The 41st Annual Oxford/Berkeley Program
July 19 – August 7, 2010
History of the Oxford/Berkeley Program
The Oxford/Berkeley Program, which is offered collaboratively by the University of Oxford and the University of California, is an opportunity for a brief, but serious, encounter with the Oxford method of teaching—the result of centuries old traditions that make it one of the greatest universities in the world. For the first seven years, UC President Charles Hitch, an Oxford alumnus and former don, shared the role of program president with Lord Franks, who was then Provost of Worcester College and Chancellor of the University of East Anglia, and who had been Her Majesty's Ambassador to the United States during the Truman years. The position of program president is currently shared by the President of the University of California, Berkeley, Mark G. Yudof; the Warden of Merton College, Jessica Rawson; and the Director of Oxford University's Department for Continuing Education, Jonathan Michie.
The planning of the program is undertaken jointly by the two universities. The Department for Continuing Education of Oxford University is responsible, in consultation with UC Berkeley Extension, for the academic program and for administration in Oxford. The Oxford director of studies is Christopher Day, Fellow of Kellog College, director, Academic Programmes, International Programmes, Department for Continuing Education, University of Oxford. Berkeley's director of studies is Ramu Nagappan, director, Oxford/Berkeley Program, UC Berkeley Extension.
The school is housed in Merton College. Established in the thirteenth century, Merton is an archetypal Oxford college, with medieval architecture, picturesque gargoyles, and mullioned windows that look out on ancient quads. Although Merton College is located in the heart of Oxford, it enjoys a quiet, sylvan setting, spacious grounds, and tree-shaded meadows sloping down to the Cherwell River. Famous Mertonians include Max Beerbohm, Lord Randolph Churchill, and T.S. Eliot. J.R.R. Tolkien was once a don here.
Teachers, nurses, lawyers, doctors, homemakers, social workers, librarians, journalists, artists, business executives, photographers, and retired men and women have all participated in the Oxford/Berkeley Program. Upon completion of coursework, a certificate is issued, grades are recorded with the UC Berkeley Extension Registrar, and participants leave with pleasant memories and the material evidence of the fact that they have tested their abilities against the substantial traditions of Oxford scholarship.
Program Details
Course schedules
You will meet your tutor briefly (bearing in mind the inconvenience of jet lag) after dinner on the day of your arrival for introductions and information on where and when you will meet for your first formal session on the following day. In general the exact schedule of seminars will be arranged by the tutor with his/her group. Most teaching will take place in Merton College, but some sessions may take place in other University institutions, such as museums or at other colleges or departments. Further details will be provided when you are in Oxford.
Students are expected to be in residence throughout the period of their course, except for weekends.
Seminar groups usually meet in the mornings, Monday to Friday inclusive, varying in length. Attendance at all seminars is necessary. Afternoons are free for individual reading and study. Students will be expected to do all the requisite reading before the course begins and during the session, to allow them to participate fully in seminar discussions, and to write essays and discussion papers as required by the tutor, whether the course is taken for credit or not. Written papers are to be completed under the guidance of your instructor.
Students wishing to plan visits outside Oxford may like to know that there are no formal classes on Saturday and Sunday, though members may wish to spend some of this time in private study.
A program of optional evening lectures will be arranged at Merton College on topics of general interest.
Academic Expectations
The Oxford/Berkeley Program is a serious academic program, and students are accepted on the understanding that their purpose in coming to Oxford is to make use of the opportunities for study and learning that the program offers. As with other educational programs, what a student gets out of it will depend upon what he/she puts into it, and effective participation in the academic work of the program is essential. It is assumed that students will have prepared for the seminar which they have joined. Changes of seminar are not normally possible and residence in college is only possible for those taking part in the academic program.
But a serious academic program does not have to be solemn. There will be ample scope for students to arrange weekend visits to places of interest and informal social activities as well as joining in the social events planned as part of the program. There is a wide range of cultural opportunities in the city of Oxford, including theaters, cinemas, art galleries, and concerts.
