Study for a semester in Oxford, England!

Oxford, home of the Pasadena City College Semester in England, has been a world renowned center of learning since the 13th century. This historic town houses over forty colleges, and is filled with a rich and exciting cultural, artistic, and intellectual history. Marvel at the breathtaking architecture. Stroll through the university quadrangles and manicured gardens. Experience the beauty and distinction of this vibrant city.

Seat of academic excellence and home to one of the oldest universities in Europe (along with Paris and Bologna), Oxford is often described as the “city of dreaming spires.” The city is a manageable size and surrounded by rivers. The beautiful, gentle countryside of Oxfordshire is home to the Chilterns and Cotswolds. Oxford continues to be a place of inspiration to writers and academics.

Program Dates

Feb. 18 - May 24, 2026

  • February 18: Program starts at PCC
  • March 7 - 8: Group travels to U.K.
  • March 9: Program continues in Oxford
  • May 24: End of program. Group returns to U.S.

Program Fee

$11,875 (airfare included)
Price based on 20 students. Excludes airline taxes & PCC tuition.


Information Sessions

Meet the faculty & learn more about the program at an information meeting!

Noon Sessions

  • September 11 (Zoom) & 23 (C-311)
  • October 9 & 21 (C-311)
  • November 6 & 18 (C-311)

6:00 pm Sessions

  • September 23 (Zoom)
  • October 9 (Zoom)
  • November 6 (Zoom)
  • December 4 (Zoom)

Virtual sessions can be attended with this Zoom Meeting ID: 881 4865 0732.


Program Dates

  • February 18 - March 6: Program starts at PCC
  • March 7: Group flight departs U.S. for England
  • March 8: Group flight arrives in London, transfer to Oxford
  • March 9: Classes resume in Oxford
  • Spring Break: TBA
  • May 24: End of program. Group flight departs London for the U.S.

Program Fees

$11,875 (airfare included) 

Excludes airline taxes & PCC tuition. Based on a minimum enrollment of 20 students.

Program Fee Includes:

  • Roundtrip airfare between Los Angeles (LAX) and London (LHR) 
  • Roundtrip transfers between London Heathrow and Oxford
  • Accommodation in twin room homestays
  • 2 meals per day (continental breakfast & dinner)
  • Traditional English Tea & Farewell Dinner
  • Oxford Key bus pass with unlimited travel within the city center and homestay areas
  • Pre-departure and on-site orientation program
  • Guided walking tour of Oxford followed by afternoon tea
  • Full-day excursion to London
  • Full-day excursion to Salisbury & Stonehenge
  • Full-day excursion to Bath
  • On-site faculty, student support staff member, and 24-hour emergency contact service
  • Medical insurance policy
  • Liability insurance

Program fee does not include:

  • Mandatory U.S. government and airline-imposed departure taxes, fees and fuel surcharges of $695 (subject to change)
  • Meals other than those listed
  • Optional Extra Protection Insurance Coverage, including increased medical insurance 
  • Optional trip interruption or cancellation insurance
  • Passport and visa fees, if applicable
  • PCC course registration fees
  • Textbooks
  • Personal expenses
Item: Fee: Deadline:
Enrollment Deposit $450.00 Due immediately upon acceptance into program
Balance of Fees $11,425.00 January 9, 2026
Airline Taxes (estimate) $695.00 January 9, 2026
Total $12,570.00  
     
Optional Components: Fee: Deadline:
Extra Protection Insurance Coverage $65.00 January 9, 2026

Trip Interruption or Cancellation Insurance

varies Within 21 days after deposit is paid

All students must submit a $450 deposit upon acceptance into the program and when completing the online enrollment form.

Program fee payments, including the deposit, will be made directly to our partner American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS). Program fees will not be collected by the Pasadena City College Study Abroad Office or by program faculty.

Payments may be made by check or credit card. Checks should be made payable to “AIFS.” American Express, MasterCard and Visa are accepted.

Please note: A $35 returned check fee will be charged on all checks returned by the bank for insufficient funds.


