Probably best known for its University, England's town of Oxford could possibly hold the title of most famous "university town" in the world. With that comes a unique atmosphere of cultural sophistication and intellectual contemplation that mixes pleasantly with the cosmopolitan bustle of a contemporary town.

There is good reason for Oxford to be best known for its university given that the school is one of the most respected in the world. Those with the opportunity to study in one of Oxford's many colleges will find themselves immersed in an intellectual tradition stretching back through time that simultaneously maintains vibrancy and adaptability in the modern era.

Study Abroad Programs in Oxford

Class format in Oxford is often based around tutorials, which are typically a tutor working with either an individual student or a very small group of students. This format requires an immense amount of independent work on the part of the student, but also result in a high degree of personal attention and interaction between tutors and their students. While such a system typically requires more intellectual vigor than many students are accustomed to, the benefits are also correspondingly greater. Students returning from Oxford consistently share how much they feel their education was enriched and their studies enlivened.

Many study abroad programs in Oxford have chosen to mix the tutorial approach with American-style classes to provide maximum benefits to students. The programs provide classes in British culture, history, politics, and other aspects of British life to supplement core courses taken in the Oxford system of tutorials and discussion based seminars. This allows students to not only deepen the studies in their own fields, but also expand and capitalize on their time abroad.

The city of Oxford itself also provides a plethora of cultural and historical attractions and activities for the aspiring student. The rich environment of the university population has nurtured the arts in many forms, from plays to museums to music to art and more. All of these cultural treasures are set against the backdrop of Oxford's inspiring architecture and redolent in the history that can be seen and experienced throughout the town.

However, at the same time students should not plan to float along on the wonders of intellectual fervor for the entirety of their time in Oxford. It is also a busy, sophisticated town with much to offer in the way of shopping, restaurants, and trendy hot spots. Oxford can also boast an impressive array of science, technology, and business centers. Once again a legacy of the university, Oxford tends to draw and keep some of the best and brightest and the business culture there expresses that as much as the arts.

With all it has to offer, it is hardly surprising that Oxford has drawn the crème de la crème of world leaders, thinkers, writers, etc. for generations. Their legacy is indelible. Many famous people found their inspiration at Oxford and some of the well-known graduates include: Desiderius Erasmus, John Donne, William Penn, Oscar Wilde, J. R. R. Tolkein, Senator J. W. Fulbright, Theodeor Seuss Geisel, Bill Clinton, Tony Blair, and Tim Berners Lee (inventor of the World Wide Web). And that is just a sampling of some of the fine scholars and influential people that have spent time soaking up the Oxford atmosphere. More recently, multitudes of people have been inspired by the 'magic' of Oxford as it appeared as part of the setting in the extremely popular Harry Potter films.

With all these benefits, the greatest strength of Oxford truly exists in the gathering of people who are earnest about their studies. Learning and development rarely work well in a box. The lasting benefit that Oxford endows upon its students is the chance to discuss, to grow and to learn in a place that praises all of those things. Oxford readies people to take that spirit of intellectual curiosity and that love of learning out into the larger education community and from there to the myriad of fields in both academia and business that can greatly benefit from innovative yet historically sensitive learning.