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September 2 - December 15, 2008
-WHERE TO START-
1. Read through this Oxford Honors website carefully. It is continuously updated so may contain new information. All information is subject to change.
2. Attend an upcoming Oxford Honors Info Session offered during the Spring semester only at the Center for Global Education, JC room 235 to learn more about the program once you have read through this website carefully. Sessions last approximately 30 minutes and you don't have to RSVP, just show up a few minutes beforehand. You must attend an Oxford Honors info session before you apply to the program. Additional sessions have been scheduled for February. Check schedule.
3. Attend the Oxford Honors Gathering Hour during the Spring semester. This will be the only opportunity for prospective applicants to meet program returnees from Fall 2007; hear about their experience and ask questions.
The Center for Global Education at Mason is pleased to provide undergraduate and graduate students with a once in a lifetime opportunity to apply to its highly prestigious Fall semester study abroad program at Oxford University in England. This acclaimed honors program features a month-long lecture series on “British History & Culture” and a variety of custom designed tutorials covering topics mostly from the liberal arts and all taught by prominent university scholars. Students are placed in colleges considered among the best in the Oxford university system. Students will live in student housing in and around the center of Oxford.
The Mason Oxford Honors program was started in the Fall of 1996 and has grown ever since due to its popularity and prestigious reputation. Every year, the Center for Global Education and a designated Mason Faculty Member invite all Mason students with high GPAs to apply to the Fall Oxford Honors Program and benefit from a term as a member of a college of Oxford University, one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the world.
This is a unique opportunity to study in Oxford and get full-time resident credits (grades and credit hours) transferred back to Mason. The Oxford Honors Program takes place in the Fall semester only, from the beginning of September to mid-December.
Students may continue for the full academic year although the credits earned during the remaining two terms (January to mid-June) will be transfer credits and not resident credits. As an alternative to the Honors Program or the full year option, students may instead participate for the Spring and Summer terms only (January-June). Credits earned will be transfer credits and not resident credits. The month of September entails a mandatory 3 credit lecture series on the History & Culture of Great Britain. This lecture series is worth 3 credits of history, sociology or anthropology. Starting in early October, students will take two traditional Oxford tutorials where they are paired up on a one-on-one basis with Oxford tutors.
Students will focus on specific pre-approved area of studies and will be defending essays which they write every week. Tutorials represent a very intensive learning system due to the one-on-one interaction with tutors and the amount of researching, reading and writing involved. The tutorials are worth 12 credits for undergraduate students and 6 credits for graduate students.
All in all, undergraduates receive a total of 15 resident credits and graduate students receive 9 resident credits for this intensive honors study abroad program at Oxford.
The Center for Global Education at Mason works with an Oxford organization called Oxford Program for Undergraduate Studies (OPUS) which arranges the in-country orientation program, the housing and academic components for the Oxford Honors Program. OPUS acts on behalf of US post-secondary institutions, in operating a study abroad program at various colleges of Oxford University during the academic year.
* Please note that students participating on this program are not guaranteed an A in either their lecture series or their tutorials. This is an honors level academic program and standards for grading will be high. That said, those accepted into the program should expect to do well as long as they do the expected work.
COLLEGE AFFILIATION & PRIVILEGES
There are 40 colleges which make up the University of Oxford. Each college is an independent self-governing body with its own buildings, dining hall, library, social facilities, sport teams, and societies. Every college has its own students, and it is to their Oxford college by long tradition that students maintain a strong sense of loyalty.
All students on the program become associate members of an Oxford college and are entitled to dine in college, use the college library, and participate in all college sporting and social events once term begins.
Most students prefer to cook in their house but the college dining room remains a useful social center and a good way to meet British students. (TOP)
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES & SPECIAL EVENTS
Oxford University is renowned for its range of clubs and societies, at last count there were over 370, catering to every conceivable interest. Through membership of their Oxford college, program participants are entitled to join any of these societies.
Students may also participate in the world famous Union Society, the training ground for countless British prime ministers, and where you will have the opportunity to hear and debate with eminent politicians, writers, scholars and other personalities (Bill Clinton, Henry Kissinger, Yitzak Shamir, Kermit the Frog, and John Malkovich have all visited in recent terms).