Course Credit Options
While credit is optional, no distinction is made between credit and non-credit students. All participants are expected to do the preparatory reading and complete the course assignments, including one written essay. While precise grading systems vary from tutor to tutor, grades are generally based upon class participation, oral presentation, and written work. See course pages.
If you plan to transfer credit to another institution, you should check with your academic advisor in advance to make certain that the units are transferable and to determine the proper procedure for transfer of these units.
Grades are received in the UC Berkeley Extension Travel/Study office after completion of the program, usually by the middle of September. A credit certificate showing your grade will be sent to you at that time. Official transcripts are available for $15.00 per copy upon written request. For more information about transcripts, please go to the UC Berkeley Extension transcript information page.
Preparatory Work for the Program
We would like to be certain that you have a clear understanding of the expectations of your tutor, and especially of the preparatory reading, for your seminar.
Tutors have listed the works that should be read before you begin your course. In some cases they have divided the works into "required" reading and "supplementary" or "background" reading, and here it is essential that the required reading should be done. It will be taken for granted at the beginning of the course that students will have read the set texts before coming to Oxford. The quality of the educational experience relies upon group participation, and advance reading is for the benefit of the entire class. In some cases it is acceptable to begin writing your paper before you arrive. Please discuss your topic with your tutor to decide the best timing and approach before you begin.
For some seminars the books are easy to obtain, but for others there may be problems. Tutors have tried to require books that are available in the United States, though this has not always been possible. For advice in these cases, please see below.
Purchasing Books
Because our students are typically dispersed across the country, we recommend placing your order at a bookstore in your own city or community that specializes in meeting the individual needs of its customers. For those books that are difficult to acquire, we recommend using an online book service, such as www.amazon.com, http://amazon.co.uk, or www.barnesandnoble.com. For out of print books, try www.abebooks.com. Some of the books for the program may be available from your local library or a university library, if one is accessible to you, and need not be purchased. Longer borrowing periods can sometimes be arranged if the books are ones you have been requested to bring with you to Oxford. An interlibrary loan is also a resource to consider. You will also have access to several libraries while in Oxford.
If all else fails, do your best by reading alternative books in the subject area. Perhaps our best advice is to begin your preparatory reading early. You may find that books can be special-ordered at no extra charge, but this service may take up to two months.
In cases where necessary books are not available in the United States, we recommend that you contact:
Blackwell Bookshop
48–51 Broad Street
Oxford OX1 3BQ
Tel: 011–44–1–865–792–792
Fax: 011–44–1–865–794–143
Website: http://bookshop.blackwell.co.uk
E-mail: oxford@blackwell.co.uk
Blackwell's will do its best to supply any book needed. Blackwell's accepts Visa, MasterCard, and American Express.
Refund Policy
A refund less $200 is granted if requested in writing prior to Feb. 19, 2010. There will be a $500 service charge against refunds requested on or after Feb. 19, 2010 and prior to April 2, 2010. No refunds are granted on or after April 2, 2010. UC Berkeley Extension cannot make exceptions to the program refund policy; we strongly recommend the purchase of vacation cancellation insurance. UC Berkeley Extension is not responsible for nonrefundable air ticket costs or any travel costs not included in the program fee.
Insurance, Safety, and Liability Responsibilities
We strongly recommend that you provide yourself with adequate insurance coverage for international travel, including medical, loss/theft/damage, and vacation cancellation coverage. The university cannot accept responsibility for property lost by theft, damage, or other loss.
We strongly recommend the purchase of vacation cancellation insurance, in case you find it necessary to leave the program. UC Berkeley Extension is not able to refund tuition if you are forced to leave the program due to ill health or other emergencies.
