Which Oxford colleges tend to be the most left wing in regards to tutors?

I'm applying for PPE at Oxford this October and was hoping if any current students could lend their insights into the political leanings of their politics and economics tutors. Oxford's got a reputation of being fairly right wing, ignoring students ofc, and I assume that's reflected in the colleges' tutors.

Whilst I think my personal statement is reasonably balanced and mentions an open mindedness to the political and economic views of others, I'm still a bit worried that a tutor will be dismissive of the texts and writers I cite as influences (Kropotkin, Chomsky, Marx, Paul Mason, ect.).

So, to avoid that potentially coming up, does anyone know which colleges tend to have tutors who are interested, or at least tolerant of, those sorts of thinkers? Also, is it possible I'm over thinking this and have a relatively equal shot, regardless of the college?

Reply 1

xBasedChris

15

Statistically academics are overwhelmingly left-wing.

You'll be fine.

Reply 2

boulderingislife

20

Original post by xBasedChris

Statistically academics are overwhelmingly left-wing.

You'll be fine.

If that’s the case how come so many tories get into oxford/are educated at oxford? :holmes:

Boris, george osbourne, david cameron, theresa may, tony blair (he’s basically a tory (right wing nut job) etc. With so many left leaning tutors you’d think they’d try to affect the future direction of this country by only letting in leftist students!

(edited 3 years ago)

Reply 3

TerminalPreppie

OP

3

Original post by xBasedChris

Statistically academics are overwhelmingly left-wing.

You'll be fine.

I always thought Oxford was Hayek and Cambridge was Keynes, with the faculty being, at the most, liberals or progressives with mostly centrist economic views.

Reply 4

xBasedChris

15

Original post by boulderingislife

If that’s the case how come so many tories get into oxford/are educated at oxford? :holmes:

Boris, george osbourne, david cameron, theresa may, tony blair (he’s basically a tory (right wing nut job) etc. With so many left leaning tutors you’d think they’d try to affect the future direction of this country by only letting in leftist students!

Meanwhile, a vast majority of students are left-wing.

Reply 5

boulderingislife

20

Original post by xBasedChris

Meanwhile, a vast majority of students are left-wing.

Why are there so many tory politicians then?

Reply 6

liverninthered

12

No one knows which colleges have more left wing tutors. More importantly, it doesn't matter. The PPE application system is much too sophisticated to select students based on who they mention in their personal statement. So yes you are overthinking it.

Original post by boulderingislife

Why are there so many tory politicians then?

Plenty of Labour MPs also went to Oxford.

And that a now powerful group of Tories went to Oxford 30 years ago tell us nothing about the current student body- which, poll results show, is broadly left/centre-left.

Reply 7

robertgallacher

13

I'd recommend looking at Mansfield. The academics will broadly be the same whichever college you choose, and it's likely that you'll be taught be academics from a variety of colleges, however Mansfield seems very keen on increasing diversity and equality of opportunities (it has by far the largest proportion of state school students, for example) and the student population may be similar in that regard.

Reply 8

Lazarevic

15

Original post by AspidistraCrashd

I'm applying for PPE at Oxford this October and was hoping if any current students could lend their insights into the political leanings of their politics and economics tutors. Oxford's got a reputation of being fairly right wing, ignoring students ofc, and I assume that's reflected in the colleges' tutors.

Whilst I think my personal statement is reasonably balanced and mentions an open mindedness to the political and economic views of others, I'm still a bit worried that a tutor will be dismissive of the texts and writers I cite as influences (Kropotkin, Chomsky, Marx, Paul Mason, ect.).

So, to avoid that potentially coming up, does anyone know which colleges tend to have tutors who are interested, or at least tolerant of, those sorts of thinkers? Also, is it possible I'm over thinking this and have a relatively equal shot, regardless of the college?

Hi, as long as you’re a female lesbian POC in a wheelchair you’ll be admitted to Oxford straight away, no questions asked. I don’t think you even need to interview last time I checked. Hope that helps.

Reply 9

Confusedboutlife

13

Original post by AspidistraCrashd

I'm applying for PPE at Oxford this October and was hoping if any current students could lend their insights into the political leanings of their politics and economics tutors. Oxford's got a reputation of being fairly right wing, ignoring students ofc, and I assume that's reflected in the colleges' tutors.

Whilst I think my personal statement is reasonably balanced and mentions an open mindedness to the political and economic views of others, I'm still a bit worried that a tutor will be dismissive of the texts and writers I cite as influences (Kropotkin, Chomsky, Marx, Paul Mason, ect.).

