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Application Procedures
To request an application form and information pack please contact us at the Liberal Arts Office. Students applying from affiliated colleges should apply through their Study Abroad Office, or through the office which handles study abroad. This makes the process of application very simple.

Entrance Requirements
Admission depends on the following factors for all undergraduate students:

  1. Academic performance - a minimum of 2.8 GPA, and preferably a 3.0, is required
  2. An academic reference from a college professor or advisor
  3. Written authority for the student's proposed programme of study from the appropriate Dean or student's advisor (by endorsing the appropriate section of the application form)
  4. A personal essay, giving reasons for wishing to study at St. Clare's and outlining what contribution the student hopes to make to St. Clare's.

Application for admission
The St. Clare's Liberal Arts application form has distinct sections:

1. Personal Details
2. Educational Details
3. Course Registration

Make your selections from the Core, Tutorial and Language course offerings before completing the Course Registration section. Please include:

    • your first choice for courses (4 Cores and 1 Tutorial/Language Tutorial);
    • your alternative choices (at least 3 Cores and 1 Tutorial/language Tutorial);
    • and if a course is an absolute requirement (e.g. for next-semester graduation) please indicate this clearly on the form.

4. Accommodation Options

To select your choice of accommodation, please consult the Accommodation Options section before completing your choices.

5. Payment schedule for Deposits and Balance of fees

Please return the completed form to St. Clare's (or to your Study Abroad Office if applicable), along with the following:

  1. A full transcript of courses taken to date, with grades and grade-point averages
  2. A written reference from a professor or teacher who knows you well
  3. A personal essay giving your reasons for wishing to study at St. Clare's and outlining what contribution you hope to make to the College
  4. Evidence of your level of English if you are a non-native speaker (e.g. a copy of an English Language examination certificate such as TOEFL, Cambridge examinations, IELTS, etc.)
  5. The Academic Statement section of the application form signed by the appropriate authority (US students only)
  6. Registration Fee, Enrolment Deposit and Accommodation Deposit (if you wish to stay in St. Clare's housing)
  7. Two recent photographs

Acceptance and Registration
Your application will be considered by the Programme Director and Assistant Director once we have received your application form with all the necessary documents, fees and deposits. All your course choices and supporting academic references will be checked.

If you are offered a place on the course you will receive confirmation by email. An official Letter of Acceptance and Study Certificate will follow by mail along with an information pack giving details of orientation, arrival procedures, campus facilities and city information.

Your registration is seen as a formal acceptance of, and an agreement to abide by, the regulations of the College (as well as those regulations governing Study Abroad laid down by your home institution, where applicable).

Registration for the Programme takes place by the end of July (for the Autumn semester), and by mid-November (for the Spring semester) unless you are already enrolled, when registration must take place by mid-May (for the Autumn semester) and the end of October (for the Spring semester). You must attend the Course Registration Day at the beginning of each semester. You will be advised of these dates in your joining papers. Check here for further information of what to do before departing for the UK.

Payment of Fees and Deposits
Your Enrolment Deposit should be paid in £ Pounds Sterling at the same time as your Registration Fee. Your Tuition Fees must be paid not less than 3 weeks before your course begins (unless you are paying through your University or College). If you are paying your own Tuition Fees directly, you must do so by US Dollar Cheque, or US Dollar International Money Order. Cheques or International Money Orders must be made payable to St. Clare's, Oxford. You may pay by bank transfer in US dollars to Brown Shipley & Co. Ltd., Founders Court, Lothbury, London EC2R 7HE; Account Number 76022976, Sort Code 60-01-68 (Swift: BSCOGB2L)

If you wish to have College accommodation, your Accommodation Deposit (in £ Pounds Sterling) should be paid at the same time as your Registration Fee. Earlier payment means that you stand a greater chance of securing accommodation, particularly your first choice.

Your Accommodation Deposit must be paid by Credit/Debit Card, or by International Money Order in £ Pounds Sterling (made payable to St. Clare's, Oxford). Your accommodation fees must be paid not less than 3 weeks before your course begins (in £ Pounds Sterling).

All students must be covered by the St. Clare's Travel Insurance scheme for the full duration of the course.

Payment of Registration Fee, Enrolment Deposit, Accommodation Deposit and Travel Insurance Premium should be made in £ Pounds Sterling by:

  • International money order - in £ Pounds Sterling made payable to St. Clare's, Oxford
  • Credit/debit card - we accept the following cards
    • Mastercard, Visa, JCB, Delta, Switch, Solo, Electron
  • Bank transfer to Barclays Bank PLC, PO Box 858 Oxford, OX2 0XP; account number 90965383, sort code 20-65-18

Note: students should note that by far the quickest and most efficient method of paying the Registration Fee, Enrolment Deposit, Accommodation Deposit, Travel Insurance Premium and Accommodation Balance is by credit/debit card.

Late applicants
If you are applying late (i.e. less than 5 weeks before your course begins), you should pay the full costs of your course, accommodation and Travel Insurance, plus the Registration Fee, Enrolment and Accommodation Deposits at the time you make your application. However, if you are booking late, we advise you to check with the Liberal Arts Office that space is available, and check on the likelihood of your acceptance before you send us full fees. Please ensure that the College receives the full amounts of deposits and fees after all bank charges have been paid. You will be asked to pay any outstanding bank charges on arrival.

Refunds, Withdrawals and Cancellations

  • The Registration Fee is non-refundable
  • The Enrolment Deposit and Accommodation Deposit are returned to you 6 weeks after the end of the semester. This is to ensure that no outstanding charges remain unpaid after a student's departure. Any charges will be offset against the deposit before any refund is made. You will be refunded in the same manner in which you paid i.e. refund by credit card if you pay by credit card. Students staying for a full academic year should note that they do not pay a second Registration Fee, and that their Enrolment Deposit and Accommodation Deposit are carried over to the next semester.
  • If you have paid for your course in advance but are unable to attend, we will make the following refunds:
    • for cancellation more than 3 weeks before the starting date, full fees will be refunded, less the deposits and any bank charges.
    • for cancellation in the 3 weeks before the starting date, or non-arrival, fees will be refunded, less two weeks' tuition and accommodation fees.
    • students who cancel on grounds of illness should submit a claim to the Travel Insurance company. Please note that medical documentation is required.
  • If you decide to leave before the end of the semester, fees are not refunded, except under very exceptional circumstances.
  • Fees are not refunded if you are asked to leave the College because of unsatisfactory behaviour or work.
  • The cancellation conditions given above apply to each semester for which you are registered. In other words, if you register for one or more semesters and cancel, the deposit, or two weeks' fees are deducted from each semester's fees before a refund is made.

Travel Insurance
The Travel Insurance Premium is mandatory and covers travel directly to and from St. Clare's, travel whilst at St Clare's and half term breaks. Travel to and from St Clare's is limited to 48 hours in each direction. Travel whilst at St. Clare's includes trips organised by St. Clare's, and those involving outdoor activity pursuits. Travel at half term breaks is limited to Europe and a maximum period of 10 days. There is no cover for the Christmas and Easter breaks other than the journeys to and from St. Clare's. Cover is provided for medical expenses, rescue, evacuation and repatriation, cancellation or curtailment, personal accident, personal property and money, delay abandonment and missed departure and personal liability claims. For full details of the extent of the cover and the exclusions see the Certificate of Insurance, the Summary of Cover and the Frequently Asked Questions document, which are available from the Programme Office