We suggest that you record the serial number of your passport (including place and date of issue) and information concerning your credit card(s), insurance, traveler's checks, etc., and store it separately. A further record of all important information should be left at home or with someone who can be easily contacted if necessary.
Travel to Oxford
Getting to Merton College
There are a number of ways to arrive at Merton College. Please find some suggestions as follows:
From London (Heathrow) Airport:
There is a direct bus service between Heathrow and Oxford, "The Airline," which is operated by the Oxford Bus Company. The buses pick up from Bay 14A at the Central Bus Station at Heathrow (Terminals 1–3) at 20 minute intervals (however, between 11:50 pm and 5:50 am the service is every two hours) and then picks up ten minutes later from Bay 11 at Terminal 5 (between 6:10 am and 11:10 pm only). For Terminal 4 there is a free train transfer called Heathrow Connect which takes you between Heathrow Central and Terminal 4. The journey time from the Central Bus Station to Oxford is approximately 80 minutes. A single ticket costs £20 and a period return £25.
We recommend you use the airport bus service. However, it is possible to take a train from Heathrow to Reading and change there for Oxford; there is also a train service, the Heathrow Express, which travels into London Paddington Railway Station, where you can change for a train to Oxford. The Heathrow Express runs every 15 minutes between 5 am and 11:40 pm, and has a journey time of approximately 15 minutes from Heathrow Central (Terminals 1–3) or 23 minutes from Terminal 4. A standard single ticket costs between £16.50 and £19.50, depending where purchased, or £26.50 first class; a standard return ticket costs between £32 and £35 or £50 for first class.
From London (Gatwick) Airport:
"The Airline" also operates between Gatwick and Oxford. The buses depart at hourly intervals between 7:15 am and 11:15 pm, and every two hours between 1 am and 5 am from the South Terminal Upper Forecourt, and then, five minutes later, from the North Terminal (Bus Stop 4). The journey time from Gatwick to Oxford is approximately two hours. A single ticket costs £25 and a period return £35.
We recommend you use the airport bus service. However, it is possible to take a train from Gatwick to Reading and change there for Oxford; there is also a train service, the Gatwick Express, which travels into London Victoria Railway Station.
London to Oxford by bus
Two companies operate regular services from London to Oxford. Both companies provide a departure approximately every 15 minutes from London during the day and at least every 20 minutes during the evenings. The prices for either company are £14 single and £16 day/next day return or £20 period return.
The "Oxford Tube" is a daily, 24-hour service. It departs from Grosvenor Gardens (close to Victoria Railway Station), then picks up at Marble Arch, Notting Hill Gate, Shepherd's Bush (Kensington Hilton), and Hillingdon (outside Hillingdon Health Centre).
The Oxford Express is a daily, 24-hour service. It departs from Victoria Coach Station (Bay 10) then picks up at Buckingham Palace Road (Stop 11), Marble Arch (Stop 14B), and Gloucester Place (near Marylebone Road; Stop Q) and Hillingdon (outside Hillingdon Health Centre).
If taking the bus: Get off at the High Street/Queens Lane stop in Oxford. You may need to request this stop, inform the driver upon arrival into Oxford. You will get off of the bus on High Street, walk up towards the center of town and look for Magpie Lane, a small cobblestone walk way. It is just after the Old Bank Hotel off of High Street. Turn left onto Magpie Lane, it continues and ends at Merton Street. Turn left at Merton Street, and Merton College will be on your right. The walk from the station to the College is equivalent to two city blocks.
By train
Train services to Oxford operate from London Paddington railway station (which is linked by the Underground "Circle" line to railway stations such as Victoria, King's Cross and Liverpool Street, and by the Bakerloo line to Waterloo station). The fastest journey time from Paddington to Oxford is about one hour. Monday to Saturday departures are approximately half-hourly from about 7 am to 11 pm; early morning departures start at about 5:30 am (5:12 am on Saturdays) and the last nighttime departure is at approximately 12:20 am (11:03 pm on Saturdays). On Sundays the service is more restricted, running hourly, and the first morning departure being at about 7:43 am and the last departure at 11:47 pm. Train fares can vary enormously and during peak hours can be very expensive.
