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Dress-Code at Oxbridge and other british unis open house?
Can we wear shorts and a tank top? Or do I have to look very formal, like in a suit with black pants, especially at Oxbridge?
I am an international student so I do not know. I have never been at a open house either haha.
I am an international student so I do not know. I have never been at a open house either haha.
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Do you mean an Open Day?
Wear whatever you like. There are always a few who turn up in a suit, but all of the Open Day helpers are students, and will be in jeans with probably some college stash of some kind.
In all honesty I'd say even wear what you like for interview - but at an Open Day I guarantee nobody will remember you unless you do something drastic.
Wear whatever you like. There are always a few who turn up in a suit, but all of the Open Day helpers are students, and will be in jeans with probably some college stash of some kind.
In all honesty I'd say even wear what you like for interview - but at an Open Day I guarantee nobody will remember you unless you do something drastic.
Bekaboo
Do you mean an Open Day?
Wear whatever you like. There are always a few who turn up in a suit, but all of the Open Day helpers are students, and will be in jeans with probably some college stash of some kind.
In all honesty I'd say even wear what you like for interview - but at an Open Day I guarantee nobody will remember you unless you do something drastic.
Wear whatever you like. There are always a few who turn up in a suit, but all of the Open Day helpers are students, and will be in jeans with probably some college stash of some kind.
In all honesty I'd say even wear what you like for interview - but at an Open Day I guarantee nobody will remember you unless you do something drastic.
Oh sorry I meant Open Day. What...we can wear whatever we want at an Oxbridge interview?
jenna109
Oh sorry I meant Open Day. What...we can wear whatever we want at an Oxbridge interview?
For an interview then smart but fairly casual. I wouldn't wear a suit or anything too formal.
Yeah pretty much. I wore jeans, and I was far from alone. I wouldn't wear shorts because the interview is in December and Oxford is a cold city 
Although that said in my first year the choir gave me an award for wearing shorts in sub-zero conditions
But yeah, the only people who turn up suited-and-booted are lawyers and a few medics.
Although that said in my first year the choir gave me an award for wearing shorts in sub-zero conditions But yeah, the only people who turn up suited-and-booted are lawyers and a few medics.
jenna109
Oh sorry I meant Open Day. What...we can wear whatever we want at an Oxbridge interview?
Clean clothes are probably preferable, but it's not like you're required to wear a suit — a lot of the tutors won't be wearing suits, either. It's more important to wear something that you'll feel comfortable in.
Bekaboo
Yeah pretty much. I wore jeans, and I was far from alone. I wouldn't wear shorts because the interview is in December and Oxford is a cold city Although that said in my first year the choir gave me an award for wearing shorts in sub-zero conditions
But yeah, the only people who turn up suited-and-booted are lawyers and a few medics.
Although that said in my first year the choir gave me an award for wearing shorts in sub-zero conditions But yeah, the only people who turn up suited-and-booted are lawyers and a few medics.
ohh i'm applying to oxford or cambridge law aha. but it's way too hot to wear a suit!
also, i'm really confused. do people take classes at the colleges or is there an actual law faculty? is oxford university just built up of several colleges, or is there an actual building called "OXFORD." and what about cambridge?
jenna109
ohh i'm applying to oxford or cambridge law aha. but it's way too hot to wear a suit!
also, i'm really confused. do people take classes at the colleges or is there an actual law faculty? is oxford university just built up of several colleges, or is there an actual building called "OXFORD." and what about cambridge?
also, i'm really confused. do people take classes at the colleges or is there an actual law faculty? is oxford university just built up of several colleges, or is there an actual building called "OXFORD." and what about cambridge?
Hot?
Where are you from?
Bekaboo
Someone hasn't done her research yet 
No, there is no building called 'Oxford'. There is a law faculty, where lectures might happen, and a law library, but your tutorials will happen in college (yours or someone elses) in a tutor's room.
No, there is no building called 'Oxford'. There is a law faculty, where lectures might happen, and a law library, but your tutorials will happen in college (yours or someone elses) in a tutor's room.
aha ok thanks...I've got to do some research before I leave to England. Can't wait!
jenna109
Oh it's not that hot in England? Oh no...I really got to do some research aha. I haven't even checked the temperature. I'm from Canada and now, it's hot enough to wear shorts!
I've just researched a bit about the colleges at Oxbridge and stuff.
Right now it's between 15 and 20 degrees depending on the day. So....
15/5*9+32 = 59F ish?
