FAQ Oxford
Email: oxford@gatech.edu
Please read the questions below for helpful information on how the Oxford Summer Program works. These answers should provide clarity on what to expect, but if you have further questions, don't hesitate to reach out to the Oxford team at oxford@gatech.edu.
What are the three travel groups? How do I get placed into a group?
The travel portion of the Oxford Program spans the first 6 weeks of the program, and students are divided into three groups with approximately 50 students per group. Each group has their own unique itinerary and travel to different European cities with their instructors, group leader, and tour guide via coach, bus and occasionally ferry. Students can rank their preferred groups when filling out their application in Atlas. However, we cannot guarantee you will get your first or second preference. For a list of the destinations for each group, please refer to the Oxford website or Atlas.
Q: What is the timeline and structure of the program?
The program runs from May to August. Starting with a week of pre-departure courses in Atlanta in May. Housing is not provided for the pre-departure course week and students are responsible for finding their own housing and/or transportation to commute to campus. Following pre-departure course week, you'll head off to Europe with your travel group. Students are selected via Atlas and split into 3 groups (around 50 students per group). Students will either start in France, Portugal, or Italy. The first 6 weeks students will participate in the travel portion and travel to cities all around Europe (see all the cities list on Oxford’s website or Atlas). By late June for the following 6 weeks, all groups will meet in Oxford to complete their second half of courses. The program wraps up in August and students depart from Oxford.
- Q: Will we have any free time? How much?
During the first six weeks of the program, during the travel portion, you will have a limited amount of your own personal free time. The nature of this part of the program includes a busy itinerary with lots of moving, and site seeing. Be prepared to feel very tired from all the travel and busy, long days. There are no free weekends on the travel portion. However, you may have a few free days. During the second half in Oxford, you follow a typical school routine taking two classes Monday – Thursday for around 3-4 hours a day, and you are free to travel on the weekends with no class on Friday’s.
- Q: How much walking is involved on this trip?
This program involves a lot of walking, as there will be opportunities to explore the city on foot. However, you're welcome to use your preferred mode of transportation if you’d like. Many cities in Europe are incredibly walkable. For destinations that are further away and for program activities, the program will provide busses.
- Q: What are the accommodations and meals like?
Throughout the travel portion, accommodations will be in hotels, with each participant sharing a room with someone of the same gender (feel free to submit a roommate preference on Atlas if you'd like to room with a friend!). Breakfast is typically included at all hotels, and occasionally, the program will cover one dinner. We will be moving to a new accommodation approximately every 2-5 days. During your stay in Oxford, you'll be housed on the Mansfield College campus in your own dormitory room. Some rooms may have shared bathrooms. Mansfield College's culinary team will provide a full English breakfast and a three-course dinner Monday through Thursday.
- Q: What are the academics like?
You will be enrolled in 12 credit hours for this program. During the first 6 weeks travel portion, you’ll earn six credits taking ID 2242 History of Art & Architecture and MUSI 3621 Composers & Their Music, splitting your time between classroom learning and hands-on experiences at museums, concerts, and other architectural sites. You will have essays, quizzes, and exams throughout this period. In the final 6 weeks, while in Oxford, you'll take an additional six credits from a wide selection of courses offered (see Oxford website). These courses will be taught by Georgia Tech faculty on the Mansfield College campus Monday-Thursday for around 3-4 hours a day.
Remember: you are earning 12 course credit hours for this program. That is A LOT of college credit… Which means this is not a vacation, and the program is a lot of work, however, it is also extremely fun and rewarding. You get out of this program what you put into it!
Q: How do flights work?
You will have the option to join a group flight, though it’s optional. If you choose to participate, you can indicate this on your application after being accepted. The group flight will include a round-trip ticket from Atlanta to the first city on the itinerary, and from London (Oxford) back to Atlanta. Once you select “YES” for the group flight option on your application, please note that all tickets will be non-transferable and non-refundable.
- Q: Is there a packing list for the program? What should I bring?
Yes, there is a packing list that we will provide you. You are allowed one checked luggage and one daypack (1 suitcase that is maximum 52oo cubic inches), so it's best to pack light! This is to ensure there’s enough space on the coach buses. There will be laundry facilities available throughout the program, but please note that you’ll likely need to pay for laundry with local currency.
- Q: How much does this program cost?
An estimated cost breakdown is provided on the Oxford Programs website at https://oxford.gatech.edu/.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about the information presented here or any other aspect of the program, please do not hesitate to contact us via email at oxford@gatech.edu.