Regular tutorials, which are the responsibility of the colleges, are the focal point of teaching and learning at Oxford. The tutorial system is one of the most distinctive features of an Oxford education: it ensures that students work closely with tutors throughout their undergraduate careers, and offers a learning experience which is second to none.

A typical tutorial is a one-hour meeting between a tutor and one, two, or three students to discuss reading and written work that the students have prepared in advance. It gives students the chance to interact directly with tutors, to engage with them in debate, to exchange ideas and argue, to ask questions, and of course to learn through the discussion of the prepared work. Many tutors are world-leaders in their fields of research, and Oxford undergraduates frequently learn of new discoveries before they are published.

Each student also receives teaching in a variety of other ways, depending on the course. This will include lectures and classes, and may include laboratory work and fieldwork. But the tutorial is the place where all the elements of the course come together and make sense. Meeting regularly with the same tutor – often weekly throughout the term – ensures a high level of individual attention and enables the process of learning and teaching to take place in the context of a student’s individual needs.

The tutorial system also offers the sustained commitment of one or more senior academics – as college tutors – to each student’s progress. It helps students to grow in confidence, to develop their skills in analysis and persuasive argument, and to flourish as independent learners and thinkers.

For more about the Tutorial system, including a sample tutorial video:
http://www.ox.ac.uk/about_the_university/introducing_oxford/an_oxford_education/studying/index.html
http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate_courses/why_oxford/studying_at_oxford/tutorials.html

Every Oxford student is a member of a college. The college system is at the heart of the Oxford experience, giving students the benefits of belonging to both a large and internationally renowned university and a much smaller, interdisciplinary, college community.

Each college brings together academics, undergraduate and postgraduate students, and college staff. The college gives its members the chance to be part of a close and friendly community made up of both leading  academics and students from different subjects, year groups, cultures and countries. The relatively small size of each college means that it is easy to make friends and contribute to college life. There is a sense of belonging, which can be harder to achieve in a larger setting, and a supportive environment for study and all sorts of other activities.

Colleges organise tutorial teaching for their undergraduates, and one or more college tutors will oversee and guide each student’s progress throughout his or her career at Oxford. The college system fosters a sense of community between tutors and students, and among students themselves, allowing for close and supportive personal attention to each student’s academic development.

It is the norm that undergraduates live in college accommodation in their first year, and in many cases they will continue to be accommodated by their college for the majority or the entire duration of their course. Colleges invest heavily in providing an extensive range of services for their students, and as well as accommodation colleges provide food, library and IT resources, sports facilities and clubs, drama and music, social spaces and societies, access to travel or project grants, and extensive welfare support. For students the college often becomes the hub of their social, sporting and cultural life.

For more about Oxford’s unique college system and how to choose a college, see:
http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate_courses/colleges/introducing_the_colleges/index.html
http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate_courses/colleges/how_to_choose_a.html
Hear what students have to say about the college system:
http://www.ox.ac.uk/colleges/student_comments/index.html

World-class facilities and college provision not only support study, but keep living costs down, making Oxford compare favourably financially to any other university.

Oxford University has exceptional facilities and resources for learning in its libraries, laboratories and museums. Similar enhanced provision is made for sports, music and social facilities, as well as the wellbeing and financial support of students.

The central Bodleian Libraries give students access to over 11 million printed items, while there are more than 100 college and subject libraries across Oxford. And the University’s online resources include more than 45,000 e-journals in addition to databases, electronic books and reference works.

Colleges provide outstanding facilities for students alongside those provided by the University. Each college has its own library, focused particularly on serving the needs of its own undergraduates. All colleges also provide welfare support as well as sports and social events.

For more on the resources and support Oxford offers see our student resources page and our student support and well-being page.

Not only is Oxford no more expensive than other universities, it also offers generous financial support – the most generous support for low-income students of any university in the country, in fact.

While many universities are offering either fee waivers or bursaries, Oxford is providing both. A quarter of all students will receive financial support. Not only this, Oxford is offering the most generous financial support of any university to those on a family income of less than £16,000, worth up to £22,000 over three years. The lowest-income students will receive support totalling £10,000 in their first year and over £6,000 in every later year.

