Britain’s small size is misleading and the country is quite unlike many land areas of similar size. Amongst those forces which have created some of Earth’s richest and most diverse landscapes, we can list geology, climate, the long time span of human occupancy and the wealth of cultural influences which, in various historical periods, have been imposed imperiously or diffused peacefully into the lives of its inhabitants.
The Summer Schools take full advantage of these richly varied landscapes and their aid to study through integrated day field visits and a four-day Residential Excursion (see below) away from Oxford. Stratford-upon-Avon and a performance by the Royal Shakespeare Company are usually included. Commerce, industry and City institutions host visits for the Professional Programmes and each Academic Programme has its own specific site and institutional visits, which are set out in the Course Descriptions.
We also find that our participating students relish the short distances to a veritable feast of interesting places during free weekends! All of England and Wales – and Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Bonn and Cologne – lie within five hours of Oxford by road or rail, whilst Scotland lies not much further afield and Ireland can be reached in half this time by air. Weekends are usually free, except for the Residential Excursion, for you to make travel plans with old and new friends.
The 4-Day Field Excursion is an integral part of the Environmental, Urban and Regional Studies course, which students taking this Course are required to attend. Places on the 4-Day Field Excursion may also be reserved by students on the Medieval Studies course, particularly as there is a substantial relevant historical component in the programme.
The 4-Day Field Excursion does not apply to those taking the English Literature Course