Our mission is to educate and open doors for well qualified students from a limited number of participating US colleges and universities through a relatively short, intensive period of study under the guidance of Oxford tutors to the same standard and in the same manner as matriculated Oxford undergraduates, while providing a high level of support and pastoral care.
Programme Costs
By having an efficient organizational set-up and reduced overheads through working closely with the Oxford colleges, OPUS is able to apply resources carefully and effectively. Costs are charged to participating institutions which then bill their own students. OPUS never bills students: their home university does. This is a fundamental difference with other programs.
If your home college is linked with OPUS your Study Abroad office will confirm the costs of participation which will almost certainly be lower than participating through a stand-alone third party program which is not affiliated with a US university. For example during 2019/20 one of the larger programs in Oxford charged a staggering 37% more than we did!
It is important to be clear about costs. Many students make the mistake of believing that paying more automatically gets them a better program. Nothing could be further from the truth. It is wise to do a detailed comparison of costs and assess how much extra you are really getting; who you will be actually paying; and what is the advice of independent study abroad advisers.
Through its connections with US universities, participation with OPUS is lower cost than many stand-alone programs which have little more to offer – and in some cases LESS to offer. For example, with OPUS every bedroom is single occupancy. We have no doubles or triples. With many study abroad programs housing is in double rooms. Yet they charge more. With OPUS you are guaranteed a high quality, solid education, which is well regarded by the international academic community, and an over-all study abroad experience which is second to none. The fact that it is also exceptional value is simply a bonus.
Up to 15 credits may be earned in an Oxford term hence students could earn the equivalent of 30 credits during the Hilary & Trinity Terms (January to June), almost the same number as during a full US academic year.
Please identify if your home college or university is linked with OPUS. If your home university is not at present associated with us, you may still be eligible to apply through other affiliated universities.
Institutions of post-secondary education, whether private or public, interested in arranging a program in Oxford through the auspices of OPUS should contact us.