IFSA-Oxford University (Magdalen College)
Program Details
| Program Location |
Oxford, United Kingdom
|
| Sponsor |
IFSA-Butler |
| Program Type |
Co-sponsored |
| Course # |
SA 34015
|
| Duration |
Summer
|
| Upcoming Program Dates |
| Summer 2026 |
07/04/26 to 08/08/26
|
Please Note: Programs may be altered or adapted with little notice
Overview
The IFSA-Butler College Summer Program at Oxford University is based at Magdalen College, one of Oxford's oldest colleges and is located in the heart of Oxford close to libraries, museums, theaters, and shops.
All weeks of the Summer School are teaching weeks, with the emphasis shifting towards concluding reviews and study field visits in the final week. Courses are taught through an integrated programme of tutorials, seminars and lectures in combinations varying from Option to Option.
The weekly tutorial is at the heart of every Course, with a small group of 1-5 students discussing papers, prepared in advance, with their tutor. Seminars bring together a larger group of perhaps 8–10 students to participate in more general discussions of common subjects related to the various Options of each Course.
In the weekly tutorial, the tutor leads a discussion about the week’s essay topic in an effort to provide new insights. At the end of the tutorial, the tutor will assign a new topic and recommend appropriate reading. Students will share tutorials with other North American summer program students (i.e., this is NOT an immersion program with British students!), and seminars will supplement tutorials with the goal of deepening the understanding of the academic topics.
Beyond coursework, students from Academic and Professional Courses attend weekly evening interdisciplinary lectures on cultural, political, historical, literary, environmental and other issues of topical and general interest.
All participants on the program participate in field excursions, which are organized each week except for the first week of the summer program. The field excursions are designed to enrich studies and to introduce students to sites of exceptional importance in England’s literary heritage.
This program generally runs from early July to mid-August.
For more program information, please visit the
program website.
This program is sponsored by:
IFSA-Butler.
Eligibility
The program is open to Purdue students in good standing who have completed at least two semesters of university study by the start of the program. Successful candidates will demonstrate academic success, maturity, and a desire to experience another culture.
This program is for English, Literature, Medieval and Renaissance Studies, Theater, or History majors or minors only.
GPA Requirement:
3.0 on a 4.0 scale
Language Requirement: none
Purdue Credit
Direct Credit
available from the following:
[
College of Liberal Arts]
Students interested in completing courses while abroad from Purdue colleges or departments that are not listed above should discuss this with their study abroad advisor before applying to the program.
Academic Program
Students must pick one of the two "courses": English Literature or Medieval Studies. Within these courses, students will choose a specific class from options such as the following. They should also note a second choice in case their first choice is not possible.
English Literature Course
- Shakespeare Without Fear
- Jane Austen in Text and Context
- The Inklings in Oxford (J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis et al.)
- Prison Literature & Freedom
- Page to Screen: British Literature and Modern Adaptation
- Death, Nature, and the Supernatural in Medieval Literature
- The Power of Words: Language, Identity & Belonging
Medieval Studies Course
- Conquest & Colonisation: England and Her Neighbours 1016-1296
- The Arthurian Traditions of King Arthur and the Fellowship of the Knights of the Round Table.
Excursions
Participate in weekly field excursions designed to introduce you to sites of exceptional importance in England's literary heritage.
All students join the Wales Field Excursion at no additional cost: Wales Field Excursion: The Development of British Landscapes. However, students enrolling in English Literature or Medieval Studies can earn an additional 2 U.S. semester credit hours if they opt to write a 2,000-word paper on a subject of their choice relating to the excursion and approved by Magdalen College.
Housing
IFSA Oxford students live in the heart of the city, on the Magdalen College grounds or in housing secured by the college just across the street.
- Living space. Most students have single rooms, each with a bed, desk, chair, and storage. Students shared bathrooms and kitchen facilities.
- Meals. All weekday meals are included in the program fee and provided by the Magdalen College Dining Hall, as are some weekend meals. Give it a try—dining hall meals are a big part of the Oxford experience! Students can also use the kitchen facilities in their residence halls to prepare meals.
- Nearby. The Bodleian Library (7-minute walk) and the Botanic Gardens (1-minute walk). The River Cherwell, The Grove, and The Water Meadow are on Magdalen College grounds.
Estimated Program Costs
Students pursuing program participation accept financial responsibility. Purdue will take measures to mitigate financial risks, although will not be liable for loss. Students should carefully note what costs need to be paid to Purdue University or to a co-sponsor or agency, and what costs need to be paid at the overseas study location. This will vary by program.
The Program Fee includes tuition, emergency medical insurance, on-site orientation, and some excursions.
The Housing Fee includes accommodations, three meals per day Monday through Friday, and brunch on weekends.
Costs for this program are estimated and subject to change. The cost figures listed below are
for: Summer 2025
|
Costs per term to be billed by Purdue
and Co-sponsor
|
| Program Fee |
$7,450.00
|
| Study Abroad Fee |
$609.40 |
| Housing |
$4,500.00 |
| Purdue International Insurance (per month) |
$32.00 |
| Program Discount for Purdue Students |
- $750.00 |
|
Approximate additional costs per term
|
| To be paid by the student.
|
| Round-trip Airfare |
$1,500.00 |
| Local Transportation |
$133.00 |
| Visa |
$13.00 |
| Books and Supplies |
$27.00 |
| Meals |
$667.00 |
| Miscellaneous Personal Expenses |
$0.00 -
$903.00 |
| Travel Documents (passport, photos) |
$175.00 |
Financial Aid
IFSA-Butler offers a monthly payment plan option for its fees, as well as scholarships. Please see its website for more information.
Purdue University financial aid may be applied to the costs of studying abroad. Students interested in receiving financial aid should
NOTE: Recipients of certain tuition remission and scholarship programs should pay careful attention to the regulations for using those benefits for study abroad. Ask your financial aid advisor about any limitations.
Click here for a list of scholarships and grants available to assist with the costs of studying overseas.
Application Deadlines
For full consideration, students must submit all supporting documents (typically an essay, transcripts, 1-2 recommendations, and copy of passport) before or by the application deadline. Popular programs fill quickly, often before the deadline. To ensure a place in a program, apply early.
As soon as a student submits an online application, a My Study Abroad account is created. Applicants should consult this page often to check on the status of the application.
| Program Application Deadline
|
| IFSA-Oxford University Summer Deadline |
Feb 1 |
Returnees Information
Click below to search for Purdue students who have participated in this program and are willing to be contacted. If you get no results, you can use the search form to find people who studied in the country you are interested in.
Resources
The websites listed below contain information about this program. The accuracy of information at external sites cannot be guaranteed.
For more information on this program, please contact the Study Abroad Office by phone (765) 494-2383
or email
studyabroad@purdue.edu.
