Greetings from Oxford! I have been studying abroad at Hertford College, University of Oxford, for roughly two months now. It is hard to put into words what I have experienced here. It has been such a transformative time in so many ways.
Academics at Oxford
It would be strange to start my blog by talking about anything other than academics — the heart of Oxford. The tutorial system here is unlike anything else I have encountered throughout my education. It consists of weekly, hour-long tutorial meetings with your tutor, who is an expert in the field. You have a primary tutorial and a secondary tutorial.
Mine are philosophy of religion and philosophy of aesthetics. For my primary, I have a weekly tutorial; for my secondary, a biweekly one. For each session, you are expected to write a roughly 2,000-word essay. You are probably thinking, “Wow, that is a lot of work.” And it is. To be fair, I underestimated the workload a bit myself.
However, I’ve been surprised to see how much more we are capable of than we might expect. When you put in the effort and push yourself, you can see extraordinary results. The amount I have learned is incredible; you are given an enormous reading list from which you select a few sources and then present an argument or share your thoughts in the form of an essay.
My primary tutorials are one-on-one with the tutor, and my secondary tutorials are two-to-one (me and my peer with the tutor), which means you really have to carry the conversation. You are the focus, and you engage in such thoughtful discussions with your tutor.
Finding Community
Honestly, I have had the privilege of meeting such kind and amazing people who have made this place feel like home. I have formed friendships that I know will last a lifetime. Not only have I met friends from England, but also many visiting students from the U.S. and around the world. Oxford is such a cultural hub and a truly global place where people from everywhere come together.
There are plenty of fun activities as well. Each week, there are two formal dinners in the dining hall, where you dress up and eat by candlelight with your friends. Since Oxford is divided into 45 colleges, your friends from other colleges can invite you to their formals, and you can invite them to yours. It is such a unique experience, and it honestly feels like you are in a movie.
Balancing Work and Play Through Extracurriculars
While extracurriculars are not at the center of university life in the same way they often are in the U.S., they are still an important part of Oxford. There is a club or society for almost anything you could imagine. I joined the Hertford College Boat Club, the Philosophy Socratic Society, and the Law Society.
The opportunities for networking and taking a break from tutorials are incredible. One of the perks of having only one or two hours of class per week is that you have a lot of free time, and it is all about how you manage it. If you plan well, there is plenty of room for fun and relaxation. It is truly a work-hard, play-hard environment.
I’ve also had the chance to travel and explore beyond Oxford. I’ve visited London, Brighton, and the Seven Sisters Cliffs, and even before my program began, I traveled to Athens and Istanbul. One of the best things about Europe is how close everything is, and you can travel so easily from one country to another.
Lessons in Living Fully
All in all, I can say that studying abroad has been one of the best decisions I have ever made, and I’m incredibly grateful for this opportunity. Even though it can feel daunting and the application process may be tedious and stressful, it is absolutely worth it. The experiences you gain are invaluable and unforgettable.
I’ve also discovered that when you are abroad, you learn to enjoy the present moment and live day by day. You become aware that your time is limited, and you want to make the most of it. This has helped me develop a new mindset. I have learned not to take life too seriously all the time and to enjoy myself even in moments of challenge or pressure.
P.S. The campus is surreal. From the historic churches to the gardens and the River Thames, everything feels majestic.
This post was contributed by Maximo Mendoza, Global Ambassador for Fall 2025. Maximo is a College of Liberal Arts Senior participating in an exchange program at the University of Oxford in Oxford, England.
