Study abroad in Oxford, England

The Oxford Program Fee is a total of $2800. The nonrefundable $1000 deposit will be applied toward the $2800. The Program Fee is nonrefundable for any reason other than if the class is canceled.

Guaranteed spot for trip: To guarantee a spot for this trip you must:

1. Get on the waiting list by submitting your application;
2. Once approved, you will be asked to submit the $1000 deposit online;
3. Once you have submitted your deposit we will hold a spot for you;
4. Once you have submitted the remaining balance you will be guaranteed a spot.

For Credit: If you are taking this class for credit, the $1000 deposit will be applied to your student account. The remaining balance of $1800 will be applied to your student account also. If you have federal aid to cover your full student account balance, you do not need to do anything.

Please refer to the Financial Aid Calendar for federal aid disbursement dates. If you DO NOT have federal aid to cover your balance in full, you must either: Pay in full OR enroll in the Tuition Installment Plan (TIP) by the Semester Check-In deadline. Failure could put your registration in jeopardy of being dropped for nonpayment. Both payments and enrollment in Tuition Installment Plan (TIP) can be done in your Genysis accounts under the Bill + Payment Center Tab.

For Non-Credit: If you are taking this class for non-credit, you must pay the $1000 deposit after submitting your application and have been approved. The remaining amount of $1800 must be paid online by February 1, 2025.

What is included?

• Sharing a double room at Royal Oxford Hotel
• Daily breakfast while in Oxford
• Reception, one meal and an afternoon tea
• Tours of various sites
• Guests speakers
• Classroom rental
• Transportation to Kilns
• Required medical/travel insurance

Above stated price does NOT include:

• Airfare to and from London
• Bus fare to and from London airport to Oxford
• Additional meals at Oxford or during travel
• Books
• Cancellation Insurance (optional)
• Tuition and fees. All Regent graduate/doctoral students must pay SCA tuition and fees. Please check with the Business Office. Undergraduate students will pay their normal tuition and fees.

Attendees are responsible for making their own flight arrangements and it is not included in the Oxford Program Fee.

We ask that attendees not purchase airline tickets until you are contacted with confirmation that the class makes, which should be in the middle of March.

Attendees will stay at the Royal Oxford Hotel which is ideally located just a two minute walk from the heart of Oxford city centre, and within walking distance of the railway and bus stations. The hotel is comprised of three stories but does not have an elevator. There are no bedrooms on the ground floor.

Attendees will share a room. Single rooms might be available upon request for an additional cost of $900. Please contact the Oxford Program Manager at mackerman@regent.edu for details.

If you haven’t already ordered your passport, do it ASAP! You will not be able to travel without it. You can apply for a passport online or at a number of local agencies including the US Post Office. To find out more passport information or apply online visit the U.S. Department of State passport webpage. As a general rule, passports must be valid at least six (6) months beyond the date the traveler will exit the United States. Some airlines will not allow you to board if this requirement is not met.

Scholarships pay toward tuition only and do not apply to university fees, SCA fees, or the Oxford Program Fee. Additionally, scholarships offered exclusively through Regent schools other than the School of Communication & the Arts do not apply toward the School of Communication & the Arts tuition charges for this experience. Students may enroll in the Tuition Installment Plan(TIP) if they are paying out of pocket to cover this fee.

The GI Bill covers tuition, university fees and SCA school fees but NOT the Oxford Program Fee. Please contact your Military Benefits Manager for details. Students may enroll in the Tuition Installment Plan (TIP) if they are paying out of pocket to cover this fee.

This program can be rigorous, and some of the events may require demanding physical activities. Therefore, participants should possess the ability to:

1. Walk between three to twelve miles each day on cobblestone sidewalks and dirt paths through an open field
2. Stand for 30 minutes without sitting
3. Climb three flights of stairs without assistance. The Royal Oxford Hotel does not have an elevator, nor do they have rooms on the ground floor.
4. Hear instructions in a group setting with environmental noise present
5. Read and understand written instructions and signs
6. Step in and out of buses or shuttles
7. Older facilities outside the United States may not offer the same types of disability accommodations that are offered in the United States.
8. The Royal Oxford Hotel does have air conditioning, but many buildings do not have air conditioning.
9. Double check to make sure your medications are legal in the UK.

