The world is full of mysteries. 
Where was Atlantis? 
What should you have for dinner?

What on earth are Oxford colleges?
We might not be able to solve the first two

but the third one is actually pretty
simple. As an undergraduate student at

Oxford University you'll belong to a
department like Maths or English, which

will oversee your course and house your
lectures. But you'll also be part of one

of our world-famous colleges. Every
undergraduate student who's ever gone to

Oxford has been a member of a college.
And you'll have one too.
 
Each college is a set of buildings 
that will be the heart

of your personal and academic life at
Oxford. Some of them only a few years old.

And some are seriously ancient - like from
when the Aztecs are around ancient.

There are more than 30 of them and they're spread all
around the city, although they're all

pretty near the centre. They're different
colors and shapes and sizes. Some are

next to the river, or park, or have a theater.
Some have actual deer just casually

hanging around. This one's got a
graveyard, if that swings it for you. 

But we get it, too much choice can be
overwhelming. Why does it take three

hours to pick a film on Netflix? So does
it matter which college you go to? And do

you have to choose? Well, not really.
You can either let us know your

preferred college, or if you make an open
application, we can find one for you. And

once you're here you will no doubt think
your own college is the best. She does.

Colleges are welcoming and safe
communities where you can meet academics

and fellow students from hundreds of
different subjects. Everything from

medicine to music. Plus loads of things
that don't start with 'M'. You'll have

most of your tutorials in your college
and access to lots of support and advice

on academic, practical or health matters.
You'll be able to get your food there,

use the library, wash your laundry, hang
out your own common room, sink a pint in

your own bar, mess about on boats wearing
straw hats. When you arrive you'll be

able to live on the site, or right
nearby, surrounded by neighbours who'll

also be brand new to Oxford. And everyone
in college will help you settle in. It'll

be like Hogwarts, except without a
weird trap door under the sink with a

snake in it. It's all pretty relaxed.
You're allowed to come and go as you

please, or invite friends over. And there
are loads of ways to get involved in

activities and events outside of college.
Sport, drama, role-playing games, and get

to know people from all across the
university.

So colleges are a crucial part of Oxford
life, but not something you need to worry

about too much. And if you do apply to a
specific college, it might not be where

you end up. Around a third of students
get offer places at one they didn't even

apply to. But they still end up thinking
theirs is the best.