Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

A Challenging But Rewarding Year at Oxford June 30, 2026

By (Brandeis University) - abroad from 10/06/2025 to 06/20/2026 with

Lady Margaret Hall, University of Oxford - Visiting Students Program

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained a better understanding of my areas of study, and found new interests. I also made connections with students from other universities in the US, and met tutors who constantly provided great feedback and helped me improve as a student.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The Lady Margaret Hall Visiting Students Program was certainly academically challenging, with high expectations and heavy workload. However, the institution provided a diverse range of resources for students, including extensive research databases and study skills advisors.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

There were some cultural differences, but none that were overwhelmingly obvious or difficult to become accustomed to. If anything, I formed more connections with other visiting students, many of whom were from American universities, than students of other cultures and country origin.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

The school nurse was easily accessible. While I did not have to meet with anyone in the NHS or the nearby medical center, I was assured that it was easy to create an appointment for any medical reason.

* Safety:

Oxford is fairly safe, but it would be wise to stay in groups if staying late outside of one's college campus.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

I enjoyed my time at Oxford despite its rigorous academic expectations and workload. I learned a lot about myself as a person, as well as my scholarly interests. A full year abroad may sound daunting to some, but if I had a choice to redo my study abroad experience, I would choose the same program.

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Oxford is not a cheap city, but if one has a clear budget and is responsible with their spending, it will not be too difficult to live on a student's budget. In my case, Brandeis was very generous with the financial aid, so I had money left over to use while abroad.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? I spent about 25 to 30 pounds on groceries each week, with food and drinks amounting to about 15 to 20 pounds each week.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Oxford is a bike and walk friendly city, so it is easy to save money on transportation across the city. If you are to cook, buy minimal groceries instead of buying more than what you need.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Tutorial system
  • Flexibility with schedule
  • Libraries
* What could be improved?
  • Maybe exposure to local students
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I do wish I was better informed about the elitist culture at Oxford before going on the program.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you.
The Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!