The University of Oxford is one of the oldest universities known to mankind. Its history dates back to the year 1096. It’s one of the most prestigious academic institutions known to the world. The university, unlike any other, comprises 39 semi-autonomous colleges, meaning that all the colleges are more or less self-governing and capable enough to host their own internal activities up to the international academic curriculum standards.
Read Interesting Facts about the 6 Oldest UK Universities.
Oxford is very popularly known to operate its own university museum, which is one of the oldest and also has one of the world’s largest press, the Oxford University Press. Students from all over the world aim and aspire to be a student of Oxford University, not just because of its prestigious position that it holds worldwide, but also for its course curriculums which are rich enough to make its students be able to hold a leading position in their respective fields and industry.
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Co-authored by Parinita Gupta
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1. Philosophy
Oxford offers several philosophy short term courses online along with their long-term degree programs as well. Their short-term online courses take place in an environment which is completely virtual and most of them are 10 weeks in duration. Their virtual learning environment runs asynchronously. In the long term, Oxford offers a wide range of under-grad and post-grad courses which includes seminars and high-quality tuitions in the subject which provides its students with a perfect graduate level training to help them for further studies at the doctorate level. Philosophy students also generally tend to opt for the doctorate studies as well.
2. Modern Languages
Oxford offers courses in Modern languages which provides its students with a practical training in the written and spoken aspect of it with an extensive introduction and study of its literature and culture. It offers students a wide range of subject options in its modern language learning course to explore from including philology, film and gender studies, linguistics and advanced translation.
3. Geography
Oxford offers a degree course in geography which emphasizes mainly on the interrelationships between societies and the physical and human environment. Pupils are introduced to a full spectrum of geographical topics in the beginning stages of the course and the students are given an option to continue their study in details of a specific topic from this huge range of geographical topics given to them initially. The course also provides its students with several opportunities to explore the cross-fertilization between geography and other subjects such as history, anthropology, sociology, earth sciences, etc.
4. English Language & Literature
All over the world, probably Oxford is the only university to offer one of the broadest curriculums in English language and literature and it’s indeed very popularly known for its outstanding courses in English language and literature. It provides its students with an opportunity to study English writings from its origin in Anglo-Saxon England to now. Along with a broad Britain English literature curriculum, it also offers its students to study the English literature originating from other parts and cultures of the world. Studying literature at the University of Oxford means that the you will get to develop extremely sophisticated reading skills, added with the ability to place literary texts in a wider intellectual and historical context.
5. Mathematics
Oxford’s mathematical institute offers a huge range of UG and PG courses which includes research degrees as well. It’s research and teaching covers and huge spectrum of applied and pure mathematics along with research work in the mathematical fields of algebra, geometry, topology, logic, number theory, combinatorics, analysis, physics, finance, modelling, biology, networking and numerical analysis.
6. Linguistics
Oxford offers one of the best course structures in linguistics globally. Students in the first stages are introduced to the analysis of structure and nature of human language including topics like ‘how words and sentences are formed’, ‘how we hear and make sounds’, ‘how languages vary’ and ‘how languages are organized in our brains’. Based on these topics, the study of linguistics is continued, depending upon the chosen language.
7. History
The History course at Oxford is a blend between the examinations of large regions over long periods of time with more concentrated work on smaller social groups, shorter periods, and specific themes. It provides its students with a distinct education by helping the students develop an awareness over different political, social, cultural and economic structures within past societies and how they are interrelated with each other.
8. Medicine
Medicine practice at Oxford offers the students a wide experience and knowledge which is quite impossible to find in any other discipline of the subject. Being a doctor means dealing with patients with different needs each time. Hence course structure at Oxford prepares its students for day-to-day life as a doctor by helping them understand every patient’s needs. A career in medicine is quite meaningful and prestigious however not meant for everyone. Remember that doctors work 24/7 to ensure that the patients are safe and sound.
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9. Biomedical Sciences
Oxford offers Biomedical sciences courses that focus on how organs, cells, and systems function in our bodies. This is quite an exciting and constantly ever-changing subject of study which is very much relevant towards the understanding and treatment of human diseases. Oxford University is one of the highly respected and internationally recognized institutions for biomedical research. Its students benefit quite a lot from its courses after being taught by the leading experts in the industry working with other several prestigious organizations. The course offers its students an intellectually stimulating education in the subject of molecular and cellular systems in biology and neuroscience.
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10. Natural Sciences
Oxford has ten departments that span the full spectrum of natural sciences including mathematical, physical, and life sciences. The coursework undertakes a fundamental research approach with cutting-edge applied research. The four-year interdisciplinary programs were established with an aim to make their students highly skilled and train them into experts in the field.
11. Electrical & Electronics Engineering
The electrical and electronics engineering course at Oxford covers a vast range of topics, from microelectronics to offshore oil platforms, all of which involve the real-time application of creative reasoning, mathematics, and science to solve real-world problems. The department of engineering at Oxford has passed the best quality assessment ratings for teaching and has a globally acknowledged reputation for its research work on the field.
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12. Archaeology and Anthropology
Archaeology and anthropology are such subjects that when comes together covers the study of humankind, including the origin of the human species and what it is today. Both these disciplines have a long history of coming together and solving the questions which were previously unanswered to mankind. Today both these subjects involve several sophisticated approaches that are shared with arts, physical science, and social science. Oxford university’s distinct approach to combine these two subjects into a 3-year course offers its students a wide perspective on human societies from prehistory to now.
13. Computer Science & Information Systems
The computer science and IT courses offered at Oxford helps the students understand the computer systems and networks at a deep level. Computers and programs are on of the most complex product ever created by human kind, hence using, developing and designing them effectively has presented immense challenges to the mankind. Oxford prepares their students to face these challenges and solve them effectively. Solving such challenges is a part of a practical discipline in Oxford’s course structure.
14. Law & Legal Studies
Oxford has established itself a good reputation for offering the top-notch master’s in legal education. Their quality of legal education is only matched by a few in the country. All of the legal courses offered by the institution involves extensive amount of work is matches a very high academic standard. Research students in the legal education get the opportunity to opt in for other interdisciplinary specialisms corresponding to their interests.
Being a student at Oxford is a prestigious thing that many students dream of. Even though acceptance rates are quite low here since they have to choose the best from the best, here are a few things you need to know if you are planning to get into Oxford.
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How to Get into Oxford for Undergraduate Courses?
As mentioned earlier, Oxford runs 39 semi-autonomous colleges, which offers different course curriculums and specializes in their unique fields. To get yourself enrolled in an Oxford University course, you must begin with applying for these colleges. You can also choose to go for direct inhouse courses at Oxford.
After you decide on the course and the college(s) that you want to apply for here are a few things that you need to get in order:
- Personal Statement about the subject that you want to study
- References from your recommenders – teachers, etc.
- Standardized Test Scores – English fluency and other subject based entrance tests
- High grades/GPA in high school with special course grade requirements as per department you are interested
- Examples of written work (as per various department requirements)
- Application fee
Apart from this, having good grades surely is very important. Oxford demands almost perfect grades from the applicants. The general requirements are between A*A*A and AAA at A-level, or equivalent, depending on the subject.
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About Parinita Gupta
Parinita is a full-time banking professional. Additionally, she is also a passionate blogger and digital marketer.
She mostly writes about the Banking & Finance, Technology, and FinTech sector. But, she also enjoys writing on other topics as well.You can follow her onTwitter.
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