OSAP: The Largest Oxford Program

With cooperating programs of U.S. colleges, OSAP is by far the largest overseas study program in Oxford, with over 400 students last year. Since 1985 we have brought to Oxford students from 46 states who had previously studied in over 550 colleges and universities. These students have come from such leading colleges as Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Brown, Penn, Dartmouth, Johns Hopkins, Georgetown, Tufts, Duke, Stanford, the University of Chicago, the University of California, the University of Virginia, etc.

Another example of the diversity of OSAP students: Butler University operates one of the biggest study abroad programs and has a large National Advisory Council of 111 colleges and universities from across the U.S. Students who have come through OSAP previously studied at 80 colleges (72%) of that group of leading colleges.

Since June 1999, OSAP has been offering a prize (now $200,000) to the first reader who can name an equal overseas program anywhere. After over eighty years we have not yet received a single entry (please see below).

OSAP is also, as far as we know, the only educational institution in the world which offers a money-back guarantee if even one of our 21 specific promises is not kept. We have been doing this since 1994 and no one has asked for a refund. And, no one has emailed us to say "we do that too."

"I was taught by two Professors [holders of Chairs, usually only one don in the University in each subject], both of whom were Fellows of the British Academy. My academic program could not have been better."
-AS, Brown University

In addition, the OSAP program is unique in several other important ways. The academic program for Visiting Students may be assumed to be essentially of the same quality at every Oxford College. OSAP, however, supplies many added benefits, which, as far as we know, are not offered by any other overseas program in Oxford (there are several such programs conducted by U.S. colleges).

No one else offers a wide choice of housing (with photos) in advance or housing with British students in the very center of Oxford (St. Michael's Street, etc), or five educational tours per term as part of a core course on Britain or a medical plan with reduced costs. No other program has a British student adviser (paid by OSAP) in each college to provide constant assistance with social integration.

"The academic program was excellent. OSAP's organisation has been superior."
-SS, Cornell University

OSAP is able to supply such added benefits because we have a large office in the center of Oxford with a staff of seven to help students in many ways. No other program has a sizeable office in Oxford. (If anyone knows of another program that offers comparable benefits, we would like to know, and will cite it in our next edition. We have been asking this question since 1999 and have yet to receive a single reply).