Best value Oxford College accommodation-wise?

[OxbridgeProject]

I’ve been researching this online but thought I’d ask for advice on here. I know you don’t have to specify a College when you applyto Oxford but I would certainly like to have a shortlist ahead of Open Days/Visits.

My DS is applying from Scotland and has 8 Nat 5s at Grade A and 5 Advanced Highers at Grade A. I appreciate this might mean nothing to non-Scottish readers

My DS wants to study PPE. It would appear that approximately 33 Colleges offer the course so doesn’t exactly narrow our choices down. Our family income means we will get the minimum maintenance grant of £4750 and will not be eligible for means-tested bursaries. Unfortunately we are only just keeping our heads above the water financially, with many years left on our mortgage and £40k worth of debt. I’ve been out of work for various reasons but am hoping to secure full-time work soon.

All this is by way of saying that we’d like our DS to go to a College that offers the most value for money. I’ve been looking at this list
www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/colleges/do-I-pay-to-live-in-my-college

I’m confused though. For instance the cost for accommodation and food for Jesus College is £6012 for an average of 175 days and it’s £5840 for St John’s but the numbers of days rent that the accommodation element is based on is 279 days for Jesus and Only 175 days for St John’s. I’m probably just not understanding something so I need wiser heads to help me fathom it out!

Now I know there are differences in terms of whether you are turfed out after each 8 week term or can stay on an extra week here and there but I don’t understand the 279 days for Jesus??

If (big if, I know) my DS wins a place it would be great if he could store all his belongings like some colleges offer to International students as it would be better than driving back and forth to Scotland.

Do any of those with experience of Oxford understand the pricing of accommodation? Do some Colleges offer a better deal? Some of the prices I’ve seen for meals are really cheap (40p for egg on toast in the College cafe or £3 for a 3-course dinner)

Are there any Colleges which are known for being less value for money? What happens if you’re pooled - is there a chance DS might be put in an expensive College?

My DS will be happy with a bed, desk and shared bathroom. He could even self-cater for some of his meals if that’s cheaper. He might prefer a college with a greater State school intake but isn’t phased by being surrounded by those of a non-state school/selective background either.

Sorry for all the questions and I know there are a gazillion threads on MN about Oxbridge but I haven’t found one specifically on this issue that’s been posted in the past 5 years or so. I’m trawling through the online resources of Oxford Uni and the Alternative Prospectuses and DS will be attending the Online Open Days on 30 June and 1st July. We’re also hoping to visit Oxford for a few days over the Summer.

But as ever, there’s nothing like the collective might of MN when it comes to getting the inside edge! (I’m a serial name-changer BTW and have been on MN for over 12 years)

I’d just make a general point that Oxford is massively cheaper than most other aspirational universities by dint of both short terms and copious in-college accommodation. So avoid the last few colleges that can’t offer college accommodation for all three years (st Peter’s and teddy hall and a couple of others I can’t recall -easy to find in the official and unofficial prospectus) and then move on and don’t over think it. Spend the accommodation- focussed effort on the other 4 UCAS choices, many of the most obvious options for which will be much dearer than Oxford, as statistically one of them is the more likely final destination.

The standard Oxford year is 3 terms of 8 weeks each. This is what Jesus is quoting for. In reality they usually have to be there for an extra week each term for Freshers and collections (they do a week of exams at the start of term to condolidate what they have done so far.) That adds an extra 3 weeks.

DD is studying PPE. Her exams were this week, so this term she has had to pay for 10 weeks, not 8. Next year she has signed a 39 week lease for her room, rather than 24 weeks. That is the equivalent of St John's. Overseas students usually take those longer leases, but DD benefits from being able to come & go as she pleases.

I would suggest that your DS checks if his chosen college offers accommodation for all 3 years or only for 2. Some make students live out in year 2, some in year 3 and some not at all. Private accommodation in Oxford is pricey.

You don't have to eat in everyday in catered colleges, but you may find you are charged a "hall fee" even if you don't. I think DD has to pay something like £4.50 regardless. Tonight she is celebrating the end of exams with friends via Zoom as they are all either poorly with Covid or self isolating, so they have a Deliveroo which someone collected and shared out to each of their rooms.

State school students are now in the majority in every college. DD has found the odd peculiar character in her College both state & private, but has never felt out of her depth. Her college husband (Oxford "marries" students in a pastoral care system and the couples adopt children in the year below them to build a college family) comes from a very famous public school but introduces her to all his friends in college and across the uni.

