Student profiles

Why did you decide to come to Oxford?

I chose to come to Oxford for several reasons. Firstly, the Oxford Biochemistry Department is world-renowned and I was very excited about the kind of work being done in the labs here. The duration of the doctorate program suited my needs and I fell in love with the town the first time I visited it. Oxford’s outstanding reputation was another major reason in my decision to study here. 

Describe your 'typical' day as a student at Oxford.

Being a doctoral student, most of my day is spent doing experiments and reading research papers in lab. However, I enjoy my evenings by going for dinners/movies with friends, attending social events in college and exploring the city of Oxford and nearby towns. 

What do you do outside of your research/studies for enjoyment?

Oxford offers a plethora of opportunities to develop holistically. During my 2.5 years at Oxford, I have been involved with a range of fun activities including caving, stargazing, college rowing, wine tasting, dancing and yoga classes. I have also recently started taking piano lessons during my free time in the evenings.

In your own words, can you describe Oxford's colleges to those who are not familiar with them?

The college system in Oxford is like an expanded version of the hostels/dormitories in India. It is where you live, eat, socialize and meet people. College is different from “Department”, which is where you would go for your classes/lab/coursework.

Are you involved in any student societies?

I was on the organizing committee for the annual Keble College Ball in 2010. I also acted as the College Middle Common Room vice-president during my second year. As a biochemist, I was recently involved with the Oxbridge Biotech Roundtable, a new student initiative that aims to increase conversation between academia and the biotech industry in UK.

What do you see yourself doing after completing your degree at Oxford?

After my doctorate, I look forward to returning to India and participating in the initiatives to set up new science parks, biotech hubs and research facilities. I am also looking at opportunities to work in the healthcare sector as a consultant. Another option for me is to work in the pharmaceutical and biotech companies in India. 

What has surprised you the most about your experiences at Oxford?

I have been very pleasantly surprised by the wide variety of courses being taken up by the students at Oxford. Discussion with my friends has helped me learn a lot about different cultures, countries and subjects from around the world. 

If you could tell prospective applicants anything about applying to and attending Oxford, what would it be?

Start early! Also, do not be intimidated by the application process – it will be worth it! Be confident – do not under estimate your chances of securing a position. None of us here thought we would actually get in, but we did, and so can you! 

Is there anything else you would like to pass on to students who are interested in studying at Oxford?

Have a very open mind about studying abroad. You will meet lots of interesting and intelligent people at Oxford, and do not limit yourself to only your departmental colleagues. You will have a much more enriching experience if you also interact with people from outside of your department. 

Do you feel that attending Oxford was the right decision for you?

Definitely! I love every aspect of my life at Oxford, from my lab work, to my college, colleagues and friends. Oxford is a vibrant town, set in the backdrop of a medieval English setting – it is an absolutely wonderful place to spend your four years of postgraduate study. 

To learn more about Jayati’s experience at Oxford, visit the Biochemistry Website.

Why did you decide to come to Oxford?

I applied in October 2007 and was offered a place in December 2007 after an interview. I decided to come in April 2008 when I had received financial support.

Describe your 'typical' day as a student at Oxford.

It's hard to describe a typical day because there isn't one. I usually spend 8 hours in the lab mostly in the day time and do one other thing in the evening. Maybe meet friends or attend a talk or go for a discussion. There’s always something interesting going on.

In your own words, can you describe Oxford's colleges to those who are not familiar with them?

For postgraduate students, a simple explanation of a college is that it is like a second home. A place to socialise, meet people from other subject areas, go eat good food, take part in fun events and activities, and indulge in some Oxford-type living.

Are you involved in any student societies?

Along with a friend from Exeter, we started a student society called the Oxford Transhumanists. With over 250 members, it has featured speakers from around the world who speak on a broad theme of the future of science and technology.

What do you see yourself doing after completing your degree at Oxford?

I would like to see myself in an influential position in business, media or the government. Oxford has given me the confidence to face the world that lies beyond the ivory towers.

