MARLBOROUGH COLLEGE
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Oxbridge Information Oxford and Cambridge are the two oldest, wealthiest and most famous universities in the UK. Teaching at Oxford first existed in some form from late in the 11th century, before being recognised formally as a universitas in 1231. After a number of disputes between students and Oxford townsfolk in 1209, several academics fled from the town to Cambridge, where they later founded the rival university. The universities have since grown to be two of the top-scoring institutions in cross-subject UK university rankings. It is worth noting, however, that they are not always considered the best universities for specific subjects.
What sets Oxbridge apart? Colleges The University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge are both institutions that are arranged in a collegiate structure. Oxford is made up of over 40 colleges, Cambridge of over 30. Applicants will apply for a certain college within their chosen university, though you can also submit an “Open” application where you don’t specify a preferred college. A college is a collection of individuals and buildings that form a community, including students, staff members, libraries, student accommodation, common rooms, cafes and bars. This is not only the place in which students live (at least for their first year), but it is a social hub and a centre for their academic provision, in tutorials and supervisions; lectures, labs and larger classes tend to be held in central faculty buildings.
Tutorials and Supervisions
Traditions
Generally, in universities, teaching is done in large groups either in lectures or seminars. At Oxford and Cambridge, there is a greater focus on teaching in smaller groups, and often even on a one-to-one basis. These sessions are referred to as tutorials in Oxford and supervisions in Cambridge.
While all universities have their own traditions, Oxford and Cambridge have some of the most historic and bizarre. For instance, despite uniform not existing at university, Oxford students are required to wear sub fusc for their exams, as well as matriculation (when you officially join the university) and graduation. Sub fusc involves a black (or navy) suit, trousers or skirt, with a white shirt and white or black bowtie or ribbon, along with a gown. Oxford students will also wear a flower pinned to their gowns during exams – a white carnation for their first exam, red for the last, and pink for those in between.
An undergraduate student would tend to have one or two tutorials/supervisions per week. This way of teaching gives students access to world-leading experts on a regular basis, challenging and supporting each student’s academic pursuits. These sessions, however, require a significant amount of preparation, and so the intensity of workload is often far greater at Oxford and Cambridge than other universities. Nonetheless, this intensity is manageable, with terms lasting only eight or nine weeks each.
In both Oxford and Cambridge, Latin is often used in ceremonies, including matriculation, graduation, and formal dinners; gowns are often also worn at these events.
