Cambridge/ Oxford how do they work?

[HEadvice]

First post - looking for some advice.
DC 17 in Y12
V v bright. Looking to study MFL. Hopefully with something else.
Considering Oxbridge. I have no experience of these Unis and am a bit daunted by it.
How do they work?
Do you have all lectures/ seminars with your college?
Do you live at the college for all the years ( I went to a campus based Uni and lived “on” in years 1&4, and “off” in years 2&3-is it like this?)
Can you combine subjects like MFL and something else for example?
Do you socialise much outside the colleges?
If you live in the college are the halls catered or self catered?
Are there any colleges that would be more supportive of a student with a sensory impairment that may worsen during their time at Uni?
I understand it’s more expensive and a lot more work than other Unis.
What else should I know?
Thanks for any suggestions!

Although only one of mine went to Cambridge cost wise Cambridge, and presumably the other place are ime at the less expensive end. Lots of things, food being a prime example, heavily subsidised. Unlike his siblings whilst DS1 played sport at the college social level no subs or other fees. Worth comparing accommodation costs at a few other unis perhaps the usual non London suspects like Durham, Warwick, Bristol etc to see the difference.

I would strongly agree with the point about trying to avoid an Oxbridge or bust approach.

DD is doing MFL at Oxford. One point to be aware of is that Oxford MFL degrees (and I imagine this applies to Cambridge too) are much more "literature heavy" than MFL degrees at some other universities, so your DD should think about whether that's what she wants.

The selection procedure for MFL at Oxford involves taking an exam called the MLAT. This tests knowledge of the language to be studied (not literature). The French one is designed to really test a candidate's knowledge of French grammar. Past papers are available online. If your DD is applying for MFL at Oxford, I would strongly advise your DD to look at past MLAT papers well in advance and use these to identify and plug gaps in her knowledge. The application procedure also involves submitting pieces of written work. Make sure you/your DD read up on exactly what written work needs to be submitted. DD came frighteningly close to failing to meet the requirements on time because she had got them slightly wrong. (Error was spotted last minute by a family member who was taking an interest. Definitely don't assume your DD's school will be up to speed on the specifics of Oxbridge entrance requirements!)

So much helpful advice here- I need to take the time to read each post through properly.
I think the point about looking at other unis is good - we have others that DC is keen on too and I will talk those up too.
Lit heavy isn’t a problem I don’t think but it’s an interesting point. Dc grammar is strong I would say. Accent not so.
Really helpful about the entrance requirements- school have been brill but they can’t know all the specifics as it seems crazy complex.
Once again huge thanks to everyone who has posted advice- really appreciate your time taken to help us.

By the way the first post says it is more expensive. In fact it is often cheaper than many other good universities as you tend just to pay rent for 3 eight week terms not a whole year. Eg Bristol halls catered of my son were about £7800 a year (and private house rents for years 2 and 3 had to be paid) whereas at Oxbridge you can often get a college you can stay in all 3 of the years and it costs less - I think it is all mostly catered which is what my children wanted in year 1 at their different universities by the way ( .e.g "Student accommodation at St John's is among the most affordable in the University. For 2021-22, rents range from £987.74 to £1161.74 per term, depending on the grade of the room.")

My children did not try Oxbridge as did not think they would get in although my siblings did go (I didn't try). 3 of my children went to Bristol (one had graduation last week and another this coming week, delayed due to covid).

If you do try Oxbridge it should be on the basis you will have a go but do not get upset if you fail because loads of people whoa re really good don't get in every year and they do fine elsewhere anyway.

Yes, Oxford is particularly lit focussed. You can combine MFL with history, English, Classics, philosophy, or linguistics, or pair her main language with a new one. I suggest she has a look at the faculty and admissions website: www.mod-langs.ox.ac.uk/
www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/courses/undergraduate-course-search?combine=modern+languages

At Cambridge she can do one language with history, or two languages, one of which can be new.

www.mmll.cam.ac.uk/
www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/modern-and-medieval-languages

This thread makes me want to be 17/18 again. I want to be at the beginning of that journey and to go back and do it again! Perhaps not the exams...

My dc is a second year Oxford humanities student

They can apply to one particular college or do an open application, ie, to all colleges which do their chosen subject, but that doesn't mean they will get into their first choice. It is not unusual for applicants to be offered an interview at second or third college, or even a slightly different but related subject or combination of subjects. This happened to a couple of people in my dc interview group

Catering facilities vary from college to college, food quality is generally fine but prices vary. Accommodation maybe subsidised but eating in hall isn't really tbh (breakfast for example is quite expensive)

Hi OP

Both DDs studying MFL at Cambridge, different colleges.

