Stanford in Oxford

Tutorials

An integral part of the Oxford program is the tutorial system, the characteristic form of undergraduate instruction at the University of Oxford. Stanford students have often described the experience as "the single most challenging, yet rewarding academic experience" that they have had while an undergraduate at Stanford. Tutorials give you an opportunity to explore a subject one-on-one, in depth, with a tutor who is a scholar in that respective discipline.

University of Oxford and Tradition of Tutorials

Tutorials are a fundamental element of study at the University of Oxford. Tutorials are typically taught one-to-one, or two-to-one, between yourself and a professor or researcher at Oxford who is a specialist in that subject.

Most tutorial courses of study are composed of 1 hour of contact with the tutor, and 20 hours of independent study under the tutor’s guidance each week. The hours of independent study can be composed by reading assignments, lecture attendance, practical experience in museums or lab groups, and work composition such as essay writing or problem solving. In order to sustain an hour of intensive discussion, all tutorials are based on a substantial piece of work completed in advance. The form of this varies from subject to subject. It might be an essay of around 2,000 words, a translation, a problem set, or any other such exercise. This means that over the course of the term, a Stanford-in-Oxford student can expect to complete around 16,000 words of formal work. Tutors often provide extensive feedback and expect students to begin work on their next assignment almost immediately, producing an intensive working schedule, but one that tends to produce rapid improvement in the quality of students' work.

In order to succeed with this type of instruction, students should be self-motivated and have a strong interest in the topic of the class you have chosen. The one-to-one structure allows attention to your knowledge and ideas, and provides effective in-depth discussions of the subject at hand. This can be an exciting but daunting learning method, and students should be prepared to have their thinking and their working methods challenged.

  • To understand more about the undergrad courses and structure offered at the University of Oxford, see here.
  • For more details about this historic method of study, see David Palfreyman’s The Oxford Tutorial, available in hard copy here.

The Tutorial and the Application Process

As part of your Oxford application, you will be asked to specify an academic department in which you have a strong interest, and to reflect on why your subject of interest would benefit from tutorial work. This is not a tutorial proposal, it is a statement that allows the Oxford Centre to assess how your academic interests have developed (through past courses, independent studies, and projects) and how much forethought and commitment you have invested in your studies through conversations with faculty and mentors. You will not be required to pursue a tutorial in the department you indicate in the application.

After you have been accepted to the program, in the quarter before you travel to Oxford, you will be asked to choose a tutorial topic from among the vast range existing undergraduate classes offered by the University of Oxford that have been deemed suited to adaptation for a visiting student. Thus, once you know that you are going, it is a good time to start consulting your faculty advisors and the resources here, especially the Senior Tutor of Stanford House, so that you can choose your tutorial course with confidence. 

Finalizing a Tutorial

If accepted into the Oxford program, you will complete the Tutorial Choice Form. In order to fill it in, you should refer to the Tutorial Guide pages and consult with the academic support at Stanford. Tutorials are not independent studies or directed readings because they are not self-designed topics. They are pre-existing courses taught in an individualized manner and adapted to suit both your interests and the teaching style of your tutor. Thus, they should be approached in an altogether different way from independent study. 

Stanford department policies vary with respect to the number of units that may be valid for credit towards a major or minor. These issues should be discussed with departmental advisors prior to departure. Tutorials are NOT the same as work towards an honors thesis (though they can contribute to one).

Studying a Language

Many students do not want to lose their language proficiency while abroad, and if this is a concern for you please contact the center. It is possible to arrange for Directed Reading courses in languages that you already study, in order that those skills not grow rusty during your time abroad. There are restrictions in place on the use of Directed Readings, however, and you should contact the Senior Tutor for further guidance on this process.