The University of Oxford is the oldest institution of higher education in the UK and the second oldest in Europe. Teaching has been going on here since the end of the 11th century. Getting into this university is difficult, studying is even more difficult, but having a diploma from Oxford University is incredibly prestigious. For graduates with such an education, the doors of the most respectable companies in the world are open. Only an absolutely uneducated person does not know about the existence of such an institution. Millions of students dream of going to Oxford, but only a few succeed.
History and development of the educational institution
The University of Oxford is located in the UK, in the city of Oxford (Oxfordshire). The exact date of the opening of the university is unknown, but, as mentioned above, scientists were able to establish that education has been conducted here since the 11th century. The university began to develop quite quickly. He gained particular popularity after 1167: at this time, Henry II issued an order prohibiting studyingat the Sorbonne for students from England.
As a result, most of the students and teachers were expelled from the Sorbonne, and they had to move to the UK, namely to Oxford. After a while they were joined by colleagues from other countries. Since 1201, the chancellor has been considered the head of the university. The University of Oxford changed a lot during the Renaissance: the changes affected both the content of the institution and the teaching system in it.
In 1636, Bishop of Canterbury William Laud approved the charter of the university, which existed unchanged until the middle of the 19th century. During this period, some amendments are made to it, for example, instead of oral entrance examinations, written ones are introduced, and four colleges for women are opened.
How to get into Oxford?
The University of Oxford puts forward difficult requirements for its applicants. Entering it is equally difficult for both graduates of European or American schools, and schoolchildren studying in domestic educational institutions. Russian secondary education is not enough to enter a university of this level. In order to enter the University of Oxford, you need to study in the UK under the A-levels or International Baccalaureate (IB) program for at least two years. At the same time, it is necessary to graduate with the highest marks.
Since the educational process takes place in Oxford in English, foreign applicants are required to confirm the level of knowledge of the language. To do this, you need to pass one of the exams of the internationallevel. For example, IELTS, the total score for which should be 7.0, or TOEFL, the average score for it should not be lower than 600 points. In addition, a number of some speci alties require prospective students to pass special written tests. Such tests are passed for admission to biomedical speci alties, speci alties in law, English literature and others.
After successfully passing tests and exams, students receive an invitation to a personal interview, which takes place in mid-December. Based on the results of exams, tests and interviews, a decision is made as to whether the applicant will study at Oxford or not.
How much does tuition cost?
But knowledge is not yet enough to enter Oxford (University). The cost of education here is quite high. Therefore, before you start preparing for admission, you need to carefully consider whether you or your parents can pay for the education. For foreign applicants (not from the powers of the European Union), the issue price is from 15 to 30 thousand pounds per year. The amount depends on the specialization and additional payment to the college where you plan to study (the University of Oxford includes several colleges). This surcharge is equal to the amount of seven thousand pounds per year. In addition, you will need money for living expenses (approximately 12 thousand pounds for one study period).
What are they studying here?
In many speci alties gives knowledge of Oxford (University). Faculties that most oftenstudents choose - these are the humanitarian, medical, mathematical, physical and faculties of natural and social sciences. These departments train graduates in various fields. The university has 38 colleges, where most of the basic subjects are taught. There is a mentoring system here, thanks to which there is no clear division of students into speci alties. The university provides training in almost all existing industries and areas for undergraduate studies. The graduate program covers everything except accounting.
The staff of the institution has 8.5 thousand employees, three thousand of which are teachers. Roger Bacon and Margaret Thatcher studied here.
One of the most popular colleges
Another popular university in the city of Oxford is Oxford Brooks. The university was opened in 1865. Then it was called the Oxford School of Art. From 1970 until 1992 the institution was called Oxford Polytechnic. The university received university status only in 1992.
The college got its name in honor of John Henry Brooks, its first rector. The modular form of education was first introduced at Oxford Brooks. The university has more than 130 diverse programs of study for undergraduate degrees and more than a hundred programs for masters.
Each Oxford Brookes University building provides free Internet access. All campuses have computer rooms that can be used around the clock. Also here inlibraries, restaurants, recreational facilities, sports facilities and student shops are at the disposal of students and teachers.
Studying at Oxford through the eyes of its graduates
Tourists will also be pleased to visit Oxford - the university where the soul and heart of modern science is located. The institution has given the world 40 Nobel Prize winners, fifty heads of government and an infinite number of the most famous scientists, philosophers, politicians and writers. All those who graduated from this institution say that studying in it is incomparable with any other education system. Graduates say that studying here is incredibly difficult. They claim that Oxford teachers teach self-study and set quite a lot of reading.
Thus, according to those who graduated from the University of Oxford, we can conclude that every week a student needs to read one thousand pages of texts and write 45 pages of his own essays. Oxford teaches you to express your thoughts, so students write different essays all the time.
But none of the students regretted the years spent at this university. Most of them today hold honorary and prestigious positions, speak English fluently and can keep up a conversation on almost any topic.
