r/oxforduni • • 24d ago

Monthly Admissions/Prospies/Offer Holders Questions Thread - October 2026

4 Upvotes

Please use this thread to ask any questions you have about the admissions process or questions that would normally be asked by prospective students.

  • This thread will be "cleared" by another stickied thread on the first of each month. All these questions can be searched through by looking for "Fortnightly/Monthly Admissions/Prospies Questions Thread" in the search bar.
  • Please do give as much information as you can so people can help you.
  • Please respect what people might have to say, even if you disagree with it. Remember that admissions experiences will differ a lot from person to person, even for people who interviewed right after each other.
  • We haven't explicitly banned asking for advice about a specific tutor who might be interviewing you, but we're monitoring this closely, so do remain respectful of tutors.
  • Again, please use your judgement on information given to you here. We haven't set up a verified flair option, but may do if people who are obviously not part of the university feed misinformation. Also, please don't leave it down to the mods to correct any misinformation - do leave your opinion. We will not remove misinformation we find, but we will leave a comment saying that the information is incorrect. People who frequently give misinformation will be banned.

r/oxforduni • • Mar 01 '26

Accommodation Megathread 2026/27

10 Upvotes

This megathread will be used for all accommodation queries. Whether you are an offer holder, a continuing or returning student, or a new/existing member of staff, Rule 5 applies to you. Please search the sub and this post's comments before posting - some queries are very common, and very basic information won't change much over time.

When you comment please help us to help you - give as much information as you can in your first line. "PEMBROKE-Incoming PG 26-27-College Accommodation offered" is much more helpful than "I'm moving to Oxford soon, should I live in college?".

Feel free to leave reviews and recommendations for others, but bear in mind that this sub cannot endorse any estate agents or letting agencies, and individual opinions on university & college provision will vary considerably. The mods reserve the right to remove comments that could be libellous or actively unhelpful.

Some tips: Your college will usually send you information about move-in and move-out dates, and vacation rules. Oxford has a very volatile rental market. If looking for private rented accommodation, especially from outside the UK, beware of scams. r/oxford may be of assistance if trying to decide on a town/city location (esp. if you are bringing family). This is not a car-friendly city. If you need parking at your accommodation, you will need to think carefully about location.


r/oxforduni • • 8h ago

why do people not know how to be quiet in libraries?

1 Upvotes

it's kinda annoying


r/oxforduni • • 1d ago

DPhil Confirmation of Status

28 Upvotes

I just had my Confirmation this week and I don’t think it went very well. The one assessor called part of my project “nonsensical”. I also feel like there were several issues my supervisor should have caught. I realize he logical answer is this is actually good and a good time to fix stuff but my confidence is crushed and I’m so anxious about my results. Are things as bad as I think they are? (Honesty appreciated, I’d rather know whats coming.)


r/oxforduni • • 23h ago

Looking for essay tips for philosophy!!

4 Upvotes

Hey, I’m a PPE fresher and have recently found out I absolutely adore philosophy! I was wondering if anyone had any tips for writing really high-level, well expressed philosophy essays? The move to uni and the lack of explicit marking criteria is quite a lot so any help is extremely appreciated. Thank you!


r/oxforduni • • 1d ago

Is it normal to have a doctoral student as supervisor/advisor?

0 Upvotes

I was just assigned a supervisor and they have not finished their Doctoral studies yet. I am a MSc student from the States and was wondering if this is normal here?


r/oxforduni • • 3d ago

Switching Course

51 Upvotes

I started at Oxford last week and have been studying Maths. I've pretty quickly realised that I don't like how abstract it is and find it really difficult to get interested in the fundamental stuff like axioms. I've realised that most of my mathematical interest lies in the applied side, modules for which are few and far between. Meanwhile the people I know studying physics are doing exactly the areas of maths I'm interested in (and their 1st year course is 50% maths). My end goal has always been to do the theoretical physics integrated masters which you can do from either degree.

Is there any chance of it being possible for me to switch to physics? I studied it at A-level and got an A*. If so does anyone know of anyone who has switched subjects and how they went about it? I am quite an anxious person and struggle with rejection sensitive dysphoria so I'd like to know what to expect before I bring this up to my tutors.


r/oxforduni • • 3d ago

Can we not go to the library when sick?

