How to Choose an Oxbridge College
If you're thinking of applying to Oxford of Cambridge, deciding which college to choose can be a daunting prospect.
Official websites often say that it 'doesn't matter' which college you choose, but in reality your choice will affect so many aspects of your university experience. Keep reading to find out why your college choice is important and what you should consider when making your choice!
WHAT IS A COLLEGE?
Oxford and Cambridge universities are each made up of a number of colleges – Oxford has 39, with Cambridge following close behind on 31. Each student is a member of a college, and your college is integral to your life at university– it's not only where you'll live for some or all of your degree, but usually also where you'll attend small-group tutorials and supervisions. Whilst lectures are held in university-wide departments, your tutors are likely to be academics from your college. Most colleges have their own societies, sports teams and social events throughout the terms.
DO ALL COLLEGES OFFER ALL SUBJECTS?
Most colleges offer the most common degree subjects, but some more specialised subjects are only offered by a handful colleges. Some colleges only accept postgraduate students. As a first step, it's worth making a list of the colleges that offer your chosen degree.
DO YOU ALWAYS GET TO CHOOSE YOUR COLLEGE?
Whilst you can always submit a preferred college in your application, it's common to be reassigned to a different college due to space limitations, either before or after your interviews. It's worth baring in mind that this is much more likely to happen if you choose one of the most famous colleges!
ARE YOU LESS LIKELY TO GET IN IF YOUR PICK A POPULAR COLLEGE?
In theory, picking a popular college only increases your chance of being reassigned to a different college, and doesn't make you any less likely to get a place at the university itself. Both Oxford and Cambridge have complex systems in place to ensure fairness across all colleges, so that you are equally likely to get into the university no matter which college you select.
ARE CERTAIN SUBJECTS 'BETTER' AT CERTAIN COLLEGES?
It's common to hear of certain colleges as being particularly academic or particularly 'good for' a certain subject. In reality, though, your academic experience will be broadly the same at almost any college, with the only significant differences being the number of people studying your subject at your college and the academics who will be your tutors.
THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING A COLLEGE:
Accommodation
All colleges have accommodation that students can live in during term time. However, while some colleges guarantee accommodation for the duration of your studies, many only provide accommodation for one or two years. Some house students in college-owned accommodation outside of the college grounds themselves. Be aware that not all colleges charge the same rent, and most have varied standards of accommodation available at different price points.
Size
Colleges vary enormously in size, so spend some time deciding if you'd prefer a tight-knit community of just a few dozen students per year or a larger cohort with hundreds of students.
Popularity
As explained above, you aren't disadvantaged in the admissions process by picking a college that tends to be oversubscribed, but choosing such a college greatly increases your chance of getting allocated an alternative college! Don't hesitate to apply for a popular college if you feel it's the right one for you, but applying for a less popular college means you can be surer of ending up at this college if your application to the university is accepted.
Location
Would you rather live in the city centre or somewhere a little quieter? How important is it to you to be close to your department? It's a good idea to get a map up and see how close different colleges are to the places that matter most to you!
Age and Architecture
Have you always dreamed of living in a grand, centuries-old Oxbridge college? Or would you prefer a more modern setting? The style of your college won't make much difference to your studies, but you will have to look at it everyday for several years!
College Grounds
Colleges vary enormously in the amount of green space they offer. Some colleges might only have a couple of tiny lawns, while others boast vast swathes of land with extensive gardens, meadows and even lakes. You can get a good idea of how much green space a college has by looking at a map of the college on the internet. That said, both Oxford and Cambridge have plenty of public parks and green spaces to enjoy, so you'll still be spoilt for choice even if you end up in a rather small college!
Sports
If you play sports already or want to start at university, you can look into which colleges field teams in sports that interest you. It's also worth considering what sporting facilities colleges have to offer, from gyms and tennis courts to football pitches.
By Alasdair Casperd 2023