By car
If you prefer to be picked up or dropped off at the airport by car, we can recommend Prestige Car Travel. Sample car prices to/from Oxford and London Heathrow is £78; London Gatwick is £118; Stansted is £120. Airport pickup is an extra £8. Contact them at:
Forestry House
Stadhampton Road
Great Haseley
Oxford OX44 7PF
Tel: 011–44–845–4300–158
Fax: 011–44–870–321–8201
E-mail: info@prestige–car–travel.co.uk
This information is correct at the time of publication.
Arrival and departure schedule
Students should arrive at Merton College after lunch and before 3:30 pm on Monday, July 19, to allow sufficient time for settling in. Porterage is available at the college during check-in and check-out periods. Any student who cannot arrive at the appropriate time is asked to advise Joan Churchill at the UC Berkeley Extension Oxford/Berkeley Program office beforehand. On arrival between 2 pm and 3:30 pm, participants should go directly to the registration area to receive their packet of information and their assignment of rooms. The deans and porters will be there to greet you and help you with luggage and directions.
Please note that rooms at Merton College are available during the weeks before and after the session. However, if you want to stay after the session, you will most likely have to move to another room. If you would like to extend your stay at Merton, please indicate this preference on the accommodation request form. Merton College will charge a rate of £64 (including VAT) per extra day for bed and breakfast, £82 per day for en suite.
If you do not extend your stay, you should plan to leave Merton College by 10 am on August 7.
The first meal to be served will be dinner at 7:15 pm on Monday, July 19, and the last, breakfast on Saturday, August 7. After dinner, students will meet their tutors very briefly for introductions and information about where and at what time the group will meet for their first formal session the following day. The day will end with an informal wine reception.
We strongly advise against any student bringing a car to Oxford. There is simply no parking at Merton, and parking generally in Oxford is at a premium. Merton is also in an area that requires special access permission—cars are prohibited from driving along part of the High Street, which makes access to Merton Street difficult.
Life at Merton
The program is held at Merton, one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford, by courtesy of the warden and fellows of the college.
The college is situated in the center of the city and has buildings varying in date from the thirteenth century to the late twentieth century. The college, therefore, provides all that is needed in the way of accommodations for living and studying in the same place. Housing varies as to age, size, location, and condition and is assigned at random.
Students at the Oxford/Berkeley Program will be accommodated in the college and will be assigned single rooms. Baths and toilets are down the hall and are shared by two to four students.
A limited number of rooms with private bathrooms are available for a supplementary fee of $850. You can indicate your preference for one of these rooms on your accommodation form. These rooms will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. Most of these rooms are designed to accommodate one person only; a limited number of rooms are available to be occupied by two people traveling together. (Please note that due to the configuration of the en suite rooms, couples will still be assigned two twin beds rather than one double bed.) If two students elect to share a room with a private bath, they will be charged one supplementary fee.
If you have any other preferences or special health requirements with regard to housing, please let us know in advance so we can make the most convenient arrangements possible. There are no elevators in Merton College.
There are no family accommodations at Merton College. If you are accompanied by family members who are not in the program, they must make their own arrangements.
All meals are taken in Hall, in Merton College. Full board consists of breakfast, morning coffee, lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner. Vegetarian meals are provided to those who indicate this preference on their accommodation request form. Lunch is an informal meal, with self-service. Dinner is a formal meal on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, for which students are asked to be punctual. Men are requested to wear a jacket and tie, women a dress, suit, or skirt, or dress pants and blouse. Dinner will be preceded by a short grace (for which it is customary to stand), and there will be waiter/waitress service.
On Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings dinner is informal with self-service. In accordance with the normal practice of the colleges, members of the staff of the school will dine in Hall at High Table; each evening they will invite a few students to join them and to have cocktails with them beforehand. During the course of the program every student will receive such an invitation.
Students and students' guests (over 18 years of age) are welcome to have lunch and dinner on the occasions when there is room in Hall, provided that arrangements have been made with—and tickets purchased from—the School Office beforehand. Such arrangements can, of course, be made in Oxford.
Weather and clothingThe weather is variable. In the summer, it can range from cold and damp to hot and humid or hot and dry. The British Consulate states that the most typical temperatures for July are in the sixties, although they can reach into the nineties.
We recommend that you bring a light-weight, all-weather coat and an umbrella. Most of the time dress is informal. At dinner, Monday through Wednesday, men are requested to wear a jacket and tie, and women traditionally wear a dress, suit, or a skirt, or dress pants and blouse. The field trips undertaken in some courses include walking over some rough ground, possibly in wet weather, and you are advised to bring a pair of suitable shoes.
Meal timesBreakfast: 7:30-8:45 am
Lunch: 12:30 pm
Dinner: 7:15 pm (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday)
6:30 pm (Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday)
Oxford/Berkeley staff are available for assistance and questions
The deans of the Oxford/Berkeley Program (social and administrative assistants-not deans in the American sense) will be in residence throughout the duration of the program at Merton College and will hold regular office hours to help you with administrative matters. The deans, as well as the representative from the UC Berkeley Extension and the Oxford Director of Studies, will be glad to help whenever possible. The deans will be at registration between the hours of 2 pm and 3:30 pm and from 4 pm onwards at the Orientation Meeting on Monday, July 19, 2010, to meet students when they arrive.
Libraries
Oxford/Berkeley Program participants will have access to the University Library, the Bodleian, as well as to faculty libraries, the library of the Department for Continuing Education at Kellogg College located at Rewley House in Wellington Square, and the Central (Westgate) Public Lending Library. Details, including times of opening, will be supplied on arrival at Oxford.
Merton contact and emergency address and information
During the program your mailing address is:
c/o Oxford/Berkeley Program
Merton College
Oxford OX1 4JD
England
Mail received prior to your arrival will be given to you at the time of registration. Mail received after your departure will be forwarded to your home address.
Emergency phone number to leave at home is:Merton College Porter's Lodge: 011–44–1–865–276–310 (staffed 24 hours) or 276–312 in the evening.
Once you receive your room assignment, you can receive calls there at 011–44–870–120–0870 + the five-digit room extension.
For urgent faxes only: addressed c/o Oxford/Berkeley Program, at: 011–44–1865–276–361. Students may send faxes from Ryman, Ltd. Stationers on High Street.
Health information
You should consult your physician or the Department of Public Health for required and/or recommended inoculations.
There are physicians and medical facilities located near Merton College. However, if you take prescription drugs regularly, you should bring an ample supply with you or bring clearly marked prescriptions from your doctor. We also advise bringing an extra pair of prescription eyeglasses or lenses or bring along the prescription.
Please notify us of any physical disabilities and/or medical problems that may require care during the program.
All cases of illness should be reported at once to the deans or the steward.
Students who wish to consult a doctor will be directed to get in touch with the local doctor who normally attends to patients from the college. The doctor can be contacted through the program office. Since the U.S. is one of the countries not covered by reciprocal health arrangements with the U.K., participants must take out an insurance policy if they wish to be covered for illness (or review your current policy for international coverage), as medical fees are not included in the fee charged for the program. It will be understood that neither Oxford University nor UC Berkeley Extension can accept responsibility for the payment of medical expenses on behalf of students.
We recommend that you keep your passport and health information together at all times.
Accessing and using money in Oxford
You will need money for extras such as laundry, books, plays, weekend excursions, and gifts. The costs of all field trips are not covered by the course fee and are to be paid while in Oxford.