If you could tell prospective applicants anything about applying to and attending Oxford, what would it be?

Come to Oxford with an open mind and make the most of what it has to offer.

Do you feel that attending Oxford was the right decision for you?

Definitely. I could not have been happier with the risk I took when I let go off multiple offers from good US universities. I can already feel that Oxford has contributed a lot to who I am and I think as I enter the professional world I feel this even more.

Why did you decide to come to Oxford?

Oxford presented me with unparalleled opportunities to enhance my skills in research medicine, particularly in foetal medicine. I chose Oxford to be supervised by and to work with the best academics in my field in a state-of-the-art, immensely intellectually stimulating environment. 

Describe your 'typical' day as a student at Oxford.

It is hard to describe a day in Oxford as ‘typical’. Describing a ‘typical’ day would be an oversimplification of what Oxford has to offer - I would describe it best as a awe-inspiring balance of high energy research and academic achievements in a departmental setting; intellectually-stimulating conversations with peers in a college setting; a highly engaging social timetable in college; club and society events; and sporting activity made possible through the considerable amount of time I spend in cycling the city’s cobbled streets!

What do you do outside of your research/studies for enjoyment?

I am Junior Dean of Exeter College, Oxford and work closely with the college’s administration to maintain discipline, offer welfare support and take care of the college’s students and activities on a day to day basis. I work part-time on a study for the Wikimedia Foundation together with the Department of Education at Oxford, and am also a research consultant for Microclinics International - a global NGO committed to the prevention of chronic diseases worldwide. I have also taken courses in Portuguese, Spanish, oil on canvas and salsa during my student days in Oxford. 

In your own words, can you describe Oxford's colleges to those who are not familiar with them?

An Oxford student has two affiliations under the broad umbrella of the University – one is their department, the other is their college. The college is the core of a student’s social life in Oxford, a sort of home-away-from-home, and a family-away-from-family. It’s where friend circles are established, and non-course related activities such as parties, sports, clubs, societies, dinners and holidays take place. It’s also where a student goes for support if things go wrong (and this spans the domains of welfare, pastoral care, health, academic and financial support).

Are you involved in any student societies?

 I am Junior Dean of Exeter College and previously was the Welfare Officer of Exeter’s Middle Common Room. I am a member of Bacchus, Oxford’s wine tasting society. I have also played basketball for the University’s team and am a founding member of the society for prenatal Psychopathology and Offspring Development (pPOD).

What do you see yourself doing after completing your degree at Oxford?

I see myself consolidating my research by gaining a couple of years of post-doctoral experience in foetal medicine, working with multi-disciplinary trans-national collaborations. I also see myself specialising in either Obstetrics & Gynaecology, or Paediatric medicine in the next few years.

What has surprised you the most about your experiences at Oxford?

There are two things that surprised me at Oxford. First, was how international the postgraduate student community is here. Second, I was surprised by how the ‘academic’ aspect of social life in Oxford is one of the most enjoyable experiences here. My friends and I have come up with fantastic ideas over cups of coffee, dinners and even glasses of wine! Oxford has such a wealth of expertise that finding out that the solution to the problem you’ve been working on for years is actually your dinner companion’s doctoral thesis, is not an uncommon experience at all. 

If you could tell prospective applicants anything about applying to and attending Oxford, what would it be?

There’s nothing that isn’t on www.ox.ac.uk, so reading through the web site would definitely be a sound investment. I would say, plan ahead – at least a year to two years ahead so that you refine your CV, your statement of purpose and your research proposal to Oxford’s calibre. Finally, there’s a lot of funding out there, and it’s important to apply to these as well as you can (there’s also a lot of competition out there, so it’s equally important to apply to as many as you can). 

Is there anything else you would like to pass on to students who are interested in studying at Oxford?

The University is extremely keen to help students – please do avail of these resources and the wealth of guidance available to you to aid you with your application process. 

Do you feel that attending Oxford was the right decision for you?

Absolutely!

Why did you decide to come to Oxford?

