Academics

Selecting Tutorials

Oxford University operates in a tutorial system for undergraduate students. You will have been provided with a list of tutorials that have been available in the past, although this list is not exhaustive. One of the benefits of studying at Oxford is having the ability to take a tutorial based on your interests, even if that tutorial isn't normally offered. Oxford doesn't have a 'course catalogue' in the same way that you'll find at Williams; if you have a specific academic interest, provided we can find a tutor who is available to teach you, you can build your own tutorial around that interest.

The WEPO Faculty Director, Sam Crane, will work with you before each term to identify your interests, and determine which tutorials are available for you. This is a collaborative process, as it involves finding specific tutors with expertise in each area on a bespoke basis, so it's important that you prepare to have a little flexibility and patience during this process which is very different than how you would normally register for courses at home.

If you're stuck for ideas, looking at the previous year's lecture list may help you see which subjects and topics are usually covered by each department. This is particularly useful in STEM subjects where the lecture list tends to be fairly similar from year to year, but can also be useful for all subjects. If you'd like to see a lecture list, you can ask a current WEPO student (if you've been paired with someone in your subject area), or can write to Sam or Katie. Unfortunately this information is only available once you have your Oxford login credentials (Single Sign On/SSO credentials) after you arrive, so we will be happy to send this to you in the interim, if indeed we have it. Many faculties (departments) publish their lecture lists only in mid-September, or sometimes even at the beginning of Michaelmas term.

Course Load

Over the three terms, students are required to enrol in a minimum of five tutorial courses. Students will be required to take two tutorials in Michaelmas and Hilary terms, and have the choice to take one or two in Trinity term. The maximum number of tutorial courses that a student may enrol in is six.

Towards the middle of Michaelmas and Hilary Terms, each student will meet with the Faculty Director to discuss their progress and to decide the subjects he or she wishes to pursue during the subsequent term(s). Decisions made at this time are binding for the subsequent term; there are no ‘add/drop’ periods at Oxford. Once a student has made a commitment to a particular tutorial course, and the Faculty Director has secured a tutor to teach that course, the student is committed. 

All WEPO tutorials are letter-graded; there is no “pass/fail” option. In unusual circumstances, in which a student must drop a tutorial, they will incur a deficiency and will be charged a cancellation fee.

Brief guides to choosing tutorial courses will be made available to Williams students by the Faculty Director, who will also explain the tutorial system in more detail during Orientation. Please familiarize yourself thoroughly with the handout entitled ‘Thinking about Tutorials and for Making Wise Decisions about Tutorial Preferences’, which will be given to you during first pre-departure meeting.

Tutorial Structure

Generally, tutors provide you with rather large reading lists for the term, and it is up to you to find books and other resources. Often, tutors will give a word count, rather than page estimate, for the length of the essays. Tutors want you to demonstrate an ability to synthesize and analyse ideas from a variety of sources. While your essay needs to make it clear that you’ve done a decent amount of reading and thinking about the material, you also need to articulate ideas, views and arguments which can then be discussed in the tutorial meeting. The quality of your work will largely depend on your preparation, which includes the depth of your reading and thinking through your ideas.

Keep in mind that, although a one-on-one tutorial is the norm, you may be meeting with one or two tutorial partners. Some classes will also require you to attend weekly seminars. Your tutors will tell you what they expect; the format of your meetings may vary depending on your subject and your tutor. Be aware that everything organized for the content and structure of your classes/tutorial is at your tutor’s discretion.

Although tutorials are not regularly scheduled classes in the sense that they do not occur in pre-assigned classrooms at pre-assigned hours, they are not informal or optional meetings. Punctuality is expected: it is a significant breach of etiquette at Oxford to arrive late for a tutorial. Skipping a tutorial meeting without prior notice is unacceptable; it will almost certainly result in a lower final grade, and may result in more severe consequences. Students should attempt to reschedule a meeting only in instances of illness or genuine family emergency. Most tutors are happy to reschedule in these circumstances, and typically prefer you not to come to their office if you're ill. However, it's important that you attend tutorials when you are able, and maintain a good, professional relationship with your tutors. Over the years, the Williams-Exeter Programme has had much success in recruiting and retaining good tutors in Oxford. Our success in hiring and retention is due primarily to the hard work, passionate intellectual engagement, diligence, punctuality, and reliability of our students.

On arrival, wait outside the tutor’s office until the specified meeting time, and then knock. Tutorials are often in offices rather than classrooms, so it is considered rude to let yourself in.

Remember that because tutorials are taught by individual tutors, there is no 'one size fits all' advice for how your tutorials will look. Some tutors are very formal, whilst others are less so. Ultimately, tutors are here to help you learn, develop your ideas, and further your expertise in your subject area.

Books & Articles

You won’t need to buy all the books on your reading lists. Instead, you’ll be able to read or borrow your books from Oxford’s extensive library system, and the WEPO library here at EWH. If you need a book for a tutorial that isn't available at the Exeter or WEPO library, you can contact Christine, the WEPO librarian, to request it for the WEPO library. We encourage you to do this at the start (or even before) each term, as it can take a week or two for some resources to arrive.

You'll find that tutors will not be provided with reading packets at Oxford University. You are responsible for finding all reading materials yourself from the libraries or online resources. You should plan to do this in advance of the start of term to be prepared for your studies.