Traveler's checks and a check/debit card or major credit card are usually the safest and most convenient way to pay for goods and services while traveling. Traveler's checks are best used in cities, whereas cash is better in rural areas and smaller towns.
You can use debit and credit cards to get cash advances at ATMs worldwide if your card is programmed with your personal identification number (PIN). Banks in Oxford have ATMs.
Important note: Only four-digit PINs are accepted at ATM machines. Please arrange to have your PIN changed, if necessary, before you leave. Debit and credit cards offer better exchange rates than exchange bureaus or commercial banks. Be sure to check with your bank and/or credit card issuers for surcharges or fees they may assess for using overseas ATMs.
For the most favorable rates on cash and traveler's checks, change money through banks. You won't do as well at exchange booths in airports or rail and bus stations, in hotels, in restaurants, or in stores, although you may find their hours more convenient. To avoid airport exchange booths, buy some currency before you leave home; most major banks and exchange services can provide you with foreign currency.
Computers/printers
Ethernet connection has been installed in the rooms, and you are able to use your own laptop if you so desire. There is a computer room with PC computers and printers available. It is accessible 24 hours a day across the street from Merton College.
If you are bringing your laptop, check its power supply to be sure it has dual voltage 230/11v. A laptop with dual voltage can be used at Oxford with the aid of a three-prong plug adapter. If your laptop is not dual voltage, you will need to buy a converter. Making this purchase in the United States prior to your trip is advisable, since adapters are more expensive in the U.K.
Note: In accordance with the traditions of the college, hand-written term papers are completely acceptable and even expected. Technical assistance with computers is extremely limited.
Electrical appliancesEnglish current and outlets are different from those used in the United States. The electricity supply in Britain is 220 volts; sockets take three-pin plugs (the pins are oblong). Personal electrical equipment not conforming to UK standards or not suitable for attachment to UK electrical supplies should not be used. Your equipment should match the following standards:
Laundry services
A coin-operated launderette can be used in the college. This is located in Rose Lane (Block 5) on the ground floor and St. Albans (Block 3). Washers and dryers are card operated. An iron and ironing board are available in the laundry room.
Linens
Sheets, blankets, pillows, and two towels are provided. In the past some students have found it convenient to purchase or bring additional towels. Remember to bring them in a different color than white to prevent any confusion with Merton's towels.
Office supplies
Paper and other office supplies may be purchased at Ryman, Ltd. Stationers located at 6–7 High Street. Its telephone number is 011–44–1–865–246–571.
Personal property
Money and articles of value should not be left in students' rooms or elsewhere. Limited facilities for the safe deposit of valuables are available; however, participants are encouraged not to bring irreplaceable items or large amounts of cash.
Sports facilities
There are swimming pools within a 10-minute bus ride from the college.
Telephones
All rooms are equipped with ACC telephones, and instructions on how to use them are available at orientation or at the porter's lodge. There are also card and payphones located outside the College Bar and a payphone in Rose Lane (Block 5).
City of Oxford
Oxford is a very compact city and provides for most needs within easy walking distance of the college. Most shops now operate a six-day week, and laundry and dry cleaning facilities are available near Merton. Banking hours are from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm, Monday to Friday, though some banks are now open on Saturday mornings. Additional useful information about local concerts, theater, restaurants, pubs, transport, shopping, etc. can be found at www.dailyinfo.co.uk.
Many interesting historic houses and sites can easily be reached on a day trip from Oxford—for instance, Blenheim Palace at Woodstock can be visited during an afternoon, and Bath is readily accessible by train. Public transport in Britain is generally good, and London, in particular, is an easy trip. The Oxford South Midland bus company runs many day excursions to places of interest. It is also possible to hire cars and bicycles in Oxford.
Links of interestOxford Wikipedia page
Oxford City Council
Virtual Tour of Oxford
Oxford City Guide
OxfordCity.co.uk
Oxford maps
We wish you a pleasant and worthwhile summer at Oxford!