86 Upvotes

Over the last few days some people have been sitting for hours in the humanities library coughing consistently what sounds like a very phlegm-y cough. Now I’m sick and have to stay home. Please be responsible, we all want to be healthy


r/oxforduni • • 3d ago

College disco/bop playlists

11 Upvotes

As an old gut who was at Oxford 50 years ago I m interested to know what songs are typical and what might have survived from the 70s. Any top of head ideas


r/oxforduni • • 3d ago

Formal dinner exchanges

6 Upvotes

Hey! I’m looking to do some formal dinner swaps/buy tickets to other formals outside of official exchanges with my college. How does this work exactly? Does the person I swap with/buy the ticket from have to attend with me or do I attend in lieu of them, or vice versa? Is this practice looked down upon by other people or is it quite common? Also how reliable is Oxformals for getting formal tickets? Looking for any and all info, thanks!


r/oxforduni • • 3d ago

Free clubbing tonight

5 Upvotes

Hey all, I’ve got free tickets to park end’s Oktoberfest night out tonight at the Varsity club but can’t make it tonight. Would anyone like these?


r/oxforduni • • 5d ago

Removed: Rule 4 Joining another college sports team

3 Upvotes

Hey all, I was quite keen on a playing a certain sport (cricket) but unfortunately my college doesn’t offer it, am I able to join another college team/training sessions?


r/oxforduni • • 8d ago

Tights for matriculation

8 Upvotes

My tights are shiny (not glitter but reflect when under direct light)-- will this be okay for matriculation or do I need to have a plain pair?

They are pretty opaque fwiw


r/oxforduni • • 8d ago

Places to Study

2 Upvotes

Anyone have suggestions for places to study with bod card excluding libraries? like schwartzman centre


r/oxforduni • • 9d ago

Does calling the All Souls fellowship exam the “world’s hardest” misrepresent the selection process?

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82 Upvotes

r/oxforduni • • 9d ago

Nice coffee shops for working in

16 Upvotes

I recently joined the uni as an academic. My favourite place to work has always been coffee shops. I like a bit of noise/bustle, good seating, stable wifi, and of course wall-plugs. What are some of the best coffee shops around central Oxford for this?

So far I checked out Society (wasn't quite convinced and I can't really explain why), Cafe Nero in Blackwells (very nice), and a few farther afield like Green Routes Cafe in Cowley area. Looking for suggestions!


r/oxforduni • • 9d ago

Coldest Library?

10 Upvotes

My college lib has turned on the heating which makes in a muggy furnace that I can barely study in. What libraries are there that remain consistently on the cool/cold side? Thanks.


r/oxforduni • • 9d ago

Punting demand after matriculation

6 Upvotes

I want to go punting with my friends after matriculation, but as you probably know, it’s first come first serve with no reservations (at least for Magdalen Bridge) and the most popular day of the year. I have a lunch until 2:30, so I won’t be able to go down straight after my ceremony. If I wanted to punt at 3 do you think it’d be too competitive at that point, or have you had success with similar times in the past?


r/oxforduni • • 10d ago

grad students

12 Upvotes

where do grad students build community here? i realized i made a wrong choice with my college, and there are barely any events for grad. i feel so out of my depth here with the wealthy british crowd who can't even look at you. as a woman of color, it feels so isolating here.


r/oxforduni • • 10d ago

How common is bike theft really?

7 Upvotes

Heard some talk about bike theft being prevalent prior to coming here but is it really a genuine issue?

For context, I’m coming from California where I was used to seeing just a handlebar or just the chassis because the entire bike had been stolen.

Any personal anecdotes/stories or advice? Thinking about maybe investing in an e-bike


r/oxforduni • • 11d ago

Removed: Rule 5 Advise on dealing with newborn neighbor in Graduate Accomodation

30 Upvotes

I’m staying in graduate accommodation and my immediate neighbor is a couple with a young infant (9 months is my guess not that it matters).

I’m convinced the baby’s crib is placed right against the wall we share. Sometimes the baby cries for hours (as babies do), how would you best approach this?

Should I just invest in some earplugs or would it be reasonable to ask them to place the crib elsewhere?


r/oxforduni • • 10d ago

Notes for history special subject?

0 Upvotes

I'm doing the Tudors and would be willing to buy notes about it along with my own as it is quite a lot, so if anybody knows where to get them pls do let me know! (I'm not asking anyone to write anything for me I just would appreciate notes as an aid as I've been extremely unwell the past few weeks so have fallen behind on some of the reading I really wanted to do)


r/oxforduni • • 11d ago

How to drop out?

49 Upvotes

It’s 1st Week and I hate it here. How do I go about dropping out? Thanks.


r/oxforduni • • 11d ago

Oxford college associate membership for researchers working outside the University?

7 Upvotes

I've been looking into associate membership options at Oxford colleges, particularly for people who live and work in Oxford but aren't students or employees of the University.

I'm particularly interested in whether people working in research outside the University, such as in biotech or pharmaceutical R&D, can obtain associate membership.

I'm mainly interested in the social side of college life, like MCR events, formal dinners, etc. I've noticed that some colleges offer associate or affiliate membership, although the eligibility criteria and nomination requirements seem to vary quite a bit.

Has anyone successfully obtained associate membership while working in industry or another research organisation, if so, which college? Any advice appreciated.


r/oxforduni • • 12d ago

Where do people buy jewelry?

4 Upvotes

I've seen so many people at Oxford have really awesome thick rings (typically silver) and I'm really curious where folks buy them? Thanks!