Choosing Between Oxford and Cambridge University
Both Oxford and Cambridge University are prestigious educational institutions that have long commanded the respect of the world.
As the two oldest universities in the UK, both Oxford and Cambridge are quite similar in terms of the teaching style, procedures, and demanding application process that both demand. So, with that in mind, what makes them different from each other? Let’s take a look at some of the differences.
Courses
The first thing that you should be aware of is that Oxford and Cambridge don’t actually have identical courses. They do have a lot of courses in common, but the truth is that there are certain courses that you can only take at one of the universities.
To give a good example, you can only study politics, economics, and philosophy at Oxford, and Cambridge is the only one of the two universities which offer education as an undergraduate course.
There’s also a substantial difference when it comes to the science courses that both universities offer. Oxford tends to focus more on single-subject science courses. This is in sharp contrast to Cambridge, which provides a much more flexible natural sciences degree. On the course, you’ll be allowed to combine any of the biological and other sciences that take your interest.
Furthermore, at Oxford, you can take what is called a joint degree. Basically, this lets you do a module in another field of study. This is not possible at Cambridge. These are important considerations to keep in mind, especially if you want to get things done.
Course or College?
Making sure that the course you actually want to study at university is one of your first priorities is very important when it comes to choosing a university for you.
Both the individual universities agree on the same principle that when it comes to choosing an educational institution, the most important deciding factor is whether or not the course you want to study is available in the way that you want to study it.
It’s also important to understand that each university offers a different take on the same course. So even if your course exists between both educational institutions, there will be differences, so it’s important to check out the small details.
It’s worth looking at how the modules match up to what you’re interested in and examining the split between practical, coursework, and examinations. Is it all set up in a way that you can deal with it?
The best thing you can do in this kind of situation is to visit both universities to experience a real, firsthand idea of what the institution is like. There will be open days throughout the year, so it’s worth going.
Something else we should probably make sure you recognise is that when it comes to both educational institutions, you need to make sure that both your grades and your life outside of academics will get you into either of these institutions, to begin with. There are very few students who naturally generate top marks for their A-levels, and most have to work hard to get into these universities.
The Cities
Both Oxford and Cambridge are stunning universities in gorgeous parts of the UK. They both have world-famous universities, and the cities have ancient architecture all around. It's important to understand the differences between each city.
Cambridge is the smaller of the two cities. A fifth of the population are students, and the university dominates the city. If you’re after a small-town atmosphere, this is definitely the place you should take out. Cambridge is generally quieter than Oxford and much more relaxed. There is even a river running through the city centre, and you’re surrounded by the countryside. It’s much prettier than Oxford in some respects.
In contrast to Cambridge, Oxford is much more of a bustling, typical city. It’s busier, and it’s bigger, but it’s still small enough for you to get around on foot. The city has a lot more shops and cultural areas like galleries and museums. Furthermore, Oxford has more nightlife available than Cambridge does, having more clubs and bars.
The best way to find out which city will appeal most to you is to go and have a look for yourself. It’s well worth checking out.
The World’s Finest
At the end of the day, Oxford and Cambridge both stand out from other universities in the UK because of their reputations. There isn’t a lot of difference between the two in terms of reputation specifically. You will frequently spot both Oxford and Cambridge alternating between first and second on the annual league ranking tables. The title of the best university in the UK just passes back and forth between the two every year, and most other universities can’t compete.
Both universities command the respect of employers everywhere. It’s definitely a good place to go if you want to get the best chance in your future career because everybody understands the prestige of Oxford and Cambridge.
The only notable difference is a widely agreed perception that Cambridge is a slightly better university for sciences. Contrastingly, Oxford is allegedly better when it comes to the humanities and social sciences. However, both universities have insisted many times over the years that there is no real difference between the two, so it’s up to you whether you believe this theory or not.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, when it comes to picking the right university for your needs, it’s important to explore what kind of options are available. There are plenty of different great choices when it comes to universities, so it’s not exactly difficult to find what works for you. At the end of the day, you just have to be prepared to experiment with the different options that are available.
Both Oxford and Cambridge are great universities. Either one of them would be a great choice for you to study, so it’s important to choose the right one for you. They need to have your course that you can study in your way.