Oxford has always captured one of the top slots in University rankings across the world, based on its world-leading research and the diverse community of academics who are leaders in their fields. The opportunity to be a part of one of the oldest and most well-renowned Universities in the world was good reason for me to decide to come to Oxford. 

Describe your 'typical' day as a student at Oxford.

A ‘typical’ day at Oxford is usually a few hours of lectures and classes, interspersed with frequent visits to the library for issuing new books and renewing overdue ones! There are surprisingly interesting conversations with friends, comprising comparisons of the number of deadlines each one has in the current week. An hour or two at seminars related or unrelated to my field makes it exciting, not to mention the refreshing eat-outs and cuisine-trials with a different set of people every time.

What do you do outside of your research/studies for enjoyment?

College nights, ‘Bops’ (the term used for college parties) in different colleges are quite exciting. I enjoy going for plays, exhibitions, film screenings, and a lot of times we do it as a class, which is great fun.

In your own words, can you describe Oxford's colleges to those who are not familiar with them?

The collegiate system at Oxford essentially works to provide students with a home away from home. While your department takes care of all academic issues related to your course of study at Oxford (and this is where you attend lectures/classes or do your academic work), the colleges provide you with opportunities of socialising at both formal and informal events within a smaller community comprising the members of the college (who may be undergraduate and/or graduate students, professors, and others) from a variety of fields of study. You may or may not have an overlap between your colleagues in your class/department and those at your college.

Apart from maintaining all administrative records related to you, the college provides for your physical and emotional well-being while you are at Oxford. 

What do you see yourself doing after completing your degree at Oxford?

I plan to continue with further studies in my subject after completing my current course at Oxford. 

What has surprised you the most about your experiences at Oxford?

I could go on forever answering this question, but I’ll stick to a few that were strikingly surprising, and most obviously quite pleasant.

First, the University provides all students with an extremely supportive atmosphere, not just in academics, but in all spheres of day-to-day life which makes adjustment to the new environment almost frictionless. Second, I was, and probably am still, surprised by the amount of personal attention that is given to each student within the community – it is hard to find someone (especially a faculty member) who is not willing to talk - irrespective of how trivial or significant the issue may be, which is amazing. Almost no-one turns you away saying they’re busy, not even when they genuinely are! And third (definitely not the last), it is astonishing to realize the variety of people you meet every day at formal and informal events, and otherwise - it is worth experiencing. 

If you could tell prospective applicants anything about applying to and attending Oxford, what would it be?

It is a good idea to go through the details of the application requirements mentioned on the course website for whichever course to wish to apply, and it is good to do it in time. The information on the University website is self-explanatory so you should hope to find all answers there. 

Is there anything else you would like to pass on to students who are interested in studying at Oxford?

Oxford – the University and the place – is life-changing! 

Do you feel that attending Oxford was the right decision for you?

There are no two ways about it! I will always cherish my decision to apply to and attend Oxford.

Why did you decide to come to Oxford?

Oxford is a world famous institution and pursuing a degree at Oxford is extremely prestigious. If the University of Oxford decides to offer you a place as a research student you simply cannot ask for more!  

Describe your 'typical' day as a student at Oxford.

A typical day of a research student is long, innovative and exciting at the same time. Your relationship with your supervisor(s) is really important. My day as a doctoral student varies from 8 hrs to 18 hrs at times. You have tea with lab mates and everyone gets working by 10am. Doing research is a very case-dependent process. People may start work as early as 8am or may start a bit late depending on how it suits your work, lab, timings of your supervisor, etc..

The quality of work you do has most weight. Any research student is expected to learn time management skills, team work and also skills to work as an individual. You learn to handle the stress when your experiments don’t work! The University, though, has good support system to help students in difficult situations be it personal or professional.  Every Oxford graduate student (that’s what a doctoral student is referred to as) is trained and expected to produce innovative and cutting-edge research with an ability to lead a team once they finish their degree.

What do you do outside of your research/studies for enjoyment?

