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Aerial view of a historic university building complex with intricate architecture, spires, and a green courtyard.

Study one-on-one with leading scholars at Oxford, one of the oldest and most respected universities in the world.

Oxford provides an unparalleled system of education: the pursuit of individual interests in tutorial work supervised by exceptional faculty, complemented by a broad core curriculum. 

Then there's the location—known as the City of Dreaming Spires, Oxford has been home to students and scholars who have gone on to shape the world. It’s a city that blends English past and international present, natural beauty, and urban energy. To study at Oxford is to join one of the world’s most culturally vibrant and intellectually stimulating communities.

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Program Director

George Southcombe, History and Literature

BA, Mst, DPhil, University of Oxford. Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. Special interests in nonconformist religion, early modern literature, Restoration England, satire and laughter. Author of, among other works, The Culture of Dissent in Restoration England: 'The Wonders of the Lord'and co-author of Restoration Politics Religion and Culture: Britain and Ireland, 1660-1714; editor of English Nonconformist Poetry, 1660-1700. Director of the Oxford program. SLC, 2014-

Academics at Wadham College

Sarah Lawrence is affiliated with Wadham College, one of the 39 undergraduate colleges that constitute the University of Oxford. Admitted students have access to an educational experience comparable to that of Oxford undergraduates. The Oxford program offers students the opportunity for concentrated study primarily in the Humanities, Social Sciences and Psychology.   Opportunities for study in the Natural Sciences and Math is more limited and will depend on the specific course and level of study to be pursued. There is no option to study Computer Science at this time.

We strongly recommend that students fulfill as many pre-requisites for post graduate study in the Natural Sciences and Math at their respective home campuses.

The academic year runs September through June and is divided into three eight-week terms. Each term, students take two tutorials for a total of 10 credits. Students also participate in the Core Program, an opportunity to partake in lectures, events, and field trips. The Sarah Lawrence Program at Wadham provides an unparalleled opportunity for engaging in the academic and social life at Oxford.

I wonder anybody does anything at Oxford but dream and remember, the place is so beautiful. One almost expects the people to sing instead of speaking. It is all like an opera.

William Butler Yeats

Educational Experience at Oxford

  • Tutorials are the centerpiece of Oxford's educational experience, fostering dialogue, commitment, and engagement.  

    Tutorials are similar to conferences at Sarah Lawrence College: they are unique opportunities for students to work one-on-one with experts in a field of study. They require students to choose a broadly defined course, study a separate topic within it, and produce a paper each week. 

    Through concentrated reading and writing, along with participation in lectures, field trips, and events, students engage in a selected course of study that takes advantage of Oxford's wealth of academic resources and furthers the interdisciplinary aspects of a Sarah Lawrence education.

    Tutorial course work should align with each student’s major or minor field of study. Students should review Oxford’s course offerings as a guide when choosing tutorial subjects. Staff members from Oxford and Sarah Lawrence College work with students to ensure the appropriate first-term tutorials are chosen.

    Oxford faculty members, referred to as tutors, are assigned to teach tutorials based on their respective backgrounds and experiences, as well as the student’s level of interest and expertise in the subject matter. 

    Tutorials taken by past students of the Oxford program include:

    Anthropology

    • Introduction to Anthropological Theory
    • Theories of Knowledge Production in Anthropology
    • The Anthropology of Child Development

    Archaeology

    • World Archaeology
    • The Nature of Archaeological Enquiry
    • Archaeology of the Greeks and the Mediterranean World

    Art History

    • History of Traditional Chinese Art
    • Exploring Visual Language in the Arts
    • Study of British Modern and Contemporary Painting

    Economics

    • History of Economic Thought
    • Economics of Developing Countries
    • International Political Economy

    Film History

    • French Cinema
    • Italian Cinema

    History

    • Conquest and Colonization: Span and America in the Sixteenth Century
    • Witchcraft and Witch-hunting in Early Modern Europe
    • 19th- and 20th-Century History of the Middle East

    Languages

    • Arabic
    • Latin
    • Japanese

    Literature

    • Gender in Shakespeare
    • Feminist Theory and Women’s Literature
    • The Victorian Novel

    Music

    • Composition
    • Counterpoint and Analysis
    • The Rise of Opera

    Philosophy

    • Hellenistic Philosophy
    • Philosophy of Science and Mind
    • Political Philosophy

    Politics and Policy

    • History of Modern Political Thought
    • Political Theory
    • Contemporary Political Philosophy

    Psychology

    • Sensory Processes and Perception
    • Psychobiology
    • Social Psychology, Individual Differences, and Psychological Disorders

    Religion

    • Issues in the Abrahamic Faiths
    • Islam in the Modern World
    • Buddhism in History and Society

    Sociology

    • Studies in Development and Political Ecology
    • The Sociology of Race and Identity
    • Social Network Analysis

    Writing

    • Creative Writing
    • Scriptwriting
    • Modern British Poetry and Poetry Writing

  • The Sarah Lawrence Core Program is a series of lectures and events that introduces students to British history and culture, exposes them to events in the Oxford community, and allows them to engage with leading scholars on topics of broad interest.

    Past program events have included theater workshops with members of the Royal Shakespeare Company; trips to excavated Roman ruins off the English coast; and a visit to Winston Churchill's private bunker in the Cabinet War Rooms.

Living in Oxford

Students experience the independence of city life, but also have the security and accommodation of program-sponsored housing.

  • Study abroad students live in flats in Merifield, in Wadham College student housing. Each student has a private room and shares a common area that includes a kitchen, living room, and two bathrooms.

