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University of Oxford, Pawel-Sytniewski
University of Oxford
Oxford

The Oxford experience as a postgrad

If you get into Oxford for a Masters course, can you get the entire Oxford experience in a short span of 9 months?
Original post by Jb_24
If you get into Oxford for a Masters course, can you get the entire Oxford experience in a short span of 9 months?


Depends what you mean by 'Oxford experience' - but I'm inclined to say no, much of your time will be spent studying / writing your thesis, you won't have as much leisure time as undergraduate students to poke about college / do Oxford things.
University of Oxford, Pawel-Sytniewski
University of Oxford
Oxford
Reply 2
Thank You
Original post by Jb_24
If you get into Oxford for a Masters course, can you get the entire Oxford experience in a short span of 9 months?


My experience is strictly limited, but from what I have seen so far:

- if you are able to get accommodation on the main college site, that will help. A lot of postgrads are allocated a room in a college- or university-owned house away from the college proper, and some may find themselves having to find a flat on the "open" market. Depending on where that is, it may mean that you end up sitting/eating etc in your room of an evening instead of schlepping over to college for Hall. Likewise, casual fraternising with your college colleagues may be more difficult. Obviously, the likelihood of getting a room in college varies according to college, course etc. Unfortunately, your destination may not be settled until late in the process, so its a bit of a lottery

- as Snufkin says, your time may be more constrained. Although U/Gs have a big workload, opportunities to relax do pop up from time to time. U/Gs usually find some time in Trinity (summer) term to lie around in Christ Church Meadow and go punting etc. As a postgrad, this may be a bit more difficult as you sweat over your dissertation deadline

- social life may be a bit harder to get into compared to U/G freshers, when everyone is looking to make friends, go clubbing etc. In the MCR, there are fewer bodies, and its a more diverse group in terms of what they want to do etc

- on the other hand, you will be more mature, assertive and focused, so you may be able to get what you want out of the time. If you make the effort, you can certainly go to formal Halls, work in the Rad Cam, go punting, sweep past tourists in your gown, braying, play croquet, and make vlogs for the folks back home about what it's like to be at Oxford - or whatever else the "the entire oxford experience" means for you :wink:
Original post by Jb_24
If you get into Oxford for a Masters course, can you get the entire Oxford experience in a short span of 9 months?


You could always then move on to a DPhil and drag it out for at least 10 years!
Reply 5
Thanks for the advice everyone.

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