University professors (known as ‘dons’) and the city is frequently used as a filming location, including the Harry Potter and James Bond movies.  Oxford’s primary industries include motor manufacturing (it is where the iconic Mini is built), publishing, information technology and science.   

Students at Oxford typically take two tutorials per term over three terms in a single discipline (students in science subjects also do labs and group seminars).  

The Oxford tutorial system is a unique form of learning that requires a high degree of independence and original thought, offering students the opportunity to focus on their specific interests within subject areas. The Oxford tutorial is a meeting between the tutor (a member of the faculty) and 1-3 students once per week. Students are expected to work independently using reading lists and each meeting requires an assignment of a short research paper or presentation of 3,000 – 4,000 words.  

Typically, each tutorial is worth 6 SHUs. Final assessment is based on tutorial assignments and participation. Visiting students do not take end-of-year final exams as they would at other UK universities; however, they may be required to take collections, exams at the end of each set of tutorials, either at the end of term or the beginning of the next one. See the Oxford Glossary for more Oxford-specific terminology. 

Be sure to review our academic policies for education abroad and plan accordingly with your academic advisor(s).   

Review TGE Academic Policies  

Prerequisites  

This program is open to Tufts undergraduate juniors who meet the general eligibility requirements and have a minimum 3.7 GPA. In addition, applicants must demonstrate successful completion of at least four courses of college-level coursework in the intended area of study at Oxford. Pembroke College will only accept applications from students who are prepared to study in one of the academic subjects offered to visiting students (refer to FAQ section).  

Additional Application Procedures

You must contact Evan Lohmann, Assistant Director of Tufts Programs Abroad, no later than 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 may then be invited to interview with the Director for the program, Dr. Meredith Hyde. If approved to apply, you will be granted access to the application and must submit your completed application to Tufts Global Education by December 1, 2024 (for the 2025-2026 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.

Courses

Students may study in one of the following subjects, depending upon available faculty. Please note you can only study extant combinations (such as Computer Science and Mathematics) and cannot combine others (e.g., Chemistry and Mathematics).  Please consult the Pembroke College website (refer to FAQ section) for the most current information. 

• Humanities and Social Sciences: Students take two tutorials per term over three terms for a total of six tutorials over the academic year, earning 36 SHUs. 
• Experimental Psychology and Natural Sciences: Students study through a combination of tutorials and laboratory work.  
• Computer Science: Students study both in tutorials and in seminars. 

Orientation  

Pembroke College offers a comprehensive, week-long orientation for new students before the beginning of the first term. Orientation events for international students take place at the same time as for the first year (“fresher”) students and include events such as the  Student Union Freshers’ fair, during which students can join hundreds of student societies and clubs.  

There are additional events specifically for the Tufts in Oxford cohort, covering topics like British language, traveling around the UK, positive mental health, how to plan out your time abroad, and joint events with the Tufts in London program. 

Housing and Meals  

Students are housed in single rooms in one of Pembroke’s residence halls on 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.  

Students are on the flexiplan meal plan, a set amount of credit per term which can be used for meals in Hall for lunch and dinner, a certain number of Formal dinners in hall, and at the college café, Farthings. Students are also provided a stipend to meet the cost of other meals as well as some basic living expenses.

Co-Curricular Activities  

Students have access to over 400 clubs, societies, publications, and teams through Pembroke College and Oxford; visit Oxford Life to learn more. Previous students have joined the rowing teams at Pembroke, and played for the university’s men’s lacrosse, MMA, and women’s football teams.  They have also joined college and university orchestras, written for various publications, and become involved in all aspects of college life.  Many join the world-famous Oxford Union, home of extraordinary speakers and debates. See also: Sports (A to Z), Register of Student Clubs, and Pembroke Junior College Room.

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 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, performances at Shakespeare’s Globe, a traditional English tea on a converted vintage bus,’ and the UEFA Finalissima England vs. Brazil match at Wembley. Find more information on the Tufts in London and Oxford website. 

Student Perspectives

The on-site staff advises students on academics and co-curricular activities and organizes study tours, events, and cultural excursions.