I would also suggest you or your DS do some informal research on how the colleges treated their students during Covid. It says a lot about the character of each place, as some were atrocious and others very supportive.

What a shame Covid is still wreaking havoc for students. Sounds like they’re making the best of a bad thing Hoghgyni? Must be used to it by now. Is this her going into her 2nd or 3rd year?

Do you mind giving me a rough idea of the difference between a 24 week agreement and a 38 week? I’m not sure if you’ve revealed which College your DD is at and, obviously I completely understand if you don’t want to say.

How much of a faff is it completely clearing out your room each term when you go for a 24 week agreement? That would be at least 5 round trips in a car from Scotland to Oxford. Do they ever offer storage to non-International students I wonder?

I definitely won’t consider any Colleges that don’t do the whole 3 years Revenge. I’m sure private rentals will be eye-wateringly high. Hopefully if you’re pooled you won’t end up in one that only does 2 years although I suppose there will be that risk.

Anyway, I’m getting way ahead of myself here Anything could happen between now and the UCAS application. He might decide to stick to Scotland (especially when he finds out that he’ll have to start paying back his loan when he starts earning over £19,500 rather than the £27,500 (approx) threshold in England )

Thanks again.

I'd echo what others have said about cost. DS1's rent really has been very reasonable, much cheaper than his friends in other universities. The other thing to note is that many colleges give very generous grants and bursaries to students. DS1 has had most of his books paid for.

When he applied he opted for St John's on the basis that it is very wealthy and gives a lot of money to students. He ended elsewhere (sent at interview) but found his college is also very generous.

The downside of Oxford is that students aren't allowed to work during term but I really couldn't see how DS1 could have worked anyway as he's been so busy.

I went to Cambridge (a million years ago) and we had to clear out completely every term as they let out the accommodation to business guests in the holidays. It was pain but you get used to it and I was living at home with my parents for 6 months of the year so it's not like you're really established in one place - you have two bases.

Christ Church is brilliant. Accommodation for three years and grants to stay in the holidays. The wealthy colleges are way to aim for as they have more subsidies and grants to students.

OP my DC have been to a fairly large number of different Oxford colleges and I would say that you are delving into far too much detail on the cost front. Although the richer colleges such as St John's are a good bet generally.

On the leaving kit front, it will depend not just on college but whereabouts you live in Scotland. in broad terms, Glasgow or Edinburgh or the Borders you may well not get special consideration but Islands and Highlands you probably will.

I looked up the wealthiest colleges. Top is St John's, then Christ Church then All Souls. You could then check against accommodation offering and get a shortlist.

Really, don’t over think it. Oxford is cheap!

There's always storage units/options if their College won't allow storage: lovespace.co.uk/student-storage/oxford/. this is just one of many which came up on Google.

@sandybayley

I looked up the wealthiest colleges. Top is St John's, then Christ Church then All Souls. You could then check against accommodation offering and get a shortlist.

Good luck getting an undergrad place at All Souls!

Hmm ... You sound ever so slightly oppressive as a parent, OP. Perhaps you don't mean to. What d'you mean by

I definitely won’t consider any Colleges that don’t do the whole 3 years?

Are you planning to go to university with your child?

I completely understand that contemplating the leap from school to university for one's offspring is worrying - but in all your research you don't seem to have grasped much about how the university works. You will have almost no control over which college your child ends up at, (assuming they get in), and making this a matter of importance is possibly setting you both up for disappointment and frustration.

I agree with all these comments: the irony is Oxford is cheap, because the colleges are wealthy.

Look for a college that offers:

• 3 years accommodation (some colleges act as a landlord in year 2 and/or 3, so the college owns nice properties that are furnished well and you pay a subsidised rent to share with other students, nice cos you can get the experience of living out of college quads, and you still get a Scout to clean for you. Luxury!)
• a good on-site library, ideally one that says it has a good stack for PPE undergrads.
• an older college, these tend to be wealthiest so they subsidise everything (accommodation, hardship funds, meals etc).
• food in college halls 6 days a week (usually kitchen closes for one dinner at least) - the food is often excellent and cheap (as it is subsidised)
• a college that is quite central, so it is in easy reach of main libraries and lectures and the exam halls. This means, you can nip back to college for breakfast, lunch and dinner if you want.
• college with a lively student bar and JCR. If sports are important look out for that too. Small colleges often have very inclusive communities with lots of inter-year mixing, and opportunities to get on sports teams are better in many small colleges. A lively social life in college is a cheap way to exist.