They are also eligible to participate in individual college sports and other social events, cultural evenings, dramatics, and dances. Many students do their college and this program proud by taking up rowing (crew practice) and excelling at it, never having rowed before. The individual character of each college permits them the opportunity to do so in a manner not possible at a larger, non-collegiate university.
There is a special 3 day trip to London in September organized by GMU. In addition, through the term there are 4-5 special events organized by OPUS which are included in the program cost. These include trips to places of historical and cultural significance, guided tours, cocktail parties, and other events. Some of these will take place in September during the lecture series, others will be during the university’s term time and will tend to be on the weekend. In the past, trips have been organized to Bath, Blenheim Palace, Cambridge, London, Stonehenge, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwick.
Beyond this, with careful organization of tutorial commitments, many students find the time to travel on their own, over a weekend, to other parts of England, and further afield to Scotland and Ireland. There will usually be a week available after the lecture series (end September) and again after the end of Michaelmas Term (early December) for travel. (TOP)
PROGRAM DATES
September 2 - December 15, 2008
FALL 2008 PROGRAM CALENDAR
Oxford University’s academic year is made of three terms: Michaelmas (October to December), Hilary (January-March), and Trinity (April-June). All GMU participants will be spending the Michaelmas term at Oxford. Students on this program will attend a series of lectures commencing in September, one month prior to the start of Oxford University’s academic calendar. Tutorials will begin in October. GMU students who take up the full year option will additionally attend for the Hilary and Trinity terms, following the end of the Oxford Honors program. Fall 2008 timeline is still subject to change.
Oxford Honors Gathering (meet Oxford Honors participants from Fall 2007)
February 12, 2008 4pm-5:30pm (JC Assembly room G - 3rd floor)
Program Application Deadline
March 28, 2008
Notification of Acceptance
By April 18, 2008
Notification of Oxford Confirmation
By May 30, 2008
GMU Pre-Departure Orientation Program
August 8, 2008 2pm-5pm (location TBD)
September 2, 2008
Arrival in Oxford
September 3, 2008
OPUS Orientation Program
September 4, 2008
London Program
September 19-21, 2008 (3 days, 2 nights in London)
Return to Oxford
Evening of September 21, 2008
Lecture Series begins
September 8, 2008 and resumes September 22, 2008 after London trip
Break for GMU Group
September 27 – October 2, 2008
Oxford University Fresher's Week
Week of October 6, 2008
Tutorials Begin
Week of October 13, 2008
Post Tutorials Travel Time
December 7-14, 2008
PROGRAM QUOTES
"My mind was challenged and stretched. It was such a fulfilling experience that I was truly depressed to have it end. Although, it is exciting to get back to the states, Oxford became a big part of my life and was hard to leave. Everything that CGE and OPUS stated about the program was true, including the emotions that students face while away from family, getting familiarized with a new country, the challenge of the program, and the honor connected with being a participant within this program. This experience was incredible and I am so thankful for the opportunity to be a part of it." - Past Participant - Fall 2006
"My time at Oxford was better than I ever expected it to be; it was real a life changing experience. Everything contributed to this life-changing experience, from living with new people to the high level of academic demand. I learned more while living in Oxford for one term than I have in any other whole academic year. I feel that I grew not only on an academically level, but on a personal level as well. I believe that being immersed in another culture really opens you up to different views about the world, and my time at Oxford was no exception. Furthermore, I had the opportunity to travel to, and learn about, other countries in Europe. I had the best time of my life in Oxford. It was an experience which will live vividly in my memory for the rest of my life. My only complain is that it had to end so quickly." - Past Participant - Fall 2006
ACADEMICS
The first part of the program features a month-long lecture series on “British History & Culture.” Lectures will be presented by Oxford faculty and a major component will be a practical introduction to British society and British institutions through educational trips.
The second part of the program will fit into the University’s Michaelmas Term and will involve two tutorials (papers presented by students to tutors) for discussion and analysis on a one-on-one basis. This is the cornerstone of teaching at both Oxford and Cambridge University, and by focusing on analysis and argument and the undivided attention of an individual tutor is considered one of the most effective forms of learning.
IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT TUTORIAL SYSTEM
The tutorial system is very demanding but intellectually highly rewarding. It is important to be clear about the reasons for wishing to study in Oxford. The Program is best suited to students with a high level of motivation, a desire for academic excellence, and the ability to cope with a wholly different and stimulating environment independently and without constant supervision.
