The Oxford Experience

Programme overview

The Oxford Experience is a residential summer programme at Christ Church, Oxford, aimed at non-specialists aged 18 and above, offering more than 80 week-long courses in a range of subjects including archaeology, history, literature, philosophy, history of art and creative writing.

Seminars meet each weekday morning, with afternoons free for course-related field trips, individual study, or exploring the many places of interest in and around Oxford.

2025 programme dates

Waiting lists

If your preferred course is full, we recommend adding yourself to the course waiting list. Should a place become available before 1 May 2025 we will contact waitlisted individuals via email. If you have not heard from us by 1 May 2025, you should assume that no places have became available and we will not be able to enrol you on the course in summer 2025.

You may wish to also explore other summer schools on offer by the Department.

Programme features

Academic programme

During your course you will sample life in Christ Church, one of Oxford’s most impressive and beautiful colleges. All courses are pitched at an introductory level for those aged 18 and above, and no prior knowledge is necessary. While you may be expected to complete some pre-course reading, you are not required to produce any written work during the week, with the possible exception of our creative writing courses.

Classes of up to 12 participants study in small groups, meeting weekday mornings to be taught by experienced tutors. The course fee includes:

10 x 90-minute seminars held in Christ Church seminar rooms
Two or three optional evening lectures per week
Where applicable, a course field trip (see ‘Fees and Supplements’)
Access to many areas of the college closed to the general public
Invitation to a lively social programme as outlined below.

Social programme

The Oxford Experience warmly invites all participants take part in our social programme. This is tailored to provide you with opportunities to socialise with fellow participants and tutors, and to explore the city of Oxford during your free time. The optional social activities, at no extra cost, may include the following depending on your week of enrolment:

Welcome drinks reception on the Sunday of your arrival
Croquet in the Christ Church Masters' Garden, usually closed to the public
Morris dancing display
Guided walking tour of Christ Church
Visit to historic pubs in Oxford
Opportunity to dine on High Table, usually reserved for senior members of the college
Farewell drinks reception in Christ Church Cathedral Garden, usually closed to the public
Formal gala dinner to close each week of the programme.

There will also be optional social events and excursions with tickets available for purchase in spring. Activities and locations vary each week of the programme, and include the following (subject to change):

Walking tours: Choice of one of three walking tours, led by expert local guides.
Excursion: Visit to a local place of interest such as a manor house or gardens.
Drinks tasting evening.

Accommodation options

During your course you can stay in typical Oxford student accommodation at Christ Church, in buildings which range from the 18th to the 20th century. Please note that bedrooms are modestly-furnished and do not have air-conditioning.

The course fee includes breakfasts Monday-Saturday (residential guests only), lunches Sunday-Friday, and three-course dinners Sunday-Thursday. On Friday, there will be a special four-course gala dinner to celebrate the closing of the week. All meals are taken in Christ Church’s spectacular dining hall.

We are unable to arrange accommodation at Christ Church prior to or following your course. Please contact Christ Church directly if you require additional nights of bed and breakfast accommodation, and they may be able to assist. Additionally, family or friends who are not enrolled in the programme cannot be accommodated in college.

Single bedrooms

Single en suite
Single standard

En suite rooms include private bathroom facilities (shower, washbasin and toilet). Standard rooms include a washbasin and shaver point only, with bathroom facilities shared with other rooms.

Shared bedrooms

Double and twin bedrooms are only available for two participants that apply to the programme together. They are charged per person and cannot be booked by individuals.

Double en suite
Twin en suite
‘Twin set’ standard

En suite rooms include private bathroom facilities (shower, washbasin and toilet). 'Twin set’ standard rooms comprise two separate single standard rooms, each with a washbasin and shaver point only, opening onto a private sitting room, with bathroom facilities shared with other rooms.

Ground/lower floor accommodation

Christ Church rooms do not have lift access, and the higher rooms can be located up a few flights of stairs. If you need a room on a ground or lower floor please indicate this on your enrolment form, or contact the programme administrator at oxfordexperience@conted.ox.ac.uk as soon as possible before 1 June.

Non-residential

We also offer places on a non-residential basis whereby participants can take classes and have lunch and dinner at Christ Church, having arranged their own accommodation elsewhere. Applications can be made online.

Participants attending multiple weeks

The Oxford Experience welcomes participants who want to attend multiple courses over the summer. Resident participants staying in Christ Church for consecutive weeks can have bed and breakfast accommodation arranged for the Saturday night between their courses.

How to enrol and book your room

Registration closes on 1 May 2025. Most courses fill up fast so early registration is recommended.

Single occupancy accommodation and non-residential

Single accommodation and non-residential places may be booked directly online by clicking on the 'Book now' button (appearing from 20 November onwards) in the 'course details' box on each course page. Please do not complete an enrolment form for these.

