About the Program
Our program offers you the opportunity to directly enroll in St. Catherine’s College, one of the 38 self-governing colleges that make up the prestigious University of Oxford.
Our program offers you the opportunity to directly enroll in St. Catherine’s College, one of the 38 self-governing colleges that make up the prestigious University of Oxford.
Once you’ve applied for a program, I’ll be your direct point of contact. From housing to course registration and everything in between, I’m here to help you prepare to study abroad. Once you’re accepted to your program, you’ll find even more detailed information about what you need to know before you depart in your Predeparture Guide. Let’s get started!
Imagine yourself sitting in class, listening to your professor lecturing about Shakespeare’s plays or Winston Churchill’s policies. But you’re not at your home university—you’re learning in England, where these famous figures lived. This is your chance to study at one of the most prestigious universities in the world: the University of Oxford.
Upon my return, I am able to fully embrace my Oxford experience.
Live on campus in either single or double rooms with shared facilities. If you select a double room, IES Abroad and St. Catherine's try to pair a St. Catherine's student as your roommate, wherever possible. All rooms have internet access.
You have access to basic kitchen facilities, and the college has a dining hall on campus that provides meals throughout the week. When you arrive, you are issued a pay-as-you-go photo ID card, which is debited every time you take a meal and can be added to throughout the term. You are responsible for loading money onto your own card—meals are not included in the program cost.
Like all Oxford colleges, breakfast, lunch, and dinner are cooked onsite and served in the dining hall at set times. Meals are available to all enrolled students, not just to residents living on campus.
Our mission is simple: to provide you with the best study abroad program possible—which includes the highest quality academic and cultural experiences. That is why we partnered with St. Catherine’s College.
Academic Environment & Expectations: The Tutorial System
Education at St. Catherine’s is based on the tutorial system. Typically, you have two lectures per week for each class and one tutorial, or small group meeting, for which you’re expected to prepare a list of readings and topics to discuss. There is a high expectation that you will put in a significant amount of independent study in addition to classroom, laboratory, and tutorial hours.
Using the resources available, you must engage in extensive independent reading and research under the broad guidance of a tutor. Your tutorial sessions require you to discuss your weekly reading and essay. This methodology sharpens the learning skills of critical evaluation and organization of ideas. You are taught by the same tutors, in the same manner, and held to the same standards as matriculated Oxford students.
St. Catherine’s College, whose foundation stone was laid by Queen Elizabeth II on November 4, 1960, welcomed its first undergraduates two years later. Although St. Catherine’s is the youngest college in Oxford, it is also one of the largest with almost 500 undergraduates and 400 postgraduates, as well as 70 fellows and lecturers. In addition to its formal academics, St. Catherine’s is known for its extracurricular opportunities in music, drama, and sports, and is generally regarded as one of the friendliest and most open colleges in Oxford.
St. Catherine’s modern buildings—located on the east side of Oxford—are the result of an international competition won by renowned Danish architect Arne Jacobson. The college was designed to be a modern reflection of a traditional Oxford college. At the heart of the college lies a rectangular quad, its sides flanked by student rooms built in the conventional Oxford “staircase” format, and its ends consisting of the dining hall and library.
Study abroad students usually apply to one or two academic departments and then propose to study topics within those departments. St. Catherine’s offers a wide range of disciplines. Past IES Abroad students have proposed to study the following topics:
For more details about course options, visit the "CATZ" website.
Contact Hours
Each Oxford course will have a maximum of eight hours spread evenly through the term. It's expected that students spend on average 14 hours per tutorial (14 x 8 x 2) for the term in hours engaged in study and consideration. You will also be attending lectures on subjects of your choice.
IES Abroad Pre-Semester Tutorial in London
To ensure fall and academic year students receive the 15 credits per semester required by IES Abroad, we require a 3-credit, pre-semester tutorial in London. You live and study in London for four weeks prior to the start of the term in Oxford.
Designed to prepare you to succeed at the University of Oxford, this independent study tutorial sharpens your skills in oral and written rhetoric. You work one-on-one with IES Abroad London tutors (some of whom also teach at Oxford). The subject for the tutorial is chosen from the standard IES Abroad courses.* While in London, you live in a residence hall.
Getting your passport is a crucial step for studying abroad. With processing times taking longer than usual, consider this a gentle reminder to not procrastinate on getting or renewing your passport.
Even though your adventure starts in Oxford, our field trips take you beyond the city to discover the culture and traditions of your host country. All trips are included in the program fee unless otherwise noted with ($).
NOTE: IES Abroad field trip destinations, activities, and lengths of stay may vary according to term and availability.
We firmly believe that financial limitations should not prevent a qualified student from studying abroad. This is why we commit millions of dollars to our study abroad scholarships and aid.
The Center is where our highly trained local staff provide on-the-ground support throughout your time abroad.
The IES Abroad London Center is in a centrally-located Georgian building with green space called the Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn. Whether you’re grabbing lunch at the Leather Lane food market, or visiting the Rosetta Stone at the British Museum, the Center is your study abroad hub.
With 70 years of experience, we are proud to set the standard for health and safety in study abroad. Our Chicago-based and on-site staff are all highly trained and experienced in the matters of health, safety, and crisis management. We are here for you from predeparture to your return, and are ready to support you—no matter which time zone you’re in. We plan for "what ifs" so that you don’t have to. From international health insurance included in the cost of your program to highly-trained local staff who can connect you to English-speaking healthcare providers, we are working around the clock to ensure your health and safety while abroad.
No one knows the IES Abroad experience better than a student who has lived it! From budget tips to housing experiences, our volunteer Ambassadors are here to share it all.
Delve into the world of life in Nantes, France with me as I discuss all that the adjustment period of study abroad brings!
This post covers a few mishaps that can happen in the process of organizing the logistics for studying abroad.
I fell in love with surfing after the very first lesson. In this blog, I share my experience from three days at Surf Camp Australia :)