So, to avoid that potentially coming up, does anyone know which colleges tend to have tutors who are interested, or at least tolerant of, those sorts of thinkers? Also, is it possible I'm over thinking this and have a relatively equal shot, regardless of the college?

All tutors will be tolerant of your thinking! PPE tutors will have spent more time than you can possibly imagine reading similar thinkers. Maybe have a look at tutors bios: they're often on the college website. Colleges that are stereotypically right-wing are Christ Church, Trinity and maybe Oriel. But you'll find your people at any college, and most Oxford colleges are thought to be left-wing, especially Mansfield and Wadham. I go to John's and all the PPE students in my year are centre-left or left-wing.

Reply 10

Lazarevic

15

Original post by Confusedboutlife

All tutors will be tolerant of your thinking! PPE tutors will have spent more time than you can possibly imagine reading similar thinkers. Maybe have a look at tutors bios: they're often on the college website. Colleges that are stereotypically right-wing are Christ Church, Trinity and maybe Oriel. But you'll find your people at any college, and most Oxford colleges are thought to be left-wing, especially Mansfield and Wadham. I go to John's and all the PPE students in my year are centre-left or left-wing.

Please see the above post.

Reply 11

OxFossil

19

Original post by boulderingislife

If that’s the case how come so many tories get into oxford/are educated at oxford? :holmes:

Boris, george osbourne, david cameron, theresa may, tony blair (he’s basically a tory (right wing nut job) etc. With so many left leaning tutors you’d think they’d try to affect the future direction of this country by only letting in leftist students!

As a student of Marx, you'll appreciate that people's political inclinations reflect their material and class position, and Gramsci will tell you about ideology and the balance of class forces. The influence of University tutorials comes a long way down the list :wink:

To address your specific question, you might want to shortlist a few colleges, then look at the college websites for their tutorial/teaching staff and their interests. But bear in mind, people listed as tutors might not be the people you have most of your tutorials with....

Reply 12

boulderingislife

20

Original post by OxFossil

As a student of Marx, you'll appreciate that people's political inclinations reflect their material and class position, and Gramsci will tell you about ideology and the balance of class forces. The influence of University tutorials comes a long way down the list :wink:

To address your specific question, you might want to shortlist a few colleges, then look at the college websites for their tutorial/teaching staff and their interests. But bear in mind, people listed as tutors might not be the people you have most of your tutorials with....

I think you quoted the wrong person :holmes:

Reply 13

OxFossil

19

Original post by boulderingislife

I think you quoted the wrong person :holmes:

By Jove, Holmes, you're right. Thank you.

Original post by AspidistraCrashd

I'm applying for PPE at Oxford this October and was hoping if any current students could lend their insights into the political leanings of their politics and economics tutors. Oxford's got a reputation of being fairly right wing, ignoring students ofc, and I assume that's reflected in the colleges' tutors.

Whilst I think my personal statement is reasonably balanced and mentions an open mindedness to the political and economic views of others, I'm still a bit worried that a tutor will be dismissive of the texts and writers I cite as influences (Kropotkin, Chomsky, Marx, Paul Mason, ect.).

So, to avoid that potentially coming up, does anyone know which colleges tend to have tutors who are interested, or at least tolerant of, those sorts of thinkers? Also, is it possible I'm over thinking this and have a relatively equal shot, regardless of the college?

At the application stage, I think it highly unlikely that ATs will be put off by an ostensibly 'left' or 'right' wing applicant. If you academics are excellent, and your PS makes good use of those references, they'll be interested.

By all means take a look at colleges' teaching staff and their biographies, but don't be too swayed by them in your choice of college.

Reply 14

Estreth

11

No tutors are going to be dismissive of the influences you cite, regardless of their own political leanings, provided you talk about them intelligently.

It is true, as others have suggested, that academics lean much more left than right, and it is also true of Oxford specifically.

Reply 15

Lazarevic

15

Original post by Lazarevic

Hi, as long as you’re a female lesbian POC in a wheelchair you’ll be admitted to Oxford straight away, no questions asked. I don’t think you even need to interview last time I checked. Hope that helps.

Original post by Estreth

No tutors are going to be dismissive of the influences you cite, regardless of their own political leanings, provided you talk about them intelligently.

It is true, as others have suggested, that academics lean much more left than right, and it is also true of Oxford specifically.