Oxford Life

Oxford is a stunning environment, intellectually, culturally, architecturally, socially and, occasionally, climatically. The opportunity to spend two or three years in such a place is one which is, for entirely justifiable reasons, keenly sought after and highly prized. Apart from the obvious academic appeal of this famous centre of scholarship and learning, one takes from it experiences and friendships that are and remain richly treasured. Such friendships also provide an excellent and continuing excuse to travel extensively! These notes aim to share a recent graduate's thoughts and observations on life in Oxford, as well as providing some advice from the 'coal face' for those planning or hoping to study at the University.

Several important decisions affecting the course of one's Oxford career need to be taken in Australia well before 'going up'. The most important concerns the choice of course. Indeed this choice must be carefully considered before applying for a Rhodes Scholarship. It is in your own interests to have thought through exactly why it is that you want to attend Oxford and, from an entirely pragmatic point of view, it will be far more difficult to persuade the Selection Committee of an unfocused and abstract desire to attend Oxford 'to undertake further study', however good one's credentials, than it will be to present a carefully considered and well-argued case for pursuing a particular course of study. Furthermore it is enormously disruptive and unsettling to seek to change one's academic course of study upon arrival in Oxford.

Nowadays, most Australian Rhodes Scholars have already obtained an Honours degree and choose to pursue a higher degree while at Oxford. Others, however, especially if keen for a change in academic direction, will choose to undertake a second undergraduate degree (usually in a truncated two year format). Pursuing a second undergraduate degree in an already familiar field, however, probably represents a waste of opportunity. Oxford offers an increasing number of excellent part course-work, part-thesis Masters degrees, many of which do not necessarily require an undergraduate background in the same area of study. The combination of course-work and thesis is an attractive one, and it is increasingly common for scholars to stay on in Oxford for a third year to 'upgrade' an MPhil. thesis into a doctorate. The Rhodes Trust generally looks favourably on applications to renew a Scholarship for a third year (but no more) in such circumstances. Valuable guidance on available courses can be found in the Oxford Undergraduate Prospectus and Graduate Studies Prospectus.

The Warden of Rhodes House in Oxford will arrange for a college appropriate to the course for which you will be reading. If you have a special reason for wanting to go a particular college (for instance, there may be close family ties with the college), you can briefly outline those reasons when you submit your scholarship papers and application for admission to the Trust.

It should be noted that acceptance by a college is a condition of acceptance by the University. If you intend to read for a second BA, or other undergraduate degree, the choice of college by the Warden is likely to be related to your choice of course, since most undergraduate teaching is conducted by the colleges themselves in the form of tutorials. These will generally consist of an academic, yourself and one or maybe two other students - the famous Oxford 'tutorial system'. Lectures, on a University-wide basis, play a far more peripheral role than in Australian universities. Accordingly,the choice of college may be affected by a desired course of undergraduate study, and thus may be dictated by a particular college's reputation in that area. Undergraduate teaching is the core and underlying strength of most of the Oxford colleges, and choice of college need not be predicated on an over-concern for its academic reputation. It should be noted that few applicants from Australia choose to read for an undergraduate degree. Most intend to pursue postgraduate studies.

For a scholar intending to pursue postgraduate study, the Warden's choice of college may be made independently of academic concerns as other considerations assume primary importance. The college will provide the main focus of social activity and source of friendships, and this is especially the case for doctoral students for whom there may be less academic interaction with other postgraduate students.

Some colleges now have 'Graduate Centres' where the bulk of the college's graduate students are accommodated. Many postgraduate students prefer such an arrangement but others, anxious to absorb the traditional undergraduate flavour of Oxford, favour those colleges who place their graduates amongst the undergraduate students.

Whatever the case, all colleges have a Middle Common Room which provides a focal point for social, cultural and sporting activity for a college's graduate community. Membership of the Middle Common Room does not preclude participation in broader college activities, however, so there remains plenty of scope to mix with the younger and predominantly British undergraduates.

A scholar coming up to Oxford for the first time should not be surprised to encounter some initial difficulty in settling in. Institutions always have their quirks, and some would hazard the view that Oxford has refined its peculiarities into an art form. First, there is new terminology to master. 'Lecturers' only give tutorials and most 'Tutors' deliver lectures. At one college, the Fellows are called Students. The terms are called 'Michaelmas', 'Hilary' and 'Trinity' and these, though eight weeks long, commence in what is known as 'Noughth Week'. Upon arrival, the 'Home Bursar' and 'Clerk of Works' of one's college will rapidly assume great importance in a new student's life as negotiations over rooms and furniture commence. Then, in order to ensure lines of communication are kept open (and also as a source of passing amusement), the inevitable political machinations and personalities of the Porters' Lodge must be analysed and accommodated. Suffice it to say, what may at first seem frustrations will soon be rationalised as 'charm' as students work out a suitable modus operandi for their two or three years amidst the 'Dreaming Spires'. Soon enough, a regular and frenetic routine is established, whether it involves early morning rowing, weekly essays, dramatic diversions, trips to London or Stratford or debates in the Union.

One would be hard pressed to encounter an Oxford graduate who has not been thoroughly captivated by the place and the traditions of the University. These traditions are regularly and colourfully celebrated (although they are by no means immune from attack,and it is fascinating to follow and at times join in the debate).

There is a magnetism to Oxford which means that a regular array of international luminaries pass through its ancient halls. This and the truly international cross-section of students and academics makes for a sparkling and stimulating environment. Those who gain admission to it are indeed fortunate.