If you have trouble booking online, please contact the programme administrator via oxfordexperience@conted.ox.ac.uk.

Twin and double accommodation

If you wish to book a twin or double room for two people, each person should complete an enrolment form and send this to us by email.

Forms can be found on each individual course page and these can be edited online and do not need to be printed. Completed forms should be sent by email to: oxfordexperience@conted.ox.ac.uk

If you would prefer to print and post your enrolment form, please send to: The Oxford Experience, OUDCE, 1 Wellington Square, OXFORD, OX1 2JA, UK

Disabled participants (including those with mobility difficulties)

Participants who declare a disability during their application will be contacted by the Department's student support team to discuss any support needs or adjustment requests. Disabled students are planning to attend the Oxford Experience summer programme with the Department may wish to contact the programme administrator via oxfordexperience@conted.ox.ac.uk to discuss any support needs in advance.

Please note that Christ Church bedrooms do not have lift access, and the higher rooms can be located up a few flights of stairs. If you need a room on a ground or lower floor please indicate this on your enrolment form, or contact the programme administrator as soon as possible before 1 June.

Students with a mobility impairment may wish to consult the University Access Guide.

If you would like more information about support available to students with disabilities, please see further information.

Fees and supplements

All fees are charged on a per week, per person basis.

Details of fees can be found on each individual course page. Tuition and meals are included in the programme fee, with both residential (full board) and non-residential (lunch and dinner only) options available.

Supplementary costs

Any excursions listed in the 'programme details' above are included in the course fees and do not require a separate payment.
If your course includes a day-long excursion, you may need to make your own lunch arrangements.
Any optional, extra ticketed activities not detailed in the 'programme details' above may incur an additional cost. A social programme outlining these options will be sent to you in advance of the course start date.
Course transfer fee: Please note that course transfers may be permitted in exceptional circumstances at the discretion of the programme administrator, up to the 1 May 2025. In accordance with our Terms and Conditions, an administration fee of £50 will be charged.

All payments and refunds made via non-UK credit/debit cards and bank accounts are subject to exchange rates at the time of processing.

Funding

There are no sources of funding (scholarships, bursaries, etc.) available for applicants.

Payment terms

If enrolling online: full payment by credit/debit card at the time of booking.
If submitting an enrolment form: full payment online by credit/debit card or via bank transfer within 30 days of invoice date.

Cancellations and refunds

1. Cancellation by you

Participants who wish to cancel must inform the programme administrator in writing: by email to oxfordexperience@conted.ox.ac.uk, or by post to The Oxford Experience, OUDCE, 1 Wellington Square, OXFORD, OX1 2JA, UK. An optional cancellation form is available.

The following cancellation and refund policy applies in all cases:

Cancellation within 14 days of online enrolment / payment of fees – full refund of all fees paid.
Cancellations received up to and including 30 April 2025 – OUDCE will retain an administration fee of £100 per week booked; all other fees paid will be refunded.
Cancellations received between 1-31 May 2025 – OUDCE will retain 60% of the fees paid; the remaining 40% of fees paid will be refunded.
Cancellations received on and after 1 June 2025 - no refunds will be made under any circumstances. Transfer of course fees to a future year of The Oxford Experience or another OUDCE course is not possible under any circumstances.

Where course fees have been paid in currencies other than pounds sterling, refunds will be subject to the exchange rate on the day they are processed.

2. Cancellation by us

Where there is good reason, OUDCE reserves the right to cancel a course by giving you notice in writing at any time before the course is due to start. In these cases, we will endeavour to offer a transfer to another available course if practical and acceptable to you, subject to payment or refund of any difference in course fees. Alternatively, we will refund the course fees that you have already paid. If we cancel a course, our liability is limited to the fees that we have received from you; this means that we will not compensate you for any pre-booked travel costs or any other expenses incurred. The status of all courses will be reviewed on 1 May 2025. If it is likely that the course may be cancelled, anyone affected will be notified by email within 7 days; if you have not heard from OUDCE by 8 May 2025, you should assume that your course will be running. You may wish to delay finalising your travel arrangements until after this date.

OUDCE reserves the right to cancel a course at short notice in exceptional circumstances that would prevent the course from being delivered e.g. tutor illness. In these rare instances, and if we are unable to find a replacement tutor, we will notify you as soon as possible and arrange a transfer to another available Oxford Experience course. If we cancel a course, our liability is limited to the fees that we have received from you; this means that we will not compensate you for any pre-booked travel costs or any other expenses incurred.

Where course fees have been paid in currencies other than pounds sterling, refunds will be subject to the exchange rate on the day they are processed.

3. Travel insurance

All participants are stongly advised purchase travel insurance to cover the programme fee, travel costs, and any other expenses incurred. OUDCE cannot be held responsible for any costs you may incur in relation to travel or accommodation bookings as a result of a course cancellation, or if you are unable to attend the course for any other reason.

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