Mansfield College opened in Oxford in 1886. The college became part of the university formally in 1955 when it became a Permanent Private Hall. Before this students could matriculate through other colleges. Since 1955 students have studied for a wide range of degrees and Mansfield was granted full college status in 1995. Mansfield is one of the smaller colleges in Oxford, taking just over 70 undergraduate students per year. New students quickly get to know each other and Mansfield has a well-deserved reputation as a welcoming and friendly college. Mansfield occupies a very central location in Oxford, close to the libraries and shops, but in a quiet setting near the University Parks and the river Cherwell.
Mansfield College offers two or three spaces for George Mason University students per year. Students can apply to study arts, humanities, and social science subjects such as English, Theology, Geography, Economics, Philosophy, and the Classics. It may be possible to study tutorials in other subjects within this broad area (for example, subjects including: Art History, Anthropology, Oriental Studies, and Development Studies).
Students in the Oxford Academic Year Experience spend one year alongside Oxford undergraduates. To view our other Oxford Academic Year programs, please visit the pages for:
Lady Margaret Hall or
St. Edmund Hall.
Click through the brochure tabs to learn more about this program.
Eligibility
In order to participate in this program, you must meet the following eligibility requirements:
- Students must have a strong academic background in the subject they wish to study.
- Students must have a minimum 3.70 GPA at the time of application and departure.
- Students planning to study abroad in the last semester of their senior year should discuss this with their GEO program administrator and major advisor as this may affect their ability to graduate on time.
- Recent transfer students cannot study abroad their first semester (not including summer) at Mason.
Courses Available
Students can transfer 30 undergraduate credits in their chosen discipline.
Subjects available for study at Mansfield College include:
- English
- History
- Philosophy
- Theology and Religion
- Politics
- Economics
- Management
- Geography*
- Human Sciences*
- Oriental Studies
- Classics
- History of Art
- Statistics
- Finance
*Please note, due to the course structure at Oxford, the university is unable to guarantee the availability laboratory subjects while at Oxford. Students in the hard sciences should plan on attending Oxford without taking any labs.
Academics at Oxford
Students interested in studying in Oxford over the academic year need to have high academic aspirations and be intellectually ambitious. Oxford students learn through a unique tutorial system. In a tutorial, a tutor and one, two, or three students spend an hour discussing the topic of the tutorial. Occasionally, a tutorial is replaced with faculty classes or seminars. Students are expected to do substantial independent library work and periodically produce written essays and oral presentations for their tutorials. Since the instruction is individualized, Oxford does not have a course catalog. Students in the Oxford Academic Year Experience study the same subjects and often share tutorials with Oxford students. The student's academic experience will closely resemble the experience of an Oxford second year undergraduate. Most Oxford undergraduate degrees are three year degree programs.
The Oxford academic year is made up of three terms. Students take two tutorials each term, one primary and one secondary. Primary tutorials transfer as 6 undergraduate credits, secondary tutorials transfer as 4 undergraduate credits. Students earn 30 credits for the full year.
The tutorial preferences you state on the application form will be used when considering your application, and based on these the college will make you an offer of study for specific course options. Once this offer has been accepted it is extremely difficult to change your tutorials. Remember this when indicating your tutorial preferences in the application form as you should expect that the courses you list will be the courses you end up studying, rather than just an initial indication of preference. Give careful thought to your selections and discuss it with your Academic Advisor.
Academic Calendar
The academic year at Oxford is divided into 3 terms. Michaelmas runs from early October to early December. Hilary runs from mid-January to mid-March. Trinity runs from late April to mid-June. Students are expected to participate in all three terms.
Credit Conversion
Students are expected to take a full-time course load during their time in Oxford. A full-time course load is 30 credits for the year. This works out to 10 total credits per term. Each term, you will take one primary and one secondary tutorial. The primary tutorial is worth 6 credits and the secondary tutorial is work 4 credits. See below for an example of how a term of courses might transfer.
| Term & Tutorial |
Tutorial Topic |
Mason Course |
Credits |
| Michaelmas - Primary |
Philosophy of Economics |
PHIL 358 |
3 |
| PHIL 391 |
3 |
| Michaelmas - Secondary |
Philosophy of Mind |
PHIL 374 |
3 |
| PHIL 391 |
1 |
Results will vary based on your individual tutorials and degree needs.
Grade Conversion
When transferring courses back to Mason, the credits will transfer but the grade will not. However, you must receive the equivalent of a "C" or above in order to transfer your credit back. Refer to the table below regarding how grades are converted at Oxford.
| Oxford Grade |
Mason Grade |
| 70-100 |
A |
| 65-69 |
A- |
| 60-64 |
B+ |
| 50-59 |
B |
| 45-49 |
C+ |
| 40-44 |
C |
| 0-39 |
F |
Choosing Courses Abroad
This program does not have pre-approved classes. The discipline for each credit depends on the content of the tutorial. Once accepted by the Oxford college, students will seek credit approval from the appropriate Mason department to ensure that credits will apply appropriately to their Mason degree. Applicants use paragraph tutorial descriptions created for each tutorial topic submitted for review by the appropriate department for credit approval. Credit approval is captured via the Oxford Academic Year Petition for Transfer Credit Form. You will have access to the PTC form after you open an application.
You are STRONGLY ENCOURAGED to look at this institution’s courses ahead of time to see how they will match up to your Mason degree requirements. Talk to your academic advisor about what courses you will need to receive credit for during your time abroad to stay on-track for your degree. When looking at courses keep in mind that course schedules can change. We recommend having twice as many courses approved as necessary.
