There, she had classes with Iris Murdoch, Stuart Hampshire, A. J. Ayer and H. L. A. Hart while also attending the B. Phil seminars of J. L. Austin and the lectures of Isaiah Berlin.
Sontagova je prek American Association of University Women prejela štipendijo za šolsko leto 1957–1958 na St Anne's College v Oxfordu, kamor je odpotovala brez moža in sina.