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Oxford Brookes University
From The Student RoomTSR Wiki > University > Choosing a University > University Guides > Oxford Brookes University  Oxford Brookes University is a modern, forward-thinking university, which aims to provide its students with "one of the best university educations anywhere". Its main campus is situated between the centre of Oxford and the suburb of Headington. The university boasts an outstanding teaching record, excellent graduate prospects and all the makings of a great university experience in an excellent location. This article aims to provide a student-based approach to the university and to the city of Oxford, as well as all the relevant up-to-date facts and figures that may be of use to students interested in applying to the university. HistoryOxford Brookes University began life as the Oxford School of Art in 1865, founded by dissatisfied Oxford University students. It later became Oxford Technical School, before becoming Oxford Polytechnic in 1970. After government proposals to widen access to higher education, the institution gained university status in 1992, when it received the Royal Charter. It has, since then, gained a distinctive identity as the UK's most successful modern university, but it also competes with the older institutions. Today Oxford Brookes is made up of three main campuses. Brookes offers a wide range of courses, ranging from traditional core subjects, to more modern vocational studies. The university claims to be the first fairtrade university and the Brookes Centre for the Development and Emergency Practice was awarded the Queen's Anniversary Prize in 2002. Layout of the UniversityOxford Brookes University includes the following campuses: Headington Campus - Gipsy Lane: this is the largest single teaching space and is where the majority of non-business and engineering students will have their lectures and seminars. All students enrol here in September. It is about 1.5 - 2 miles from the city centre and there is a bus stop for the Brookes bus on the Gipsy Lane next to the campus. The main student reception is located here, as is the finance office, admissions office, administrations office, the Student Union Shop and the main lecture theatre and hall. There is a good range of catering facilities and this campus is within walking distance to the main sports centre - the Brookes Centre For Sport. Headington Campus - Helena Kennedy Centre - on the other side of Headington Road (virtually next door to the Gipsy Lane site) is where the Student Union is located, which includes The Venue/ Pleasuredome. The Freshers Fair takes place here each September. Wheatley Campus is located about 3 miles from the Headington Campus in the village of Wheatley. This is where the School of Business teaches all business-related courses. Mathematics is also taught here, as well as Engineering in the new Engineering building. Harcourt Hill Campus is on the western fringe of the city and is a half hour bus ride to the Gipsy Lane site. The Westminster Institute of Education is here, where many part-time courses are taught. The School of Health and Social Care, just recently opened, is in Marston, north Oxford. It is less than a mile from the main campus and is where nursing and social courses are taught. In addition, there is also a small campus based in Swindon called Ferndale Campus. This is where Adult Nursing and Operating Department Practice are taught.
RankingsBrookes has achieved an excellent reputation for many of its courses and for its teaching over the years and is voted the best new university by a number of independent newspapers. The university boasts particular strength in the fields of humanities and business, performing highly in research assessments for areas such as history, modern languages and English. Brookes' history department received a 5* rating for research in the 2001 Research Assessment Exercise, which was higher than the research rating for the history faculty at the University of Oxford in the same exercise. The university also boasts high student satisfaction scores, with an impressive 84% of students saying that they felt satisfied with their course and would recommend it to other students (National Student Survey). The architecture course was ranked 2nd in the country (after University College London) by the Architects' Journal in 2006. Brookes also ranks well for graduate employment, being placed 26th out of 122 British higher-education institutions in the Times Good University Guide 2008. 72% of its graduates found employment or further education within six months of completing their course (Times Good University Guide 2008). More recently in the 2007 Sunday Times University Guide the university was placed 15th in the country for teaching, placing it in the top 12% of UK universities on this performance measure. It is ranked 49th in the country overall in the Times Good University Guide (53 for The Guardian and 53 for the Sunday Times), however it should be noted that research data used in current league tables (from the RAE 2001) relies on research from as long ago as 1995. Although a relatively new institution, the university has, in recent years, expanded its research output substantially, this has included the building of a special research centre in 2006. Oxford Brookes is ambitious to expand its reputation from the best new university to one of the best of all universities in the future. It aims to become one of the UK's top 20 universities on overall performance indicators within 10 years. SchoolsThe university runs a number of different schools. These include:
- School of Arts and Humanities - School of Health and Social Care - School of Life Sciences - School of Social Sciences and Law - School of Technology - School of The Built Environment - Westminster Institute of Education List of degrees taughtThe university offers around 80 undergraduate and 150 postgraduate degree courses. There are a range of professional/short courses taught, as well as pre-degree/foundation courses. For a full list of degrees available for entry in September 2008 please view the following links: http://www.brookes.ac.uk/studying NB: Remember to make sure you are looking at the 2008 entry for your course (they'll probably delete the 2007 entry courses links soon I'd imagine). This is because many courses have slightly higher entry grades/tariffs for 2008 entry (e.g. The typical offer for English Studies BA has risen from BBB to ABB at 'A'-level). FacilitiesLibrariesHeadington Library : the largest library in the university, offering excellent resources for all subjects of study, including over 500,000 books. This library is on three floors and has various computer areas/rooms and lots of desks where you can plug in your laptop. A campaign is underway to allow 24 hour access to this library. There is a large collection of journals and newspapers in the library and find books for your subject can be very confusing at first, so it is advisable to book a library tour at the beginning of the first semester. There are some specialist computers which basically contain a database of all the books, journals, and newspapers in the library and whether or not they are available or are on loan. Wheatley Library : specifically for students studying at Wheatley Campus (although open to all students), the library specialises in business, engineering, computing and mathematical sciences. Harcourt Hill Library : primarily for students who are studying at Harcourt Hill (although open to all students) it specialises in education, theology, human development, communication, sport and performing arts. A library card is issued on enrolment which you need to get into the libraries. In addition to the above, the university has an extensive 'electronic' library - that is, an online database of various journals and books in the Brookes network. IT and ComputingAll students are issued with their password and username on enrolment which allows them access to all university-linked computers. The university has a special internal university portal called the PIP (Personal Information Portal) and also runs Brookes Virtual, the university's online learning system. Webmail is the internal e-mail system that the university operates. PIP allows students access to their timetable, enrolment details and their course handbook which contains information about how each module is run and assessed. Students can pick a small number of modules from any discipline by going on PIP and then adding the module to their timetable. There are over 750 networked PCs in 37 rooms. Some have 24-hour access - perfect for finishing that essay at 3am! Students can access the internet from their halls by Hallnet which costs £2.50 a week. You can also plug your laptop in the library by using Wandernet which only costs £10 for the whole academic year. Halls of residence staff can detect when students are abusing the university's terms and regulations for IT use so it is best to stick to the rules. The university is also beginning trials for wireless internet access at its campus. Technologically minded people can sign up for this service already and the university aims to roll out this feature university-wide if successful. SportsThe university offers some pretty impressive sports facilities. There is an excellent free weights room which is just £1.25 to use during off-peak times (and only £27.50 a year!). It has a good range of machines including proper olympic weights (not just dumbbell weights that some other university gyms only offer). There is a sports shop in the Centre for Sport building which sells sports clothing, caps etc... at cheap prices. At Wheatley, there are three floodlit pitches suitable for football, basketball, netball, hockey and the like. There are also many societies that specialise in certain sports. These very active societies mainly congregate either at the centre for sports in between the Gipsy Lane campus and Cheney, or the playing field nearby. The university excels in rowing, basketball, cricket, rugby, hockey and climbing. The rowing team is one of the top half dozen in the country and is ranked alongside the historic rowing teams of Oxbridge and London. Rowing Oxford Brookes' Rowing Club has enjoyed international success with members participating at Olympic level. The university currently boasts eight student and four Olympic medallists in rowing. The club has won 16 times in 14 years at the Henley Royal Regatta. The group includes eight under-23 GB international athletes. Cricket Brookes has two cricket teams in the BUSA. It participates in the Oxford Universities Centre of Cricket Excellence, a join initiative between Oxford Brookes and Oxford University. Rugby Four men and one women's team have been entered in to the BUSA leagues. Facilities are shared with Oxford Harlequins and Oxford Rugby Club. Hockey Four men's and four women's team participate in the BUSA. Climbing / outdoor pursuits Brookes offers expeditions to the Himalayas and the Atlas Mountains and skiing trips at New Year and Easter. Climbing trips to the Pyrenees and the French Alps are also offered, as well as regularly weekend trips in the UK. Basketball The former Great Britain captain, Ken Walton, is the head of coaching for basketball at the university. Brookes men's team has regularly reached the BUSA finals and the university now has a men's team in the England Basketball's National League. The ladies' team also plays in the BUSA. Gym facilities include: A fully equipped weights room, a large fitness suite with extensive cardio equipment, squash, aerobics, polygons, racket hire, junior basketball, basketball, boxercise, martial arts, sunbeds, sports hall, cricket nets, various tennis courts, shoot a hoop, badminton court, circuits, volleyball, climbing room... There are 29 sports clubs at the university. These include:
Welfare
HealthcareThere is a doctor's surgery on campus, which is the St Bartholemew's Medical Centre. Best places to buy books etcOn Campus - The Blackwells Book Shop on the Gipsy Lane site offers an excellent number of key texts for all degree subjects. Over 500,000 books are stocked and the shop offers personal credit accounts to help students spread the cost of their books. In Oxford city centre Blackwells Book Shop in Oxford is one of the largest book shops in the world, offering outsanding collections for all disciplines. Waterstones NB: You can also arrange to apply for membership to the Oxford Bodleian Library in semester 2 of your second year and for your dissertation project. Obviously you can't buy books from the Bod but you will have access to one of the best libraries in the world (and the second largest in the UK, after the British Library in London). Wheatley During the first few weeks of term at Wheatley, Blackwell's Book Shop have a stall which sells the main text books for courses studied at Wheatley. There is also a Blackwell's due to be opened at Wheatley in the near future. Catering and DiningHeadington/Gipsy Lane site
There's a nice pizza place too and you can get some decent mexican cuisine for reasonable prices. There are lots of small outlets scattered around all the main campuses which sell various sandwiches, drinks etc. You are spoilt for you choice really.
Wheatley Campus Fairtrade drinks and snacks available at the Cocodirect coffee bar and the Eights Bar, also selling hot lunches. The Spice Bar offers good cooked meal and you can get a pre-ordered stir fry Harcourt Hill - A wide range of snacks and drinks are available at the refectory and the Cafe Direct coffee bar. BanksThere is a cash machine and Natwest sub-branch in the Gibbs building at Gipsy Lane and also at the Helena Kennedy Centre (home of the Student Union) near the Gipsy Lane site. There is no cash machine at Wheatley but the shop will offer cash back where available. TransportBy bus All Brookes students living in halls are given a special Brookes bus pass on enrolment which provides them with a free bus ride to the city centre or to any other campuses of the university. Bus services run regularly with routes across all areas of the city. This bus pass can also allow you to access cheaper concessionary charges, typically around 80p into the centre from the main campus. There is also a direct bus to London at cheap prices and student discounts - £12 peak return for a student from Oxford (obviously you need to show student ID to get the discount). By bike Many roads have designated cycle lanes (such as Headington Road which is the direct route between the Gipsy Lane Campus and the High St) and all halls of residence have bays to lock your bikes. By car Cars are not permitted on halls of residence or any other university-owned accommodation for undergraduates - this is primarily because of Oxford's excellent public transport system. By train The nearest train station is about 2 miles from the main Headington Campus and you can be taken there by the Brookes Bus. There are direct trains to Oxford from many large cities in the UK with direct routes to London Paddington and Birmingham New Street. Oxford is also served by Cross Country who serve many towns and cities across the UK. By foot The Gipsy Lane Campus is about a 20 minute walk to the city centre. Although crime is relatively low in Oxford compared to other similar size cities, it is advisable to use the Safety Bus or a cab to get home late at night. The cabs are not too pricey - whenever I go out I sometimes get a cab back to my accommodation and the four of us only have to pay something like £1.50 each. It is to be noted here that dial up cab firms are cheaper than black cabs. Careers serviceMany courses offer work placements where students can do work experience for up to a year. Careers advice is available throughout the year in the Student Union building (Helena Kennedy Centre). Part-time jobsThe best time to look for part-time jobs is during Freshers' Week. The Student Union offers a wide range jobs within the university but Oxford is a very student-friendly city so finding a part-time job here should be pretty easy. A person I know earns £8 an hour working at the reception of the Park End nightclub (dealing with tickets, payments to get into the club etc...) which is pretty good. So if you worked 10 hours a week then you'd be getting £80 a week for those rates which would more than pay for weekly food costs alone (for most people anyway, it would depend on your appetite of course). Religious facilitiesChaplaincy - in the student union building (Helena Kennedy Centre). There are regular meetings every day of the week in semester times for people of all faiths. Confidential support and prayer requests are always available by the chaplaincy. There is the Oxford Brookes Catholic Chaplaincy - see website for details: http://www.brookes.ac.uk/student/services/chaplaincy/catholic.htm For information on religious facilities available in Oxford, please visit the link from the article 'A Student's Guide to the City of Oxford': http://thestudentroom.co.uk/wiki/A_Student%27s_Guide_to_the_City_of_Oxford#Religious_Facilities
Supermarkets
SocialBars, Pubs and Clubs at Brookes
The largest venue in Oxford which hosts many of the best bands performing to Brookes. Said to be 1,200 capacity. This is where the Freshers Ball takes place and just above it lies the Harts Bar. Hosts the club night 'Peachy' on Wednesday nights.