My (Canadian) flatmate is occasionally wearing shorts, but if I were you I'd bring a jumper!
I've just researched a bit about the colleges at Oxbridge and stuff.
Right now it's between 15 and 20 degrees depending on the day. So....
15/5*9+32 = 59F ish?
My (Canadian) flatmate is occasionally wearing shorts, but if I were you I'd bring a jumper!
jenna109
ohh i'm applying to oxford or cambridge law aha. but it's way too hot to wear a suit!
also, i'm really confused. do people take classes at the colleges or is there an actual law faculty? is oxford university just built up of several colleges, or is there an actual building called "OXFORD." and what about cambridge?
also, i'm really confused. do people take classes at the colleges or is there an actual law faculty? is oxford university just built up of several colleges, or is there an actual building called "OXFORD." and what about cambridge?
The institution called "the University of Oxford" is made up of its constituent colleges, faculties, etc. There is no main building, there is no reception desk, and so on. You will live in college or in accommodation owned by your college, have tutorials probably in your college or another college or at your faculty, and have lectures either at your faculty or at a generic lecture block booked out by your faculty.
There is no "dress code" except for certain events at the university (e.g. matriculation, graduation, formal college events throughout the year); you should absolutely not go to an open day dressed up because you'll just stick out like a sore thumb, and plenty of people go to interviews in casual clothes. As long as you don't look dirty, you'll be fine. I went in rather scruffy casual clothes and got in (to Cambridge). And no, I wouldn't recommend shorts, just because it's not that kind of weather...
jenna109
haha ok thanks guys! lol I really didn't know you could wear casual clothes to an oxbridge interview. i find that amusing.
You can indeed, though I'd advise against going too scruffy (though other people on here will disagree). However, make sure you're not getting mixed up between an open day and an interview - open days are now-ish and are just for looking around and asking questions. You can wear what you like to them. Interviews are in December and are for them to ask you questions. It doesn't really matter what you wear but I maintain that it can't hurt to be smart.
I love how often this topic comes up. It's as if no one can actually quite believe that we don't care. Which we don't (for more detail, see all my previous posts on this pernicious nonsense...)
If you are really obsessed with looking "right", then smart casual is the way to go. You won't stick out, you won't feel under-dressed. Though you might make me feel under-dressed.
Perhaps I'll make a special effort for open days this year - I'll wear my least ragged jeans, and I'll try to find a jumper without too many holes and to clean some of the mud off my trainers.
If you are really obsessed with looking "right", then smart casual is the way to go. You won't stick out, you won't feel under-dressed. Though you might make me feel under-dressed.
Perhaps I'll make a special effort for open days this year - I'll wear my least ragged jeans, and I'll try to find a jumper without too many holes and to clean some of the mud off my trainers.
oxbridge_tutor
I love how often this topic comes up. It's as if no one can actually quite believe that we don't care. Which we don't (for more detail, see all my previous posts on this pernicious nonsense...)
If you are really obsessed with looking "right", then smart casual is the way to go. You won't stick out, you won't feel under-dressed. Though you might make me feel under-dressed.
Perhaps I'll make a special effort for open days this year - I'll wear my least ragged jeans, and I'll try to find a jumper without too many holes and to clean some of the mud off my trainers.
If you are really obsessed with looking "right", then smart casual is the way to go. You won't stick out, you won't feel under-dressed. Though you might make me feel under-dressed.
Perhaps I'll make a special effort for open days this year - I'll wear my least ragged jeans, and I'll try to find a jumper without too many holes and to clean some of the mud off my trainers.
Exactly this. Open day helpers will not dress up for you, neither will tutors. End of.
seriously, take Oxbridge Tutor's advice.
i went to my interview wearing jeans, a really well tailored blue shirt, and New Rock boots. I sat the exams wearing jeans, a dress i'd bought 17 years ago and the same new rock boots. they didn't once look at what i was wearing, and i felt i could have shown up in my pijamma top and they still wouldn't have cared. they want to see your brain, not your fashion sense.
show up wearing something which makes *you* feel confident. if that's a suit, so be it; if that's jeans, do that.
i went to my interview wearing jeans, a really well tailored blue shirt, and New Rock boots. I sat the exams wearing jeans, a dress i'd bought 17 years ago and the same new rock boots. they didn't once look at what i was wearing, and i felt i could have shown up in my pijamma top and they still wouldn't have cared. they want to see your brain, not your fashion sense.
show up wearing something which makes *you* feel confident. if that's a suit, so be it; if that's jeans, do that.
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