Group Airfare Package 

The group airfare package includes round-trip airfare between LAX and LHR in economy/standard class, and round-trip transfers in England between the airport and student housing in Oxford, on the regularly scheduled program dates. 

Participants wishing to purchase the airfare package (which is included in the program fee, excluding airline taxes) must select this option on the online enrollment form. AIFS cannot arrange airline tickets for students after December 1, 2025. Land-only packages, without airfare, may be offered to students accepted into the program after December 1, 2025. 

Tickets are exclusively on scheduled airlines (not charters). They are not endorsable to another carrier. Flights are not necessarily direct or non-stop, they cannot be rerouted, and frequent flyer miles are not applicable. No refunds are available for any unused portion of ticket. Once airline tickets have been issued to students, they can only be changed directly with the issuing agent - agent and airline-imposed penalties apply. 

A minimum of 10 participants is required for the group airfare package to be offered.


AIFS Refund Policy

If a participant withdraws on or before Friday, December 12, 2025, they will receive a refund for all fees paid less a $150 processing fee.  

If a participant withdraws after Friday, December 12, 2025, but on or before Friday, January 9, 2026, they will receive a refund for all fees paid less the $450 deposit and any non-refundable deposits paid by the participant or by AIFS on the participant's behalf.

If a participant withdraws after Friday, January 9, 2026, they will receive no refund and the total program fee is due.

After the final payment deadline the full program fee is due to AIFS even if you have not yet paid and no longer plan to participate in the program.

Non-refundable financial commitments have been made to secure your spot. If a participants withdrawals once the program has begun, there is no refund.

This refund policy applies whether a participant pays AIFS Abroad directly for all, part, or no program fees. 

Courses

Participants must enroll in a minimum of 12 units from the following program courses:

Course No. Course Name Units
ANTH 002 Cultural Anthropology 3
ANTH 004 Anthropology of Religion, Magic & Witchcraft 3
HIST 005B History of Great Britain From 1714 3
HIST 007A United States History to 1876 3
HIST 025B Women in American Society 3

* All courses are CSU/UC transferable.* Honors Program credit for those who qualify


ANTH 002 Cultural Anthropology (3u): Anthropologists explore what it means to be human. In this class, we’ll dive into human culture with a special focus on all things British—identity, language, food, traditions, and more. Cultural Anthropology aims to foster an understanding of the diverse perspectives and lived experiences that shape cultures around the world. With Oxford and the U.K. as our home base, we’ll experience British culture firsthand and use our day-to-day observations to build a deeper understanding of British culture.

ANTH 004 Anthropology of Religion, Magic & Witchcraft (3u): This class explores how religion is expressed as a central part of human culture. We’ll take a close look at the common threads shared by religious traditions around the world—often referred to as religious universals. Using the U.K. as our case study, we’ll explore how religious expression has evolved over time: from prehistoric ritual sites and ancient practices of magic and divination to Victorian-era Spiritualism and the rise of the Church as a powerful religiopolitical force. Throughout the course, we’ll reflect on how religion continues to shape culture, identity, and community in Britain and beyond.

HIST 005B History of Great Britain From 1714 (3u): description coming soon!

HIST 007A United States History to 1876 (3u): description coming soon!

HIST 025B Women in American Society (3u): description coming soon!

Program Faculty

Professor andrea murray, anthropology

Professor Murray is a faculty member and Department Chair in the Social Sciences Division at Pasadena City College, where she has taught anthropology and archaeology courses for the past eighteen years. Her academic interests include archaeobotany, lithic and ceramic analysis, museum studies, archaeological curation, and public archaeology. She has conducted research in California, the American Southwest, Mexico, Central and South America, and Europe. 

Professor Murray first traveled to the United Kingdom as a college student and experienced the life-changing benefits of studying abroad first-hand. Since then, she has traveled to over 40 countries and has returned to the U.K. many times for teaching, research, and exploration. Her visits often include scenic road trips through the British countryside in search of remote stone circles, prehistoric tombs, medieval villages, historic castles, and pilgrimage sites—with the occasional puffin sighting along the way!

