Academically Rigorous, but So So Worth It January 02, 2025

By A student (Chemistry, Wellesley College) - abroad from 09/09/2024 to 12/06/2024 with

St Anne's College, University of Oxford - Visiting Students Program

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

I definitely gained a deeper understanding of my subject (chemistry) because of how intense the classes were. I also became better at branching out of my comfort zone and trying new things or experiences, and gained many amazing friends. I also learned that it really is incredible to live in a walkable city. Absolutely worthwhile.

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.	Very academically rigorous, but good support systems (especially tutors), amazing resources (especially libraries), and excellent opportunities.
* 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?	Many opportunities to interact with UK students (student clubs and college families) but for the most part, study abroad students remained together. Other aspects of UK culture were easy to adjust to however.
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?	Almost every study abroad student got “freshers flu” which evolved into a chest infection in several cases. Creating an appointment with the college nurse was incredibly easy, and she was able to refer us to the college physician within the same day. We were then able to get the treatment and prescription we needed. Both appointments were free, and the prescription was very cheap. Amazingly accessible.
* Safety:	The only thing you need to worry about is your bike getting stolen, or your phone getting stolen if you go to London.
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program?	Yes Absolutely worth it. Despite being stressed basically 24/7, I had an amazing experience. I met many amazing people, really enjoyed my tutorials, and just loved everything about being at Oxford. It was a truly unique experience that I already look back on with a positive light.

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)	Food and personal expenses were not too high (Oxford provides subsidized food, and grocery stores are also available). However there is a very high upfront cost in terms of tuition.
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week?	£100/week maximum, on average about £30/week
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	If you can make your own breakfast & lunch (through cereal and sandwiches, for example), you can afford to spend a little more on dinner. Additionally, Oxford dinners tend to be pretty good for the price, so you can save money there! Just be wary of how expensive drinks can be- there is a small social expectation to go to the pub, and those drinks can add up.

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	Local Students
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?	Tutorials Meeting Students Oxford as a school and city
* What could be improved?	Upfront cost (tuition) 1 small break somewhere in the 3 months Food options within the university
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	The chemistry department was very unclear about what my day to day would look like until about 3 days before my classes started. I wish I could have known how intense it would be so I could have practiced over the summer.

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!

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	Chemistry
Course Department:	Oxford Chemistry Department
Instructor:
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	Very academically challenging. At least 10 hours of lectures per week, at least 2 tutorials per week, and fast paced. Compared to other Oxford subjects, chemistry had a noticeably higher workload. Tutorials were very educational, with every tutor being absolutely amazing, but with about 180 students per lecture, lectures were significantly less helpful- they mostly consisted of PowerPoints or blackboard notes, with a very rigid structure.
Credit Transfer Issues:	It is difficult to participate in labs as a study abroad student. Unlike US labs, which are directly related to subject (e.g. pchem labs for pchem), Oxford labs are general, with a pchem focused lab one day and an organic chemistry lab the next day. If you are required a lab in order to transfer credits back to your home institution, this will make things difficult.