You literally never have to buy a new book in Oxford if you don't want to when studying humanities, because the libraries have such long opening hours and you can pick a college with a well stocked college library for your subject, close to the Bodleian/faculty library buildings. There are good second hand bookstores, easy to get hold if summer reading list. This is a big saving for a PPE student.

It really is a pain taking everything home at end of term, every term, but it's quite normal practice in Oxford. Though some colleges will help students who live far from college by storing things for them, especially if they are going by public transport. Worth simply enquiring before you apply.

Don't be put off applying, living costs are cheap compared to other universities due to the colleges' collective wealth!
Good luck.

They do vary, as you have seen. Roughly speaking the richer colleges do tend to be cheaper, but it is not an absolute rule. I was an undergrad at Jesus (years ago) and in the 2nd and 3rd year we had accommodation all year except the summer - no need to move out over Xmas and Easter. That's great if you want to do that, but not if you wan to go home! I now work at St John's. It is certainly one of the cheapest for accommodation and meals and it is also gives much more in the way of grants for educational materials, travel etc. And free printing! On the other hand, there is very little access to kitchens which can make food work out more expensive if students would otherwise self cater more. And All Souls does not take undergrads (or many grads)

Some really useful info here thanks everyone. RainingZen in particular thanks for all that detail and AZis great thanks for the storage link. Hoghgyni I’d be very interested to hear how they’ve dealt with Covid - many Colleges talk about how good their welfare is but did they come up with the goods when it mattered?

I’ve been researching this a lot but there’s nothing quite like hearing about it from a prior student or from someone who has gone through this whole experience with their own offspring.

My takeaway so far from this thread is that I should relax in the knowledge that Oxford is actually very reasonably priced, the richer colleges often have the best facilities and/or financial support in place and that I possibly shouldn’t be stressing out trying to find the ‘perfect’ college for my DS to apply to because where you end up is in the lap of the Gods. And it’s up to him to do his own research too.

And I need to get a well paid job pronto

And it’s up to him to do his own research too.

This! ^

Well paid jobs are tremendous things to possess - and Oxford PPE undergrads are extremely well placed to find lucrative holiday jobs / internships ...

@OxbridgeProject - exactly the right conclusion!

And if you can get him to take control of the process so much the better. Now come and get stuck in on the Oxbridge Aspirants thread where we can collectively worry and stress for the next few months 😊

His chances of getting in are so small (even with those grades), if you wanted to choose a college based on anything, I'd go best for a chance of an offer.

I personally know two outstanding students for PPE (both heads of their respective schools), all grade A*s, accomplished in debates, excellent at interview and passionate about the subjects and the course, and neither got offers this year 😔 These were the best of the best but that's what almost all the competition is.

So I wouldn't stress the finance until much later. There's always ways around it, even if that relies on him working flat out the summer before and each summer in between along with you taking a second job/better job.

I know it’s an incredibly long shot sunbelievable but in the trying he’ll do a lot of work that will help him be better prepared for University wherever he ends up. He’s motivated to do lots of supercurricular work and is under no illusions as to his chances.

If your DS has a serious shot at getting into Oxford for PPE then I think the cost of the accommodation would be just about the last criterion on my list. You should be looking at the tutors, the college results and the general reputation of the college in that subject.

You should be looking at the tutors, the college results and the general reputation of the college in that subject.

And then not getting too hung up on any of it, in case they’re pooled elsewhere.

Would he consider PPE at LSE?

If he is happy to share a triple room, accommodation can be as little as £110 a week include a 3 course evening meal every week night, brunch on Saturday and Roast dinner on Sunday.

The contracts are 31 weeks and they can leave a box of stuff in a storage room each holiday or take a 39 week contract and stay put.

I’m doing all the research on the accommodation myself just so I can get my head round it along with the finances. DS is just going to concentrate on the academic stuff and facilities, location etc.

I’m getting mixed messages about the bearing the College has on the teaching of the subject. I can see College rankings for PPE but then some people say you get taught in departments and that you don’t have all your teaching necessarily in your College. But obviously I can see that some Colleges have more PPE students (because they’re bigger Colleges overall?)

We’ll learn more on the Open Days I hope.

We’re not going for any other English Universities Oldowl. Oxford is our one and only English long shot. His other choices will be PPE at Edinburgh and an as yet undecided Philosophy, Economics, International Relations combo at St Andrews (plus 2 others still be decided) Ironically these options will be more expensive on the cost of living/accommodation front but the travel costs will be lower for us as they’re in Scotland and obviously he won’t have such a large loan as free tuition fees.