    One on-campus dinner per week is included in the program fees. For the remaining meals, students typically prepare meals together, dine in Wadham’s cafeteria-style lunchroom, or visit a nearby pub.

    Students have access to Wadham's gym and weight room, and access to rowing facilities in the boathouse.

  • Freshers' Weeks are held during the 10-day orientation before classes begin and expose new students to a wide range of clubs and societies open to their membership.

    Clubs and societies range from those that are academically focused to those focused on social awareness and activism, creative expression, cultural activities, sport, or pure entertainment.

    Students may compete on Wadham's teams in football, rugby, hockey, squash, and cricket, among others.

    All Sarah Lawrence program students are members of the Oxford Union, a world-famous debating society and a center for student activities such as film nights, themed balls, and guest lectures.

  • Oxford is a rich commercial center, drawing diverse cultures to its growing population of 150,000.

    The city is world-renowned for its publishing industry and is home to the international development organization Oxfam, as well as many bioscience and high-tech businesses.

    Each year, 4 million tourists visit Oxford's museums, restaurants, pubs, shops, theatres, bookstores, festivals, and art festivals.

Admission to the Sarah Lawrence Program at Oxford

The Sarah Lawrence in Oxford program is open to students from all undergraduate institutions and is limited to 30 students annually.

A minimum grade point average of 3.7 is required of all applicants. Students must demonstrate consistent work at a high level, with particular strength in writing. Contact the Office of Global Education for more information.

  • All applications and supporting materials are due:  February 15, 2026.

    • Tuition (per year) $73,088
    • Room (per year) $16,330
      Please note: If there are damages to the room, you will be charged accordingly
    • Study abroad medical insurance: to be determined
      Students still need to have their own coverage or coverage through the Sarah Lawrence plan to ensure they are covered before they leave the US and upon their return
    • Tier 4 Student visa for yearlong study: £558
    • Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS): £776 
    Estimated Expenses
    • Round trip airfare $900-$1200
    • Meals and expenses $350 per week (£260 per week)
    • Books $135 per term (£100 per term)
    • (Above cost reflects the purchase of all books for tutorials)

    Travel expenses before or after the term, and any trips taken during the mid-term break, are not included in this estimate.

    **Our Visiting Student status has reduced this cost considerably.  Since we now have complete access to all libraries, most students are choosing not to purchase books each term.

    Please note: Wadham gives students a £50 allowance to be redeemed against book purchases.

  • Sarah Lawrence College students who normally receive financial aid may apply their awards to any College-sponsored program abroad.

    Sarah Lawrence College offers limited financial assistance to guest students on this program. Students should consult their home school's financial aid office for guidance on other financial aid resources.

    For more information about Sarah Lawrence financial aid options, e-mail the Office of Global Education.

  • Students are expected to be in College for the start of Noughth Week. We strongly recommend that students also remain in College for Ninth Week.

    Student arrive, orientation begins Wednesday, 1 October 2025

    • Michaelmas Term begins

      Sunday, 5 October 2025 (beginning 0th Week)

    • Michaelmas Term ends

      Saturday, 6 December 2025 (end 8th Week)

    • Ninth Week

      Sunday–Saturday, 7–13 December 2025

    • Students return by:

      Sunday, 11 January 2026 (0th week)

    • Hilary Term begins

      Sunday, 11 January 2026 (beginning 0th Week)

    • Hilary Term ends

      Saturday, 14 March 2026 (end 8th Week)

    • Ninth Week

      Sunday–Saturday, 15–21 March 2026

    • Students return by:

      Sunday, 19 April 2026 (0th week)

    • Trinity Term begins

      Sunday, 19 April 2026 (beginning 0th Week)

    • Trinity Term ends

      Saturday, 20 June 2026 (end 8th Week)

    • Ninth Week

      Sunday–Saturday, 21–27 June 2026

    • Farewell Party

      Wednesday, 24 June 2026

    Students must vacate rooms by Sunday, 28 June 2026, in the morning

  • Students are expected to be in College for the start of Noughth Week. We strongly recommend that students also remain in College for Ninth Week.

    Students arrive, orientation begins Wednesday, 30 September 2026

    • Michaelmas Term begins

      Sunday, 4 October 2026 (beginning 0th Week)

    • Michaelmas Term ends

      Saturday, 5 December 2026 (end 8th Week)

    • Ninth Week

      Sunday–Saturday, 6–12 December 2026

    • Final Programme Event

      (tbc) Monday, 7 December 2026

    • Students return by:

      Sunday, 10 January 2027 (0th week)

    • Hilary Term begins

      Sunday, 10 January 2027 (beginning 0th Week)

    • Hilary Term ends

      Saturday, 13 March 2027 (end 8th Week)

    • Ninth Week

      Sunday–Saturday, 14–20 March 2027

    • Overnight Trip

      (tbc) 15–16 March 2027

    • Students return by:

      Sunday, 18 April 2027 (0th week)

    • Trinity Term begins

      Sunday, 18 April 2027 (beginning 0th Week)

    • Trinity Term ends

      Saturday, 19 June 2027 (end 8th Week)

    • Ninth Week

      Sunday–Saturday, 20–26 June 2027

    • Farewell Party

      Wednesday, 23 June 2027

    Students must vacate rooms by Sunday, 27 June 2027, in the morning

Students are charged Sarah Lawrence tuition and fees.

Global Education at Sarah Lawrence

Sarah Lawrence offers outstanding international experiences as well as opportunities to spend a semester or year with select exchange partners. Students may also elect to study at other accredited four year institutions throughout the United States.
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