Study Abroad in the UK

Study in Oxford - where history, ideas, and student life come together.

Imagine spending a semester in one of the world’s most beautiful university towns: golden stone colleges, cobbled streets, and centuries of scholarship all around you. Oxford has inspired writers like C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, and today it continues to inspire students from across the globe. 

Studying here means becoming part of a living academic tradition - while making it your own.

The Middlebury-CMRS Oxford Humanities Program offers a semester or year abroad where you can dive deeply into the subjects you love, working closely with expert tutors and professors connected to the University of Oxford. It’s academically rigorous, intellectually exciting, and deeply rewarding - a chance to challenge yourself while experiencing the culture, history, and everyday life of the UK from inside one of its most iconic university cities.

Academics

This is a serious academic program designed for curious, motivated students who want to stretch themselves intellectually.

Your coursework typically includes:

• A supervised research paper - an opportunity to pursue a topic you care about in depth while developing advanced research and writing skills.
• A small seminar course - discussion-driven classes where ideas are debated, perspectives broadened, and new readings explored together.
• Two Oxford-style tutorials - the hallmark of the Oxford educational tradition. These one-to-one or small-group meetings with expert tutors challenge you to think independently, write critically, and engage deeply with your subject.

Courses focus primarily on the humanities - including literature, history, art history, philosophy, religion, and politics - with some social science tutorials available. Students often find the workload demanding but incredibly rewarding, especially because you’ll be studying subjects you’ve chosen out of genuine interest.

You can find a comprehensive course list here.

The City of Oxford

Oxford is often described as a city straight out of a novel - and once you’re there, it’s easy to see why. Medieval colleges, libraries, chapels, and quads sit alongside lively cafés, independent bookshops, and student hangouts. The famous golden limestone architecture glows at sunset, and quiet cobbled lanes open unexpectedly into green spaces and riverside walks.

You might spend a morning studying in a centuries-old library, then wander through the historic Covered Market for coffee or street food, or head out to Port Meadow - a wide, open landscape where locals walk, picnic, or just breathe. Oxford rewards curiosity: it’s the perfect place to slow down, explore, discovering hidden corners and favourite spots along the way.

Keble College

Students on the program become associate members of Keble College, one of the constituent colleges that make up the University of Oxford. Oxford isn’t a single campus but a network of historic colleges, each with its own character, traditions, and community.

At Keble, you can:

• Dine in the impressive college hall
• Study in the beautiful college library
• Join clubs, societies, and student activities alongside local and international students

It’s a wonderful way to experience authentic Oxford student life while still having the support structure of the Middlebury program.

Field Trips

Studying abroad isn’t only about the classroom - it’s also about discovering the wider culture around you.

During the semester, you’ll have opportunities to explore different parts of the UK independently, and the program also includes three organised field trips to places of cultural or historical significance. Previous excursions have included:

• Visiting London museums such as the National Gallery
• Exploring prehistoric landmarks like Stonehenge
• Discovering historic sites such as Worcester Cathedral

These trips add context to your academic work while helping you experience the richness of British history and culture firsthand.