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Oxford graduate applicants 2009/2010

Reply 2000

My parents want to come and visit me on Matriculation day. Anyone can tell me if this is a wise idea?
I know I will be busy during the morning for photos etc, but I'd like to know if there's something that new students usually do a part from this (like formal college lunch, dinner...). I'm afraid I'll be too busy.

Reply 2001

hobnob

14

*Fra*

My parents want to come and visit me on Matriculation day. Anyone can tell me if this is a wise idea?
I know I will be busy during the morning for photos etc, but I'd like to know if there's something that new students usually do a part from this (like formal college lunch, dinner...). I'm afraid I'll be too busy.

There won't be anything that's compulsory apart from the matriculation ceremony itself (which your parents won't actually be able to attend, but I suppose they'll be aware of that). The matriculation photograph won't be a big deal either - at most it'll be a matter of 30 minutes or so. So apart from maybe 2 hours you'll probably be free to spend the entire day with your parents if you so wish.

Reply 2002

WetMyWhistle

1

This is probably an extremely silly question, but in regards to opening a bank account in the UK, how are most of you planning on bringing money for those accounts? Are you bringing GBP cash with you, or can you charge or debit money into your new account from your old account?

I'm asking specifically in regards to overseas (US) students. One of the accounts I'm looking to open requires a 1,000 GBP minimum...does that mean I should bring $2000 USD in cash or travelers checks with me or could I just use my credit/debit card to use when I'm there?

Reply 2003

threedaystar

Just as an update - Oxford emails should have been sent out this morning. Hope you guys all got yours.

However, strangely, Oxford has decided to use my nickname in my email. Would it be wrong to ask them to change it to my full name (I prefer to use it as it is more professional)?

Oh and if anyone is studying Politics - our reading lists and induction schedules are now up online.

Reply 2004

hobnob

14

threedaystar

Just as an update - Oxford emails should have been sent out this morning. Hope you guys all got yours.

However, strangely, Oxford has decided to use my nickname in my email. Would it be wrong to ask them to change it to my full name (I prefer to use it as it is more professional)?

Oh and if anyone is studying Politics - our reading lists and induction schedules are now up online.

You'll be able to do that when you register.

Reply 2005

poi12

WetMyWhistle

This is probably an extremely silly question, but in regards to opening a bank account in the UK, how are most of you planning on bringing money for those accounts? Are you bringing GBP cash with you, or can you charge or debit money into your new account from your old account?

I'm asking specifically in regards to overseas (US) students. One of the accounts I'm looking to open requires a 1,000 GBP minimum...does that mean I should bring $2000 USD in cash or travelers checks with me or could I just use my credit/debit card to use when I'm there?

There are definitely accounts out there that do not require a minimum and/or charge fees for international students. In particular, check out the Lloyds Classic account.

If you are only going to transfer £1,000, I'd look into how much a foreign draft would be. You can have the draft drawn on a UK bank so that the cheque will be in pounds not dollars. The advantage of doing this, over bringing in cash or travellers cheques, is that the exchange rate would be much (much!) better. Likewise, you can see how generous your bank is with international wire transfers. If it's free (like mine was), you can transfer the money to the UK (once you are here) and pay a small fee to receive the money.

Reply 2006

Angelil

19

On the money score, my fiancé was at Bath University for one year and never bothered opening a UK bank account. The charges that he accumulated from withdrawing money from his € account all year were so minimal that it wouldn't have been worth opening a UK one, paying all the fees accumulated from having all his € changed to £ through the bureau de change/bank etc...so if you're only going to be in the UK for a year or two you may wish to consider this.

Reply 2007

chochu444

hmm....I didn't get an email address from oxford...how did you guys get yours? Also, who sent it out? If you could please let me know, I will contact them/that person and see what's up with that.

As regards bank account. I hadn't found anything free for internationals that also offered debit cards but was told on TSR about the current account at llyods and am planning on getting that. As regards withdrawals, I have a BoA account in the US and they actually have a deal with Barclays so if you withdraw from Barclays ATMs (there's one at Cornmarket Street), you don't have to pay any fees either at home or abroad. I withdrew all my money over a few transactions and then deposited it to my bank. You get the best exchange rate from ATMs and don't have to go through the hassle/extra costs of wire transfers etc (unless you are lucky enough to get free international transfers) so I would highly recommend this method if you bank with BoA.

