Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lady Margaret Hall a part of Oxford University?
Oxford University is comprised of 39 independent and self-governing colleges, of which Lady Margaret Hall is one. All Oxford students are members of a college, which is normally where they reside, dine and socialise. The Director of Visiting Students acts as a Personal Tutor to all Visiting Students and will help them to organise their studies. However, students study with tutors from throughout the University; they utilise University facilities and participate in University clubs, societies and events.
What are the entry requirements?
We would normally expect a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.75 or equivalent, based on a 4.0 scale.
Proof of English language competency: If you were not born in a majority English-speaking country, you must have been studying full-time in English for two years BEFORE applying to LMH. The UK Home Office requires the University to confirm that all applicants who need a student visa and who are not nationals of a majority English-speaking country, as defined by the Home Office, meet the minimum Common European Framework of References for Languages (CEFR) level B2. Unless you have been educated full-time in English during the last two years PRIOR TO APPLYING TO LMH you will need to provide us with results of an acceptable English language test such as IELTS so that we can confirm you meet this requirement. We adhere to the University of Oxford’s standards on test score requirements. You may submit your test score after submitting your application, however, if you are offered a place, it will be subject to your achieving the required standard in your English language test.
Which subjects can I study as a Visiting Student at Lady Margaret Hall?
Visiting Students can study most of the subjects available to regular LMH undergraduates. For further information, please see the subjects page.
In those areas where the college does not regularly admit undergraduates e.g. Human Sciences, it may be possible to arrange courses in some of the component parts of the degree, e.g. Sociology, Demography, Anthropology. Similarly, in some areas where the college does not normally admit visiting students, e.g. Law, it may be possible to arrange one or more courses in a related subject for those interested.
We can also provide some special subjects tailored to the visiting student’s interest, for example courses have been offered recently on the role of the American Supreme Court, and on Britain’s relationship with Ireland in the 20th Century. However, special subjects are usually decided on an individual basis as they will depend on our ability to match a student’s particular interests to the available teaching resources.
Prospective students can inquire about their interests either through one of our partner agencies or by contacting the Visiting Student Office.
How many courses can I take as a Visiting Student?
Your term will normally be structured around taking a major course, which usually requires 8 tutorials per term (one per week) and a minor course will usually involve 4 tutorials per term (one on alternative weeks). Therefore an average 8-week term for a Visiting Student will involve a total of 12 one-hour tutorials. You will usually be asked to write a short essay for each of these tutorials. There are usually no ‘term-papers’ which you have to write at the end. Your work will be individually assessed and marked and feedback will be given on a week-by-week basis. Your final term grade will be awarded on the basis of both the quality of your written work and how well you have engaged in tutorial discussions with your tutor. Hence both written and verbal skills are developed and evaluated during the course. Students are also advised to attend lectures to supplement materials covered in the tutorial sessions.
You can select tutorials from a maximum of 3 subject areas, however, in order to achieve the greatest benefit from the Oxford tutorial system, we recommend that you select tutorials from only one or two subject areas.
What is a tutorial?
A distinctive feature of the Oxford educational system is the learning that takes place in tutorials or small classes. The structure of tutorials varies across subject areas, but they normally involve between one and three students meeting regularly with a ‘tutor’. In preparation for the meeting, students are required to complete some readings and usually must either write an essay or prepare a problem set in advance. The session with the Tutor involves discussion of the assignment and personalised feedback on the student’s work.
This system of learning involves an intense interaction between the student and their teacher. Although there may only be one hour of contact each week, students are required to spend several hours independently preparing for this and must come to the tutorial fully ready to delve into the topic at hand. In the tutorial, a student is given constructive feedback and is pushed to think through topics in much greater depth than is the norm in a classroom or lecture setting. We find that most students adjust to this quickly and come to value this way of learning and the unique opportunity it provides to pursue particular academic interests. Take a look at what our students say for further insight.
How is my work at Oxford graded?