We go for movies, watch plays, and go to pubs. There are various places just around and close to Oxford where you can plan a trip over the weekends. London is just an hour from here and is very different from Oxford and has lots to offer! The University of Oxford and the Oxford Union organises several lectures every term which is an experience in itself. You have people like Mr. Amitabh Bachchan (the Indian superstar) and Johnny Depp coming to Oxford.

In your own words, can you describe Oxford's colleges to those who are not familiar with them?

Oxford has around 40 colleges. For graduates, college means social life! It also provides help in accommodation and dining-in, done in college halls. Social life is an important part of any student coming from a different country and college takes care of that. You get to meet student from various other courses and countries. When I met a guy (now a friend) from Bermuda (of which I only heard in movies) I was so glad. Only Oxford can do this to anyone! 

Are you involved in any student societies?

I worked with the Oxford Indian Society and just stepped down from the post of President. I was involved with the society for almost three years and now serve as the Returning Officer. It was an amazing experience as it gives you an opportunity to interact with other fellow Indians or people interested in India who are otherwise scattered all over the University. I enjoyed my involvement with the Society very much. I organized various lectures, cultural events, celebrated festivals and put together Bollywood dance nights! I became a DJ too!

What do you see yourself doing after completing your degree at Oxford?

I see myself working for some scientific consulting firms after finishing my doctorate at Oxford.

What has surprised you the most about your experiences at Oxford?

The big brand name Oxford and such friendly easy-going atmosphere, staffs, tutors and peers. If you are social or not, it doesn’t matter, Oxford has something to offer everyone. It has 100s of clubs, societies, sports, libraries, museums, social events. You will run out of time if you want to see everything that Oxford has to offer! 

If you could tell prospective applicants anything about applying to and attending Oxford, what would it be?

I came from a comparatively smaller town, Allahabad (Uttar Pradesh), and now when I walk down on the streets of Oxford it’s like a dream come true. The website should be the first reference point. You will find most of the information there though it might be a bit scattered. It’s easier to sit down with a set of questions like what you want to know precisely and then look up the website. The more you read the website the more you may know about the University and its admission process etc. Oxford’s academic year is divided into three terms: Michaelmas Term (Oct-Dec), Hilary Term (Jan-Mar) and Trinity Term (Apr-Jun). July-Sept is summer break for undergraduates.

Is there anything else you would like to pass on to students who are interested in studying at Oxford?

Do you feel that attending Oxford was the right decision for you?

The best decision, for sure! The cutting edge research blended with traditions of centuries-old Oxford University is unmatchable. 

Why did you decide to come to Oxford?

Oxford University is a premier institution with a rich history and a sparkling brand. Above all, I have been fortunate to receive generous scholarships to study at the University. I read for two very diverse Masters degrees in economics, which has given me a well-rounded perspective on the execution of economic policy.

After completing my Masters degrees at Oxford, I worked for two years as an economist at the South African Ministry of Finance as an Overseas Development Institute fellow. Many former Oxford students, including at least two of my professors, have been a part of this exciting fellowship and it is pretty likely that I would have never even applied to the ODI programme had I not discussed it in considerable detail with former fellows.

After completing my term in South Africa, I returned to Oxford to read for a doctorate at what I believe is a strong economics department at a university that I am familiar with.

Describe your 'typical day' as a student at Oxford.

I start a typical day by attending a lecture. Following the lecture, I'm usually working at my desk at the department of economics. For lunch, I hop over to any one of a number of lunchtime seminars run by the economics department where researchers present their papers. For the afternoon, it's back to the desk at the department, taking breaks over coffee to discuss current work with colleagues and classmates. If I feel like a change of scene, I head to the beautiful library at my college, overlooking the front quad. In the evening, I sometimes stop over at my college Middle Common Room for a drink or a chat, before heading home. 

What do you do outside of your research/studies for enjoyment?

Take photographs, travel, read books, watch movies.

In your own words, can you describe Oxford's colleges to those who are not familiar with them?