Some subjects are not appropriate for study in Oxford or indeed in Britain, e.g. American History, American Literature, etc. and some, while possible, are not “mainstream Oxford.” Students should consult the tutorial options carefully and select wisely, it makes every sense to select areas of study in which Oxford excels. It is not appropriate to select a GMU course and attempt to duplicate it in Oxford. It is important to be certain about your tutorial preferences. You will need to indicate four preferences from which you will be assigned two subjects to availability of tutors. Once you have declared your four subjects and submitted your application, it will not be possible to make a change or to change the ranking of your preferences. Please be certain of your choices.
Grading in the UK is generally more rigorous than in the US, in Oxford & Cambridge it can be even more stringent. Outstanding participants on the program in the past have obtained (and deserved) straight ‘A’ grades but these are hard-won and should not be expected as a norm.
POSSIBLE TUTORIAL AREAS OF STUDY
Oxford is renowned for its classical liberal arts education. Some “American” fields of study are still non-traditional or unknown at Oxford and will not be appropriate to select. Please keep this in mind when choosing your tutorial topics. An online list of the tutorials can be found in the Tutorial Areas section. Bear in mind this is simply an example of tutorials taken by previous participants: the availability of these and other selections depends on the availability of tutors in the specific areas requested.
Please keep in mind that survey type courses simply cannot be done in Oxford: the focus is on specialization and not on general, “introductory” or beginners’ courses. For the same reason “crossover” or “multi-disciplinary” courses are not possible in Oxford.
You are responsible for selecting areas of study that would work into your degree program and narrowing down the focus. If you do not find any areas of study in the following list which would fit into your degree program, we suggest you submit a pre-application with your name, degree objective and proposed tutorial descriptions BEFORE you formally apply to the program. We would then forward your proposed tutorials to Oxford to see if they could be accommodated. All graduate students are required to submit their tutorial proposals BEFORE they fill out an entire application.
We cannot guarantee that your first choice tutorial proposals can be arranged which is why you will need to select four tutorial subjects from which you will be assigned two. It is essential to obtain pre-approvals for all four tutorial preferences as you will not know which two you will be assigned.
If you select an option which is asterisked, you are required to select an additional non-asterisked option. Subjects which are asterisked are difficult to accommodate (double asterisked particularly so). Please be sure about your selections. Once you have submitted an application, tutorial preferences may not be changed.
CREDITS
Undergraduate Students
Total of 15 resident credits at the undergraduate level including:
- 3 credits of either ANTHRO 303, HIST 322 or SOCI 413 for the September Lecture Series
- 12 credits (to be individually approved) for two tutorials (each tutorial is worth 6 credits)
Graduate Students
Total of 9 resident credits at the graduate level including:
- 3 credits of either HIST 635 or SOCI 599 for the September Lecture Series
- 6 credits (to be individually approved) for two tutorials (each tutorial is worth 3 credits)
Before you arrive in Oxford it is your responsibility to ensure that the tutorials you take meet any course requirements you might have and that they have been approved by your academic advisor(s) and Dean.
Housing is of a good basic British standard, located within a ten minute bus or bicycle ride from the city center or a 20-25 minute walk. Please keep in mind that British and American standards are very different and British housing might seem sub-standard to you in terms of comfort, proximity and convenience.
Each student will have a single room (double rooms are not common in Oxford) and share a lounge, bathroom, and kitchen with other students on the program.
All houses are well-equipped and include bed linen, kitchen utensils and one working phone. Students pay for phone usage individually. Most houses include a printer to enable students to write their essays.
Program fees include all utility payments (electricity and water) and also phone line rental.
There is no “University campus” in Oxford as the colleges, departments, lecture rooms, and tutorial venues are spread throughout the city. Wherever students live, there will be some travel involved (by bike or by bus, or on foot). The distance of most OPUS properties is generally 15-20 minutes walking time from the city center.
OPUS housing is of a basic standard. Higher grade housing requires a supplementary charge on account of its overall quality and not necessarily its location.
All OPUS houses are entitled to borrow a printer from the OPUS office. All students who own or are contemplating buying a laptop should certainly bring it with them.