Great on Wednesday nights when the SU club night 'Peachy' takes place. Harts has three pool tables and a nice outdoor terrace area to chill out in.
Popular with those living at Harcourt Hill Campus and virtually seconds from accommodation here. Staff are very friendly.
Mez hosts many society events and also hosts a Sunday night 'chill-out session'. It is open on all club nights.
Next to the gym, this bar and cafe is on your doorstep if you're living in Cheney with good meals available and light snacks. There is a vending machine which sells lots of sports drinks and there is also a nice outdoor area too.
Also at Harcourt Hill Campus, the Stumble Inn hosts regular pub entertainment including karaoke (for anyone - regardless of their vocal ability) pub quizzes and live bands.
This bar is very popular, being situated between the Clive Booth and Morrell halls of residence. Morals hosts all the main sporting events and has regular quizzes, comedy nights and bands. There's also a karaoke night on Tuesday's which is always a laugh. Bars, pubs and clubs in OxfordThere are many to choose from but here is a list of the popular ones: Bridges - popular with students, this club organises various live performances and is relatively big for an Oxford nightclub. Clementines - towards Headington, near Magdalen Bridge, this is a small club which plays trance and can be particularly crowded. Filth - quite a large venue, very popular on Wednesday nights with good drinks deals. The speakers are played way too loud for their sound quality so it can get quite deafening at times. Park End - posh and trendy and a stone's throw from Filth. Some crazy people here too, in my experience. Oxford Carling Academy - situated on the popular Cowley Road, this is one of the Oxford's most well-known nightclubs. Plays various tunes from dance to funk and on the first Tuesday of every month hosts Hammer and Tongue. Used to be known as The Zodiac before Sep 2007. Turf Tavern - undoubtedly Oxford's most historic public house (hmm I think it's The Bear). Mentioned in Inspector Morse and many facts line the exterior walls. Although a bit pricey, has many a pint on draught, including Old Rosie scrumpy. Very hard to find and so many only know of its existence through being took there by other students. EventsThe University Undergraduate Open Day has now passed, however you can still arrange a department visit and you can book a university tour which run frequently during the semesters. Clubs and societiesThere are 70 societies to join. These are:
New societies are being created all the time. AccommodationThe university offers 9 halls of residence for first years. Shared-housing in Oxford is also available to 2nd/3rd/4th years.
