Oxbridge: Which One Is Right for You?
Oxbridge: Which One Is Right for You?
As two of the UK’s oldest and best universities, Oxford and Cambridge share a historic rivalry dating back more than eight centuries. Both provide excellent teaching and are consistently ranked top in the world, but UCAS only allows you to apply to one.
Choosing which Oxbridge University is right for you is a personal choice and comes down to individual preference. On the surface it may seem that there are many similarities between the two, such as tutorial-based teaching, residential colleges and century old traditions, but there are also striking differences.
- Subjects
Students tend to assume that you can study the same exact degrees and modules at both Oxford and Cambridge, but this isn’t the case! Although the two will offer many similar degrees, some will only be available at a particular college and if offered, may differ in teaching style and content.
For example, Cambridge offers an undergraduate degree in Architecture while Oxford does not. Likewise, Oxford gives its students the option to study Fine Art whereas Cambridge doesn’t. This is an important note to keep in mind when considering your tertiary education options. In addition to this point, you should research the individual modules each degree has, so you can see which interest you more.
Furthermore, Cambridge is generally better for the sciences while Oxford excels in its humanities. Nonetheless, these differences are minimal and both universities are always highly ranked with any of its subject offerings.
- Traditional customs
Oxbridge is widely known for having many unique customs, such as special names for its academic terms. Nevertheless, Oxford is more traditional than Cambridge and has more old habits than any other university in the UK. It’s the only university that celebrates May Morning, adopts odd approaches to time and requires its students to wear special clothes during exams. Shared customs include Latin ceremonies, robe-wearing at meals, and sports that have died out nearly everywhere else, like fives.
- Urban life
Both Oxford and Cambridge are small cities that feel like they sit on the intersection between other bigger places. Oxford feels more like a residential area with students sprinkled throughout, giving you that traditional British vibe. Meanwhile, Cambridge feels like a city built for its students with great nightlife and student facilities.
Oxford has a very uniform architecture, as it is mostly built from Headingstone, which comes from a local quarry. Since Cambridge has no local stone, its buildings are more diverse with different architecture and building materials. However, this is not to say that Cambridge is more beautiful since both cities are stunning.
- Location
Cambridge is in East Anglia and is surrounded by fenland. Oxford, on the other hand, is located to the east of the Cotswolds in an area of rolling hills that are dotted with small villages. If you like hills, choose Oxford since Cambridge only has the Gog Magog Downs. The Downs are very small hills with an elevation of just 75 metres above sea level.
Both cities are close to London, though the travel time from Cambridge is 45 minutes compared to Oxford’s 58 minutes. But other than this, the places you can get to from each differ considerably – Oxford is more convenient for Shakespeare’s hometown of Stratford-upon-Avon, whereas Cambridge is much nearer to the beach than Oxford, which is about as far from the coast as it is possible to get in the UK. Wales is easier to reach from Oxford and the East/North-East are much easier from Cambridge. Cambridgeshire boasts fewer National Trust properties than Oxfordshire but has an array of incredible cathedrals on its doorstep in Ely and Bury St Edmunds.
Regardless of which university you choose, you’ll graduate with a world-class degree. The deadline for 2021 Oxbridge applications is 15 October, so don’t postpone applying. Book your free initial consultation today to best prepare you for studying at a Top University.
