As a university, you may want to organize a custom study tour program abroad, but you might be unsure of how to make it successful and memorable. A successful study tour does not simply involve catching flights, staying at hotels and hostels, sightseeing, and a few lectures. Strong study tours are built around what students are supposed to learn and experience.
So, if you are a university planning a custom study tour program, this end-to-end guide will cover all essential steps.
A strong study tour should be built around what students are expected to learn and experience, rather than a predetermined plan for everyone. Planning custom study tours enables universities to set academic themes, destinations, program length, teaching methodology, experts' involvement, industry exposure, and cultural experiences according to their own end goals.
Cities like Oxford are particularly strong settings for this type of program. These cities are home to centuries of academic prestige and top universities such as the University of Oxford. You can also partner up with The Oxford Institute to help you organize a faculty-led study abroad tour.
Other popular destinations may include universities like Dartmouth, King's College, and Harvard. These are the places hosting the world's top talent from whom others want to learn.
What Is a Custom Study Tour Program?
A custom study tour program is an international academic experience designed around a particular institution, cohort, or subject rather than a fixed, one-size-fits-all itinerary. There is no fixed itinerary, and the program plan revolves around the goals that the cohort wishes to achieve.
The distinction between a standard study tour and a custom study tour matters considerably in practice.
A Standard study tour follows a predetermined schedule. The program has the same itinerary for everyone, regardless of the cohort's goals, educational backgrounds, or personal preferences.
A Custom study tour program keeps the university's requirements in check. The cohort personalizes their experience according to their objectives. This customization can occur across academic content, duration, and location, speakers, workshops, company visits, and cultural activities.
Step 1 — Start With Your University's Learning Objectives
Defining your university's learning objectives is actually the first step. Universities should ask students about their learning objectives, what skills they wish to acquire, and subjects and themes they wish to explore.
You should clearly identify how international experience and exposure would complement their existing curriculum, as well as the program's main takeaways.
This is important because universities that plan faculty-led programs are generally encouraged to establish the academic rationale and learning objectives before building the itinerary.
For example, a business school might want its students to gain leadership, entrepreneurship, and industry exposure. Hence, they should not be "just taking students to Oxford". They should plan the custom study tour program such that it fulfills their goals.
Step 2 — Choose the Right Destination and Learning Environment
Destination selection is the second step and is crucial to shaping your entire study tour experience. You should choose your destination based on educational value rather than just popularity.
Oxford is one of the most valuable destinations globally for planning custom study tour programs. It is home to institutions such as the University of Oxford.
Moreover, the profound and effective teaching methodologies used make this destination stand out. This is where tutorial teaching methodology originates from- a practice where a small group of students studies under an expert tutor.
Why Oxford can work well as a custom study tour destination?
- world-renowned academic environment
- access to academic expertise
- historic and cultural learning environments
- opportunities for workshops and discussion
- potential industry/company exposure
- ability to combine academic and cultural experience
A customised Oxford program can bring these elements together around a university's particular academic theme.
If you are planning a study tour to Oxford, The Oxford Institute can help you organize a memorable and valuable program.
At The Oxford Institute, we design and deliver bespoke programs, training courses, and camps throughout the year, tailored to your group's needs. Every program is unique and carefully designed with your goals in mind. Visit our custom programs page to find out more.
Step 3 — Choose the Academic Theme, Subjects, and Experts
Universities can identify the subject areas, themes, academic level, specialist interests, and desired speakers for their custom program.
A custom study tour program to Oxford can include Oxford academics as well as top academics from other leading UK universities and beyond. Moreover, speaker sessions by industry professionals and experienced tutors prove very helpful to the cohort.
The Oxford Institute offers customized themes, subjects, and experts, including academics and industry professionals.
A university could request an Oxford program around the following domains and more:
- Business & Leadership
- Entrepreneurship
- Public Policy
- AI & Technology
- Law
- English Literature
- Sustainability
Step 4 — Decide How Students Will Learn
A study tour shouldn't consist entirely of lectures. It can have multiple possible formats as follows:
- Expert-led lectures
- Interactive workshops
- Small-group discussions
- Case studies
- Student presentations
- Industry sessions
- Group projects
The program format should match the learning objectives. Ideally, it should combine expert-led lectures and interactive workshops with other experiential elements.
Step 6 — Decide the Program Length and Format
A custom program doesn't necessarily need to follow a fixed duration.
Depending on objectives, it could be:
- a single-day academic experience
- a short intensive programme
- a week-long study tour
- a multi-week programme
Customized programs can run from one day to several weeks, with the schedule and format adapted to the group.
The Oxford Institute helps you plan study tours that are in line with your cohort's duration and learning preferences.
Step 7 — Build the Itinerary Around the Learning Experience
All the previous decisions taken at earlier steps eventually come together as you form the itinerary.
Here's a mini example:
5-Day Business & Leadership Study Tour in Oxford
- Day 1: Orientation + academic introduction
- Day 2: Expert lectures + leadership workshop
- Day 3: Company/industry experience + discussion
- Day 4: Academic workshop + Oxford cultural experience
- Day 5: Student presentations + program conclusion
This is an illustrative structure rather than a fixed Oxford Institute itinerary. A customized program can be adapted according to the university's subject, group, schedule, and objectives.
Step 8 — Plan the Practical Side of the Program
While taking care of the practical side of the program, you must keep the following things in check:
- group size
- dates
- accommodation
- transport
- programme venues
- scheduling
- student support
- coordination
Logistics matter more than you think because faculty should ideally be able to focus on academic leadership and student engagement rather than managing every operational detail themselves.
Universities' faculty-led planning guidance similarly highlights budgeting, transportation, student information, host partners, and program implementation as important planning considerations.
Should Universities Build a Study Tour Themselves or Work With a Program Provider?
Universities may have the internal resources to manage programs themselves. However, in many scenarios, having a partner helps.
A partner like The Oxford Institute can be very helpful if:
- international destination is unfamiliar
- The program needs multiple components.
- The university wants a bespoke academic theme
- Faculty wants to focus on students
- Institution wants one coordinated program
How the Oxford Institute Can Help Create a Custom Study Tour?
The Oxford Institute is a program partner that can help universities create bespoke experiences.
Every program is unique and carefully designed with your goals in mind. Whether you are a school, college, university, multinational company, non-profit organization, public sector body, or an educational travel agency, we are here to help. We specialize in building programs that support school students, university scholars, and senior professionals alike.
If you would like to send a group to Oxford, London, or Cambridge, our team will guide you every step of the way. From the first inquiry to the final delivery, we take care of all the details so that you and your group can focus on learning and enjoying the experience.
Here are some of the things we offer:
1. Custom program design
Built around the group's goals.
2. Flexible duration
From one day to several weeks.
3. Custom subjects and themes
Designed around the academic objectives.
4. Academic & industry experts
Sessions can involve Oxford/UK academics, tutors, and industry professionals.
5. Beyond-classroom experiences
Workshops, company/industry visits, and cultural activities.
6. Program coordination
Support from initial inquiry through delivery.
Find out more about custom programs by The Oxford Institute before beginning your custom study tour program plan.