One of our Residential Deans shares insight into the culturally diverse communities our summer courses create.

One of the things that I most enjoy about Oxford Summer Courses is how internationally diverse it is. Working as a Residential Dean there last summer, I was amazed by the cultural diversity represented there, with people coming from all across the world to take the course, what was created was a wonderful melting pot in which all these different cultures; lived experiences and approaches to subjects and problem solving met and informed one another. To sit at dinner at a French Restaurant in Oxford with people from Bangladesh, India, America, Lebanon, Egypt, Britain, Dubai, and The Netherlands is a brilliant experience. As someone who has lived In Britain all my life it was marvellous to talk with and get to know people from all these different cultures and to gain their perspectives on issues on which I only normally get a British perspective.

Education is only part what you learn, but also how you learn it and who you learn it with. We are pleased that while your tutorials will be one-on-one with a world expert in the field, your twice weekly seminars in small groups of three or so will be with that expert and with your fellow students, allowing you to bring your own perspectives to the questions and ideas you discuss whilst being challenged to understand the approaches of other students, from other countries, also studying your subject. You may find you leave a seminar with a totally new understanding of the impact of US Tariffs on garment production in Bangladesh, or farming in Mexico, simply because you had a chance to study the US Tariff system with someone who lives in and knows that country, and understands the impact US policy has there. This really is an invaluable experience.

Another thing that also strikes you, when you are in such a multi-cultural environment, is the similarities between people from different cultural experiences. Whether it is discussing debating technique with students from Singapore or Music taste with students from Egypt, it becomes clear how much of a global village we increasingly live in. This can only really be seen properly though when you do what Oxford Summer Courses does, and bring people together from across the globe to a small geographical space for an extended period of time.

Ready to apply for Oxford Summer Courses?

For a once in a lifetime experience, join us for summer 2023 where you can discover over 40 academic subjects taught by expert tutors. You’ll also meet other like-minded individuals from around the world and make friends for life! Apply today and choose from 3 stunning locations; Oxford, Cambridge and London.