Regent University may be unable to provide special accommodation for people with disabilities. If someone needs accommodation or assistance, that person must bring a companion/assistant at full price. Also, those who have a health or mental condition that may interfere with participation in program activities, need to consult with their physician to determine if they are able to participate in a physically demanding study abroad program. If a student has any questions regarding special accommodations for people with disabilities contact disabilities@regent.edu. Nonstudent attendees contact mackerman@regent.edu.

Note that the minimum number of study trip attendees is 15 and the maximum number is 20. The trip will be cancelled should the number of applicants with deposits not reach the minimum by March 1 and a full refund of payments will be issued.

Travelers under the age of 18 are not allowed to attend without a parent.

In case of an emergency and the leader Dr. Bill Brown is unable to continue with the class, he will have a designated assistant to take over and complete the tour.

All American citizens are advised to register their time abroad for the trip with the U.S. State Department.

All details are subject to change. Please refer to this website regularly for up-to-date information as details are finalized and posted.

Should you have any questions, please contact Oxford Program Manager, Marjorie Ackerman, at mackerman@regent.edu.

Undergraduates: COMM 485 – Sem: C.S. Lewis and Friends (3 credits)

Graduates: COM 685 – Sem: C.S. Lewis and Friends (3 credits)

Doctoral: COM 785 – Sem: C.S. Lewis and Friends (3 credits)

Tuition rate

All graduate/doctoral students must pay the SCA tuition rate, which might be different from other Regent schools. Check with the Business Office. Regent undergraduate students will pay their normal tuition rate.

• An online prologue May 12-June 20
• Class meets in Oxford, England June 21-28
• An online epilogue June 29 -August 16

• Discuss C.S. Lewis’ major works including The Screwtape Letters, The Great Divorce, Mere Christianity, Surprised by Joy and others.
• Attend a lecture at The Kilns, Lewis’ home.
• Interact with noted Lewis scholars.
• Reflect as you stroll on Addison’s walk, where Lewis’ life was changed.
• Explore Magdalen College, where Lewis taught.
• Dine and engage in scholarly discussions at Lewis’ favorite pubs.
• Tour various sites in Oxford such as Christ Church, Merton College & the Bodleian Library.
• Have opportunities to take part in cultural and academic activities.
• Visit the University Church of St. Mary the Virgin where Lewis gave his famous sermon.

COMM 485 & COM 685/785 – Seminar: C.S. Lewis & Friends: Communication, Myth & Imagination

• The Narnia Code: C.S. Lewis and the Secret of the Seven Heavens
• The Narnian: The Life and Imagination of C.S. Lewis
• The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe
• The Screwtape Letters
• The Great Divorce
• Surprised by Joy
• The Four Loves
• Mere Christianity
• That Hideous Strength
• God in the Dock: Essays on Theology and Ethics

No. The only reason the Oxford Program Fee would be refunded is if the trip was cancelled because we did not reach the 15 applicant minimum by March 1, 2025. For this reason, make absolutely sure you can take this trip.

Yes. You must get approval from your Student Advisor & the SCA Dean by submitting “Approval to Enroll in a Class in Another School.”

If this course is not part of your Approved Degree Program (ADP), any financial aid you are receiving will not be applied. Please talk to your advisor in the central financial aid office for more details.

All graduate/doctoral students must pay the SCA tuition rate, which might be different from other Regent schools. Check with the Business Office. Regent undergraduate students will pay their normal tuition rate.

• If you plan to take this course for credit you must contact your Student Advisor at Advising@regent.edu to make sure this class fits into your ADP; otherwise, Financial Aid might not cover this class.
• If you are a Regent student but not enrolled in SCA, you must submit “Approval to Enroll in a Class in Another School” and get approval from your Student Advisor and the Dean of SCA.
• Everyone needs to make sure you can take the time to travel to Oxford and that you are financially able to pay for all the expenses surrounding this class as the $2800 Oxford Program Fee is nonrefundable.

• $2800 – Oxford Program Fee
• $210-$300 – Average cost of 14 meals
• $1400-$2000 – Average airline ticket
• $40 – Average round trip bus ticket from Heathrow to hotel
• $4,450-$5,140 – Average overall expenses for trip, not including tuition & books.

Meals in pubs suggested in the itinerary listed as “On your Own” are just suggestions and are not required. You are welcome to eat at any establishment you desire.

