Political Science & Politics Study Abroad Programs in Oxford, England

I had originally gone to the Middlebury CMRS program because I wanted to prove that I was better than anyone else; however, once I realized that there was more to Oxford than merely intelligence (after a prolonged period not going outside), this quickly fell by the wayside. To be surrounded by bookshelves that had their own horizons, maze-like streets you didn't mind getting lost within, and pubs galore to go have philosophical discussions whilst downing another Guinness, it's all a treat that I hope to take part in again. I grew as a result of the program, as I no longer feel as though I have to prove my worth to anyone. Instead, I only wish to grow as a means to become a better citizen of the world.

My time at Middlebury CMRS was really rewarding. Adjusting to a new academic environment and system was definitely intimidating at first, but I grew to really appreciate the change, especially because of how much it pushed me outside of my comfort zone. Until coming to this program, I didn't realize how quickly I could read and write, and that helped me overcome intellectual/academic perfectionism. The tutorial system was definitely difficult and lots of work, but it felt really good to be taken so intellectually seriously by Oxford tutors, and the system also allowed me to create strong relationships with each of my tutors. By the end, I felt very proud of myself for taking on such a difficult course/workload and realizing that I could still keep up and do well. It built my intellectual confidence and also allowed me to meet some really wonderful people and create some really cool experiences and memories.

Before my study abroad journey, I was filled with excitement, mostly about the idea of being in a new country and soaking in a different culture. I had high hopes, but honestly, both London and the IES Abroad program exceeded every expectation I had. Of course, I got to experience all the iconic London attractions you dream about: the London Eye, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace—every postcard landmark was just as magical in real life. But what really surprised me was how much more there was beyond the tourist side. One of the most unforgettable experiences was a trip organised by IES to the Jurassic Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage site. It’s not a place I would’ve ever put on my personal travel itinerary, but it ended up being one of the highlights of my entire time abroad. That trip showed me a completely different side of the UK, natural, historical, and deeply beautiful. While most people think of study abroad as all about travel and adventure (which it definitely is), I have to highlight how incredible the academic side was, too. The classes were intellectually engaging, and the professors brought a whole new perspective to learning. What I loved most was how they incorporated the city and our experiences into the classroom. We went to art galleries, had community volunteering placements, and brought real-life news to discuss in class that made learning feel holistic and alive. If I had the chance, I would absolutely do it all over again.

This program was exactly what I hoped for and then some! For any students interested in healthcare, this is the perfect combination of community engagement and healthcare policy. The courses are very relevant to today's healthcare debates, and the professors are very advanced in their fields. They want to learn from students as much as they want to teach. The program also has a community volunteer placement, which is a great way to work with local initiatives, learn more about a public healthcare system, and engage with locals. The conclusion of the program is spent in Jamaica for ten days, where students are able to shadow in local healthcare clinics, attend lectures at the local university, and explore sights across the island. This was my favorite part of the program and I miss it every day!

This course was a turning point for me, helping me land my first AI job and greatly enhancing my CV. The supportive community and the opportunity to connect with people from top universities around the world made it even more valuable. It was not just about learning but also about building connections and having a great experience.

Attending the LMH Summer Program for AI was an amazing mix of learning and surprises. Sure, the lectures were great, and I learned a lot about AI—but the real MVP was the LMH library cat. That cat was my coding buddy, stress therapist, and silent judge when my code didn’t work. The program felt like a perfect mix of academia and hanging out with friends (and a cat). Honestly, I might’ve learned just as much from the professors as I did from staring into that cat’s wise, unimpressed eyes.

I gained valuable knowledge from top professors whose lessons felt directly useful in real-world situations, which really boosted my confidence. The learning experience was made even better by the supportive and friendly environment created by both the residential advisors and the other students, who were always cheerful and welcoming. It was inspiring to connect with amazing people from diverse backgrounds, and the activities were both meaningful and fun, making the experience well-rounded. Oxford itself, with its quiet charm and beauty, offered a peaceful setting that made it easy to stay focused while also feeling relaxed and refreshed. The room called the JCR (Junior Common Room) is really something I'll simply never forget... Chilling with people there after classes and late at night, watching movies, playing games, and so on made me forget this was an academic program!

Ever since taking this residential summer programme, everything in my life started to become better. The technical skills gained from the Advanced AI course enabled me to become much more confident in tackling real-world problems by making projects that actually work. The soft skills gained from the cultural evening activities gave me confidence to build strong chemistry with fellow programme attendees. I am sure that the confidence that I have now both in technical skills and soft skills started growing as soon as I started taking this residential programme.

I had the opportunity to take the Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Deep Unsupervised Learning (DUL) courses at Lady Margaret Hall and I can confidently say that these courses stand out for their solid, mathematics-based structure which is complemented by hands-on tutorials in the lab sessions. I particularly appreciated the inclusion of state-of-the-art topics that make the curriculum align with the latest advancements in the industry.

Overall experience is great, the TAs made sure we were having fun on slow days. The professors were always trying their best to deliver the ideas as smoothly as possible. We studied AI and psychology.

I have had the most interesting experience while at LMH summer program. I started with little-to-no knowledge about social psychology and AI advanced material, the program chose very exceptional professors and experts to deliver the material in a fun and informative manner. Besides knowledge, I got to have a wide social circle from all over, made friends that I am (two years later) still very close with them. The staff and organizing team of the program made it even better, I would definitely go again!

My time at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford, during a two-month summer program, was truly transformative. The beautiful campus, with its serene gardens and historic architecture, provided an inspiring environment for learning and personal growth. The faculty, staff, and TA team were incredibly supportive and collaborative, fostering a sense of belonging and intellectual curiosity. The engaging lectures and workshops pushed me to explore new ideas and develop skills I never thought possible. Beyond academics, the vibrant community and enriching conversations with peers made my experience unforgettable. LMH will always hold a special place in my heart as a cornerstone of my academic and personal journey.

