The Student Room Group

What difference does it make how rich a college is?

Is the only difference how big/nice the college looks? Do all colleges offer things like travel grants for non/academic trips, funding for university-level sports people etc? Is things like cost of food, cost of accommodation etc affected?
Original post by lukerules1234
Is the only difference how big/nice the college looks? Do all colleges offer things like travel grants for non/academic trips, funding for university-level sports people etc? Is things like cost of food, cost of accommodation etc affected?


How big/nice the college looks isnt really altered by how much money they have although that can change how quickly they expand or take on new building projects. Pretty much all colleges will offer travel grants and sports funding, the variation is in the amount that the colleges offer, and this does depend on how much money they have.

Another thing worth mentioning is the St John's d1iscount card, whereby Johns student get money off all over the place in oxford
Original post by lukerules1234
Is the only difference how big/nice the college looks? Do all colleges offer things like travel grants for non/academic trips, funding for university-level sports people etc? Is things like cost of food, cost of accommodation etc affected?


It affects everything you mentioned except how big the college is and how nice it looks. Merton, for instance, offered very cheap accommodation and generous equipment grants, and the JCR's budget was something like 15x that of another more modern college we tried to run a joint event with. John's is even more ridiculous, offering rent breaks if you move out for a period even if the college can't make use of your room, ridiculously lax equipment grants, etc.

College wealth is also the factor that most significantly correlates with academic performance.
Reply 3
Better wine.
Original post by nexttime
It affects everything you mentioned except how big the college is and how nice it looks. Merton, for instance, offered very cheap accommodation and generous equipment grants, and the JCR's budget was something like 15x that of another more modern college we tried to run a joint event with. John's is even more ridiculous, offering rent breaks if you move out for a period even if the college can't make use of your room, ridiculously lax equipment grants, etc.

College wealth is also the factor that most significantly correlates with academic performance.


what about worcester college, which is 4th in the norrington tables, but not very rich ?
Original post by lukerules1234
what about worcester college, which is 4th in the norrington tables, but not very rich ?


Worcester student here, we often do quite well in the norrington table in the last few years

@nexttime is right, in general there is a correlation between academic performance and wealth. But to use the classic phrase correlation does not mean causation (although it might). Equally the Norrington table is ever changing and virtually all college's positions vary significantly year on year, so there is nothing to stop a poorer college doing well, nor a rich college doing badly, but on average there is a correlation :smile:
Original post by lukerules1234
Is the only difference how big/nice the college looks? Do all colleges offer things like travel grants for non/academic trips, funding for university-level sports people etc? Is things like cost of food, cost of accommodation etc affected?


There are some differences but many things are the same. For example, the amount of teaching provided is the same at each college and it takes the same form (small group tutorials). Most colleges now also offer accommodation in all years of study and 24/7 library access. All students also pay the same tuition fee (either UK/EU or international fees) and all UK/EU undergraduates are able to access the student loan company and are eligible for the Oxford Bursary. All colleges also offer sports facilities.

On to the differences. These in part relate to the size of endowment ("wealth" ) and the amount of commercial income available ("conferences" ). A lot of wealth has been 'capitalised' (so to speak) in building projects enabling the college to admit more undergraduates or graduates. Colleges also have to decide what to subsidise and at what level. At Oxford, this is done in a decentralised way: the colleges all have elected student representatives (the JCRs). The JCRs negotiate with the colleges and agree room rents, food costs, and similar.

Lastly, there is a distinction between the size of the historic environment (which differs by college) and the decision each college faces at any moment over what it wishes to prioritise and spend extra resource on. The latter decision is a common position. So for example, one college may prioritise spending resource on admissions/access, another on enhancing sports facilities, another on increasing travel grants, another on upgrading the library and study areas, another on a cafe/snack bar. Decisions affecting students at Brasenose are made in consultation with students - which we believe is the case elsewhere.

So differences not disparities would be our take on it. And the decentralised decisions mean that resource is likely to be spend on things students value most at each college.

Brasenose Admissions

PS in case you were wondering, we are in the top third in terms of endowment wealth. As a perpetual college, our financial aim is to do the best we can for current students without jeopardising our ability to support future students.
(edited 6 years ago)
Original post by MexicanKeith
Worcester student here, we often do quite well in the norrington table in the last few years

@nexttime is right, in general there is a correlation between academic performance and wealth. But to use the classic phrase correlation does not mean causation (although it might). Equally the Norrington table is ever changing and virtually all college's positions vary significantly year on year, so there is nothing to stop a poorer college doing well, nor a rich college doing badly, but on average there is a correlation :smile:


is worcester one of the poorer colleges, or is it average? Does this have any negative effects on facilities, accommodation, food prices (and quality) etc or are they all still at a good standard? Do they still offer decent grants to sports people, travel etc ?
(edited 6 years ago)
Original post by lukerules1234
is worcester one of the poorer colleges, or is it average? Does this have any negative effects on facilities, accommodation, food prices etc or are they all still at a good standard? Do they still offer decent grants to sports people, travel etc ?


Worcester is one of the poorer colleges, but 'poor' in oxford terms is relative.

Worcester has just constructed a brand new lecture/conference centre including extending the lake. (sultan nazrin shah building if you wanna google it)

It had all new kitchens installed a couple of years ago, it has renovated most of the older room in the last 10 years, meals are good value, and formal is much cheaper than some other colleges. Accommodation at Worcester is on the pricey side of oxford. But overall Worcester being 'poor' hasn't really made much difference to me :smile:
Original post by MexicanKeith
Worcester is one of the poorer colleges, but 'poor' in oxford terms is relative.

Worcester has just constructed a brand new lecture/conference centre including extending the lake. (sultan nazrin shah building if you wanna google it)

It had all new kitchens installed a couple of years ago, it has renovated most of the older room in the last 10 years, meals are good value, and formal is much cheaper than some other colleges. Accommodation at Worcester is on the pricey side of oxford. But overall Worcester being 'poor' hasn't really made much difference to me :smile:


most useful, thanks :smile: out of interest, what degree are you studying ?
Original post by lukerules1234
most useful, thanks :smile: out of interest, what degree are you studying ?


chemistry :smile:
Original post by lukerules1234
what about worcester college, which is 4th in the norrington tables, but not very rich ?


They do tend to do better than their wealth would suggest, possibly a function of the consistently very high competition for places.

But there is a correlation.

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