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Course review
Review by: Jamie G
University: Oxford University
Course: English
Year of study: 1st
Level of Study: Undergraduate
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The course in general
How many contact hours do you have in the average week?
5
Ideally, what 3/4 subjects would you recommend doing in order to be in the best position for your course?
English Literature, History, Spanish
Why did you decide to study your degree programme?
I have a strong interest in English Literature.
Explain the things you wish you'd known about your degree before you applied:
I wish I'd known to read a bit more before I got there.
Describing your average day
Explain how your day is made up. For example, do you have labs/seminars/tutorials/lectures?
Mainly reading, researching and writing essays with only one or two lectures a week, then one tutorial and an average of two classes a week.
How much extra work/reading are you required to do out of lectures?
Yes.
Is there anything else you think is relevant or that you would like to add in respect of your course?
The Oxford English Literature degree is nowhere near as intimidating as people might think.
The best and worst parts of the course
What do you like best about your degree programme?
The freedom the Oxford course allows me to study subjects of my choice and the high quality of teaching available at this university.
What do you like least about your degree programme?
The small amount of contact time can be frustrating, particularly when trying to gauge how well you are doing.
Academics and course content
What do you think of your university's academics and facilities?
Clearly their academics are the best in their respective fields in the world, though it does seem that this impacts upon other aspects of their lives at times. The facilities are generally excellent, especially in the English Faculty Library.
Explain how you expected your course to be and how it compares to how it actually is. Give an outline of the content of the course.
I can only really speak for the first year - four papers, taught through a mixture of lectures, classes and tutorials, expect to do between 30 and 40 hours work a week.
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Other reviews for English
Peter J, 2nd Year doing English at University of Dundee
Kimberley B, 1st Year doing English at Oxford University Mary L, 1st Year doing English at University of Exeter Tom R, 2nd Year doing English at Durham University
Martin W, 1st Year doing English and American Literature at Goldsmiths, University of London Claire P, 1st Year doing English at Goldsmiths, University of London Stephanie S, 2nd Year doing English at University of Manchester Tilly L, 2nd Year doing English and Drama at Brunel University Jim G, 2nd Year doing English and Education Studies at University of Wales Institute, Cardiff Susanna W, 2nd Year doing English and Creative Writing at University of Winchester Emma G, 2nd Year doing English at Durham University
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University review
Review by: Jamie G
University: Oxford University
Course: English
Year of study: 1st
Level of Study: Undergraduate
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Describing your university
Sum up your university in one paragraph:
As mentioned, the University deserves both its good and bad clichés. Oxford is a delightful place to study, with an enormity of resources available. However it is definitely not suitable for everyone - it is not enormous in size/number of nightclubs and there is still an upper-class dominance.
What is the academic life like at your university?
That varies more from course to course at Oxford than probably at any other uni - English students spend a fair amount of time in libraries, reading, choosing books etc. It is quite solitary in a way but we also spend lots of time discussing what we're doing with each other.
Describe your Freshers' Week - was it as you expected, better or worse? Why?
Pretty much as I expected - they shouldn't have organised things at 9am every morning after the big nights out, as people ended up moderating themselves/missing things but what was organised was fun, if a little small-scale.
What is the best and worst thing about your university?
Best - the reputation is deserved, teaching and facilities of the highest quality, the opportunity to study with some of the brightest minds of our generation in an idyllic setting.
Sport and extra curricular
What are the sport and other activities on offer like at your university?
Fantastic - pretty much any sport is covered in some form. However the degree of their importance varies massively from college to college, so if you are dead keen on your football, make sure you apply to a 'football-playing' college. Other activities, while maybe not given quite as much support by the college JCRs, are widely available, particularly drama.
The social scene
What is the social scene (and/or nightlife) like at your university? Is it particularly alcohol orientated?
The social scene is good, you become extremely close to other members of your college, particularly those doing your subject/living near you in college. It is alcohol orientated but not as much as at other unis, due simply to the higher amount of work there is at Oxford.
What do you think of the city your university is based in or near (as a city)?
Oxford is fantastic for those looking for an all-round package - it's all-inclusive, picturesque and has enough shops, clubs etc to keep you going. However if 'city living' is a priority for you, DO NOT apply here - it is after all a small place and while you can get to London within an hour, your degree/friends won't afford you enough time to do that regularly.
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