The Wadham Experience returns in 2026

The Wadham Experience offers an invitation to step away from business‑as‑usual and immerse yourself in a world of ideas, conversation and reflection. It is a scholarly retreat – rigorous, expansive and quietly transformative – designed for leaders and innovators who crave deeper thinking and richer perspectives.

The Wadham Experience returns in 2026 with two themed five‑day programmes:

Thinking Clearly: 6-11 September
Thinking Critically: 13-18 September

Held in the College, each residency offers an immersive journey through ideas that have shaped and continue to shape our world.

As in 2025, each day blends stimulating academic seminars with cultural experiences, personal reflection and intellectual play.

Expect mornings shaped by Oxford’s world‑renowned Fellows, followed by afternoons that might include:

• behind‑the‑scenes museum visits
• creative workshops
• gallery salons
• guided walks through Oxford’s historic quarters
• classical music in Wadham’s intimate spaces
• yoga or meditation in the gardens

The rhythm is purposeful, balancing depth with restoration and challenge with contemplation.

The heart of the Wadham Experience is its people. Cohorts are carefully curated to bring together a dynamic mix of perspectives – from business leaders and policy makers to artists, academics and founders.

Over candlelit dinners in Hall, in the tutorial, and during informal fireside conversations, participants exchange ideas that cut across cultures and disciplines. Many describe leaving with a renewed sense of intellectual vitality and direction.

The 2026 programme continues to play a vital role in supporting Wadham College’s mission: to keep the doors of Oxford open to extraordinary students of every background.

Funds raised from The Wadham Experience help provide scholarships, expand access and sustain world‑leading teaching and research. Each participant not only embarks on a personal intellectual journey, they also contribute to a legacy of opportunity.

Places on the 2026 programmes are intentionally limited to preserve depth, connection and meaningful dialogue. Early application is strongly encouraged and there is a 20% fee discount for those who apply before 12th January 2026. A 10% fee discount is available thereafter to Wadham and Oxford alumni.

You can find out more and download a brochure at the Wadham Experience website or contact the team at we@wadham.ox.ac.uk.