How to apply for Registered Visiting Student places (with University privileges) in Medieval Colleges of Oxford University Since 1987, we have successfully recommended highly qualified students for some Visiting Student places in several Oxford colleges each year. These students had initially applied to WISC. We now work with eleven Oxford colleges (including some of the modern colleges) to recommend highly qualified students for Visiting Student places, which include almost all University privileges. The minimum GPA admission standard varies from 3.3 to 3.6. We must stress again that the various formal and informal relationships that we have here in Oxford permit us to recommend a certain number of students each term or year. There is absolutely no guarantee that a particular Oxford college will accept a particular student, no matter how qualified. The colleges we are working with naturally wish to have a choice of a good number of highly qualified applicants with GPAs ranging from 3.3 to 3.6 and up before they make their final selection. Accepted Visiting Students must also be registered by the Oxford Colleges Admissions office; Visiting Students then receive an Oxford University ID card. Visiting Students have almost all the privileges of degree candidates in university facilities (lectures, libraries, laboratories, etc.) as well as college privileges and therefore must be approved by the University authorities. Application Deadline: April 15 for Fall or Year We would have to receive these applications no later than April 15, and preferably earlier. Since Oxford colleges operate a rolling admissions policy, places are obviously filled fairly quickly, so the earlier the application the better. Some students will be able to apply for the Winter/Spring terms and their applications should be submitted no later than October 1, preferably as early as possible. Students should call us if they wish to apply late; there may still be vacancies due to withdrawals. Our normal application form will do in the first instance (photocopies may be made) and students should write that they wish to apply for a Visiting Student place. If it seems likely, after informal soundings, that an Oxford college may be able to accept a student, we will send him or her the Oxford University application forms. Two letters of recommendation and a sample of written work will be required. We will pay the 10 pounds sterling application fee to make it easier for the students. The accepted student will receive a letter from the Oxford college admitting him or her as a Visiting Student of the college and the student will also be registered as a Visiting Student of Oxford University. Such registered students as these have almost full University privileges. Most importantly, they have full use of the main University library and all the faculty libraries on the same basis as the degree candidates. Registered Visiting Students are also welcome to attend all university lectures and seminars (except for a few that are restricted to certain graduate students, etc.). In addition, these students receive an academic record directly from their Oxford college, confirming that they have been registered by Oxford University. Students, if they wish, may apply for Visiting Student places in Oxford colleges on their own. If they do so and are accepted, their fees will probably be less but they will not have the "safety net" of a U.S. study abroad office in Oxford. Most Oxford colleges will only accept a Visiting Student for an entire academic year and most of these places are "reserved" for students applying through U.S. colleges which have made special arrangements with individual Oxford colleges. The address for such applications is http://www.admissions.ox.ac.uk/int/visiting/. (Undergraduate Admissions Office, University Offices, Wellington Square, Oxford OX1 2JD, England) Visiting Students are able to apply for any term (including the Trinity term only) not only for the Fall term or for the combined Winter and Spring terms. This system is helpful to students from colleges with quarter terms. Thirteen weeks in residence each term WISC will ensure that the Visiting Students will be in residence for 13 weeks a term and will study in two primary tutorial courses of nine tutorial sessions each. Alternatively, in some cases, three secondary courses of six tutorials each might be educationally desirable. In some cases, a student may complete courses earlier. Students should not make travel plans until they know their individual schedules. Senior Fellows also expect to consult with the Visiting Student's US professors to work out the best academic program for him or her. With academic approval, a student may enroll in a few more tutorials- and stay about two more weeks in residence at no extra cost. Conversely, there can be no refund if a student chooses to leave early or take fewer tutorials. This would mean that a Visiting Student could properly earn 13 US semester credits over 12-13 weeks of intensive academic work; very experienced tutors tell us that most British degree candidates spend at least 39 weeks a year in academic work including reading in the vacations, etc. According to the Oxford Classics Handbook (p 11), "vacation study is vital." That means that about half the "vacation time" is devoted to guided study. If you would like more information please do call our Oxford office at: Phone: 011 44 1865 201132 or our Washington office (202) 547-3275 or E-mail us at wisc@erols.com For more information on Oxford University go to: www.ox.ac.uk For a list of courses go to: www.admissions.ox.ac.uk/courses/index.shtml For advice for Visiting Students go to: www.admissions.ox.ac.uk/forms/pdfs/vsugradnotes2002.pdf