Hi there! If you are hesitating to take this course because it's somewhat expensive, and you don't know if you like Oxford. Believe me: these 3 weeks in Oxford were amazing, worth the 5k, and perfectly organized. There is nothing I could blame LMH for. They provide you with a well-organized experience, so you can focus on studying, and, of course, make friends and hang out in the beautiful medieval city of Oxford. LMH is close to the city center (approximately 10 minutes walk) and I can still remember these walks and the talks we had when walking into town. I am sure, that you will meet very extraordinary people on this program, which are just like you: searching for friends and aiming to spend three intense weeks in Great Britain. The LMH campus will give you a real college feeling, and the rooms are just wonderful, you have a cozy bed and some rooms face a beautiful garden. You are going to meet people from all over the world and make friends, that you can visit and stay friends with your whole life. I can only encourage you to take this program. It completely changed my life, and I am still in contact with people I met there. Paradoxically, you sometimes get closer to people you've only met three weeks ago than to people you've known since childhood.

I had a great time studying abroad in London! My program was theater focused and my professors were very knowledgeable. My program planned many fun weekend trips and the admin made sure to also host small events too. I felt supported throughout it all. I would highly recommend IES Abroad.

Studying abroad with IES allowed me to have an unforgettable semester in London! I was a part of the Direct Enrollment program at University College London (UCL), and IES helped me through all parts of the process, from the application, my arrival, and during my time in London.

Participating in this program will forever be one of the best decisions I've ever made. The administration and staff were incredibly responsive to the students' concerns and helped us immerse ourselves into both a new country and intimidating academic environment. The professors they recruited to teach us were also wonderfully knowledgeable and kind; my writing grew significantly under the author Rebecca Gowers and my knowledge of Shakespeare was put into fun twists with Dr. Juliana Dresvina. Apart from the academics, it was invigorating to spend an entire semester with a cohort of students who were just as excited as I was to experience Oxford, learn, and do life together for a little bit (i.e. Thanksgiving dinner, birthday parties, pubbing, shows, traveling). I've come away with a greater understanding of English and history, a group of friends I am so proud to know, and a newfound confidence in my academic and social abilities.

My time at the University of College of London was terrific. There really isn't anything you can compare to going to a country and knowing almost nothing (no matter how much research you do). You not only learn about a new country but also yourself while you live there. I did just that I wouldn't be here without my study abroad experience. I am a grad student now at USC and the master's program I chose was inspired by a class I took at UCL. Everyone was super kind and great to explore with. The people I meet there I still connect with and have a close bond with. Overall, my experience was phenomenal and I wish every college student gets to experience what I did.

Step 1: Go. And don't look back. I grew so much as a human and performer (which is what I was studying) in my time abroad. I had the entire world, culturally and artistically, at my fingertips. Each weekend I would sit with my friends, over a full potluck we cooked together at only 19 or 20 years old, and decide whether or not we wanted to go see 3 shows on the West End this weekend, or go to France and try escargot and fine wine. To put it simply, the availability to extend myself whichever way I wanted, grew me. The opportunities to be around some of the best theatre in the world, grew me. Making my own choices and handling my own responsibilities halfway across the world, grew me.

After being back in the States for almost four months, I am still continuing to rave over my study abroad program. I loved IES and everything they had to offer. The London center was phenomenal-professors, staff, location. All of the classes that I chose to take gave us a chance to be immersed into the London culture, with field trips to art and history museums, walking tours of the various London neighborhoods, and theatre performances. All of my professors were knowledgeable in their fields, and I learned a lot from them. The staff at the IES Center were always very friendly and helpful. I was a part of the running and yoga clubs, and got to know some of the staff members because of it. These extra-curricular opportunities not only continued to allow us to get to know London better, but it allowed us to get to know the people we were studying with, and showed us that the staff at the center weren't just there as staff. They were there to help make our study abroad experience the best it could be! And when I got sick during our exam week, I was able to get into see a doctor immediately, and everyone-staff and professors-were extremely accommodating. I always felt safe in London too. My apartment was in a great neighborhood, with only a twenty minute bus ride to most of the iconic London places. All of the housing locations were close to each other too, which made visiting friends even easier.

When I left for my study abroad program, I had no expectations. I had never been to Europe before and as excited as I was to embark on this journey, it was hard to believe that I would be living in a foreign country for four months. But I did, and I absolutely loved it. I used to think it was cliché when someone would tell me that studying abroad would change my life, but after my experience with the IES Study London Program, I can honestly say that it did. Not only was our housing situation fantastic, and complete with all of the amenities one could need, but the staff was also brilliant! I can genuinely say I have never enjoyed going to class more than I did while in London. The classes are all fairly small and the professors really take the time to help you better understand the culture you are living in. Our academic advisors were also amazing and got to know each of us on a personal level. This made the transition very smooth, and it made me feel as though I had a group of English friends from the start. All of the class trips were very fun and educational, and it allowed for students to affordably travel around the United Kingdom. Although IES gave us a great deal of support, they also gave us the time to explore London on our own and truly become immersed in the culture. This was the best of studying abroad, in my opinion. When I say that this program changed my life for the better, I truly mean it. Going on this adventure not only gave me a new perspective on the world, and my life, but it also gave me friendships that will last a lifetime. Experiencing a new city, and a new culture, gave me a newfound confidence and showed me how much this world has to offer, outside of college. I truly had the best time, and I would recommend this program to anyone who is considering studying abroad.