Oxford university / brookes - information and advice guide

Attending Oxford University is unlike learning anywhere else in the world. The first thing you will notice is the number of tourists watching you and trying to take your picture. Americans, Japanese, European you name it they are here. Camera happy tourists and one of England's worst homeless problems have replaced the romantic conceptions of dreaming spires, dusty old professors and students scurrying around on black push-bikes. However given three or four days Oxfordian reality will sink in.

The University dominates the City and has created a strong educational vibe wherever you are looking. Whilst there may be debate concerning Oxford University's elitist values this is not reflected in the ambience of the City streets. Oxford has a well-balanced mix between the super intellectuals and the not super intellectuals. Oxford Brooks, known more for the selection of public school boy Gti's in its car parks than its educational prowess bring student life back down to earth and helps to make studying in Oxford a less surreal experience.

The Scene

Oxford has a student population approaching 30,000, coupled with the constant influx of visitors the City boasts a fantastic selection of activities to suit anyone. Well at least for a couple of years anyway. Oxford does not have the same commercial draw that so many other UK City's now boast and in actual fact socially Oxford is no more than an over sized town. The fantastically named Po Na Na's chain has arrived in the City bolstering the number of late license locations, however as with the majority of 'London born venues' they also carry the London pricing. Encouraged by the tourist trade this is certainly Oxford's fundamental flaw although student promotions are evident throughout Oxford.

The pub scene dominates student social lives in Oxford and there is a good variety to suit most tastes. The growth in pub trade has not has such a desirable impact on the City's students unions. Compared to most other major university SU's, Oxfords are noticeably under populated as drinking flat, warm SU beer is being overlooked for flat, cold chain pub beer. All is not lost however as the club scene continues to grow and diversify. Park End Club and Zodiac in Cowley are two of Oxfords most legendary settings, the latter hosts the un-miss-able Brooks student night on Monday's and the forever ludicrous Wednesday sports nights.

Getting Around

Buy a bike. Come on you're in Oxford don't sneer take advantage. There are more cycle lanes in Oxford than any other City in the UK. Cars are ill advised due to Oxfords traffic problem, coaches of tourists stopping every ten feet, however whilst simple, the reliability of local transport leaves much to the imagination.

The Universities

University of Oxford

Student pop: 15,400
Male/Female ratio: 58/42
Mature student population: 249
Number of books in libraries: 8,000,000
Computers: 2,405
No. of seats in library: 2,457

Oxford Brookes University
Student pop: 8,436
Male/Female ratio: 43/57
Mature student popunlation: 2,498
Number of books in libraries: 342,000
Computers: 850
No. of seats in library: 1,000

Getting There

Mainline stations: Oxford Station is slap bang in the middle of Oxford town centre, very close to one of the most central colleges. Bus Station: As usual, National Express services runs to most places in the UK, but two other companies, Oxford City Link and Oxford Tube, run services to London only. Airports:The closest airports are Heathrow and Gatwick

In Short

Famous in Oxford: the Chuckle Brothers (hilarious calamity), Radiohead (have normal heads) Choose Oxford for: eating at Jeremy Paxman's parents' greasy spoon café in St.Ebbe's, meeting the rich and famous, inspiring architecture Don’t choose Oxford for: the wide range of evening activities, the traffic, or because you want to get away from the homeless

Further information

University of Oxford website: http://www.ox.ac.uk/ Oxford Brookes University website http://www.brookes.ac.uk/