Prof. Hugh Sockett , Dept. of Public & International Affairs, GMU. Prof. Sockett will be in Oxford with the students during the duration of the Fall 2008 Oxford Honors program and will be responsible for overseeing the academic program.
*Please note that the GMU Faculty Director for the Oxford Honors program rotates every year, so all program-related questions should be directed to Sarah Mournighan , Oxford Honors Program Officer.
ELIGIBILITY
These eligibility requirements are not negotiable. You must meet these requirements to participate in the program:
The Center for Global Education will organize a pre-departure orientation meeting in the beginning of August 2008 at the George Mason University campus.
There is a comprehensive Orientation which takes place upon arrival in Oxford which introduces students to British society and culture, and provides information on living in Britain. There are further orientation sessions during Fresher's Week commencing October.
COMPUTER FACILITIES
The program requires a significant amount of written work each week (approximately 5000-6000 words).
There is no requirement to type essays as in the US, however many students find it easier to compose on a computer and have found it useful to take a notebook computer with them.
If you already own a laptop or notebook computer you are advised to take it with you. It is possible to survive without a computer but not recommended: many participants report that they have found taking one virtually essential. Most OPUS houses will have a printer and these are also readily available elsewhere.
Every Oxford college has a computer room with several machines, usually both IBM and Macintosh, and at least one printer. Students may use their college computer to create documents, although occasionally all machines are being used and they may need to wait.
UK voltage operates at 240 volts and not on 110. Most notebooks now have worldwide voltage built-in but you should check with the manufacturer.
ELECTRONIC MAIL
Please be aware that you will not have as convenient Internet and email access as you do here in the States and at GMU. You will not be able to email from your houses as there is only one phone line which is shared. Computer and email facilities are relatively limited in Oxford and will be less sophisticated compared to most American universities. In some neighborhoods it may be possible to set up a high speed internet service account. This is relatively inexpensive. Further details will be provided at the Oxford Orientation.
For the first month of your stay, before the colleges open, you will be able to access the Internet and use email from the internet cafes in and around Oxford which you use at nominal cost.
Once the term starts in October, you will be able to email and access the Internet from your college computer room. Every Oxford college has computer terminals connected to the Internet and through these students are able to browse the web. Most students make use of free e-mail accounts through the Internet in order to communicate. You may also use the Internet to access your own account at GMU. All students are advised to ensure that they have an email account which can be easily accessed overseas.
Fall 2008 Oxford Honors Program Fee: $19,050
Full Year (Honors Program, Spring and Summer terms) $44,305
Spring and Summer Term only - $27,255
CGE reserves the right to raise its program fees in light of currency fluctuations or any other unforeseen circumstances
SCHOLARSHIPS
CGE will hopefully have 5 CHSS scholarships in the amount of $2,000 available for CHSS applicants only to the program for Fall 2008. There is no separate application for the CAS scholarships - all CHSS applicants will be considered and recipients will be notified directly.
Program cost includes:
Does NOT include international airfare, meals or personal spending money. Federal financial aid can be applied to the program. Limited merit scholarships in the amount of $500 will be available through Mason. Special scholarships and grants can be applied to the program as long as they are not Mason tuition waivers.
Financial aid may apply. For more information, please contact the Financial Aid Office at your home university as soon as possible. You are responsible for making all timely payments to George Mason University.
The cost of the program covers tuition, housing and program trips and excursions. In addition, you will need money for the following:
These figures are necessarily estimates and obviously depend on one’s personal style of living.
If you intend to travel in Europe during the vacation period, you can spend anywhere from $1300-$1890 for a 4 week trip, including Euro Rail Pass.
Almost everything in Europe is 50% more expensive. As a rough guide, you will spend twice as many dollars as pounds as the conversion rate is currently 1 pound = 2.1 dollars.
Students may receive funds from the US by telegraphic transfer into a British bank account, or use your ATM cards in most British banks, or use travelers checks (American Express tend to be the best to avoid conversion charges). The best exchange rates however are often obtained through credit card companies because of the volume of transactions they process so it may be useful to carry a MasterCard or Visa (both widely accepted anywhere in Europe, American Express slightly less so). Please be aware that the US Dollar has recently weakened against the British Pound and the Euro and this trend may at present be expected to continue.