Professor Murray is thrilled to return to Oxford -- the iconic “city of dreaming spires” -- with students. Through immersive field trips, cultural engagement, and first-hand observation, she looks forward to helping students explore the richness of British culture through an anthropological lens.

  • Email: apmurray@pasasdena.edu
  • Office Hours: Please email to schedule an appointment.

Professor tracy sachtjen, history 

Professor Sachtjen has taught at PCC since 2009 and offers courses in United States, world, women's and English history. She earned her Ph.D. in history from the University of California, Irvine, and her bachelor's degree in women's studies from Smith College. She's currently pursuing a certificate in the science of reading and dyslexia studies at Mount St. Joseph University. She's served as department chair, adviser to student groups, a PCC Foundation scholarship reviewer, and has loved working with such amazing Lancer students, staff, and faculty for nearly two decades.

Professor Sachtjen hails from small-town Alaska, has lived on both coasts, took a gap year in Mexico after high school, and values the thrill involved in studying abroad. She's eager to invite you to join in the adventure. Please visit her in office hours to chat more about all the fun we'll have in the United Kingdom! 

  • Email: tasachtjen@pasadena.edu
  • Office Hours:
    • Tuesdays & Thursdays: 11:00 am - 12:00 pm in C-316
    • Wednesdays: Zoom (email for details)

Meals & Accommodations

Accommodations in twin room homestays on a half-board basis, with daily continental breakfast (cereals, toast, juice, tea/coffee) and dinner provided. Students will be located no more than a 45-minute bus ride from the city center and will have access to laundry facilities and the kitchen for the preparation of other meals.

An Oxford Key travel pass will be provided, which allows unlimited travel in the Smart Zone, covering travel between the city center and homestay areas for the duration of the program.

If available, single rooms will be offered on a first-come first-served basis for an additional fee.

Excursions & Activities

Orientation Program

  • A series of pre-departure orientations covering topics such as "To Do" action items, banking, cell-phone options, adaptors, what to pack, airport security, customs & immigration, and more.
  • On-site orientation upon arrival covering topics such as general acclimation to Oxford, safety and security issues, cultural differences, travel, and cultural activities.
  • Local walking tour covering housing and classroom location and local amenities.

Local Activities

Guided walking tour of Oxford, entrance into an Oxford University College, and a traditional afternoon tea.  

Additional activities will be available in or around Oxford, either at no additional cost or for a subsidized fee. Activities may include visits to local libraries and museums, Blenheim Palace, and more!

Excursions

LONDON

Enjoy a full-day excursion to London - a diverse and exciting city with some of the world's best sights, attractions and activities. Your time in London will include a guided sightseeing tour, entrance into the Tower of London and Westminster Abbey, and an evening of theatre in the West End.

SALISBURY & STONEHENGE

Discover the timeless wonders of southern England with a visit to Stonehenge, one of the world’s most iconic prehistoric monuments, and Salisbury Cathedral, home to Britain’s tallest spire and the iconic Magna Carta.

BATH

Explore the atmospheric pools at one of Northern Europe's most significant ancient Roman bath sites. Visit the medieval Bath Abbey, stroll through picturesque streets, and explore a city steeped in Georgian-period history and charm.

Independent Travel

Use your free weekends and Spring Break to travel to Europe’s great cities. Local staff will assist you in choosing destinations and transportation. Student favorites include Paris, Amsterdam, Dublin and Berlin.

Financial Aid may be available to those who qualify. Grants, loans, and scholarships may be used to pay program fees.

Apply immediately. You should allow up to eight weeks for your financial aid request to be processed.

More About Financial Aid options at PCC


Apply to Study in Oxford!


To be eligible for the program, you must be at least 18 years old by the day of departure and have a minimum overall GPA of 2.0. You do not need to be a PCC student to apply. Students, community members, and individuals with varied educational backgrounds are welcome.

Priority Application Deadline: November 1

Apply Now!

More Information

Contact Professor Andrea Murray, Study Abroad Coordinator