Wadham Experience welcomes leaders for a unique intellectual retreat

Wadham welcomed leaders, creatives and thinkers from across the world to College in September for the third year of Wadham Experience, a residential intellectual retreat that offers participants dedicated time to think deeply about the world around us.

In a world that prizes speed, the Wadham Experience makes the case for depth and unhurried thinking.

Two five-day residencies, focused on Thinking Clearly and Thinking Critically, were designed to be rigorous and expansive and allowed time for discussion and reflection. Participants took part in creative workshops, guided walks, yoga and meditation in the gardens, behind-the-scenes museum visits and guided walks through Oxford’s historic centre.

Reflecting its growing reach and success, the programme was named by the Financial Times as the lead example of a new direction in leadership education: more intellectual, more human and more enduring than the traditional business school. Stefan Stern, author, visiting professor at Bayes Business School and former FT writer, said:

“We had philosophy, we had music, we had Kafka, we had the birth of modern 17th-century science. All taught, or led, really, by Oxford academics who love their subject and love talking about it.”

The cohorts brought together a mix of perspectives – from business leaders and policy makers to artists, academics and founders – and created a genuine intellectual community that lasted beyond the week in Oxford. Many described leaving with a renewed sense of intellectual vitality and direction.

Every place on the Wadham Experience supports Wadham College's mission: to keep the doors of Oxford open to extraordinary students of every background.

Funds raised help provide scholarships, expand access and sustain world-leading teaching and research. Each participant embarks on a personal intellectual journey and, in turn, contributes to a legacy of opportunity.

In 2027, Wadham Experience will build on this foundation in the fourth year of the programme. Dates for 2027 will be announced soon. Places are intentionally limited to preserve depth, connection and meaningful dialogue, so we encourage you to register your interest early. A discount is available for Wadham and Oxford alumni.

To register your interest, find out more or download a brochure, visit the Wadham Experience website at we.wadham.ox.ac.uk or contact the team at we@wadham.ox.ac.uk.