Oxford Study Abroad

As rising junior Brayden Thompson stood in the 400-year-old quad at Jesus College, Oxford, this summer, he marveled at the age of the architecture towering over him.

“Just walking around Oxford has been really neat,” said Thompson, the university’s 2012 Farmer Scholar and a native of Mims, Fla.

“I’ve never been out of the country before, so this is all new to me and just a great experience overall.”

Thompson was one of 29 Florida Tech students who spent six weeks in the United Kingdom as part of the university’s annual Study Abroad program.

Participants earned credits while studying topics like world religions, international business, humanities and calculus. They also became immersed in the culture of the country, sampling local cuisine and interacting with other international students. Trips included visits to Paris, France and Ireland.

Junior and business major Michelle Tanner was impressed upon arrival.

“I’ve just always wanted to see something in Europe because I was born in the Philippines but had only ever been there and Florida,” she said. Her high points were visiting the Tower of London, the U.S. Embassy and seeing “Phantom of the Opera” on the London stage.

For junior Chloe Chanley, the trip was a chance to test living in another country.

“I’ve always wanted to study abroad. I’ve been abroad a couple of times before Florida Tech, but Oxford seemed like a great opportunity and being a global business major it seemed quite appropriate.

“It’s more about the experience and learning what else is out there in the world, not just staying in the American bubble,” Chanley added. “I want to appreciate other cultures and realize there’s more to learn.”

For more information, visit www.fit.edu/oxford.

—Wes Sumner