Accommodation policyAccommodation allocation is based on how far from Oxford a student lives, although Brookes strives to provide 95% of first year students with university-owned accommodation. FacilitiesMost halls of residence have their own bars and laundrette facilities. There is a reception in each one and a help desk, which is open during working hours Monday - Friday, if you need any help with things, like lost keys. ResidencesHalls of residence: Cheney Student Village: Next to Headington Campus. New - opened in 2004. 750 en suite rooms, arranged in flats of five or six bedrooms with shared kitchen / living / dining rooms. Self-catering. This is the most expensive hall of residence and is popular with private-school and international students. The main sports centre is on your doorstep here which includes the nice sports bar and terrace. Its residents do have a reputation as generally being quite middle class, but like the vast majority of Brookes students, you're sure to find that they're a pretty friendly bunch overall. This is one of the most luxurious of all the halls of residence (definitely luxurious for student accommodation) and it is almost a stone's throw from the Headington Campus at the Gipsy Lane site. The tennis courts are next door. It is the closest hall of residence to the city centre (very slightly closer than Morrell and Clive Booth. You are also within 15-20 minutes walking distance to the High St from here and from Cowley Road, with all the takeaways and excellent nightlife it has to offer). There's a nice common just along the hill here as you head down to the city centre which I would guess is great for sledging during any rare snow events that Oxford experiences. You also pay for a 50 week contract here which means that your room is available during the summer holidays (up until mid August) which is one of the main reasons why a high number of international students are prioritised when allocation is made. Clive Booth Hall: 0.5 miles from Headington Campus. 638 en suite rooms arranged in flats of five or six bedrooms with shared kitchen / living / dining rooms. 12 two-bedroom family units are also available. Self-catering. Popular with mature students, this hall is one of the most modern in the university, opening in 2003. This is very near to the School of Health and Social Care and is within walking distance of the Headington Campus. It is right next to Morrell Hall which is just above it. There are also some computer rooms for students without personal laptops. Morals Bar is just above here (see Morrell Hall for more info on this Morals Bar). Cotuit Hall: 0.25 miles from Headington Campus (albeit down a small road which can get very dark at night). 102 single study-bedrooms. Catered during semesters. One of the smallest halls of residence which may appeal to some. Also very close to the main campus. Smal and very accessible to the main campus. Tends to have a very sociable atmosphere. Crescent Hall: 2 miles from Headington Campus. 306 single study-bedrooms, each with a hand basin, arranged in flats of 6 or 7 with shared kitchens and bathrooms. Self-catering. About a 30-35 min walk from the Headington Campus but only a few minutes by bus. Harcourt Hill Hall: Harcourt Hill Campus 400 single study-bedrooms, with shared kitchens and bathrooms allocated to groups of 11. Catered during semesters. Good for students studying at the Harcourt Hill Campus but a 30 minute bus ride for those studying at Gipsy Lane. It is however, not too far from the city centre and is walking distance to the train station. Lady Spencer Churchill Hall: Wheatley Campus. 162 single study-bedrooms. Catered during semesters. One of the smallest halls of residence. This is a few miles from the main campus so not the most ideal place to live if you're not studying at Wheatley. Has a very sociable atmosphere. Morrell Hall: 0.5 miles from Headington Campus. 554 single study-bedrooms arranged in flats of five or six with shared kitchens and bathrooms. Self-catering. This is within good walking distance of the university's main campus. This is quite a decent place to stay (well it's where I am and I'm enjoying it here). It's a nice scenic walk to the Headington Campus from here, going through a country lane with lots of nice cottages and greenery. The Morals Bar is just below this accommodation and it has two pool tables and a Subway - perfect for those late night snacks. Laundrettes are scattered all over the place but you can also use the laundrettes at Clive Booth. Some of the flats have a large common room which is shared for 12 - this is very good in my experience because you get to meet everyone from your flat. Usually one half of the flat is all-male, the other is all-female so a shared common room will mean you will be able to get to know plenty of people when you arrive on your first weekend. Feedback play at the Morals Bar here regularly. It is close to the Helena Kennedy Centre where The Venue is located. Some of the staff have even done the washing up for us on occasions so gave them them a Christmas present to say thanks. Paul Kent Hall: 1.5 miles from Headington Campus 242 single study-bedrooms, most en suite, with shared kitchens allocated to groups of six to nine. Self-catering. May need to get a bus rise to the Headington Campus if living here. However you could walk which would take about 25 mins. Warneford Hall: 0.25 miles from Headington Campus. 