For graduate students, your college is your family. You often live at your college residences, eat at your college halls, drink at your college bar, work out of your college library and socialise with the other members of your Middle Common Room (MCR). MCR activities are some of the most fun events of the social calendar, and with a particularly active MCR, you need to draw on your deepest reserves of determination to get any work done at all!

What do you see yourself doing after completing your degree at Oxford?

Writing and researching in the academic and the policy environment. 

What has surprised you the most about your experiences at Oxford?

I came to Oxford as an assured sceptic: surely the clichéd charms of the "dreaming spires" and stunning architecture would wear thin pretty soon. As it happens, one of the greatest pleasures of my day is the daily walk to my department. 

If you could tell prospective applicants anything about applying to and attending Oxford, what would it be?

A 9-month or a 12-month Masters programme can be very hectic so it makes a lot of sense to plan ahead to what you think you might want to do after the degree is over.

Is there anything else you would like to pass on to students who are interested in studying at Oxford?

Oxford values independence, allowing students to decide for themselves what lectures to attend, what classes to study for and what essays and books to read. It could be a sudden change if you come from a system that is more prescriptive, but in adjusting to the Oxford way, I think you pick up important skills.

Do you feel that attending Oxford was the right decision for you?

Yes, which is why I returned to Oxford after working for two years. 

Why did you decide to come to Oxford?

During the latter half of my undergraduate degree in law, I had decided to pursue a Masters degree in Law with a focus on Public Law. The strength of Oxford’s Law Faculty in Public Law, the teaching and learning methods, and the importance attached to the Bachelor of Civil Law within the Law Faculty as a separate and advanced degree were extremely significant factors. All my years at Oxford have been fully funded and I couldn’t have continued were it not for that. Also, I would be lying if I said that the romance attached to studying at Oxford didn’t contribute in some measure.

Describe your 'typical' day as a student at Oxford.

As a doctoral candidate in the Law Faculty (and I guess it would be true of any research degree), you quickly realise the importance of having a regular work schedule. I try and spend a few hours researching in the library everyday but the intensity of that process largely depends on the deadlines set by my supervisor.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to read widely on a daily basis and discuss my work with some of the leading thinkers in my area of work. A typical week would involve meeting my supervisor, a research group meeting, and work related to the India Media Law Research Project that I work on with the Programme in Comparative Media Law and Policy at the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies.

Apart from that there is an extremely tempting line-up of events across different University departments and colleges every day and it is very possible that you can spend your entire time just attending these events - and you would receive a fantastic education! Depending on my deadlines, I meet up with friends at least twice a week in the evening for a drink, dinner or a movie.

Are you involved in any student societies?

My most significant involvement has been with the Oxford Indian Society as its President from 2009-10. It was a priority during my tenure to increase the Society’s socio-political engagement with India and towards that goal we hosted talks by Aruna Roy, Nikhil Dey, Mani Shankar Aiyar, Rajeev Bhargava, Arun Jaitley, Shobhana Bhartia, etc. It was also extremely rewarding to showcase Indian cinema beyond Bollywood by screening some wonderful regional cinema.

I have also been involved with the Oxford Pro Bono Publico as a member of its Executive Committee during 2008-09, as a research coordinator for a project on a death penalty case in India and as a research contributor to a report on human rights violations in Burma.

I have thoroughly enjoyed playing cricket in Oxford – having played on dusty grounds in India where there are 10 matches being played simultaneously, I can’t have enough of Oxford’s beautiful and picturesque cricket grounds. I will be captaining the Balliol College team during the cricket season in 2012.

What do you see yourself doing after completing your degree at Oxford?

I have always been sure that I want to return to India after Oxford. Though the immediate plan is to teach at one of India’s top national law universities, I am keen on a career in politics in the long term. People have asked me whether I can achieve anything significant without “dirtying my hands” –as idealistic as it may sound, I do hope that compromising one’s principles is not a necessary precondition for success in politics.

What has surprised you the most about your experiences at Oxford?

The sheer extent to which I have grown intellectually and the realisation of the enormous number of things that remain to be learned.

