Oxford: Academics
Oxford: Academics
Academic Culture
How does the tutorial system work?: Teaching at Oxford is provided through a combination of lectures offered by the University and tutorials organized by the college. To discern if Oxford is the right academic fit, it’s important to fully understand the tutorial system and its expectations.
Oxford is not a liberal arts institution so all tutorials will focus on your concentration and possibly your double or joint if you have sufficient background in the subject. Inquire directly with the respective visiting program director to determine if more than one field of study can be accommodated.
Courses at Oxford are tutorial-style, meaning you often meet one-on-one with your professor and occasionally in groups of two or three. With the exception of STEM fields, visiting students enroll in two tutorials per term–typically one primary or major tutorial and one secondary or minor tutorial. Primary tutorials are typically held once a week, while secondary tutorials are held once every two weeks. The length of tutorials will vary by subject and number of students.
Similar to seminar or conference style classes, tutorials will present an opportunity to discuss assigned readings and your essay for the week. While some tutorials come with a set syllabus, others will be catered to your individual interests within the course. During a tutorial the student speaks as much as the tutor and should be prepared to defend their arguments. The students’ interests and learning are always at the forefront. A bit like an independent study, teaching and learning is very individualized.
The tutorial model requires a high level of discipline and self-motivation. For example, Humanities and Social Science students should expect to spend an average of 25 hours preparing for each tutorial meeting and submit a 2,000-word essay the day prior to each tutorial meeting.
STEM vs. Non-STEM
Humanities and Social Sciences: Oxford uses a "flipped" classroom model. You do readings and write a 2000-word essay before each tutorial, and bring questions on revised topics. Strong organization is needed, as written work is due weekly and readings may be heavier than a standard Harvard seminar.
Science and Engineering: STEM classes combine seminars and lectures, with frequency depending on the subject. Expect weekly assigned readings and problem sets.
Academic Calendar
Oxford’s academic year runs from October to June and consists of three 8-week terms (Michaelmas, Hillary, and Trinity) with a 6-week break between the two spring terms. Harvard students may apply to Oxford for the academic year spring two terms (Hilary, Trinity). Fall term only (Michaelmas) study abroad at Oxford is not permitted. As a visiting student, you will be asked to arrive before the official start of term for orientation.
IMPORTANT: Many summer internships begin prior to the end of Trinity term in late June and not all colleges will accommodate an early departure. In addition, the OIE will not authorize departure more than a week prior to the official end of Trinity Term. See Oxford’s academic calendar for the precise end date and consider if spring term study at Oxford will be compatible with potential summer commitments.
Remember to clarify whether your college allows student residence during the Easter holiday between Hillary and Trinity terms. Some colleges do not include accommodation during the six-week break, though students may apply for housing at an additional cost. Harvard financial aid awards do not cover expenses incurred between terms.
Student Testimonials
The academic system at Oxford allows students to work on their ability to self-regulate their work. You have a lot of free time to work on a small set of tasks or maybe only a paper. Unlike Harvard where you have to attend lectures, office hours, and do many small tasks every week. Oxford is designed in such a way that students have to organize their own time in the most productive way to make the most out of it.
Oxford’s teaching style has required much more independent work from me, which has centered around reading economics theory and research papers, then writing essays on my stances on each topic. This system has forced me to become a much more opinionated and thoughtful economist, which has been a welcome change after having taken a mostly empirical course load at Harvard.
The tutorial system definitely sets Oxford apart from many other universities as you get to have a 2-3 on one with a professor once a week. I would say Oxford is much more fast-paced than Harvard, given the nature of an 8-week term trimester system. I would also say that the work-life balance is better since there is less class time, leaving more time for doing assigned work, participating in extracurriculars, and attending events and talks.