252 single study-bedrooms with large shared kitchens and showers allocated to groups of six (occasionally three or five). There is a sink in every room, and normally 2 shower / bathrooms between each block of (up to) six. Self-catering. This is within very short walking distance of the main campus. At this campus, the bicycle sheds are securely within the hall's perimeters, within the quad and is thus very secure. Student unionThe Oxford Brookes Student Union is the hub of Brookes' nightlife and societies. The Student Union offers many jobs to students looking for part-time jobs and offers advice, support and representation for students of all backgrounds. The Student Union runs The Venue (the largest venue in Oxford) and hosts many live performances, most recently including bands such as Coldplay and The Scissor Sisters. The SU also runs the Safety Bus which allows students who are in Oxford late at night to travel back to their accommodation safely. They ask for a £1 donation but if you've spent all your money then you'll just have to get your mate to give £2. Make sure you're not too plastered if you want to get on this bus as they don't like letting people on the bus who are ready to puke (or make sure you have a bag ready). Freshers week is probably their busiest time. The SU produces OBScene, a monthly newspaper which is free for students and also runs it own TV programme, Brookes TV. PricesOxford is pretty expensive but prices for general daily goods at the university are cheaper than what you would pay at somewhere in the city centre. For example, at the Student Union Shop you could buy a Chicken and Bacon sandwich, a large Ribena and a packet of McCoys crisps as a 'meal-deal' for £2.89 (with many vegetarian options available), whereas the same items in the city centre would probably cost you a total of around £4.40 (from my estimates looking at shop prices in some of the shops in the city centre). EnvironmentThe student population at Oxford Brookes is diverse with people coming from a wide range of backgrounds and international students can feel right at home here. There is a higher than average proportion of private school students and there is also a higher than average proportion of working-class students, which demonstrates the diversity of the student population. Some students are from places as local as Oxford itself. Some students come from countries as far away as China and Australia. 23% of students are international and the university welcomes mature students. Freshers have no problem making friends as the university has an excellent student union, which hosts many exciting events during Freshers Week, most notably the Freshers Ball. For me, it has been very easy to call this place my second home (my other home being at my parent's house). ArchitectureThe university's architecture is modern/ contemporary but it is only a short trip down the road when you will find the medieval Oxford spires. Oxford is a fantastic city for photographers as it is so 'typically English'. During campus redevelopments in Brookes over the next ten years, the university's buildings will be transformed and much of the campus buildings will be demolished and rebuilt. Some of the old 1950s/60s buildings have already been rebuilt on in the last few years. Local areaThe city of OxfordThe city is famous for its history as a Roman settlement and the University of Oxford, which is one of the oldest and most highly acclaimed in the world. Oxford is without doubt one of the most student-friendly cities in Europe. You will find that there are many clubs which are very student-centred and which offer various discounts and special offers to ease the cost of drinks. There are many major cultural and social activities to choose from throughout the year, and geographically Oxford is well placed for a day trip to London. The city centre is one of the most beautiful in the country with its ancient buildings of Cotswold stone and dreaming spires. Oxford still looks fantastic even on a rainy day. The punting and rowing on its many rivers and an abundance of bikes and joggers makes Oxford the perfect place for a healthy lifestyle. Its compact layout means you do not have to travel far to find what you need and this will obviously mean lower transport costs than universities at larger cities. Why not read A Student's Guide to the City of Oxford? Surrounding regionWith the capital only a bus ride away, you are in easy reach of the some of the most famous shops, restaurants, theatres, exhibits, monuments and nightlife to be found anywhere in the world. However there are many great places to visit which are closer to Oxford.
