Oxbridge

I got a nice email from someone (who wants to remain nameless... mmmm) asking me about the difference between Oxford and Cambridge.

Firstly, which is better academically? In truth, there's almost nothing to pick them apart, though most tables reckon Cambridge has the edge. There is a difference for each subject though. As a rule of thumb, Cambridge tends to have a reputation for sciences, whereas Oxford does for arts, though there are many exceptions to this. To highlight this, note that Trinity College, Cambridge has more Nobel Prize winners from their Natural Sciences Department than all the Oxford Colleges in all subjects combined. However, Christ Church College Oxford has more Prime Ministers as alumni than all of Cambridge University.

One person told me that those who go to Oxford end up running the country, and those who go to Cambridge end up spying against it! lol

The teaching style, in lectures and supervisions/tutorials is all but the same and you are left to yourself pretty much to yourself to sink or swim - even if you are young. Oxford degrees tend to have one year of 'Prelims' and then 2 years of the course for finals, taken in the last year. Cambridge has the 'Tripos' system, whereby you do part I and part II over three years, but generally have exams every summer. From my knowledge, it seems Oxford degrees provide more options within the subject earlier on, from the second year, whereas many Cambridge courses only give options in the third year. Oxbridge courses give less options than most universities - you're expected to do 100% (or very close to it) of your work in your chosen subject. To do any course here, you have to enjoy that subject or find your time here quite a chore. Cambridge has a fabulous Ancient History reputation and Oxford has Modern History pretty much sown up.

What about the cities themselves? Cambridge is small, green, picturesque and has a river running through it. Oxford is larger, less green more stone, picturesque and has a river running around it. It's all down to personal taste. If you want clubs, shops, entertainment then Oxford may be for you. If you want a non-threatening, peaceful, tourist town, that is famed for it's pubs as much as it's stunning architecture, Cambridge could be better. I would even possibly admit that Cambridge is the nicer looking, though some people here would dispute that. Some students seem to be able to going out partying all night long, some people are quieter and happy with a few friends. Both though, have lots of tourists, but Oxford seems to have more young down and outs hanging around and trying to bite you for money around the High Street.

So I hope that answers your question, anonymous! lol