OTHER FINANCIAL CONCERNS
Specific program costs on essentials and what is and what is not included in the program cost has been indicated above. In addition please be aware of the following.
If you intend to travel in Europe during the vacation period, you can spend anywhere from $1500-$20000 for a 4 week trip, including Euro Rail Pass.
Almost everything in Europe is 50% more expensive. As a rough guide, you will spend twice as many dollars as pounds as the conversion rate is currently 1 pound = 2.1 dollars.
Students may receive funds from the US by telegraphic transfer into a British bank account, or use your ATM cards in most British banks, or use travellers checks (American Express tend to be the best to avoid conversion charges). The best exchange rates however are often obtained through credit card companies because of the volume of transactions they process so it may be useful to carry a MasterCard or Visa (both widely accepted anywhere in Europe, American Express slightly less so). Please be aware that the US Dollar has recently weakened against the British Pound and the Euro and this trend may at present be expected to continue.
Oxford is an expensive city, not least because of its proximity to London. Students are advised to budget carefully and to be fully aware of the costs of participation not included in the program fee. These are set out in the section on costs. Most (meals, entertainment, books, library fees and cell phones) depend directly on your personal lifestyle or requirements.
Deadline for Fall 2008 Oxford Honors Program:
Click here to apply for the Fall 2008 Oxford Honors Program.
-ON ACCEPTANCE-
Submit a non-refundable $2,000 deposit to the Mason Cash Office.
-FULL-YEAR OXFORD PROGRAM OPTION-
Students who are accepted into the Fall Oxford Honors Program have the opportunity to stay at Oxford for the entire academic year (two additional terms). This permits a much fuller and complete Oxford experience and is the preferred option for students who wish to integrate fully and who are able to make the time and financial commitments. Staying for the year is also the most cost effective option in proportion to the total time spent in Oxford.
As an alternative to the Honors program or the full year option, students may participate for the Spring & Summer terms only (January-June). Credits earned will be transfer credits and not resident credits.
Please note that studying at Oxford only for the Spring & Summer terms is not part of the Oxford Honors program.
For Fall term, cost includes tuition, single room housing, Union Society membership, social events, trips, London program, orientation programs, administrative services. The Spring term (Hilary) is from early January to mid-March and the summer term (Trinity) is from mid-April to mid-June).
For Spring and Summer terms, cost includes tuition, single room housing, Union Society membership, social events, trips and administrative services.
Students staying on for Spring and Summer take two tutorials per term as they did during the Fall term, however this extended stay would not be part of the Oxford Honors program. Students would receive transfer credit, and these two extra terms would be treated as a non-GMU study abroad program. Students will be sent new Petition Forms to have completed and signed by their GMU academic divisions. If students are interested in the full-year option, they must inform Sarah Mournighan in writing at the time of their application for the Oxford Honors program in order to avail the maximum discount available. Students who take the full year option will be entitled to housing during both the Christmas break (following the Honors program) as well as the Easter break. Please contact Sarah Mournighan for information on full year costs.
-SPRING & SUMMER ONLY PROGRAM OPTION-
As an alternative to the Honors program or the full year option, students may participate for the Spring & Summer terms only (January-June). Credits earned will be transfer credits and not resident credits. Please note that studying at Oxford only for the Spring & Summer terms is not part of the Oxford Honors program. The cost for Spring & Summer terms only for 2009 is $27,255. For Spring and Summer terms, cost includes tuition, single room housing, Union Society membership, social events, trips and administrative services. Airfare not included.
Students staying on for Spring and Summer take two tutorials per term as they did during the Fall term, however this extended stay would not be part of the Oxford Honors program. Students would receive transfer credit, and these two extra terms would be treated as a non-Mason study abroad program. Students will be sent new Petition Forms to have completed and signed by their Mason academic divisions. If students are interested in the full-year option, they must inform Sarah Mournighan in writing at the time of their application for the Oxford Honors program in order to avail the maximum discount available. Students who take the full year option will be entitled to housing during both the Christmas break (following the Honors program) as well as the Easter break.
The differences between the Fall Oxford Honors Program and the Spring and Summer are:
APPLICATION PROCEDURES FOR SPRING & SUMMER TERMS ONLY (not Fall Oxford Honors Program):
For more information, please attend an Oxford Honors info session during Spring semester or contact Sarah Mournighan