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Geography: Oxford or Cambridge?

Hi i want to study geography at uni.
I am planning on applying to durham edinburgh bristol newcastle and cannot decide between the oxford and cambridge courses. (I have looked at both)

Please could someone who knows a little more than i do or has any opinion on the matter tell me which is better?

I have more of an intrest in physical geography and the environment and would prefer the course that allows me to have more freedom of study. Thanks for your help

Reply 1

Speedbird2008

3

Most people would say Cambridge; it is higher in every league table, and has a better department.

*WOOP WOOP 1000th POST!! :biggrin:

*

Reply 2

SylverStrike

10

If I were you, I'd visit both Oxford and Cambridge. Academically, although there are slight differences, that side of things is hardly going to affect your experiences significantly. But you might prefer a university based town like Cambridge, or you might rather live somewhere which has more of a town outside of the university, like Oxford.

As for the courses, just doing a bit of general research as to exactly what you have to do at both Oxford and Cambridge, and going to open days might give you more of an idea of where to go.

Reply 3

meekan

Neither, St.Andrews :P Seriously though, I think Cambridge has the better course from what I've heard.

Reply 4

Tom

15

What do you mean exactly by "freedom of study"?

I can tell you that the Cambridge course is fixed in the first year (you don't get to choose the modules to take) and does spend more time on human than physical geography (I'd say maybe a 60/40 balance). In your second and third year, though, you can choose modules and are free to specialise much more (almost totally, if you chose) into physical geography if you want.

Although an interest in "the environment" covers more human ground than physical anyway, tbh. The lecturers who focus on environmental parts of the course are really very good.

The department is very friendly; supervision support is good; it's reasonably well-resourced so field trips and funding for dissertation travel are possible.

But overall I do think that the physical side of the department is weaker than the human, and the continuity and synergy offered in the physical modules is not quite as good as in the human side. So this might be something to bear in mind.

Of course it's not just the course that matters - the general atmosphere of the uni (since you're living there for 3 years) is important too, so do try and visit / come on open days or whatever before making a decision.

Uh, if you haven't guessed, I'm a Geog. student here in Cambridge now (third year) so feel free to PM me if there's any more questions I can answer.

Reply 5

Remeber

OP

1

Thanks. By freedom of study i meant choice in which topics/modules can be chosen to study. And also if for example in a human module there is opportunity to focus on some of the physical aspects? eg if you were doing something on uraban areas for human would you be free to look at how smog or earthquakes affects the population?

Reply 6

Tom

15

It doesn't really work like that to be honest. In each module there will be a set of issues and theoretical approaches which you are working on an understanding of; you're free to choose whatever case studies you feel are appropriate to support what you write in the essays and so on, but you wouldn't really be picking your own tangents to go off on - it's rather more focused than that. So in your example of urban areas, you might be writing about, say, how the theories of political ecology apply specifically to urban sustainability, which of course requires a consideration of both physical and human factors (that's pretty much what a definition of pol. ecol. is, in fact) but it's not like you'd then decide to go and include earthquake risks in that, or something.

Hmm. I'm really not conveying things very clearly here, heh. Perhaps I mean that yes, you might very well combine physical and human approaches with some topics, but only where it was necessary/appropriate...not just out of interest, as it were.

Anyway, as I say, in the first year the modules are fixed, but in the subsequent two you can pick and chooose. And of course you have unlimited choice when it comes to your dissertation, and also some choice available in the projects and extended essays which form part of the assessment for some papers.

Reply 7

harmonyy.

9

Tom,
I am hoping to apply for Cambridge for 2009 entry.
My gcse grades are not brilliant
At the moment i am on course to get A's in geography, economics and biology but a B in English literature hence AAAB at AS is this a vast disadvantage and likelihood of no interview?
I will be dropping English in A2 year.
Thank you

Reply 8

Tom

15

Yes, in all honesty a B at AS would be a small disadvantage.

But not an application-killing one of course :smile:

Write a good personal statement, and with the rest of the A grades you will get an interview; after that, it's the interview performance which will really count.

Reply 9

emsxxx

I went to Oxford for geog, I would say the course is better and more flexible at Cambridge (the Oxford one isn't great but is getting better). However, and I think this is the most important thing, I visited both and just loved Oxford and the vibe. Go to the city you like best. I got AABB (geog; eng lit; bio; chem) at AS, and got a offer of AAB, ended up getting AAAA though but also had a lot of outstanding extracurics. That was back in matric year 2004 though and they definitely give AAA offers now. Having the B's at AS won't stop you getting an interview at Oxford, not sure about Tabland - just make sure you are predicted AAA. The tutors won't care in the slightest about the B's if they love you in the interview.

Reply 10

sam.holmess

3

Original post by Tom

What do you mean exactly by "freedom of study"?

I can tell you that the Cambridge course is fixed in the first year (you don't get to choose the modules to take) and does spend more time on human than physical geography (I'd say maybe a 60/40 balance). In your second and third year, though, you can choose modules and are free to specialise much more (almost totally, if you chose) into physical geography if you want.

Although an interest in "the environment" covers more human ground than physical anyway, tbh. The lecturers who focus on environmental parts of the course are really very good.

The department is very friendly; supervision support is good; it's reasonably well-resourced so field trips and funding for dissertation travel are possible.

But overall I do think that the physical side of the department is weaker than the human, and the continuity and synergy offered in the physical modules is not quite as good as in the human side. So this might be something to bear in mind.

Of course it's not just the course that matters - the general atmosphere of the uni (since you're living there for 3 years) is important too, so do try and visit / come on open days or whatever before making a decision.

Uh, if you haven't guessed, I'm a Geog. student here in Cambridge now (third year) so feel free to PM me if there's any more questions I can answer.

Hi there, I know this post is from 13 years ago but wondering if you are still there. I need to choose whether I want to study at Oxford or Cambridge very soon. From what I have seen, the year 1 modules look far better at Cambridge than at Oxford however the topics in year 2 and 3 look much broader at Oxford (that could be because it includes both years though). Also if you don't mind me asking, I hear a lot of negative rumours about Cambridge having a poor social life, is this true? Thank You

Geography: Oxford or Cambridge?

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