• Question: How hard is it to studing at Oxford University ?

    Asked by mohamed26 to Jane, Anna on 10 Mar 2014. This question was also asked by jstacey.
    • Photo: Jane Charlesworth

      Jane Charlesworth answered on 10 Mar 2014:

      Hi Mohamed,

      I didn’t study at Oxford, so I had to ask my friend who did! She said she had to do really well at GCSEs and A-levels to get in (all As), but once you’re there it’s probably easier than a lot of universities, because students get a lot of support and one-on-one attention.

    • Photo: Anna Middleton

      Anna Middleton answered on 12 Mar 2014:

      Hi mohamed26
      I’ve not studied at Oxford but I have taught Cambridge University students. Studying is hard pretty much wherever you go. The good thing about Oxford and Cambridge is that there is a lot of support through tutorials so that you can ask questions as you go in small groups. From personal experience I’d pick a university (any one) if there is the opportunity for small group discussion – this is a good way to cement the knowledge you’ve learnt.

Comments

  • Photo: Anna

    Anna commented on :

    Hi @mohamed26
    I’m connected to Oxford University at the moment. I would say that if you pick a subject that you really enjoy, it doesn’t really matter where you study it if you are inspired and motivated by the subject. Oxford is a great place to study but so too are many other universities. I did all my degrees in the North of England (Leeds, Newcastle and Manchester) and they were fantastic places to be students. Being a university student is not just about studying, it’s also about being independant and living away from home. So pick a town/city that you actually like.

  • Photo: Rowena

    Rowena commented on :

    Hi Mohamed26. I also studied at Oxford (Chemistry). Oxford is different from a lot fo other universities in that it has very short (8 week) terms with a lot of intense work packed in. Most people I knew would go away over the vacations and spend the first few days sleeping to recover. We had something called the “5th week blues” where you get into the second half of term and are tired out from working so hard. You’re supposed to work over vacations too, but just a bit of revision on what you did last term and homework for the next term. Of course, I think we were also so tired from the terms because of all the fun we had. Oxford is filled with opportunities to go to interesting talks and debates, balls, clubs, societies and sporting events. It is also filled with strange and interesting people. It has its positives and its negatives.

    (Colour Zone Scientist)