Do you feel that attending Oxford was the right decision for you?

Absolutely – building on the foundations laid at law school in India, the contribution of the education at Oxford to my intellectual rigour and work ethic cannot be overstated.

Why did you decide to come to Oxford?

Oxford University is one of great repute and excels in a multitude of disciplines, including Theoretical Physics.

Describe your 'typical' day as a student at Oxford.

Outside my own research, a typical day at Oxford comprises attending fantastic courses and a talk or two on varying disciplines. Occasionally there are intriguing debates on a wide range of topics. There is also plenty of interaction with students and faculties from within and outside my discipline.

What do you do outside of your research/studies for enjoyment?

There is plenty to do in Oxford. One can engage in practically any kind of sport. There are fantastic concerts, plays and performances of all sorts going on throughout the year. There are also several colleges, museums and galleries in Oxford.

In your own words, can you describe Oxford's colleges to those who are not familiar with them?

Every student at Oxford is associated with a college. It serves as a 'Home' for him/her. The college is responsible for providing most facilities including accommodation, library and computing services. One can take courses at the college, interact with students and faculties from multiple disciplines, engage in a variety of sports and develop leadership qualities by taking up a post in the Junior or Middle common room.

The primary advantage of being associated with a college is the chance to interact with students from all age groups and have common experiences with them. One usually develops strong bonds with people from different cultures and nationalities.

Are you involved in any student societies?

I am a member of the Oxford Physics, Astronomy and Mathematics Societies. I am also a member of the Oxford University Table Tennis Club.

What do you see yourself doing after completing your degree at Oxford?

After completion, I look forward to further research in my discipline, leading to a career in academia.

What has surprised you the most about your experiences at Oxford?

The most surprising thing about being in Oxford is the ease with which one engage oneself in multiple disciplines, both academic and non-academic, enabling a multi-dimensional development of character.

If you could tell prospective applicants anything about applying to and attending Oxford, what would it be?

There is a centralized system of scholarship applications that one can use while making an application to Oxford.

Do you feel that attending Oxford was the right decision for you?

Absolutely! Oxford has provided me with world class facilities. It has paved the path for a successful career for me in academia.

Why did you decide to come to Oxford?

Doing a DPhil at the University of Oxford was a long-cherished dream. I felt that only Oxford could provide me the academic foundation to understand my proposed research issue in all its complexity. Through its academically charged environment, opportunity to interact with talented scholars from different nationalities and guidance of experts in the realm of Social Sciences, I envisioned the fulfilment of my long-standing dream of being able to contribute to the process of informed dialogue and inclusive development in my country.

In your own words, can you describe Oxford's colleges to those who are not familiar with them?

A college, especially for graduate students, is like home away from home - a place to help you settle in when you arrive, to socialise over meals (especially the formals), hang out with friends and unwind in the MCR.

Are you involved in any student societies?

I am involved with Clarendon Scholars Association and the Oxford India Society. 

What do you see yourself doing after completing your degree at Oxford?

To be able to contribute to the development of my nation in whatever way possible has been a continuous objective in my life. I wish to pursue a career in research geared towards policy-making in India, especially policy which translates the goal of inclusive development into reality.

What has surprised you the most about your experiences at Oxford?

I think it is the everyday things that surprised me, from my difficulty in being able to sleep because I found it excessively quiet after all the hustle and bustle back home in Delhi, to the precision and planning that is omnipresent in Oxford, even in traffic and college dinners. Also, the manner in which the entire University system is geared towards helping students develop critical thinking - Oxford is the kind of place which will throw challenges at you every day, yet it will also equip you with the tools to overcome those challenges.

If you could tell prospective applicants anything about applying to and attending Oxford, what would it be?

I would just say that there are many times in the whole process when you might wonder if it is worth it, if you have any chance of "making the cut" given the immense competition. Just don’t give up. Each of us here has gone through this. I have, and everyone I meet echoes similar views.

Do you feel that attending Oxford was the right decision for you?

Absolutely, the past 6 months have been like living out a dream.