In Michaelmas (Fall) Term 1999, 75% of Visiting and Associate Students who have come through WISC will be living within the central area of the University (defined as Christ Church on the South, St Anne's College on the North and Magdalen College on the East). 25% will live within a 7 minute walk of the central area.
There are several overseas study programmes in Oxford conducted by US colleges, and almost all of their students live with other Americans only, with most housing located outside the central area. The WISC programme, we believe, has arranged the best housing for non-graduating students in Oxford.
Visiting Students at New College will be able to live in three refurbished 16th century houses within a five minute walk of their college. We also have two houses within a five-minute walk of Magdalen College. A few scarce rooms in the very centre are doubles. College rooms are sometimes available.
All housing units include a colour television and video so that students may learn more about Britain, and we have a large library of 500 free educational videos in our office. Telephones are installed, ready for use, the day students arrive. There is a cleaning service. We are able to provide students (after discussions on the phone) with their exact address and phone number in Oxford at least three weeks prior to their arrival.
We also believe that we are the only overseas programme in Britain that sends prospective students detailed descriptions and photographs of the housing options so that they may choose their housing. We have to ask a surcharge for our more expensive housing in the very centre of Oxford, but any student who wishes standard housing may choose it at no extra cost. We believe that this offers each student greater flexibility.