How Oxford Works

Colleges and the University System

We appreciate that the Oxford system with it’s numerous departments and colleges is not like other Universities around the world and can be confusing. Some students tell us that arriving in Oxford feels daunting and as if you are expected to already know everything, but we promise you that’s not the case - always feel free to ask us questions.

What is a College?

Oxford’s colleges are small, multidisciplinary communities. Each one has students, academic staff and administrative staff. Most colleges offer meals, libraries, accommodation, sports, events and other opportunities to enrich your Oxford experience. The colleges have much in common, but each has its own character and history.

All graduate students belong to a department or faculty and a college or hall, except those taking nonmatriculated courses Supervision and teaching will be provided by your academic department, so no matter which college you belong to, this won't limit your access to potential supervisors or teaching staff; your course content is the same. Each college is independent and self-governing, having a charter approved by the Privy Council, under which it is governed by a Head of House, elected and appointed by the governing body directly. The governing body comprises a number of Fellows, most of whom also hold University posts

What the College does:

select postgraduate students after they are admitted by the University provide accommodation, meals, common rooms, libraries, sports and social facilities, and pastoral care for their students

What the University does:

Determines the content of the courses

Organises lectures and seminars

Provides a wide range of resources for teaching and learning in the form of libraries, laboratories, museums, computing facilities, etc

Admits and supervises postgraduate students

Examines theses

Sets and marks examinations

Awards degrees

How is Linacre different to other Colleges?

Many things will be familiar for students who have already studied at Oxford for their undergraduate course, but some things will feel different about Linacre

We don’t have a Junior Common Room (JCR), Middle Common Room (MCR) and Senior Common Room (SCR), just one big friendly CR.

Your tutors/supervisors are unlikely to be based at the college

You’ll likely find you spend more time at your department than in your college, unless of course you live on site.

There will probably be fewer bops but the Common Room organise varied activities on a weekly basis, offering a great chance to try new activities and meet other members of the College