In addition, all students benefit from college support such as travel grants, book grants and funds for unexpected hardship.

Finally, Oxford’s world-class facilities and college provision keep living costs down, as does guaranteed accommodation – meaning Oxford compares favourably with any other university.

Oxford’s own financial support is in addition to the support available from the government.

For more on Oxford’s generous financial support see our student funding page.

One of the many benefits of the college system is that undergraduates usually live in college accommodation in the first year. This means that there’s no need find accommodation before you arrive: you know that you will have a room in college, and the college will make all of the arrangements for you.  Many colleges are able to accommodate students for the majority or the entire duration of the course.

Most college rooms are single study-bedrooms, and may also have their own bathroom. Some colleges have ‘sets’ where two students share a study-living room, but you will always have your own bedroom. All rooms are furnished; some have an internal telephone and internet points.

Colleges are very safe places, with a Porters’ Lodge at the entrance. The porters deal with visitors and oversee security. They get to know you and look after your personal safety.

All college rooms are either in the city centre or very close to it. Most private accommodation is also within a 15-minute walk or short cycle ride of the centre. In Oxford, there is no need to spend money on bus fares, as you would in larger cities.

Throughout the course, wherever you live, you can use your college’s library, computer room, sports facilities, laundry, bar, common room and dining hall.

Room rents do vary depending on the college and room standard; you could expect to pay up to £4,038 for a room during term-time (however, as a general guide the average room rent is around £3,377 during term-time).  If you live in private accommodation you should expect to pay more but you can stay on during the holidays. Students in college rooms usually have to move out at the end of each term. Food usually costs around £1,600 for 3 terms, with subsidised meals in college. Basic self-catering facilities are also usually available in college. For more information about the costs of studying at Oxford, and the support available, please see our student funding pages.

Oxford graduates go on to enjoy great success in a variety of fields – and employers recognise the value of an Oxford education in itself, no matter what subject you study. Even in one of the toughest economic climates in recent memory, the number of employers looking to recruit Oxford graduates has steadily risen. They come to Oxford to recruit graduates of all subjects, from Theology and Modern Languages to Materials Science – not just obviously ‘vocational’ courses.

95% of Oxford’s graduates are employed or in further study six months after graduating. An Oxford education is excellent preparation for career success – and that’s true no matter what course you study and what you ultimately want to do. Engineering and Philosophy students alike go on to rewarding careers in every field.

Oxford undergraduates who go on to full-time jobs have a median salary that is 20% higher than the UK average six months after graduating.

20% of Oxford undergraduate leavers earn more than £30,000 per year within six months of graduating.

60% of employers report that Oxford graduates are more likely or much more likely than other UK students to have all of the key employment skills that businesses find most valuable.

Want to find out more?

See our after graduating page and our graduate destinations page.

‘We value Oxford graduates as they are among the most capable we recruit, and we believe this is partly because of the tutorial system. Oxford graduates are taught to think for themselves and approach problem solving creatively, and they are willing and able to take on responsibility and work independently when they first join us. This is true not only of our engineers but of Oxford graduates in all disciplines – the way the tutorial system encourages students to analyse problems for themselves and rigorously defend their solutions gives them a head start when joining a company like ours.’

(Graduate recruiter for a major company)

‘The Oxford system produces graduates who are able to think independently and creatively, and above all, know how to go about continual learning.  In our business, the ability to handle new situations, and new skills, is much more important than any specific vocational or subject-specific training.’

(Graduate recruiter for an IT service firm)

‘I really think that Oxford opens the doors to a wide range of careers and top employers.  Oxford's reputation is so strong that the specific degree you take is not important. This is crucial in allowing you to study what interests you most and delay specific career choices until later.  Oxford gives you the confidence to be hungry for life: always actively seeking new challenges and experiences. Without my experience of Oxford, I think my life would be a lot less varied and exciting than now.’

(History graduate)