University of Oxford Direct Enroll

Three-part application process:

1. We highly recommend that you talk to MISTI before beginning your application.
2. Apply directly to Oxford by individual college's deadline for the program/term you wish to study abroad.
3. Apply here for MISTI approval to study abroad. Apply by the deadline for the term in which you plan to study abroad. MIT deadlines are listed below. 

Please note Oxford's deadlines for the 2025-2026 academic year are earlier than many other study abroad deadlines. It is important to apply early.

Lady Margaret Hall 

• Application Requirements
• LMH Deadline: January 20, 2025

St. Catherine's 

• Application Requirements
• Catz Deadline: January 31, 2025

St. Peter's

• Application Requirements
• St. Peter's Deadline: January 31, 2025

Subjects Offered

• Visiting students can study most of the subjects available to regular undergraduates, but review each college's website to see what courses/subjects are available to you.
  • Lady Margaret Hall
  • St. Catherine's
  • St. Peter's

Additional Information

• Lady Margaret Hall FAQ's: some quick answers to questions about academics and more, as well as further information on subject availability
• As described more in the 'Tutorial System' section, subjects are uniquely taught at Oxford and credits are not counted in the same way as in the U.S.
  • "US colleges normally award one semester credit for each tutorial hour; thus students normally qualify for up to 12 semester credits for each term’s work"

Transfer Credit

Information on the transfer credit process at MIT can be found here.

Grades are typically released in July after the conclusion of the examination period.

A distinctive feature of the Oxford educational system is the learning that takes place in tutorials or small classes. The structure of tutorials varies across subject areas, but they normally involve between one and three students meeting regularly with a ‘tutor’. In preparation for the meeting, students are required to complete some readings and usually must either write an essay or prepare a problem set in advance. The session with the Tutor involves discussion of the assignment and personalized feedback on the student’s work.

This system of learning involves an intense interaction between the student and her or his teacher. Although there may only be one hour of contact each week, students are required to spend several hours independently preparing for this and must come to the tutorial fully ready to delve into the topic at hand. In the tutorial, a student is given constructive feedback and is pushed to think through topics in much greater depth than is the norm in a classroom or lecture setting. We find that most students adjust to this quickly and come to value this way of learning and the unique opportunity it provides to pursue particular academic interests.

Your term will be structured around taking a major course, which usually requires 8 tutorials per term (one per week) and a minor course will usually involve 4 tutorials per term (one on alternative weeks). Therefore an average 8-week term for a Visiting Student will involve 12 one-hour tutorials. You will usually be asked to write a short essay for each of these tutorials. There are usually no ‘term-papers’ which you have to write at the end. Your work will be individually assessed and marked and feedback will be given on a week-by-week basis. Your final term grade will be awarded on the basis of both the quality of your written work and how well you have engaged in tutorial discussions with your tutor. Hence both written and verbal skills are developed and evaluated during the course. Students are also advised to attend lectures to supplement materials covered in the tutorial sessions.