Global Understanding
Students participating in this study abroad program will automatically fulfill the Mason Global Understanding core requirement.
Life at Oxford
Visiting students at Mansfield College have access to all college facilities and are members of the JCR (Junior Common Room - the undergraduate student body). As Registered Visiting Students of the University, they also have access to a wide range of University facilities, including the Bodleian Library, Faculty (subject) libraries, the Oxford University Computing Services, and the great wealth of lectures organized by the University throughout the academic year.
The Mansfield College site includes student accommodation, tutors’ rooms, offices, a chapel, a dining hall, a library, a laundry room, common rooms, and other social facilities. Mansfield also shares excellent sports facilities with Merton College, including tennis and squash courts. The College’s main library is a wonderful wood-paneled room which contains core texts for all courses, and there are separate libraries devoted to Law and Theology. All three libraries are open to students twenty-four hours a day, and there is a computer room available for use by students.
Mansfield has some of the best food in the University, and at reasonable prices. Although there is no obligation to 'eat in,' students are encouraged to do so. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served in the Dining Hall and most meals are cafeteria style. There is a wide choice of meals, including vegetarian options. There are no upfront charges for meals, which are charged on a student card, with costs payable after the end of each term. For these meals each item is charged individually, with the average cost of a meal around £3.00-£6.00. The twice-weekly formal second sitting of dinner (cost is approximately £10.00) is very popular and there are regular special dinners such as a Thanksgiving dinner and a Burns night supper (cost is approximately £16.00). There are also kitchens on site for students who prefer to cook for themselves.
Housing
Visiting students live in college accommodation. As far as is practicable, visiting students housing is integrated with that of other Mansfield students. All students have their own bedroom and share kitchen and bathroom facilities. They also have access to the College Dining Hall for meals during term time and all other College facilities. Visiting students live either in the Ablethorpe Building, just over Magdalen Bridge, or in Renault House. Visiting Students do not have to move out of their accommodation over the Easter and Christmas vacations, and Oxford can provide an excellent base for exploring the rest of the UK and Europe.
Program Cost (2022-2023)
$53,000
Students must also pay a deposit of $650 directly to Oxford Mansfield College by April 1st.
This deposit is non-refundable if you do not take up your place. Upon your arrival at Mansfield College, this sum will be carried forward as a security deposit. At the end of the year, the deposit will be returned minus any sum owing on your account with us.
Paid over fall semester ($26,800) and spring semester ($26,200.)
Included:
- Application Fee
- 27 credits undergraduate tuition
- Single room in college housing (including utilities)
- Bed linen
- Full access to all libraries, University lectures, and facilities
- Membership to Junior Common Room
- International Emergency Insurance
- Pre-Departure Orientation
- Administrative services in Oxford and at George Mason University
Not Included:
- Round-trip airfare
- Meals
- Housing between terms
- Books
- Personal spending
Students can use the budget sheets located at the top of this page to see what GEO estimates as expenses.
Program Payments
This is a Direct Enrollment Program. Students pay the advertised Global Education Office (GEO) Program Fee to participate. This cost will be made in three payments (application fee + fall semester fee + spring semester fee.)
Application Fee: A non-refundable application fee of $200 for Mason students. This non-refundable fee is made through your application in MasonAbroad and is due by the application deadline.
Final Balance: The final balance payment is divided into two portions. The fall semester first installment is due by August 24. The spring semester installment is due by January 25.
$1000 withdrawal penalty: Once you Commit to your program after acceptance you agree to pay a $1000 withdrawal penalty and any GEO non-recoverable costs if you withdraw later. Depending on your withdrawal date this could be the full program cost. Do not commit to the program until you are sure of your intent to participate and are ready to accept all financial obligations related to your participation in the program.
Click the “commit” button to confirm your enrollment by April 20.
No Refund: If a participant cancels/withdraws, voluntarily or involuntarily (including dismissal from the program), after the following dates, no refund will be issued:
Fall semester and Academic Year programs June 25
Spring semester of Academic Year December 10
Financial Aid: In most cases, financial aid can be used for GEO programs. If you plan to use federal, state, institutional financial aid, scholarships, grants or loans to finance your study abroad:
- Mark “Yes” to “Do you plan to use Financial Aid to finance your program?” in your profile in MasonAbroad.gmu.edu and
- Complete the Financial Aid questionnaire item in your application.
- Schedule an appointment with your financial aid officer to review your financial aid package in light of your participation in study abroad. Only the Office of Financial Aid can determine your aid eligibility.
Confirmation of your financial aid award may not be available until registration and billing for the term in question is final.
If aid eligibility changes, or the amount of aid disbursed is lower than anticipated, students must pay all remaining account balances or risk late fees, holds on their accounts, and program dismissal.
Scholarships
GEO offers a number of need- and merit-based scholarships. All Mason students are welcome to apply:
Scholarships
Application Deadline:
January 28, 2019
Visa Information
Once accepted into a program, it will be your responsibility to apply for a student visa and/or residence permit (if required, based on your citizenship). You will receive details on this with your acceptance letter. Do not apply for a visa until after you have been officially accepted. Visit the UK Government website for further information.
Application requirements:*
Application fee: $200 for Mason students.
Official Transcripts: An official copy of your Mason transcript is required as well as copies of official transcripts from any other college or university you have attended.
Passport Status: If you do not have a valid passport, you should begin applying for one now.
Signature Documents: Read and electronically "sign" the documents.
Questionnaires: Read and complete the documents according to the instructions.
*Additional paperwork may be required for this program and can be viewed inside your application.
Application instructions: