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Course review
Review by: Hugh K
University: Oxford University
Course: Modern Languages
Year of study: 3rd
Level of Study: Undergraduate
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The course in general
How many contact hours do you have in the average week?
15
Ideally, what 3/4 subjects would you recommend doing in order to be in the best position for your course?
Russian, History, French, English
Why did you decide to study your degree programme?
I was good at Russian at school and the course seemed detailed and better than at other unis.
Explain the things you wish you'd known about your degree before you applied:
How important it is to read the reading list before you come.
Describing your average day
Explain how your day is made up. For example, do you have labs/seminars/tutorials/lectures?
At Oxford you are mostly left up to your own devices. There is not a great deal of structure in terms of loads of contact hours. It is up to you to choose which lectures to attend. It is especially true that Oxford focus on literature and not language. You are expected to keep up your language for the most part on your own.
How much extra work/reading are you required to do out of lectures?
Yes. Lots of reading and essay writing - 1 or 2 essays a week.
The best and worst parts of the course
What do you like best about your degree programme?
The expectations are very high. They expect you to be good at your subject and challenge you as such.
What do you like least about your degree programme?
The lack of help in keeping up your language skills.
Academics and course content
What do you think of your university's academics and facilities?
They are top notch. The libraries are extensive.
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.
Teaching methods are to give loose instruction and allow you to work things out for yourself. Tutors are there as a guide. They tend to be very intelligent themselves and will be top class academics in their own right. The tutorials are more like discussions.
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Other reviews for Modern Languages
Louisa D, 2nd Year doing Modern Languages at Durham University
Serge G, 1st Year doing Modern Languages at University of Bristol
James N, 1st Year doing Modern Languages at Durham University Tara O, 1st Year doing Modern Languages at Leeds Metropolitan University
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University review
Review by: Hugh K
University: Oxford University
Course: Modern Languages
Year of study: 3rd
Level of Study: Undergraduate
Visit the Oxford University forum and see what people are discussing right now!
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Describing your university
Sum up your university in one paragraph:
Oxford is a brilliant uni to go to. It works you hard but in a good way and the social life is fun. Contrary to popular belief it is not full of geeks at all. The sport is great and can't be found elsewhere so organised and competitive.
What is the academic life like at your university?
It can be stressful and people work very hard in general. However it is certainly not impossibly difficult to work hard AND play hard.
Describe your Freshers' Week - was it as you expected, better or worse? Why?
It was good. Well organised and varied.
Are there any other notes you would like to add about life in general at university or anything else which would be relevant to a prospective student?
Living out can be expensive but for some is definitely the right experience.
What is the best and worst thing about your university?
Best - the standard of teaching and the collegiate system.
Sport and extra curricular
What are the sport and other activities on offer like at your university?
The collegiate system ensures there is great sporting opportunities at all levels across all sports.
The social scene
What is the social scene (and/or nightlife) like at your university? Is it particularly alcohol orientated?
There does tend to be a lot of drinking in certain groups but there is no real peer pressure.
What do you think of the city your university is based in or near (as a city)?
Oxford is a brilliant city to study in. It has a lot of students and is a good size: big enough to explore but small enough to know well.
Accommodation
Do you live in a halls of residence or a student house (or college)? What would you suggest is best in your opinion?
Halls. They are very good in comparison to other unis and often have en-suites.
If you are in a hall or college, is it catered or self catered? Which is better for the first year in your opinion and why?
It is catered but there are also a lot of kitchen facilities around if people wish to cook for themselves.
Approximately, what is the average cost of accommodation per week in your first year for catered and non-catered halls/colleges?
About £120 a week.
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