We do not require a physician’s report as a condition of acceptance in the program, but we strongly recommend that you have medical and dental checkups before going abroad. If you have a specific physical and/or mental health problem of which we should be aware, you are required to inform the Oxford Program Manager in writing before departure so that your study abroad experience will be as safe and as comfortable as possible. We keep this information in the strictest of confidence and do not use it for admission purposes. If you are taking medication, make sure to bring enough with you to last the trip. If needed, bring medication for pollen as you will walk through/along grassy fields. Make sure your medications are legal in the UK.

The United Kingdom does not require vaccinations. However, travelers should check with their physicians to determine if additional vaccinations are required to travel to the United Kingdom. Vaccinations depend on travelers’ vaccination history. Also, travelers should check the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) website for updates on the United Kingdom.

Go to the U.S. Department of State website to find out about any travel alerts or warnings posted in various countries. You can also find information about passports, tips for traveling abroad and updates on emergencies and crises.

A laptop is optional, but you will need to bring an adapter (and perhaps a converter) as outlets in England use different voltage and the plugs are shaped differently.

Yes, all calls would be charged to your credit card which would be swiped upon check-in for any ‘extras’.

The weather can be unpredictable but it is usually between 65-75 degrees at the end of June. Wear casual, comfortable layered clothing and comfortable walking shoes, as you will be walking outside frequently. Be prepared for inclement weather.

Not without an adapter and converter. Outlets use different voltage and the plugs are shaped differently. You can purchase adapters here at travel stores or in England. Warning: Voltage surges can occur causing such items to be hotter than normal. More expensive adapters do have voltage controls. There is a hair dryer provided in each room at the hotel.

No. A laundry facility is available about a 15 minute walk from the hotel.

You can exchange U.S. dollars into the English pound at various locations. A local exchange house, your bank, order from AAA or post offices in the UK. Most places in the UK will accept a credit or debit card. You may find this to be easier than cash. Another option is to withdraw cash from an ATM machine in the airport or in the city. Check with your bank and credit card company for their fees and exchange rates. It would be helpful if you exchanged some U.S. dollars before you leave the states.

Yes, some banks and/or credit card companies will put a hold on your account when they see unusual activity on your bank card if they are not informed of your travels.

• Before you leave U.S. get adapters for computer and hair dryer. Purchase umbrella, sensible shoes and layered clothing. You will be walking an average of 5-12 miles every day.
• When arrive at Heathrow Airport check for information with people dressed in purple, change currency and buy maps. We recommend you purchase a round trip ticket to Oxford from the bus driver as it will be cheaper at approximately £26.
• Before going home submit VAT receipts and exchange money.
• Optional – VAT Receipts:  With a VAT form receipt, which you have to ask for, 20% of your purchase price, including dining, is refunded to you when you leave the country. You have to get a VAT receipt from each vendor, which is a pain, but if you spend more than fifty pounds on meals and merchandise, you get 20% back when you submit the receipts to the VAT people at the airport.

Getting here from the airport by bus:

• Heathrow (recommended airport): The easiest way to get from Heathrow to Oxford is by bus. Go to the Central Bus Station which is not located at the terminal but within a 10-15 minute walk from terminals 1, 2, 3. You can also access escalators and lifts. If you are landing at terminal 1, 2, 3 go to the Central Bus Station and find Bus Stand #15 to get to Oxford. If you are landing at terminal 4 or 5 find Bus Stand #10 to get to Oxford. We recommend you purchase a round trip ticket from the bus driver as it will be cheaper at approximately £26. The Gloucester Green Coach Station in Oxford is the last stop from Heathrow. To get to the Royal Oxford Hotel from the Gloucester Green Coach Station in Oxford, go out of the main entrance and turn right onto George St. At the corner, take a left onto Worchester St. At the next traffic light, make a right onto Park End St. The hotel can be found at the bottom of this road on your right in front of a round about. It should take you no more than 10 minutes to walk to hotel.
• Gatwick: The easiest way to get from Gatwick to Oxford is by bus. Follow the sign for coaches after you get off the plane. At the coach station, look for the City Link X80. For schedules and fares check out the Oxford Bus Company site. The trip should take just over 2 hours. There are several stops in Oxford, and it is easiest just to stay on till the last stop, Gloucester Green. To get to the Royal Oxford Hotel from the Gloucester Green Coach Station in Oxford, go out of the main entrance and turn right onto George St. At the corner, take a left onto Worchester St. At the next traffic light, make a right onto Park End St. The hotel can be found at the bottom of this road on your right in front of a round about. It should take you no more than 10 minutes to walk to hotel.