The Oxford Experience

Students are introduced to one of mankind's oldest and most scientifically advanced areas of study. They learn about Cosmology, the Big Bang, the formation of stars and planets and their deaths, and Black Holes. They discover why astronomers and physicists study phenomena such as quasars, gamma rays, cosmic rays, and pulsars, and how they collect and analyze the data produced by the phenomena. The class also addresses the search for exoplanets and the possibilities of life elsewhere, the exciting work undertaken in Astrobiology, and the technical, legal, and ethical issues involved in the search for habitable worlds beyond ours.

Students are introduced to the world of corporate finance and its primary institutions through dynamic workshops and exercises. They cover 21st-century financial realities for budding entrepreneurs and multinational corporations. Major course projects include real-life case studies, a stock exchange investment game, and the design of a theoretical start-up venture.

Students compose fiction and poetry under the guidance of a published author, with Oxford's rich literary history as their inspiration. They experiment with new forms and styles of writing. Published authors give workshops in which students learn about the creative process and the practicalities of publication. Students develop a portfolio of their best writing and collaborate to design, edit, and publish a literary magazine.

From toxicology and fingerprints to DNA samples, students taking the Criminology course discover how forensic science has progressed over the years to meet ever-changing legal standards. They learn how modern crime scenes are secured and searched, how material is treated in laboratories, and how different types of evidence are used to sort legal fact from criminal fiction. They also explore how forensic science has achieved breakthroughs in a multitude of disciplines, such as archeology, history, and geology.

Students explore the principles of engineering science through both world-renowned and local examples. They apply the findings to a variety of case studies to solve mechanical, structural, and architectural problems. They complete the course by designing a model engineering project of their own.

Students discover how biotechnology combines principles of biology, chemistry, physics, and engineering to create the products, processes, and technologies of the future. Through experiments and seminars they engage with pharmaceuticals breakthroughs, genetic diagnoses and therapies, sustainable biofuels, and genetically modified foods. Students also explore the social, ethical, and economic implications of biotechnology.

In the University that was used as a setting for many of the most memorable scenes in the Harry Potter movies, students set out to understand the saga’s extraordinary global and inter-generational success. They discover the universality of the stories that Harry Potter draws on – in myth, fable, and traditional children’s and fantasy literatures – and identify the equally universal themes that run through the series – charting their development and endurance as characters and storylines evolve. The group goes on to assess how faithfully the stories were translated into film and stage while visiting the main Oxford sites. The course culminates in an effort by the students to plot and produce their own fantastic worlds, not to mention practicing some experimental spells.

This course focuses on some of the key issues of the day. Subjects covered include globalization and its political, economic, and social effects; environmental challenges; new forms of war and peace; the changing nature of security challenges; regional complexities of areas like Ukraine, the Middle East, Africa, and South-East Asia; and the relationships and rivalries that define global order today.

Students examine the British and American legal systems and how these systems reflect the values and institutions of their respective societies. Emphasis is placed on legal history and modes of thought, precedent-setting cases, current controversies, and the kind of first-hand courtroom observation that brings these cases to life. Each course includes visits to a court and sessions with lawyers. Major courses culminate in a formal moot court competition.