The Student Room Group

St Anne's college Oxford

Opinions on the college? I'm thinking about applying there. It seems to be one of the more unknown colleges, and I'm wondering what the general perception of it is.
Any knowledge and opinions would help!
(For context I'm thinking of applying for english, and I have a love for film and apparently this college is the most involved in that?)
Thanks Thanks

Reply 1

Original post
by sleepandtime
Opinions on the college? I'm thinking about applying there. It seems to be one of the more unknown colleges, and I'm wondering what the general perception of it is.
Any knowledge and opinions would help!
(For context I'm thinking of applying for english, and I have a love for film and apparently this college is the most involved in that?)
Thanks Thanks

Very ugly and some rooms are very noisy [near traffic lights on the Banbury Road]. The brutalist building doesn't have en suites and the toilets aren't designed for larger people.

Reply 2

It's worth bearing in mind that, if you are successful in your application to Oxford, an offer might come from a college other than the one you applied to. That happens in roughly one in four cases overall, and in some subjects the chances of an offer from a college not applied to are greater.

As to film, the Master of St Peter's, Professor Judith Buchanan, is an expert on Shakespeare on film, but don't worry too much about matching Dons to your interests, because as a member of one college you may be taught by academics at other colleges, especially when pursuing a specialist interest.

St Anne's isn't super pretty, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder. If you can, attend one of the Oxford open days and try to visit three or four colleges.

https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/colleges/college-listing/st-annes-college

Reply 3

Original post
by Stiffy Byng
It's worth bearing in mind that, if you are successful in your application to Oxford, an offer might come from a college other than the one you applied to. That happens in roughly one in four cases overall, and in some subjects the chances of an offer from a college not applied to are greater.
As to film, the Master of St Peter's, Professor Judith Buchanan, is an expert on Shakespeare on film, but don't worry too much about matching Dons to your interests, because as a member of one college you may be taught by academics at other colleges, especially when pursuing a specialist interest.
St Anne's isn't super pretty, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder. If you can, attend one of the Oxford open days and try to visit three or four colleges.
https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/colleges/college-listing/st-annes-college

It's not about 'being pretty' but the accommodation is poor. I've stayed there and it was pretty basic. I had to move rooms because of the road noise.

Reply 4

Original post
by Muttley79
It's not about 'being pretty' but the accommodation is poor. I've stayed there and it was pretty basic. I had to move rooms because of the road noise.

Yeah that’s not great… what building were you in?

Reply 5

Original post
by sleepandtime
Yeah that’s not great… what building were you in?

The brutalist ones - Wolfson and the one next to it - they also have spiral concrete stairs which are tricky to navigate.

Reply 8

I've got an offer from St Annes - do you have to live in the college or can you just get off-campus accommodation and join the events?

Reply 9

It is the norm for all first year undergraduates to live in college. Arrangements for later years vary from college to college. the university requires undergraduates to live with a six mile radius from Carfax, the crossroads in the centre of Oxford. If you don't wish to live in college, you can live out. There are, however, benefits to living in college. These include ease of access to the library (in your jammies at 3am if you wish), three meals a day, no washing up, and the opportunity to build a group of friends.

Reply 10

If you live off site you risk missing out on a lot of the initial bonding - late night chats in a new friend’s room, someone popping round for a cup of tea. I really wouldn’t advise living out in your first year - especially if it’s just on the basis that someone on the internet once had a bad night’s sleep there. FWIW my first-year accommodation (at an old central rich college) was grim and falling apart but I wouldn’t take back that year of living in it as I met some amazing friends by living in and sharing a staircase with them. I also had friends at St Anne’s and they were happy enough with their rooms.

Reply 11

Original post
by xyz1234567
If you live off site you risk missing out on a lot of the initial bonding - late night chats in a new friend’s room, someone popping round for a cup of tea. I really wouldn’t advise living out in your first year - especially if it’s just on the basis that someone on the internet once had a bad night’s sleep there. FWIW my first-year accommodation (at an old central rich college) was grim and falling apart but I wouldn’t take back that year of living in it as I met some amazing friends by living in and sharing a staircase with them. I also had friends at St Anne’s and they were happy enough with their rooms.

I agree. Going to a collegiate university and choosing to live out of college in the first year seems an odd choice. OP, pay no attention to those on sites such as these who **** off St Anne's or any of the colleges which don't look like St John's or Magdalen. Most people find that they love their college.

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