College Associate Membership & City Life

College Associate Membership

The Oxford Program enhances the academic experience by exposing Stanford students to the daily life of Oxford University. All Oxford students and faculty are members of a college, and associate membership of a college is arranged for all participants in the Stanford-in-Oxford program. Colleges are more than simply dormitories; most of them are long-established institutions with a strong sense of their own culture and identity, and most Oxford students see their college (and not the University) as the main focus of loyalty. As a temporary member of one of the three colleges -- Brasenose, Corpus Christi, or Magdalen -- you will be expected to participate in the life of the college, not only through having meals there but also by using the college library and by getting involved in sports, music, theater and the many other extracurricular activities that are offered.

Most Stanford students have found that involvement in extracurricular activities is by far the best way to meet Oxford students. The colleges' sports teams and societies often recruit students from outside their own college, so your extracurricular activities need not be limited only to your affiliate college. In addition to the college clubs and societies there are countless Oxford University clubs and societies that offer access to a highly eclectic range of leisure pursuits. Most of these activities will be within walking distance of the Stanford House.

City Life

You will be affiliated with one of the three Oxford colleges — Brasenose, Corpus Christi, or Magdalen — which will give you access to sports and most other college facilities that your Oxford peers enjoy.

The colleges' sports teams and societies often recruit students from outside their own college and associate members, which means that your extracurricular activities might not be limited only to your affiliate college. In addition to the college clubs and societies, Oxford University’s Student Union offers the opportunity to join in an even wider range of leisure pursuits. Most activities in Oxford will be within walking distance of the Stanford House.

Convenient public transport is available around Oxford and from oxford to London and elsewhere in Britain.

While it is tempting to combine your stay in Oxford with frequent excursions to other parts of the United Kingdom and Europe, the center encourages all students to schedule their travels outside the regular program quarter, so that they can make the most of their contact with Oxford students and get to know the city well.