St. Edmund Hall, University of Oxford
It's a once in a lifetime opportunity. If you're a student living and studying outside the European Union, our Visiting Student programme offers you the chance to be challenged academically by outstanding tutors, inspired by a beautiful living and working environment, and immersed in a vibrant social, sporting and artistic community.
You'll study at St Edmund Hall for up to one year alongside Oxford undergraduates, and we'll be working hard to ensure that your experiences here will match those of our regular students. You'll be given accommodation with our own undergraduates and study the same subjects, often sharing tutorials with students on the Oxford courses.
Academics
As a Visiting Student at St Edmund Hall you can select courses from a maximum of three subject areas.
As a Visiting Student you'll be welcomed into our community of 400 undergraduates reading for a wide range of University of Oxford degrees.
In terms of undergraduate population we're one of the largest Oxford colleges. Our student body is made up of small, close-knit subject groups. At the Hall you'll become close friends with like-minded people who share your passion for your subjects. You'll also live alongside and make lifelong friendships with people whose academic interests are radically different from your own.
An Oxford college is much more than a hall of residence. Your college will arrange the tutorial teaching which makes studying at Oxford a distinctive experience. At St. Edmund Hall we believe in providing expert teaching, and the courses we offer reflect the academic specialisations of our tutors.
As a Visiting Student you'll be taught by the same specialist tutors who teach undergraduates reading for an Oxford degree, and you'll often share your tutorials with an Oxford undergraduate.
Each term you will study one primary course and one secondary course. All of our courses are taught using the Oxford tutorial system. A tutorial is a one hour meeting with an academic expert in the subject, for which you will have usually prepared work such as an essay or a set of problems. For a primary course you will have eight tutorials and for a secondary course you will have four tutorials.
The application form asks you to supply first and second choices for your courses. Please note that the Oxford system is very different from that at most US universities. The preferences you state on the application form will be used when considering your application, and based on these we will make you an offer of specific course options. Once this offer has been accepted it is extremely difficult to change your courses.
College Life
Visiting Students are, along with all St Edmund Hall undergraduates, full members of the JCR (Junior Common Room). Run by an elected committee of current students, the JCR puts on a packed calendar of social events, from weekly teas and film nights to yoga classes and the 'Teddy Hall's Got Talent' contest. There is an annual 'Equality Week', with workshops, debates and a popular international food fair.
The JCR also has a serious side and organises a team of Peer Supporters each year, who receive over 30 hours of training to help them listen to and support their fellow students. JCR Committee members represent undergraduates at the College's Governing Body meetings. As a JCR member, you’ll be able to have your say at regular meetings.
One or two Visiting Students each year are elected to the JCR Committee as Visiting Students' Officers, to ensure that we cater for the particular needs of the Visiting Student community and to organise social events to help you get to know other students.
There's something for everyone at St Edmund Hall. Our thriving College societies include Chapel Choir, Christian Union, a creative writing group (who meet for weekly workshops), drama and the Venus Society, who organise events to raise money for a cancer charity. Every October, there is a College Freshers' Fair where you can find out more about all the clubs and societies, but you can also join in throughout the year.
The College has many different sports teams, catering for a range of abilities and commitment levels! Rowing, football, rugby, netball, basketball and darts are just some of the many sports on offer. With a further 200 University clubs and societies to choose from, coming to Oxford is the perfect time to try something new.
Life at St Edmund Hall can be busy but there’s still time to unwind. The JCR provides newspapers, hot drinks, a pool table and table football, and a large-screen TV with satellite sports subscription.
Our friendly college bar, known as the Buttery, is also popular place to catch up with friends.
Housing
We offer accommodation to all our Visiting Students for the whole of their time in Oxford as follows:
- Students visiting for the full academic year (three terms) may stay in their room throughout, including the Christmas and Easter vacations.
- Students visiting for two terms only may stay in their room throughout, including the Easter vacation.
Each single study-bedroom has a washbasin, with bathroom facilities nearby, and all rooms are connected to the University’s internet network. You can opt for self-catering, or take all your meals in the main College Dining Hall where our award-winning chef prepares top quality food that is excellent value for money.
Isis
Just five minutes’ walk away across Magdalen Bridge, our Isis accommodation houses around 45 of our undergraduates. Right opposite the University Sports Complex, it’s also close to the buzzing student area of Cowley Road.
William R. Miller Building
Our newest accommodation opened in 2004, also located in East Oxford, and home to 55 students. 50 dinners per term are provided. Additional meals are available on a pay-as-you-eat basis.