Visiting Students are not matriculated, and are therefore not eligible to sit University examinations. Rather, Visiting Students receive grades based on their work during the term. Each one of the student’s subject tutors will prepare a report at the end of each term which includes comments on the student’s work as well as a numerical grade. Tutors use the Oxford system of grading in their reports and they grade Visiting Students according to Oxford standards.
Grade Translation
The LMH Visiting Student Programme Office will translate the Oxford grades given by Tutors into their home institution's equivalent on all Visiting Student reports. For American students (for example) this will be in accordance with the following scale:
80+ = A+
70-79 = A
65-69 = A-
60-64 = B+
55-59 = B
50-54 = B-
45-49 = C+
40-44 = C
<40 = F
Both the Oxford grade and the translated grade appear on the student's LMH transcript.
Transcripts
A transcript, providing details of the courses completed and grades attained, is issued to each visiting student as a matter of course following completion of their studies at LMH. Further transcripts, for the purposes of graduate studies applications (for example), can be requested at any time by completing a transcript request form.
What are the fees and costs for the Visiting Student Programme?
Our fees for the 2024-2025 academic year are outlined in the Fees Arrangements and Term Dates document. Please note that if you apply through an intermediary, there will be additional costs.
The Oxford University website provides a useful guide on estimated living costs: https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/fees-and-funding/living-costs?wssl=1.
Can I study at LMH for just one term?
We encourage our Visiting Students to study here for a full academic year because we believe that this is the best way to get the full experience of being at Oxford and participating in its unique educational system. However, we also offer the option to apply for the extended Michaelmas term or for both Hilary and Trinity terms. The very enthusiastic have the option to apply to start in the extended Michaelmas term and continue into the full academic year.
What are the dates of the academic year?
The academic year at Oxford University runs from October to June. The year is divided into three eight week terms: Michaelmas (autumn, October to December), Hilary (spring, January to March), and Trinity (summer, April to June). You can check term dates here.
In Michaelmas and Hilary terms there is an induction programme for new students in the week before ‘full term’ (referred to as ‘noughth week’). The Visiting Students' Programme office will guide you through the entire process of settling in to life and studies at Oxford University. There are also meetings with tutors in 0th week of each term, therefore all students are required to return to College by 1 pm on the Wednesday of 0th week. Visiting Students are expected to be in College for the whole of each term.
Where do Visiting Students reside and can we reside in College outside of term time?
All Visiting Students are allocated single rooms in College for the weeks 0 - 8 and normally, you would be required to vacate your room at the end of week 8. However, it is possible to request to remain in your college room for the entire vacation period; further information is provided in the Fees Arrangements and Term Dates document. It is also possible to request to remain in college for shorter periods in the vacations (e.g. a few days after the end of term) by arrangement with the Bursary towards the end of each term. This is charged at a nightly rate, which is currently £31.90 (subject to increase in 2024-25).
What's the food like?
Students are welcome to purchase the meals that are served in the College Dining Hall. The food at LMH is reputed to be amongst the best served at Oxford Colleges. During term time, breakfast, lunch and dinner are served Monday to Friday, and additionally brunch on Saturday and dinner on Sunday. The average spend per meal at lunch and dinner is about £6-8 (slightly less for breakfast). There are also small shared kitchens available for students who wish to prepare their own meals. There is no catering pre-payment system at LMH. Students credit their College accounts on a pay-as-you-go basis and purchase meals in the Dining Hall using their University Card (our tills operate on a cashless system).
What kind of extra-curricular activities are available to Visiting Students?
- Societies for academic interest, such as Beaufort Society (English), Daisy Circle (politics) and History Society
- Sports - football, rowing, tennis and many others
- Music and drama - Regular concerts and plays are organised and produced in LMH (sometimes in the gardens) which include our own students and others.
- Groups that seek to play a role in the wider community of the city of Oxford, often by helping the disadvantaged
- Our own punts, moored in our gardens
- And… of course... social events, ranging from regular college discos to parties and quizzes
For further information see the LMH JCR clubs & societies and sports clubs & teams. For information on the University clubs and societies, please see the University register of student clubs.
LMH also has two College Choirs and visiting students are welcome to join - please see https://www.lmh.ox.ac.uk/choirs for details.