Applying to Oxford BrookesOverall there are roughly 7 applicants per place (figures may vary depending on the course) - but don't let this put you off! Currently the typical offer for most courses at Brookes ranges from ABB - BCC, however this does depend on the course. A few courses do have lower entry requirements, whereas the typical offer for Architecture is AAB. Teaching quality24 subjects rated as excellent across a broad range of spectrums. The university is ranked particularly high for overall teaching quality. Degree SystemOxford Brookes operates the Modular System which allows students flexibility over their choice of modules, and a number of modules can be studied outside of the main subject of study. This gives you the opportunity to study a limited number of modules which can be of any subject, regardless of its relation to your main discipline. For example, you could be studying Biology and decide to take a module in, say, English Literature. Semester systemUnlike most universities, the university year consists of new two semester system, as opposed to three. Full-time students can expect to begin the academic year in mid to late September to start semester 1, which finishes in mid December. There is a long Christmas break until semester 2 runs from the end of January to the middle of May, the last two weeks of which are exam weeks (there is usually a reading week for most subjects at some point during the second half of October or the first half of November, as well a two weeks break at Easter). Some students have criticized this new semester system for decreasing the amount of tuition time, but overall tuition hours are mostly the same as before. The 4 month summer break gives students the opportunity to earn a good deal of money for the following academic year and exam resits for semester 2 occur in July. In the unlucky event that you do end up doing resits in the summer, you will have to arrange for accommodation as students usually need to leave halls of residence after exams finish in May (the only exception to this is Cheney). Opportunities to study abroadThe university operates many exchange programmes, where students can study in European, US, Canadian and Australian universities as part of their degree. These students will be expected to achieve excellent grades whilst at university to be elligible for such programmes. These exchanges can be made during the second or third years. Tuition is free for those going to European universities and you will still receive the credits for your degree at whichever university you choose for your study abroad programme. For a full list of all the universities available for exchange, please visit: http://www.brookes.ac.uk/students/exchanges/index_html Additionally, on courses involving a sandwich year, students can opt to study abroad (pending university acceptance). Campus plansOxford Brookes is a very forward-thinking university, which I quote: 'is more interested in its future than its past'. The university is currently planning to rebuild much of its campus buildings in a £150 million investment scheme over the next 10-15 years, which is key to maintaining the university's growing academic portfolio. The building will begin during the academic year of 2007-2008 but will mostly take place during holidays. The student union is ensuring that there is minimal disruption to the university experience at Brookes during the campus revamp and hopes students should feel encouraged by these plans, which aim to enhance the university's learning and social environment and boost its academic standing even further. Brookes students in the mediaIn September 2007, five second year Oxford Brookes students triumphed on the BBC quiz show 'Eggheads' and beat five winners of the show who had been undefeated for the previous 74 games! Oxford Brookes also has a television slot on the local terrestrial 'Six' channel. Questions to ask yourselfHere are some final questions you might want to ask yourself: -Do you want to live in one of Britain's most historic, student-friendly and culturally-diverse cities? -Do you want to live somewhere that has good access to London at relatively cheap prices? (It's only £9 return to London by bus) -Do you want to live in a university that offers excellent teaching, good career prospects and a flexible degree system, which allows you to take a limited number of modules outside your main discipline (of any subject you like)? -Do you want to live in a university with an excellent student union, offering regular top social events and excellent student support services? -Do you want to live in a university with a friendly and diverse student population, which offers a large range of sporting activities and societies? If you answered yes to these questions, or to most of them, you might want to consider applying here! Some final points- Your NUS card does offer you a wide range of discounts at many shops in Oxford, however living costs in the city are still pretty high nonetheless. Make sure you get a student loan and as much as you are entitled to. - You may be aware that Oxford Brookes is little more than a couple of miles from one of the best universities in the world. However, most Oxford students really aren't bothered about which university you go to in the city (in my experience, having met quite a few Oxford students so far). Brookes is definitely a good university and this is proven in many performance indicators. It just happens to be next to one of the top universities in the world - because Oxford is exceptional! You'll find that the majority of Oxford students and Oxford Brookes students do get on with eachother; they live in the same city and will regularly go to the same clubs and pubs. It's also true that a number of Oxford students go to The Venue at Brookes, because this is one of the largest clubs in the city. - Oxford is not a large city so it doesn't boast the range of nightlife that you get in the big cities like London, Birmingham and Manchester. However it is very easy to get to London so if huge nightclubs with massive venues are your thing, you can always visit the capital. - You will not be allowed to bring a car to Oxford if you live in halls. Remember though, that there is an excellent transport system and the Brookes bus is free for such students (prices are included in the accommodation fees). I haven't met anyone here who has been disadvantaged by not being able to bring a car. - You may be interested in what the general climate is like in southern England (if you are an international students for example). If you want to find at what you can expect weather wise then have a look at:
Applying to Oxford BrookesThinking of applying to Oxford Brookes? Why not read some Personal Statements which were used for applying here? Other Oxford Brookes ArticlesWhy not read these other Oxford Brookes Articles? Links | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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