MAT courses delivered in Oxford, England
In June 2026, the Templeton MAT will begin offering annual courses in Oxford, England, where C.S. Lewis, Dorothy Sayers, St. John Henry Newman, and so many other stewards of the classical Christian tradition lived and studied. Join three of Templeton’s MAT fellows- Ravi Jain, Tyson Rallens, and Brian Williams, each of whom pursued their doctoral work at Oxford—for two MAT courses intermingled with a full itinerary of Oxford experiences including visits to historic colleges, C.S. Lewis’s house, and the Bodleian Library. Students have the choice of joining one course for a single week or both courses over two weeks.
2026 Courses
Classical Pedagogy I with Prof. Ravi Jain
May 31–June 5
This class explores the liberal arts as key pedagogical practices of the classical Christian educational tradition. The liberal arts are particularly suited to train children’s reasoning in both qualitative and quantitative thinking. Other educational pedagogies precede the liberal arts such as learning by poetic knowledge and training in piety. And further educational domains follow the liberal arts such as the integration of the subjects and the unity of wisdom in Christ.
Prof. Jain is the author of The Liberal Arts Tradition, New Natural Philosophy, and The Enchanted Cosmos.
Classical School Leadership: Organizations and the Tradition with Prof. Tyson Rallens
June 8–12
This course will review modern theories of leadership in light of the classical tradition and the telos of an organization, especially of a classical school. Students will contemplate the ethical leadership behaviors and trusting relationships that are essential to establishing a well-ordered "faculty of friends" and leading a classical school. This course is co-developed and co-taught by Erik Twist, principal partner and president of Arcadia Education, and Prof. Tyson Rallens, Templeton MAT Fellow and CEO of Concordis Education Partners.
A Liturgical Place for Study
The Oxford MAT Courses are taught at Pusey House, which was founded 140 years ago to promote theological study and holiness of life, and to provide spiritual counsel and comfort to members of the University of Oxford. One of its basic principles is that the life of the mind and the life of prayer belong together, and that holiness of life overflows in ministries of love and service.
Accommodation
Students will stay in Bed & Breakfast-style accommodation at Wycliffe Hall, one of Oxford’s historic colleges. Wycliffe Hall is located in central Oxford, a few minutes’ walk from Pusey House and the main sightseeing locations. No parking is available, but the city and the college are easily accessible by public transport. Rooms can be booked through the Templeton MAT office after students register for the summer courses.
Experiences
Oxford is a deep well of history, sights, and experiences feeding into the classical Christian tradition. The 2026 MAT courses in Oxford will include:
- Punting on the River Thames
- A tour of C.S. Lewis’s house, The Kilns and his gravesite at Holy Trinity Church
- The Old Bodleian Library
- Oriel College
- The Ashmolean Museum
- The Pitt Rivers Museum
- Walks in the countryside
- Historic Oxfordshire pubs
Students may schedule their own activities from the end of Classical Pedagogy on Friday evening, June 5th, until Classical Leadership begins on Monday morning, June 8th.
Costs
The residence fee is $1,500 per week. The fee covers accommodation, breakfast, all course activities, and official course dinners.
The tuition cost follows the standard MAT rate of $1,440 per course. Limited spaces are available for auditors (non-degree seeking) at a reduced rate. Please contact tyson.rallens@eastern.edu to inquire.
Students are responsible for their own airfare and transportation to Oxford, lunches, and some dinners (see travel recommendation —forthcoming).
A non-refundable deposit of $1,000 is due by March 24th.
How to Participate
To join one or both MAT courses in Oxford, students register for the relevant course section. The deposit fee will be added to the student’s Eastern account and must be paid to confirm the student’s place.