The universities of Oxford and Cambridge share many similarities: they are the two oldest and most prestigious universities in the UK, they both have a unique college system, and in comparison to other UK universities, the majority of the teaching is conducted through a tutorial system, as opposed to just lectures and seminars. However, another factor that makes these universities unique, is that when applying on UCAS, candidates may only apply to one of the two universities. Many students are unsure about which university may be best for them, and this blog hopes to give you a clearer idea in making this decision!
City life
Cambridge University is located in a smaller city (where 20% of the population are students), with the centre of the city being dominated by the university colleges, libraries and faculty buildings. The River Cam flows through the city, and a favourite pastime of many students is punting along this river, admiring the picturesque colleges.
On the other hand, Oxford University is located in a larger city that has a population about 30% larger than that of Cambridge (also sharing the city with Oxford Brookes University). Whilst Oxford also has a river (and its fair share of punting!), Oxford may appeal to those more interested in exploring Oxford’s world famous museums and galleries, such as the Ashmolean museum, or the Pitt Rivers museum.
Students at both Oxford and Cambridge certainly manage to have fun outside of their work and you will often hear that students work hard and play hard. There are pubs, clubs and various other parties at both universities.
Sport is a very big part of university life at both universities! For example, the Cambridge and Oxford University Boat Clubs host an annual boat race, with the first race taking place in 1829! Both universities have performed fairly equally, with Cambridge narrowly beating Oxford with 86 wins compared to Oxford’s 81. Both universities also play “Varsity” matches against one another in a range of sports: from Rugby to Spike-ball! In both universities there are also plenty of opportunities to play sport more casually, or get stuck into a sport you have never played before!
Whilst both Oxford and Cambridge share the college-system, Oxford boasts a total of 45 colleges, whereas Cambridge University comprises 31.
Education
Oxford and Cambridge University are two of the leading academic institutions globally, hosting world-renowned professors in a plethora of subjects. Similarly, teaching is conducted in a similar manner in both universities: candidates will have weekly lectures with students taking a specific module, but the main form of teaching is the tutorial (or supervision) system. This is organised by your college for about 2-3 hours per week, getting the chance to discuss the week's work with your tutor and a small number of your peers also taking that subject.
Whilst both of these universities are globally prestigious, there are quite a few differences in the types of degree offered by both universities, which is important to bear in mind when considering where to apply. For example, Cambridge University offers a pure Economics degree, whereas Oxford does not (and students wishing to study Economics must apply for Politics, Philosophy and Economics, Economics and Management, or History and Economics). Similarly, Oxford University allows students to study an individual science (either pure Physics, Chemistry, or Biology), whereas Cambridge University does not, and candidates wishing to study these subjects must apply for Natural Science. It is important to research which degree and syllabus would align more with your interests before applying!
Traditions and Quirks
Oxford and Cambridge have many traditions that make them stand out from other UK universities.
For example, both Oxford and Cambridge have 3 eight week terms (with no reading week), whereas many UK universities have much longer terms. In Oxford, these terms are called Michaelmas, Hilary and Trinity, and in Cambridge, they are called Michaelmas, Lent, and Easter term.
Both universities host balls throughout the year, in Cambridge the majority take place in May Week (not hosted in May and lasts longer than a week!), whereas the largest balls in Oxford take place in Commemoration week, typically in mid-late June.
Fees and financial support
For home students, Oxford and Cambridge charge the same fee (as do all UK universities), of £9250 per year. However, for international students, Oxford University charges between £28,950-44,240 per year, with Cambridge charging between £24,507-£63,990, depending on the subject of study.
Final thoughts
Both Universities are great insofar as providing a fulfilling university experience and world-leading education. However, a key difference is the degree in which you are applying to read, since the course syllabus and teaching may be conducted differently at the two universities, so research is important. Similarly, whilst the cities of Oxford and Cambridge are both uniquely beautiful, if possible, a visit may help you decide which city you could imagine yourself living in for 3-4 years!
