University of Oxford (reviews)

Studying at Oxford is a unique and enriching experience. Although the workload can be heavy, the tutorial system allows you to receive more personalised feedback than you would at a non-Oxbridge university. Tutorial essays champion independent thought, and the tutorials itself (usually involving another student and one tutor) allow you to expand, challenge, and defend ideas. The 28 university libraries are called the Bodleian Libraries; they are scattered around the city which means you will always find a space to study. Beyond academics, the city offers a lot of fun activities to participate in with friends, not to mention the various student societies you can attend or be a committee member of.

I am from Spain, and I attented to Oxford, there is not much to say, this is one of the best universities in the world.

The programmes are just perfect for learning fundamentals & advanced studies.

Many people from around the Globe studying there.

Had a wonderful time at Oxford Uni, though it was very tough. Many years on, I’m very happy with my life but if I think of Oxford I miss it. For the sake of mentioning some bad sides, it was very tough on the mental health, but then my mental health wasn’t so good at the time anyway. I’m from a working class background in the north, and didn’t have problems being here, unlike the TV/newspaper stereotypes.

While I really think the nightlife would have been much better at some of my other college choices, there are definitely a few decent nights a week that make the experience worthwhile. The O2 Academy has decent artists and DJs and tickets are cheap – although I found you should definitely plan to hail a cab as you get used to walking or cycling all over Oxford. It’s really nice not having to worry about a taxi after a night out as Oxford is generally quite safe to walk around at night. The housing system is a bit different here, and sometimes I think an apartment would have made planning a lot easier, but you’re definitely closer to college than a bigger university, so it’s still there. The quality of accommodation no doubt varies, and allocation systems also vary – luckily at my college, St. John’s, room prices only vary by a few hundred and all freshman rooms are pretty good market (around 3,000 per year). Other colleges use a grading system, but a new student shouldn’t expect to choose a specific room type. It is expensive and the food in Hall varies from university to university. At St John’s College I cook for myself because the portions aren’t great. In terms of working pressure, it’s always heavy and the support you get varies. Personally, I do history and economics like an honors degree, and economics lessons are mostly posted on the learning portal, while history lessons are disjointed, perhaps a little irrelevant and not well supported online. You are kept up to date with job openings but are largely responsible for them yourself, but the Freshman Fair provided a good opportunity to register with Internship Services. The assumption that Oxford graduates have it easy leaves institutions here a bit too relaxed, so career opportunities are hardly offered by the university itself.

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 well organized with the support of the college and higher courses. Getting our first job in a few days was very busy, so I had to get socializing and doing something right away. The accommodation is mostly good, the cleaners mostly throw in the bins and the maintenance team is quick and responsive. Since my university didn’t have a kitchen, we were encouraged to eat in the hall. The library was great. There were quite a few sports fields/facilities nearby that could be used for many things including a rugby pitch. The course was great because you taught different subjects each semester and had different teachers and partners, which meant you met and learned from a lot of new people during the course. Lectures were also given by specialists in this field. City life was great because everything (including restaurants) was so close. The downside is that with so many tourists, the places to walk can be quite boring.

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