Student Life

Life in Oxford is about much more than academics. 

Two cups of tea and two plates piled high with food are on a table by a window in a cafe.
Queen’s Lane Coffee House (a 350 year old cafe) is just one of the cafes we recommend you visit!

It’s the friendships you build, the routines you create, and the small discoveries that turn a semester abroad into something unforgettable. From historic college traditions to spontaneous café meetups, student life here blends intellectual curiosity with everyday adventure.

Everyday Life in a Remarkable City

Oxford is a city designed for students. You might spend the morning in a tutorial, then meet friends for coffee in a centuries-old café, browse a second-hand bookshop, or take a walk through one of the city’s parks.

When the weather cooperates, students often go punting on the river, picnic in green spaces like Port Meadow, or simply wander the cobbled streets. Oxford rewards curiosity - there’s always another hidden courtyard, independent shop, or museum to discover.

And when you want a change of scene, London is just a short train ride away for a weekend adventure.

A Real Oxford Student Experience

Through your affiliation with Keble College and the wider University of Oxford, you can take part in:

  • Student clubs, sports teams, and societies
  • College choirs, theatre productions, and publications
  • University lectures, debates, and cultural events
  • Access to Oxford’s extensive libraries and facilities

Many students say these experiences help them feel part of the city rather than just visitors.

A field filled with yellow buttercups.
This beautiful deer park can be found in Magdalen College, right near the centre of the city.

Community at Middlebury-CMRS

Students quickly form their own community within the program. The shared kitchen becomes a social hub where people cook together, celebrate birthdays, or unwind after busy academic weeks.

Each semester, students elect a JCR (Junior Common Room) committee and receive funding to organize events. Past student-led activities have included:

  • Cookie-baking nights
  • Themed dinners
  • Film nights
  • And even a party where everyone dressed as their research paper topic

These moments create lasting friendships and make Oxford feel like home.

Cultural Opportunities and Field Experiences

Program staff regularly organise opportunities to experience British culture - from theatre trips and concerts to visits to historic sites.

Students are also encouraged to explore independently, whether that means day trips around the UK, museum visits, or simply soaking up the atmosphere of Oxford’s vibrant student scene.

Finding Your Own Oxford

Perhaps the best part of studying here is that no two students experience Oxford in exactly the same way. Some fall in love with its libraries, others with its cafés, music scene, green spaces, or history.

Most leave with a deeper sense of independence, new friendships from around the world, and memories that stay with them long after the semester ends.