Hosted by Exeter College, Maryland Honors in Oxford is a six-week summer study abroad program bearing UMD and UH credit. The aim of this opportunity is to challenge and inspire UH students through engagement with Oxford’s world-class reputation for academic excellence. Students will participate in Oxford’s distinctive model of undergraduate education with a talented and diverse cohort of students from around the world.
Exeter College offers a wide range of cross-disciplinary classes and research tutorials taught by leading scholars in their fields. All teaching is modeled on Oxford’s tutorial system—the personalized, small-group, discussion-based learning which is the basis of all undergraduate teaching in Oxford. During the six week session, UH students will complete either two lecture courses (3CR ea.), or one lecture course (3CR) and one independent research tutorial (3CR). The research tutorial option is intended for students who are interested in specialized research, working towards a senior thesis, and/or considering applying to graduate school.
Participating UH students will transfer 6 credits of elective UMD coursework. These credits will satisfy the Maryland Honors in Oxford Theory & Practice Track and count toward the University Honors citation.
Interested students are invited to attend an information session at 5:00pm on Wednesday, October 16, 2024 in the Pyon-Chen Hall, room 1217. In attendance will be Dr. Stephan Blatti (Director, University Honors), Ms. Kelsey Prima (Program Manager, Global Partnerships and Exchanges, Education Abroad), Mr. Dario Middleton (Assistant Director, Academic Life, University Honors), and Ms. Julia Xia (Global Learning Advisor-Education Abroad).
Once Summer 2025 information becomes available, further details about both the courses from which students may select and the independent research tutorial option may be found here.
Current UH sophomores — i.e., UH students for whom 2024-25 is their second year at UMD — are eligible to apply. Students from all academic degree programs are welcome. Must be in good academic standing. Minimum GPA: 3.5.
For all students but particularly for those with unmet financial need, University Honors strives to close the gap between the cost of participation in this program and the cost of attending UMD for an equivalent number of summer credit hours. Need- and merit-based support is available. Please visit the Education Abroad office’s scholarships webpage and/or contact Dr. Stephan Blatti (University Honors, blatti@umd.edu) for further information.
Oxford is the oldest university in the English-speaking world. Today, the city is bursting with beautiful architecture and buzzing with lively cafés, restaurants, and bars, and Exeter College is right at the heart of it.
Exeter has two campuses: the ancient Turl Street site, home since 1315 with buildings ranging in age from the 15th- to the 20th-centuries, beautiful gardens, a historic chapel, a Jacobean dining hall, and an extensive library; and the Cohen Quadrangle, completed in 2016 with its inspired architecture, en suite accommodation, state-of-the-art teaching rooms, and social-study spaces designed to encourage social and intellectual engagement. Turl Street and Cohen Quadrangle offer ancient and modern interpretations of the collegiate model of communal living and cross-disciplinary learning.
Students will be welcomed onto both campuses to enjoy the best of both worlds and an immersive experience of Oxford’s academic and cultural life.
Students interested in applying for the Maryland Honors in Oxford program should complete the application on the Education Abroad website here. The application window opens on November 1, 2024 and closes on December 1, 2024. Applicants will be invited for a brief Zoom interview with members of the UH review team in January 2025. All applicants will be notified of their application status by February 1, 2025.
Additional information is available through Exeter College, Oxford. Advising inquiries should be directed to Mr. Dario Middleton (University Honors, dario@umd.edu) and/or Ms. Julia Xia (Education Abroad, jxia123@umd.edu), as appropriate. General inquiries may be directed to Dr. Stephan Blatti (University Honors, blatti@umd.edu).