Why is oxford better than cambridge

The best way to figure out which college you like is to look at how many people are in each college, how many people are studying the same subject as you and how you feel about the college overall. While neither school is nearly as invested in sports as schools in the USA, both Oxford and Cambridge offer a wide variety of opportunities to play on a team.

In terms of non-sports clubs, both universities allow you to create your own club if you want to. You will receive an excellent education regardless of which of these two universities you choose to attend.

Keep in mind that academics should be the biggest factor you consider when making your decision. I highly encourage you to visit both universities on open days and get a feel for each one or have a thorough look at the course descriptions. We can put you in touch with one of our expert academic advisors who can guide you through the entire admissions process! Oxford vs. Cambridge: Which one Should you Apply to? Getting into Oxford or Cambridge is highly competitive.

Therefore you want to choose the right university before you begin the application process. Can you apply to both Cambridge and Oxford?

Welcome to Battle of the English Universities: Oxford vs. It is a lot more urban, but London's mighty Thames runs through the city and is colloquially called the Isis. Cambridge is relatively small and mostly dominated by students similar to US campus Stanford. The city has its own river named Cam. Time to London London is also only an hour away from Oxford by train. Weather The weather at Oxford is not as windy or foggy but it is still in the UK so bring an umbrella.

Or three. Cambridge is foggier and windier than Oxford. Bring a windbreaker. Bottom line Cambridge is a university with a city around it and Oxford is a city with a university in it.

Aside from that, Oxford also offers nine different scholarships determined mainly by your hometown. Cambridge offers around four different international undergraduate scholarships a year based on various factors, including your hometown, whether or not you have a disability and which college accepts you.

Bottom Line Both Oxford and Cambridge cost around the same amount , although Oxford is a bit more expensive if you are an international students. Tutorials allow you to discuss your work in a small setting in order to get really personalised critiques and advice. However, if you do choose to study science, you have to pick one subject. There are no flexible science degrees available. However, you can get a joint degree. The university is currently ranked first in the world for: English Language, Literature, Geography, History, and Modern languages Cambridge is well known for its natural sciences courses.

Cambridge also offers a flexible natural science degree so you can combine any biological and physical science to create your degree.

Additionally, unlike Oxford, you can study education as an undergraduate at Cambridge. The university is currently ranked first in the world for: History, Mathematics, and Archaeology. Assessments Throughout your time at Oxford you will be assessed informally through the work you produce for your tutors.

In your final year, you will take about 30 hours of exams that will determine your degree classification.

Like at Oxford, you will be informally assessed weekly during your supervisions. However, you will have exams throughout your time at Cambridge, not only in your final year. Bottom Line Academics are the best differentiator between Oxford and Cambridge. You will not need to fill out any extra forms but you may need to take multiple tests or submit some written work. Your teachers are also given the opportunity to talk about any extenuating circumstances you may have.

Tutors use your application, references and test scores to determine your place. If you are shortlisted you will be invited to interview a few different times. You are required to complete an additional form as well after you submit your main application. Supervisors are provided with your school performance data to help them understand your educational achievement. Supervisors consider your AS level grades, UMS scores, and additional forms and teacher letters when deciding whether or not you will be offered to interview and ultimately be accepted.

Bottom Line: Oxford and Cambridge are extremely competitive and unfortunately, you can only apply to one per year. Oxford vs Cambridge School Traditions Oxford Cambridge Sub Fusc Both universities have their own version of this attire and it is required at a handful of events throughout the year.

Your sub fusc lets people know what degree you are studying and whether or not you have a scholarship. At Oxford you are also required to wear these gowns during your exams. Like Oxford, Cambridge also has a variety of events throughout the year that require this formal attire.

Thankfully, you no longer need to wear your gown during exams. Formal Hall is for you. Depending on your college, you may have these halls almost every night or only a few times per term. Think gongs, candles and Latin grace. People are eating strawberries in punts on the river. Students cycle past, their panniers overloaded with books, and narrowly avoid crashing into a large group of tourists who were concentrating more on their map than on the traffic.

They have plenty of other similarities as well; roughly equal proximity to public transport links, including a fast train to London and a good range of airports nearby. Suggestions that Oxford is better for the humanities and Cambridge for the sciences or vice versa are soon proven to be outdated. As differences go, this one is still not all that significant.

Oxford has a population of ,; Cambridge has a population of , An additional 26, people is unlikely to feel that different if, for instance, you are also considering studying in London population: 8. Gentrification has progressed further in Cambridge than in Oxford, so that the lively area of Mill Road in Cambridge is distinctly quieter and more middle-class than its equivalent in Oxford, Cowley Road.

In Cambridge, the nightlife is more student-orientated, as the students make up a greater percentage of people going out. One side-effect of Oxford being larger is that it has two main bus companies, rather than just one, and the competition between the two means that bus travel is easier in Oxford than Cambridge. Cambridge offers a Natural Sciences degree that covers a wide range of areas within science, allowing students to choose their specialism later, while Oxford students have to choose their focus at the point at which they apply to the university.

Beyond these differences between the subjects that are offered at each university, there are also differences in what is taught within the specific subject. Once again, just about any other university in Britain except perhaps Durham and St Andrews will have fewer weird or arcane traditions than Oxford and Cambridge. They both have a hefty dose of ceremonies in Latin, robe-wearing at meals, and sports that have died out nearly everywhere else, like real tennis and fives.

Everything around Ascension Day, plus all the odd approaches to time, and the delights of May Morning, are traditions observed solely by Oxford University, not by Cambridge.

Remember which city you are in though; in Oxford, you stand on the front of the boat to punt, and in Cambridge you stand at the back. Small, but culturally significant differences! One of my personal favourite aspects of being a Cambridge student was the extra-curricular activities on offer. Oxbridge has a large, diverse student population. For this reason, there is an equal number of diverse, exciting extra-curricular options to choose from. Each college has a variety of sports teams, where students of all abilities can join in.

This is great for everyone from total beginners wanting to try something new rowing, anyone?! For those looking for higher-level, competitive sport, there are also university sports teams that compete nationally with other universities. Have a hobby other than sport? Oxbridge will probably cater for it; there are literally s of societies and clubs from politics to painting, from wine to watching movies.

Each has a stall with lots of eager current members ready to give you more info and help you decide what new and current hobbies you want to pursue during your spare time. In fact, my top tip for thriving at Oxbridge as a student is to take up an extra-curricular activity or two. While you should not go mad with how much you do and it is unlikely your schedule will mean you can!

While this may sound unfair or like an exaggeration, an Oxbridge education is second to none; the intense way you study means not only are you incredibly knowledgeable in your field by the time you graduate, but you also have a suite of transferable skills that employers are hungry for. You are organised, determined, driven, analytical, meticulous, and articulate. This really opens doors for your future career and studies. Many graduates go on to study for their Masters or PhD and pursue work in academia.

Others, however, may change direction completely; for example, I know plenty of NatSci Natural Science graduates that no w work in finance. For more information on medical career pathways, click here. While you may choose to stay in Oxford or Cambridge post-graduation for example, many science and engineering firms choose to base themselves near Cambridge , the world is brimming with opportunities for Oxbridge graduates.

Some go on to do humanitarian work at the UN, others may go to Hawaii to study volcanoes. Countless appearances in novels, films and TV programmes combined with hundreds of years of reputation as the best of the best in education, means there are some popular albeit often false stereotypes about its students.

To the wider world, Oxbridge students are generally perceived to be extremely posh and privileged. Although it is certainly a massive privilege to study here, Oxford and Cambridge seek to attract the best and brightest students regardless of background.

Some may have come from private education, others may be state educated; it is a fairly even split. Cambridge and Oxford have large access programmes across the UK and overseas, as well as a highly rigorous and fair application procedure to ensure this. Oxbridge students are also reputed to be massive nerds with no social skills.

Again; this is partly true. Anyone who studies at Oxford and Cambridge by default will enjoy learning to some extent.

It is essential to get that balance between studying hard and taking time out, and luckily most Oxbridge students recognise this. However, it is always amusing to see the reaction of friends from other universities when they realise just how fun it is to be an Oxbridge student! Those from outside Oxbridge also do not realise that stereotypes exist within the university, between members from different colleges. These stereotypes are harmless, not universally the case, and used only for banter on nights out and during inter-collegiate sports matches.

A healthy rivalry exists between Oxford and Cambridge; they are, after all, considered the best, and are the two oldest universities in the UK. In fact, Cambridge was set up after a fight in Oxford forced scholars to flee in Oxford has always been viewed as a city of institution and order, and Cambridge the rebel.

For example:. This rivalry still exists today. Which university do you choose? We help you craft the perfect Personal Statement , achieve a highly competitive Admissions Test score and teach you how to Interview effectively — covering all areas of your Oxbridge application.

Skip to content. Student Portal Search:. Oxford vs Cambridge: Which is better? Two universities that are renowned for being world-leading institutions of learning.

Author: Lizzy Cole. Table of Contents. Oxford or Cambridge? Famous Oxford and Cambridge Landmarks. Where do they rank? Oxbridge Notable Alumni. What are the different courses offered? Law firms in London preferred universities to hire from. Which is better for science - oxford or Cambridge? Single courses vs. Pros: For students who are certain which science they wish to study at university, Oxford would make a far more obvious choice as students will begin studying their chosen subject from day one.

Cons: However, for students who would like flexibility and the option to try subjects before committing, the Natural Sciences system is by far the best choice.

Science subjects offered within Natural Sciences at Cambridge. Which is the better choice? Which is better for medicine? Research and academic knowledge focus. Very limited patient contact before your clinical years. You go into your clinic training at the start of your 4th year. Limited patient contract prior to clinical years. Intercalated Degree Options You must choose an option from two areas of biomedical science.

You have many options such as Biomedical sciences, any of the Natural Science tripos or a non-core science subject like Philosophy or Anthropology. Shared Modules Yes, you will share some modules with Biomed or biological natural scientists.

Yes, you will share some modules with related degrees such as natural sciences and medical sciences. Some modules are also shared with vets. Dissection No, Oxford university no longer teaches human anatomy through cadaver dissection. Students do, however, explore prosections. Yes, Cambridge do still teach students with a full-body dissection. What is the teaching like at Oxbridge? A supervision taking place in Jesus College, Cambridge.

What is the collegiate structure? St Hugh's College, Oxford. What are the Oxbridge application requirements? Personal Statement. Student planning their personal statement. What grades do you need? Admissions Tests. Admissions tests are required for most Oxbridge courses nowadays. They help widen the gap between the extremely high achieving candidates that apply to their institutions.