Living in Oxford -
a Student's
Perspective.
by Simonne Horwitz
The first thing about living in Oxford is that contrary to popular belief there is no ‘Oxford experience': there are a myriad of Oxford Experiences. From the moment you decide to come to Oxford there are choices you will make which will define your time at Oxford: what course you do, if you are an undergraduate or a graduate, if you are at Magdalen or St Antony's, if you row or join the Union (or both). All have a fundamental effect on your Oxford experience, but your experience will be intense and exciting.
The educational experience at Oxford is one unrivalled in the world – it would be possible to attend seminars, tutorials, lectures, exhibitions and reading groups from 8am to late at night each day – and still have things you wished you could go to. The world's leading academics, politicians, activists and celebrities often pass through Oxford – and as a Rhodie you might even be invited to dinner with one of them!
You will find that you have various overlapping worlds in Oxford: a Rhodes world, your college, your department or faculty and your social or extramural groups. In each of these areas there is an opportunity to meet interesting, exciting and varied people who will not only enrich your time at Oxford but will remain friends forever and will offer accommodation in far-flung places in the world.
The structure of the college system differs greatly from any university system in South Africa. The Oxford colleges are semi-autonomous bodies within a federal system. The colleges admit undergraduates directly and most undergraduate teaching takes place within the college through the famed tutorial system. This system, unique to Oxbridge (Oxford and Cambridge) usually involves one-on-one meetings with a tutor who is a leading specialist in the field.
For graduate students the college is less a site of academic teaching and more one of social activities, housing and food as well as informal academic networks. Most students spend their first year in college accommodation. The systems of college dining is almost as bewildering as the number of colleges: some are buffet style, some are served, some you have to book ahead for and others not, in some colleges you need to place your tray on the rack before eating and in others you eat on your tray. In many of the ‘older' colleges the tradition of ‘formal hall' is still observed at least once a week. On these occasions a several-course meal is served to students in academic gowns.
Oxford could be said to have its own language and you soon get used to the quaint Oxonian ‘lingo'. Arriving at Oxford is referred to as ‘coming up', you would ‘go down' at the end of your degree but should you commit a misdemeanour you might be ‘sent down'. Once you have ‘come up' you need to learn that terms here are named Michaelmas (Oct-Dec), Hilary (Jan-Mar) and Trinity (May-Jul). Full term is 8 weeks long but students usually have to be in residence by ‘0th (Noughth) Week' – the week before the first of the eight weeks, which is most often given over to partying, pub crawls and getting to know the place. If this is not complicated enough, Oxford Dons have the habit of telling you that a lecture will be on the Monday of third week!
The dark suit, white bowtie for men and black ribbon for women worn with an academic gown and mortarboard are know as Sub fusc. This academic dress is worn only for matriculation (the ceremony through which you become part of Oxford), writing of exams, and (should the need arise) meeting the Vice-Chancellor on academic business.
Once you are settled in, ‘bursars' (the guys who run the daily workings of the colleges), battels (your bills), scouts (the people who clean your room – and if you are at a rich college, change your linen!), and porters (the people who are both the security and reception of the college and those who know everything about every aspect of college life) become central to your lives. All this might sound a little stuffy but it is part of the Oxford charm!
Oxford is a special place, not only because of the beautiful spires (or dreamy spires as the tourist brochures say), not only because of its intellectual vigour or its long list of illustrious alumni – but because of the people who are here and what it gives you the opportunity to become.
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