Attending England’s Oxford University Without A Rhodes Scholarship

However I learned that you don’t have to win a Rhodes Scholarship to go to the stately ivy covered buildings of Oxford University. The university’s Department for Continuing Education runs a summer program called The Oxford Experience that is open to everyone. No special knowledge or qualification are required, just an interest in the chosen subject and the tuition fee.
In fact, the residential program of one-week courses is enormously popular with vacationing Americans, since it provides the opportunity to stay and study in Christ Church —founded in 1525 by Cardinal Wolsey — which is one of the most prestigious and beautiful of Oxford colleges. Participants reside in rooms where English prime Ministers and poets once lived and dined on High Table in the impressive Hall made famous in Harry Potter films.
The Oxford Experience will take place next summer, during five weeks from July 5 to August 8. The best news right now is that due to the stronger dollar, a one week course that cost $1,900 last summer, costs only $1,485 for summer 2009 (calculated at today’s rate, 1GBP=US $1.49).
The 50-plus courses offered include such subjects as The Reign of Henry VIII, English Country Houses, Alice’s Adventures in Oxford, The Battle of Britain Revisited, Without Rules: Terrorism Today, Archaeology and Religion in Ancient Israel and Judah, Jane Austen’s Heroines, The Garden in Art, Monasteries and Cathedrals, The History of the English Language, Exploring the Human Brain and Introduction to Opera. Happily to me, there are no tests, no papers, but small groups (maximum 12 to a class)) taught by friendly tutors. Participants range in age from 30-something to 90-something, with many active retirees.
Included in the price are tuition, accommodations and all meals---a full English breakfast, a buffet lunch and a served three-course dinner. Once a week each participant is invited to dine on High Table and on the final night everyone gathers for champagne in the flower-filled Cathedral Garden and a festive farewell dinner in Harry Potter’s Hall. I also learned that those attending for two or more weeks are given free bed and breakfast accommodation over the intervening weekend(s). But are extra charges for excursions and rooms with private baths.
Most courses provide excursions to stately homes, cathedrals and museums. And on some afternoons, tours of Christ Church and the city of Oxford are on the itinerary.
Incidentally on one of my many trips to London I found the city of Oxford’s main boulevard occupied with atmospheric quaint shops, book stores filled with handsome leather-bound classics, art supply emporiums, fish and chips wrapped in newspaper cones, and antique galleries filled with lovely botanical prints. Additionally the Oxford Summer Program’s Evening excursions of pub-crawling and the drinking of pints of ale, special lectures, wine and croquet in the Master’s Garden, Evensong in the college chapel (which is also the famous Oxford Cathedral) and occasionally the bizarre-but-traditional Morris Dancers performance is a great experience.
Getting to Oxford is an easy trip from London by British Rail and by frequent service of the Oxford Bus Company as well as from Heathrow and Gatwick airports. The journey from Heathrow takes about 70 minutes. The deadline for registration online is May 15, 2009 and by mail May 1, 2009. However early registration is recommended to take advantage of the current exchange rate. You can write to The Oxford Experience, OUDCE, 1 Wellington Square, Oxford, OX1 2JA,U.K. or check with your local travel professional.

Copyright by Marcia Abramson