Freshman week was informative and engaging, but we worked for two days, which ruined the freshman week vibe. There was also more room to do compulsory seminars on racism and classism, as no one had such seminars until week 2, when the seminar was voluntary, completely defeating its purpose. My accommodation is very large, good value for money and faces the street, but it varies a lot by college. My friends from other colleges are paying exorbitant prices, but this is for rooms normally reserved for third year students. Having such cheap and quality accommodation is a great feature of Oxford. The college library can get busy, but it’s a good place for everyone to work. Large exercise areas are available, and the college gym is small but free. The faculty library is very well stocked and makes books very accessible. Lectures are held in an auditorium, which is resonant due to its size, but is generally a great venue for lectures due to its proximity to me. My studies are structured, but also offer great creative freedom in the first year, which allows me to choose historical subjects that are new and that interest me. Classes are good because they are taught by leading scientists in their fields and you can ask questions after class. City life in Oxford is very different from city life in London – it’s smaller and generally less busy, but busier in a very different way. There can be a lot of traffic jams and bicycles around so you have to be careful when walking as you also have to deal with tourists. There’s not as much variety of shops as you’d expect in a city – no Poundland, Waitrose or Lidl in central Oxford, which can make shopping expensive. Get ready to read much more than ever for GCSE or A level. History at Oxford is uniquely intellectually rigorous. With that in mind, this is an informative and engaging course that you can tailor to your interests more than other universities, so take advantage of this feature. Tutorials and lectures with world renowned scholars are an unprecedented and unique opportunity that should be valued more.

It was great – I met a lot of people and really felt like I was part of the university. in terms of subject mix, there was not much across the university. Even though I had work on the third day of freshman year, I still enjoyed it. Really good – the accommodation at my college is excellent, I stayed in a room with a private bathroom so it was very comfortable. My staircase was super nice and we all got along great. The only downside was that the first year we didn’t have a kitchen, which would have been useful. The library is fantastic – so many books and it’s really nice to work in, nice environment and relaxed rules for eating and drinking help. The sports fields are in very good condition, although far away. College Bar is a highlight – such a great atmosphere and cheap drinks! Private lessons are amazing and a great experience to get familiar with your subject. The lectures were pretty good – it can be confusing to know which ones to attend, but they are very informative. The lessons and tutoring are excellent. Life in Oxford is wonderful, the atmosphere is great and the buildings are beautiful. When you walk through the center it really feels like a university town and you see a lot of people you know. Coming from London Oxford may seem a bit small but it’s not claustrophobic