For 40 years, the British Studies at Oxford Program sends Oakland University students to study and stay at Brasenose College in Oxford, England.

Brasenose College was founded in 1509, and is one of 43 confederated colleges that are part of Oxford University.

Students have a choice between five different classes to take while at Brasenose, all of which count for credit at Oakland. Most classes can be used to fulfill a general education requirement.

“This program is a really good first step for students who want to study abroad, it is an English speaking country and you are with students from Oakland University,” Brian Connery, coordinator of the event six years running, said.

The courses are a combination of lecture and tutorial, and most have a course related excursion. During the excursion, students will visit a local museum or landmark that is relevant to their course.

“One of my favorite parts of the trip was going on excursions, like going to Stonehenge,” Liane Meram, a junior who went on the trip in 2011, said.

Classes for students will run Monday through Thursday and every other Friday. During the weekends, students are free to explore England or any surrounding areas.

“A lot of students like to go to Paris or Dublin on the weekends while we are there, because they are in such close proximity to Brasenose,” Connery said.

Students are provided with three meals a day Monday through Thursday. On weekends, they are provided with breakfast.

“All the dorms have great views of the campus and the dining hall looks like the one from Harry Potter,” Meram said. “One of the things that made me want to go on the trip was to stay in the dorms, being a commuter you never really get an opportunity to do that.”

The cost of the trip is $5,725, which includes tickets to the Globe Theatre in London, room and board and several activities around the campus of Oxford. However not reflected in that cost is tuition and air travel.

“It was absolutely fantastic to stay at a college with such a rich history,” Rebecca VanBuskirk, a student on the 2010 trip, said.

For more information on the trip you can visit the British Studies at Oxford website at www.oakland.edu/bsop, or email Dr. Brian Connery at [email protected].

Contact, staff reporter, Chris Lauritsen via email at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @ChrisLaurtsen