Heavy workload, literature heavy. DD1 says her friend at Bristol does much less work but it’s more language focused, so her friend is probably more fluent.

Socialising seems more college based than course based.

Accommodation provided for all four years, not too expensive.

Sorry am in a rush, so short answers! Please PM me if you like.

Sorry, I see Bevelino has made the same comment re Bristol!

Social life good - both girls are/were on the JCR, and one of them does dance and the other netball. Lots of work and socialising - hardly any sleep though!

Agree eg Oxford can be cheaper than other Universities, but it varies greatly by college.

DS's college is about £1,550 per term (accommodation and dining card). DD's college is £2,200 for the same. I was shocked.

DS has been in university accommodation for all 4 years, DD has to live out next year (£590 per month, for 12 months, plus bills).

As others have said, Oxbridge can be cheaper because of the short terms. BUT you to empty the room every Christmas and Easter which is a pain.

Yy re bringing everything home being a pita!

Hi OP my D1 is in her second year at Oxford, so I only know about there, I don't have any information on Cambridge. (Well DH went to Cambridge but spent most of his time playing cricket (or in the bar) he says he didn't work as hard as D1!)

The most important thing, as others have said, is try not to get too hung up on Oxbridge as obviously both universities are massively over subscribed and most applicants won't get a place. It's important to think about all the other choices on the UCAS form.

There is a lot of information on the Oxford University website: www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate you can click through for info on courses, colleges, entrance requirements etc, and importantly the timeline for applications. See what sort of information and support school provides. Our school had a nominated teacher for all the UCAS early entries - so Oxbridge, medicine, dentistry etc. The school arranged a school trip for open days and D1 was able to sit her entrance test at school, she also had to submit work which had to be in pdf form with a covering form from school. She was supposed to have a meeting with the teacher to sort this, but got missed out. The deadline was a Sunday and D1 had thought it was the Monday - cue v stressful weekend which D1 has forbidden me sharing details of, haha, but involved her having to break into school So make sure you check the dates...

You can study MFL with other subjects, eg English, History, Classics, Philosophy - have a look at the course list which you can click through to on the Oxford website. All the entrance requirements and details of submitted work required is on there too. If you get an offer it will be the Oxford standard offer of AAA.

You can either express a preference for a college or make an open application. The applications are looked at on a departmental or faculty level and they aim to interview three people for every place, at this stage the applications are spread out across the colleges so you may well be interviewed by a different college/s than the one you put on application. Not all courses are done at all colleges - check the course and college listings. D1's History joint is only offered by about half the colleges for example.

Tutorials might not be at your college - it depends on the papers you have chosen. If the lecturer is at a different college, you go there. D1 has had tutorials at several different colleges as well as her own.

I think Oxford can actually be cheaper than other universities. The tuition fees are the same everywhere, the accommodation costs at Oxbridge may be less as the terms are shorter, also a lot of stuff is subsidised - D1 gets free admission to the University sports centre for example as the college covers the subs. She lived in college for first year, it was about £1.4k per term plus hall catering credit on her Bod card. The disadvantage is that the rooms have to be cleared in the vacs, there may be some college storage space available. She chose to live out this year, her rent in a shared house (walking distance from college) is just under £600 on an 11 month contract. She will be back in college for 3rd year. Accommodation costs vary, it can depend on size of room, ensuites etc. It's usually sorted out by ballot.

In addition, there is a very generous bursary scheme - if you apply for a maintenance loan you will automatically be put in for a bursary, these go from £500-£5000 depending on household income. These are non-repayable. There is also a travel grant of up to £500pa depending on how far you live from Oxford. Also departmental and college grants and scholarships are available - they are very keen that finance should not be a barrier to study. There isn't really time (and you are heavily discouraged) for part time work during term. A few of D1's friends do a bit of online tutoring.

Have a look on the colleges link from the website, you can see facilities by college, eg gyms, music facilities (eg one has connections with Dansox ) etc. You can often use other colleges facilities and join choirs at other colleges.

D1 mostly socialises with people at her college, partly because starting in a pandemic meant the opportunities for much socialising at all was limited. She does have friends from her course and in societies who are at other colleges.

I would say try and get there for an Open Day - or see if school is arranging a trip. There are general open days and subject specific ones MFL open day in May

Hope some of this has been useful and sorry if I've repeated PPs.