Reply 2008

poi12

chochu444

As regards bank account. I hadn't found anything free for internationals that also offered debit cards but was told on TSR about the current account at llyods and am planning on getting that. As regards withdrawals, I have a BoA account in the US and they actually have a deal with Barclays so if you withdraw from Barclays ATMs (there's one at Cornmarket Street), you don't have to pay any fees either at home or abroad. I withdrew all my money over a few transactions and then deposited it to my bank. You get the best exchange rate from ATMs and don't have to go through the hassle/extra costs of wire transfers etc (unless you are lucky enough to get free international transfers) so I would highly recommend this method if you bank with BoA.

Umm, carefully read the fine print. It would appear that, yes, there are no ATM access fees, but there is a transaction fee of either 1 percent (ATM) or 3 percent (purchases) in addition to exchange commission. Depending upon the amount transferred it may not be an issue, but it's important to keep in mind that there are indeed fees involved.

Reply 2009

chochu444

poi12

Umm, carefully read the fine print. It would appear that, yes, there are no ATM access fees, but there is a transaction fee of either 1 percent (ATM) or 3 percent (purchases) in addition to exchange commission. Depending upon the amount transferred it may not be an issue, but it's important to keep in mind that there are indeed fees involved.

The fine print for what? I am sorry but I didn't understand who is charging these fees.

Reply 2010

*Fra*

Can anyone suggest some free wifi hotspots in Oxford?

Reply 2011

hobnob

14

*Fra*

Can anyone suggest some free wifi hotspots in Oxford?

Libraries and faculty buildings should be a good bet.

Reply 2012

poi12

chochu444

The fine print for what? I am sorry but I didn't understand who is charging these fees.

Bank of America. Being part of this Global Alliance simply eliminates the existence of local access fees for use of the ATM. However, there is still a transaction fee after (free) access has been granted. Again, it's minimal, but it's not free. If you are transferring larger sums of money, there are cheaper alternatives.

Reply 2013

ZarNikolaus

Mhm, I did not get any mail regarding my e-mail account either. Whom should contact or should I just wait?

Edit: Ok, I thought my E-Mail would'nt work because I could not log in via Herald, but I can obviously log-in via nexus.

The registration page says that I have actually 2 mail-accounts, one from my college and one from my department. Does anyone now how to log-in into my departmental account?

Reply 2014

chochu444

poi12

Bank of America. Being part of this Global Alliance simply eliminates the existence of local access fees for use of the ATM. However, there is still a transaction fee after (free) access has been granted. Again, it's minimal, but it's not free. If you are transferring larger sums of money, there are cheaper alternatives.

Oh really? I didn't realize that but when I withdrew, it cost me at an exchange rate of 1.63 dollars to a pound, which was far better than the exchange rate on xecurrency.com (for that day it was 1.65). In any case, good luck!

Reply 2015

hobnob

14

ZarNikolaus

Mhm, I did not get any mail regarding my e-mail account either. Whom should contact or should I just wait?

Edit: Ok, I thought my E-Mail would'nt work because I could not log in via Herald, but I can obviously log-in via nexus.

The registration page says that I have actually 2 mail-accounts, one from my college and one from my department. Does anyone now how to log-in into my departmental account?

It's only one account. Any mail to your department address just gets redirected.

Reply 2016

ZarNikolaus

hobnob

It's only one account. Any mail to your department address just gets redirected.

Ok, nice to know. Exchange 2007 works obviously with Mac 10.6 as promised, just created the account. Now I only need to figure out how to sync iCal with the Exchange server...

Reply 2017

WetMyWhistle

1

*Fra*

Can anyone suggest some free wifi hotspots in Oxford?

I know as of last year Green's Cafe (right next to the Eagle and Child) had free wifi. And tasty lemon poppy muffins. :smile:

Reply 2018

swiftuk

9

hobnob

It's only one account. Any mail to your department address just gets redirected.

Except if your department uses their own server/email access methods, in which case you can try to negotiate your college address going to Herald if you want (thought it would be useful to keep admin separate from research).

But if you can log into Herald or Nexus (once activated), that probably means your department doesn't.

Reply 2019

hobnob

14

WetMyWhistle

I'm flying into Heathrow this Wednesday morning! Very excited! :smile:

I'm planning on taking the Heathrow-Oxford express to Gloucester Green, but I have 3 suitcases (and a small carry-on suitcase and a handbag). Will I have a major problem getting on the coach with 1 extra suitcase?
No you won't. Just make sure you're there on time so there's still enough room for your luggage, otherwise you'll have to wait for the next coach.

Also, regarding the technicalities of moving all my luggage, anyone know if I can use the luggage cart from the baggage claim all the way to the Heathrow Central Bus station? I'm just worried that at some point before I get to the coach, they're going to make me return the cart and then I'm going to have to move 4 suitcases to the coach on my own.

Yes you can.

Oxford graduate applicants 2009/2010

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