Stanford in Oxford

Arrival

Arrival

  • All program participants must arrive in Oxford on the dates indicated on the Key Dates page.
  • An onsite orientation meeting and the first few days of academic instruction will be held at the Oxford Program Center.
  • During orientation, you will meet local faculty and staff and get a thorough introduction to the program.

NOTE: If you choose to arrive early or stay on after the end of the program, you are responsible for arranging your own temporary housing. You will be provided with suggestions for affordable temporary accommodations during orientation on the Stanford campus.

Travel and Length of Stay

While it is tempting to combine your stay in Oxford with frequent excursions to other parts of Europe, you are strongly advised to schedule your more extensive travels outside the regular program quarter. This will enable you to get to know the city well, to have some time for relaxation, and experience Oxford as an insider and not a stereotypical tourist. You should also try to make the most of the opportunity to explore other parts of Britain; there are frequent buses from Oxford to London, and you can reach most other parts of the country conveniently by bus or train from Oxford.

Though it is possible to have a very rewarding and stimulating stay in Oxford of only one quarter, it takes time to make the most of its intellectual opportunities and to become fully immersed in its rich and idiosyncratic culture. If your academic plans permit, therefore, you should think very seriously of staying for two quarters. Very few students who have done this in the past have regretted their decision, and many who have stayed for only one quarter have regretted that they did not stay for longer!