DC are currently at Oxbridge but neither are MFL; one at Oxford (STEM), the other Cambridge (Social Science). My information is limited to their experiences.
Lectures are department based.
Both can live in college accommodation for all three years. For Cam DC this is all years on same site. Ox DC has lived in college houses in different parts of Oxford after first year.
Both DC socialise outside college with their sports teams and within college at formals, brunch, balls, societies etc
Both have the option of eating in Hall for breakfast, lunch and dinner, regardless of where they live. Oxford DC has had good kitchen facilities from second year onwards and mainly self caters except for formals. Cam DC eats mainly in Hall except for breakfast and some lunches. Has a very good brunch at weekends.
Both DC have have had support from uni level disability services (DSA) and this has been excellent at both places.
DC's colleges are cheaper than eg first year halls at Durham and Bristol. Cam accom is working out a bit more expensive overall than Ox. Cam DC has received various gifts from college benefactors eg room discounts, free formals. Oxford DC has received travel grants for vacation travel and an annual scholarship.
It's a lot of work in both places but my DC enjoy their subjects and find time for sport, friends, fun.
Have to agree that emptying rooms is a pain. Cam DC can leave stuff in storage which really helps.

Why do you think it's more expensive? That's not actually true, the accommodation is owned by and subsidised by the uni, and the course fees are the same as anywhere else.

Sorry about my links there, don't know what happened, they look fine on my pc but have gone weird on my phone for some reason. Don't know if it's just my phone, or the app.

The Oxford University undergraduate info is
www.ox.ac.uk/digital-prospectus

The info on MFL open day is
www.mod-langs.ox.ac.uk/schools/meet-us

The JdP music building and hit about Dansox is
jdp.st-hildas.ox.ac.uk/

Hopefully those will work 😬

@hellcatspangle, to clarify, the cost of the accommodation at my DS's Cambridge college is more expensive than the accommodation at my DD's Oxford college but both are less costly than, for example, Bristol and Durham.

The one combined MFL option at Cambridge is History and MML, but you can borrow papers from other triposes, such as History or Classics within a straight MML degree. Accommodation is three ten week terms (the actual teaching time is shy of ten weeks), and for most students is available in College for all undergraduate years. Lectures are at the University, with supervisions in small groups back in College.

The set up is more like a big boarding school, rather than a "normal" university. Some students resent the closer scrutiny and living in College can be a bit like living in a goldfish bowl. Accommodation is certainly cheaper, as rooms are cleared in the vacations and there are no accommodation costs to pay. The Colleges are mainly catered, and woe betide anyone who takes in any unauthorised electrical goods, such as sandwich makers, rice cookers or small fridges - they'll be confiscated until the end of term when you'll have to take them home.

@Hillarious some of that is not correct in DD's experience.

She is not in one of the central colleges like Trinity or Kings so there is no feeling of it being like a goldfish bowl. She and her friends had a tabletop oven for 2 years that was never discovered or confiscated and she has a small slow cooker that she asked the porters to PAT test which they did gladly. She almost entirely self-catered for the whole 4 years other than brunch on a Sunday and some formals.

Haha. I took a deep fat fryer to Cambridge in 1995 and no-one confiscated it. My friend still reminds me of it. I was the only person on my corridor with a TV too. Couldn't give up my Neighbours fix and MOTD.

DD4 has a brand new mini fridge and microwave in her room, provided by the college. To be fair DS2 and his friends did have their job confiscated on a fortnightly basis but it was always swiftly returned on the proviso that it would be confiscated if they used it which they did then it was confiscated but ….. (etc). That continued for the entire second year.

*hob not job!

The trick is to hide it well. Although god knows what I did with the oil.

Definitely go to the open days and if it feels right they should apply!

Look at hardship funds if you would qualify - in my day some colleges had them.

As pp said definitely encourage them to see it as a punt, a bit of a lottery. I’ve seen some excellent candidates rejected over the years and they need to be reminded from the outset that everyone who is in the ballpark to apply is already excellent and will have a bright future ahead of them whether they get in to Oxbridge or not.

There might be info for students with disabilities you can read. In some unis there are now arrangements for extra pastoral care etc.

@Hillarious the goldfish bowl exactly describes my experience. It can be a toss up - small college can be more nurturing, but bigger ones less intense and more scope to find one’s quirky tribe

[quote MissHavershamReturns]@Hillarious the goldfish bowl exactly describes my experience. It can be a toss up - small college can be more nurturing, but bigger ones less intense and more scope to find one’s quirky tribe[/quote]
I did maths. Easy to find a quirky tribe from within the other mathmos!