Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Study Abroad in St. Anne's College Oxford - Highly Recommend! January 27, 2026

By (Economics, Wellesley College) - abroad from 09/08/2025 to 12/05/2025 with

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

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
This experience was definitely worthwhile: I learned to become more self-reliant by living on my own, I was able to balance my academics while also experiencing my surroundings through exploring the city of London and other local townships, and I met a vast diversity of students, whether from the US, UK, or beyond!

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

As a junior at Wellesley College, I had the opportunity to apply for and was accepted to, a study abroad semester (Michaelmas term) at St. Anne's College, University of Oxford, where I focused on Economics, taking Economics of Industry and Public Economics. It was an unforgettable experience, and I am very grateful for the opportunity. As visiting students, we had full access to many of Oxford's resources, including taking part in student organizations, having access to all of the main libraries (with the ability to check out books for academic readings), and having both a personal tutor, to advise us on our course-load and schedule, as well as two academic tutors corresponding to our subject of study.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Visiting students were provided with single dormitories, including a private bathroom. We were also able to opt-in for St. Anne's College meal plans. Overall, the amenities of the program were great. Furthermore, we had a full week of orientation, where we were greeted by the College President and academic coordinators to familiarize ourselves with the program.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Refer to comment above.

* Food:

Refer to comment above.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

While UK culture is slightly different from North America, having a common language and similar social cues made it slightly easier to integrate. Local students were very willing to help study abroad students become familiar with their host college.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

St. Anne's College has a specific clinic it encourages its students to go to. I fell sick once during the program, but was promptly directed to the appropriate clinic to go to (only a 5 minute walk from my dorm), where I was seen fairly quickly and given proper treatment.

* Safety:

Oxford is a very safe city, and I rarely felt unsafe/did not have any unpleasant experiences.

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

The opportunities and experiences of this program were unforgettable, and I would love to re-visit Oxford at a later point in time. The town itself is beautiful, and the experience of studying there is definitely a unique one!

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 in the town of Oxford was quite pricey for outside food (such as cafes, restaurants, etc) so I mostly used my dining hall food plan, which was fairly inexpensive.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $150
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Yes! Try to use as many student discounts as possible, especially for public transport. I used a Trainline student card, which allowed me to get up to 30% off on train rides throughout the UK, making travel much more feasable/affordable.

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

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • 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 Systems
  • Academic Support
  • Social Activities
* What could be improved?
  • N/A
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew a bit more about budgeting and which places to avoid incurring excess expenses, especially for places to eat.

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 Networker
An active student leader, it was important for you to network abroad as well. Once overseas, you sought out student clubs, volunteered with local organizations, or attended community events. You encouraged your friends join you, and often considered how you could reflect your international experiences in a resume.