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University of Oxford

195 reviews
4.29 / 5 based on 195 reviews
Useful  |  1
Sarah H
Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, United States
History, Graduate, Independent
Student life
Describe host city:
Student life dominates the city
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Activities, Nightlife: Takes place mostly within the university/student environment
Travel: Takes place mostly outside the university/student environment
Personal social experience
Activities
Nightlife
Travel
Overall
Personal comments
The Turf Tavern is a fantastic student pub located behind New College and the King's Arms around the corner is also big with students. Other popular pubs are the Royal Oak, Bookbinders Arms, Radcliffe Arms, and Jude the Obscure. Best pub food at the King's Arms, but for real food the Jericho Cafe is not to be missed.
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Useful  |  3
Sarah H
Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, United States
History, Graduate, Independent
Housing
Type of housing: Apartment/House
Arranged by: Host university
If returning, I would choose: Apartment/House
Why?
I am lucky enough to have met wonderful people through living in a college-owned house. At Oxford the college is the centre of social life for most students and those living out are not as likely to be easily involved.
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Personal assessment
Cost
Facilities
Location
Cleanliness
Space
Personal comments
St. Hugh's College houses graduate students in old Victorian homes around the perimeter of the college grounds. They are large, but many are in great need of significant renovations and repairs. The roommates have not been adjusted in a few years, so people with large rooms are often paying less than people with very small rooms
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Useful  |  1
Sarah H
Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, United States
History, Graduate, Independent
Expenses
Main source of funding:
Other
Other sources of funding:
Government assistance
Other
Work opportunities:
I didn't explore any work options
Personal spending habits
The US dollar is extremely weak in comparison with the British pound, so everything in the UK costs about double what it would in the USA.
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Food, Telephone, Housing, Nightlife, Travel, Overall:
was more expensive than at home.
Accessibility of student needs
Second-hand text books
Second-hand household items
Computers / Internet
Administrative
Money from home
Personal comments
If you're going to travel in the UK and will be here for more than 6 months, buy a Young Persons Railcard. It costs £20 for the year and gets you a third off of any ticket. Also, buses are a bit slower, but considerably cheaper. Don't shop for all of your groceries at a Sainsbury Local or Express or at Marks and Spencer. Try to find a Co-op or Tesco. For toiletry and household items try Superdrug before Boots. Always ask if a store gives a student discount (clothing stores, restaurants, and hair salons included).
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Useful  |  0
Sarah H
Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, United States
History, Graduate, Independent
Academic
Course recommendations
Taught graduate course are extremely formulaic and intensive and, depending on subject, the student is left with little choice. Research Masters degrees are the way to go for really exploring individual interests.
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My academic experiences
Quality of courses
Variety of courses
Access to resources
Interaction with teachers
Interaction with international students
Interaction with local students
Personal comments
none
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My opinion of the university assessment
Exams at end of course
Exams throughout the course
Essays and/or projects at the end of course
Essays and/or projects throughout the course
Overall
Useful  |  2
Sarah H
Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, United States
History, Graduate, Independent
Overall
I wish I had known...
I wish I had taken the cost into consideration. The UK is incredibly expensive even for basic things like groceries.
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In my opinion:
Everybody loved it, you will too!
Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important
Academic reasons
4
Culture
4
Costs
2
Activities
4
Campus life
4
Party / people
4
Weather / location
1
Personal recommendation
Make sure you try all avenues to find funding; it's especially difficult when studying a humanities subject, but not impossible.
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During my experience abroad, I ...
(1) Never – (4) A lot
Became familiar with another culture
4
Traveled
4
Improved language skills
2
Met people from other countries
4
Became more independent
4
Partied a lot
4
Experienced a change in life
3
Advanced my studies & career
4
Final comments
The UK is great for easy travel. Trains and buses are generally on schedule, clean, and easy to use. Beware of waiting politely in line everywhere. If opening a bank account make sure you have a letter from your university stating that you are a full-time student, otherwise you will be turned away.
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Useful  |  0
Sarah H
Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, United States
History, Graduate, Independent
Languages
Language of instruction: English
Was learning English a key decision factor?
No, it wasn't.
Language difficulties
Social
Educational
Administrative / Institutional
Overall
Personal comments
Since my native language is English, I had no language or communication problems here at Oxford.
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