Study Abroad Insights: Gaining Knowledge and Skills from a Foreign Educational Experience
By Alec Israeli, Humanities Correspondent
The Oxford-Princeton Biochemistry Exchange program offers a unique opportunity for students to immerse themselves in two distinct academic environments: the research-intensive University of Oxford and the course-based Princeton University.
At Oxford, the academic system is heavily centred on tutorials — hour-long meetings with a professor, either one-on-one or with one or two other students. For each tutorial, students must write an essay of around 2,000-2,500 words. This method emphasises close interaction with faculty and a continual emphasis on essay-writing skills as a primary mode of learning and assessment.
In contrast, Princeton University, as part of the US Ivy League system, follows a more course-based model where students take lectures, seminars, and courses across various departments. While essay writing remains an important component, it is embedded within a broader curriculum that may include exams, research papers, and projects, with larger class sizes and less frequent one-on-one interaction than the Oxford tutorial model.
During my two-month stay at Hertford College, University of Oxford, I found the tutorial system and essay-focused approach to be particularly challenging due to the frequency and speed of writing tutorial papers. However, I learned that the best way to improve writing is to write consistently. The consistent deadlines helped me overcome anxiety and perfectionism by forcing me to write concurrently with research and planning.
This tutorial system and essay-focused approach is distinctive to Oxford and its collegiate cousins (Cambridge), whereas Princeton and US institutions rely more on diverse course formats, with essay writing as one but not the sole core method of academic work.
In conclusion, the Oxford-Princeton Biochemistry Exchange program provides a fascinating glimpse into the differences between the academic systems of two renowned institutions. While Princeton offers a more varied coursework environment, Oxford's tutorial system fosters deep engagement with material through intensive essay writing and individualised, discussion-based academic work.
In the Oxford-Princeton Biochemistry Exchange program, students can engage in independent work through the Oxford tutorial system, which involves writing numerous junior papers that encourage personal growth and learning through consistent writing. Unlike Princeton University, which offers a more diverse coursework environment, Oxford's education-and-self-development approach is centered on essay-focused, independent work and personal-growth opportunities.
