Oxford-Princeton

Exchange in Engineering

 

 

 

Overview

 

As part of the Oxford-Princeton Partnership, Princeton undergraduates in the Department of

Electrical Engineering and Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering will have an opportunity to

study for the academic year at Oxford. In return, Princeton will accept Oxford undergraduates

to study engineering at Princeton for the year.

 

This is the most integrated academic experience at Oxford that a short-term visiting student can

have, and Princeton is pleased to have the opportunity to offer it to its students.

 

Princeton students will live in a participating Oxford college and have full privileges as members

of the college and as visiting students at the University.

 

The City of Oxford

 

Oxford is a lively city with University buildings from many different architectural periods

scattered amidst commercial enterprises. It has a population of 160,000. The city provides an

array of cinemas, theaters, and concert halls as well as a variety of good, inexpensive restaurants. 

There are excellent transportation links with all parts of the United Kingdom and frequent and

reasonably priced bus service to London.

 

The University

                                                                                   

The University of Oxford, established in the 12th century, is composed of 39 independent, self-governing colleges and six Permanent Private Halls, founded at different times during the past 800 years. Of the 39 colleges, 30 admit students for undergraduate degrees.  Each of these colleges and halls selects its own students, houses them for at least the first year, provides their meals, meeting rooms (called common rooms), libraries, sports and social facilities, and assumes responsibility, primarily through the tutorial system, for their academic studies.  The University provides the laboratories, the central lecture halls, the libraries and museums, prescribes courses and syllabi, and is in charge of University examinations and awarding degrees. The current undergraduate enrollment is around 11,000.

 

The Colleges

As this is an exchange program, you will be living in the college from which an outgoing Oxford student comes. Information on each of these colleges is available in the Oxford Prospectus, available in the Study Abroad Office in 406 West College, and on the Web (http://www.ox.ac.uk).

 

Academic Calendar 2006-07

Michaelmas Term                     8 October                     2 December

Hilary Term                              14 January                    10 March

Trinity Term                              22 April                        16 June

 

Facilities/Extracurricular Activities

 

Princeton students will have the same access to libraries, computing facilities, and health services as do regularly enrolled students.

 

There are over 200 clubs and societies active at Oxford.  At "Freshers' Fair" in October (Oxford's equivalent of the Student Activities Fair during Princeton's Freshman Orientation), Princeton students will learn about the array of clubs, sports, music societies, drama and media opportunities, the three students newspapers, and the student-run radio station. The Oxford Union, founded in 1823, is famous for its debates and for attracting renowned speakers from around the world.

 

In each college, there is a Junior Common Room, to which all undergraduates have access. It provides a place to relax with magazines and newspapers; it also functions much like the Undergraduate Student Government in representing students’ opinions and organizing a range of social events.  Some colleges have their own dramatic and music groups as well as other organizations to accommodate students’ particular interests.

 

Applications

 

Applications are available in Dean Kanach’s office by early January.  The deadline for applications is March 1, 2006.  Completed applications must be submitted to Dean Kanach’s office in 406 West College and consist of the following:

a)      completed application form, listing college choices in order of preference;

b)      one letter of recommendation from a faculty member who has taught you (in a sealed envelope with the recommender’s signature on the flap);

c)      official transcript from the Registrar’s Office;

 

Princeton will forward the most competitive applications to Oxford.  Students who are admitted have two weeks to accept the offer.  A non-refundable deposit of $1,000 will be required to secure their place.  This deposit will be applied to tuition.

 

Expenses

 

Tuition Fees: Princeton students pay the normal yearly tuition fees to Princeton. There is no study abroad fee for the exchange.

 

Accommodation:  Fees for room and other college expenses are paid directly to the relevant Oxford College and may vary according to college.  The fees are roughly similar to those for rooms at Princeton, but housing during breaks is extra.

 

Personal Expenses: An estimate for food, books, travel, leisure, and expenses, including expenses during the five-week spring break is £3,500 for full year. (currently US$6,310). This budget does not cover extensive travel and is what Oxford students are told to budget for their year.

           

Travel:  Students will be responsible for arranging their own travel to and from Oxford.  Round-trip airfare from New York is usually no more than $600.

 

Insurance:  All students are required to carry health insurance. Student health insurance, which is valid overseas, may be purchased through Princeton University for $405/semester (2004-05 rates). Students who are covered by other insurance plans must confirm that they have coverage comparable to that provided by Princeton’s plan.

 

Passport:  Students are responsible for ensuring that their passports are valid for their entire stay in the United Kingdom.  Fees for passports range from $67 (to renew a passport) to $97 (to obtain a passport for the first time).  For further information on renewing or obtaining a passport, please consult the U.S. State Department passport Web site at http://travel.state.gov. 

 

Entry Clearance Visa: U.S. citizens staying more than six months in the UK must obtain an entry clearance visa from British Consulate in New York City. You may apply on line and send in supporting documentation separately, or you may obtain the visa in person at the Consulate.  Students who are not U.S. citizens should check with the British Consulate to determine the entry requirements.  Further information about Entry Clearance Visas can be found at http://www.britainusa.com/visas/visas.asp.

 

Financial Aid

 

Students who are approved to study abroad at Oxford for Princeton credit may use financial aid to meet expenses.  Students need to complete a budget form, available from the financial aid office or Dean Kanach.  The financial aid office will review the budget and adjust the students' financial aid award as appropriate.  The budget should include tuition, room, board, travel, books, and personal expenses.

 

The contents of this brochure are subject to change without notice.  Last updated 11/15/05

 

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