Oxford Graduate Application 2012/13

Ah this accommodation business is a nightmare. I really want to live cheapish in Cowley/St Clements and looking likely ill end up living with brooks people. Im def not being a snob or anything I just would really prefer to live with people at oxford to make social things a bit easier and wanted a solid relationship with people at a different college so I could experience dinners and get them to loan me books my library might not have. Guess ill just have to rely on sports and stuff.

My postgrad loan with co-op has sort of been a nightmare too. Does anybody have experience of how you present to loan to oxford in the financial statement. Do you just need a letter from the bank saying "loan for X amount approved"

hey guys can anybody help me or tell me where to find a calendar or list of the terms and especially the free time Oxford PhD´s are going to have. I need to plan this time with my fiancé thus it would be great to know when the free periods for PhD students are....How does this work at Oxford.

Any information is much appreciated

Best wishes

So I visited my college yesterday and I absolutely hated it. I hated it so much that it makes me want to not go to Oxford. So I'm asking if anyone has any experience or knowledge of if it is possible to change colleges. I'm not doing this becauce I want to change to one of the big, famous ones. I'll change to ANY other college or PPH. I'll take anything. Does anyone know if it's possible?

Hey guys,

one, probably dumb, question.
Is the water from the tap in Oxford good? Can you drink it or is it better to buy bottled water?

Thanks in advance,

toni

hey guys can anybody help me or tell me where to find a calendar or list of the terms and especially the free time Oxford PhD´s are going to have. I need to plan this time with my fiancé thus it would be great to know when the free periods for PhD students are....How does this work at Oxford.

Any information is much appreciated

Best wishes

Hi - which DPhil are you studying? I think your faculty should provide a list and dates of seminars and research training classes you're expected to attend in the first couple of terms plus details of what you need to do to transfer from PRS status. Dates and frequency of supervisions are agreed with your thesis supervisor.

Huh, "free periods"? This isn't sixth-form college here, hah. As a PhD student your hours will invariably be quite flexible, even more so if you're not assisting in laboratory work. There will be some negotiation with your advisor, but overall expect it to be a demanding yet flexible full-time "job".

Hah, yes. The UK is a 1st world country with a high standard of living, last time I checked! I'd be darn surprised otherwise. Where are you from? In today's world it's unlikely (though possible) that if you're from a very different part of the world, you may be a little ill at first due to not being accustomed to different microbial species... this will unlikely come from the water though.

I am awaiting to get the same information. I guess it will arrive together with the contract, right. When did you get that information? I am doing a DPhil in a Science subject. However, I am not quite sure how this transfer works. Is it a kind of research proposal one has to write during the first 4 terms? Because to me it seems like this period ( it's about a year right) is a little short to already provide some groundbreaking research results....

Best

I know the feeling, mate. It's virtually a complete lottery, though that probably won't reassure you. Which college was it, out of curiosity? Being assigned a good/suitable college for your studies depends on either having a useful contact in the university or college, or being so fortunate as to have your application processed and sent onto colleges quickly.

I know the feeling, mate. It's virtually a complete lottery, though that probably won't reassure you. Which college was it, out of curiosity? Being assigned a good/suitable college for your studies depends on either having a useful contact in the university or college, or being so fortunate as to have your application processed and sent onto colleges quickly.

I am from Switzerland. However, our water is great! I was asking this because e.g. you can drink the water in Berlin (Germany) too but it just sucks in comparison (sorry mates) because it tastes chlorinated you know! So I was wondering how it's like In Oxford ...

Best

Last time I checked, colleges did have selection criteria for postgrad students, like the overall strength of the application (grades, scholarships, etc). Then they have to make sure that they get a nice balance of subjects so that they don't end up dominated by English students for example. Of course if you apply late in the cycle it's more likely that the "nicer" colleges will be full... but I doubt it had anything to do with personal connections to the college. (Apart, of course, if you studied at your college of choice previously as an undergrad or master student!)

Have you been assigned a college in the end?

I'm afraid not! I'm still in discussion with the department and a few admissions people, trying to get one sorted out for me...

This is sort of all my concerns come true! The ineptitude of some of these admin people is beguiling... 8 months on from the submission of my application. I very much hope the academic staff are more impressive eh.

I'm afraid not! I'm still in discussion with the department and a few admissions people, trying to get one sorted out for me...

This is sort of all my concerns come true! The ineptitude of some of these admin people is beguiling... 8 months on from the submission of my application. I very much hope the academic staff are more impressive eh.

8 months is a ridiculously long wait!! All the best Noldorin - I hope you sort out your college soon.

That sounds like a nightmare. Do you know why it is taking so long for them? Did you make an open application by any chance? Anyway, best of the luck! Hopefully they will sort things out soon.