Colleges?

This isn't about what colleges are best, could somebody explain what the colleges are and what goes on in them. I thought you went to university and everybody doing a certain subject did it together and then you went and slept. I knew I am only 16 and won't be thinking about university for a while and I doubt I would get into Oxford or Cambridge but I have read about them and never understood what they were talking about when they say some colleges being better than other subjects.

Reply 1

Calvin

14

The colleges in Cambridge and Oxford house you, deal with pastoral stuff, are where many of your friends are etc. They supervise your studies, arrange for supervisions, enter you in exams etc.
The university or faculty provides the lectures, sets the course, organises exams etc
So you get pretty much the same level of teaching at all the colleges because its mostly done by university, and many of your supervisions will be cross collegiate (so they send you to a grad student who is studying your topic who may be at another college)
The college is more of a social, practical and asthetic choice. Do you want to live near the river, in town, in an old building, new building, etc etc.

Reply 2

screenager

OP

2

Thankyou, that explains all. I would like to go to Oxford or Cambridge some day but I suppose I should be thinking about GCSE's for now.

Reply 3

tritogeneia1

1

Calvin

So you get pretty much the same level of teaching at all the colleges because its mostly done by university.

Not quite; it depends on the subject. I think in the sciences it's more university than college based as you have labs (although still tutors in college) but for arts subjects it's much more college-based; the university still sets the course, exams etc but you'll have a tutor or two in college and may not have tutorials anywhere else; it depends on your options. You'll have lectures arrnaged by the university, but for many arts subjects these aren;t really that important; the emphasisi is on tutorials in college.
This means that there is variance in the teaching as you might have a tutor who's an expert in a particular area of the subject, who might be great for one thing but not so good for another - in this case you might well be sent to a tutor at another college.
Also, not all colleges offer all subjects, so you have to bear that in mind whne choosing too.

Reply 4

HannahZ

4

In many ways they are much like the halls of residence that you get at other universities in that they are the places where you live, eat, sleeep and socialise. However, there are some important differences between Oxbridge colleges and halls of residence. In most universities you live in a hall of residence and are taught at the university faculty. Oxbridge colleges have academic staff (fellows). Students have tutors and regular tutorials in college. There are also college libraries and seminars that take place there. So the college is not just somewhere that you live but also somewhere that you, work and study and are taught. For arts students, most of their teaching takes place in the college and for science students most of the teaching takes place at the faculty.

The faculties belong to the whole university and is where lectures and practical lab work takes place. There is usually one faculty for each subject.

The are some other differences too. At most universities you get to live in a hall of residence for one year, after which, you move out into private accommodation. Once you move out of the hall of residence you don't belong to it anymore.

At Oxford and Cambridge you don't apply to the university as a whole, you have to apply to a college. Once accepted you belong to it for life.
Generally you live in college or college owned accommodation for the whole three years and you become a member of a close-knit comunity. In return you are expected to participate in college life and activities.

Reply 5

MadNatSci

12

I think college choice makes more of a difference to academic stuff at Oxford than it does at Cambridge, from what I understand. At Cambridge it's really more of a pastoral thing; your supervisors are whoever your DoS happens to know, not necessarily people from your college! (Supervisions and tutorials are the same thing: an hour spent in a small group discussing your group with a postgrad student or a professor. They're called supervisions at Cambridge and tutorials at Oxford.)

Colleges are great! The university has thousands of people in it, whereas colleges only have a few hundred, so it's much more personal and less daunting :smile:

Reply 6

username5756102

0

11

Original post by HannahZ

In many ways they are much like the halls of residence that you get at other universities in that they are the places where you live, eat, sleeep and socialise. However, there are some important differences between Oxbridge colleges and halls of residence. In most universities you live in a hall of residence and are taught at the university faculty. Oxbridge colleges have academic staff (fellows). Students have tutors and regular tutorials in college. There are also college libraries and seminars that take place there. So the college is not just somewhere that you live but also somewhere that you, work and study and are taught. For arts students, most of their teaching takes place in the college and for science students most of the teaching takes place at the faculty.

The faculties belong to the whole university and is where lectures and practical lab work takes place. There is usually one faculty for each subject.

The are some other differences too. At most universities you get to live in a hall of residence for one year, after which, you move out into private accommodation. Once you move out of the hall of residence you don't belong to it anymore.

At Oxford and Cambridge you don't apply to the university as a whole, you have to apply to a college. Once accepted you belong to it for life.
Generally you live in college or college owned accommodation for the whole three years and you become a member of a close-knit comunity. In return you are expected to participate in college life and activities.

Are the halls at Oxford & Cambridge mainly private or in house run by the unis

Colleges?

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