Best Graduate Accommodation

There are plenty of threads about undergraduate accommodation, but what about housing for graduate students? What college has the best accommodation for grads, by any and all definitions of best? Who has lots of rooms in college? Who has a fantastic out of college site? Who has great rooms? And what should grads picking colleges to apply to know?

One of the things that I would most like is accommodation in college or near the city center. Are any colleges good for this or am I dreaming?

Reply 1

JCM89

The graduate colleges offer accommodation on site. Most of the other colleges put graduates into annexes or houses that have been converted into student accommodation. Best to shortlist on the basis of academics and then work out which college offers the most suitable accommodation for your needs.

Reply 2

mattypants

Thanks JCM. Since I'd like to live in college I'll definitely be looking at the graduate colleges. I would like an older, more historic college though. Do any undergraduate colleges have more rooms in or near college than others?

What do you mean shortlist by academics? I'll be applying for a history degree, so most colleges would, theoretically, take me. Is there something that I'm missing?

Reply 3

cpchem

Holywell Manor

:yep:

Reply 4

probably not

the danger with holywell manor is that the building opposite it with the rest of the grads is horrible.

(i think chch's accommodation is onsite but they take very few grads)

Reply 5

Josho

What do you mean shortlist by academics? I'll be applying for a history degree, so most colleges would, theoretically, take me. Is there something that I'm missing?

Not necessarily, but you might want to consider prioritising a college with an academic who best fits your research interests. For instance if you're a Byzantine historian you might want to consider St Peters, or if you're a medievalist possibly Trinity, C19th Europe perhaps LMH and so on... It shouldn't make a difference but being in the same college as a supervisor you're hoping to get would, in my opinion, be be an advantage.

Reply 6

Woostarite

Elles

Magdalen graduate accommodation seems to be 'on-site' (but more secluded within the grounds away from pesky undergrads and out of access to tourists :p:

) or just 'opposite site' or just over the bridge.
There are also some en suites and partnered flats if those float your boat.

I think they guarantee 2/3 years for grad students & you can apply waiting list for the others.

I passed the Magdelen accommodation while punting yesterday. It was mind-numbingly awesome (apparently they're charged something incredibly high like 500 a month though).

Reply 7

mattypants

Magdalen's website suggests that its grad accommodation is out of college (link below). On the plus side, they say that they have 500 rooms.

Are there other sites like Holywell Manor or Merton's Holywell Buildings? These seem lovely and likely foster a great community. Do any colleges that are not exclusively for graduate students accommodate more than a few of them in college?

I'll be studying medieval and environmental history (medieval warm period, beginnings of the little ice age...); I'll look for a college receptive to those.

http://www.magd.ox.ac.uk/admissions/graduate/accommodation

Reply 8

mattypants

Magdalen's sounds the best of both worlds, secluded graduate accommodation but in or almost in college. That might even be better than a Holywell-type set up.