1.Oxford,University of｜牛津大学

Oxford University is the oldest English-speaking university in the world. There is no clear date of foundation but teaching has existed in some form since 1096. Its ancient and beautiful buildings still dominate the city, many of them owned by Colleges. The first three Colleges, University, Merton and Balliol, were formed in the late 13th century and today, 39 independent, self-governing Colleges are the basis of the University. The city is compact and you can get between most university and college buildings on foot or by bicycle.

All students belong to a College. Undergraduates are admitted by Colleges which also form the focus of their academic and social life. Weekly meetings with an academic tutor (tutorials) on a one-to-one basis or with one or two other students are a distinctive feature of undergraduate teaching. The University sets course syllabi and examinations, provides lectures, group teaching and laboratories, admits and supervises postgraduates and awards degrees. Over a quarter of Oxford s student population of 18,431 is made up of international students with more than 130 nationalities represented.

Academic strengths

At Oxford, students benit from studying in a large, international university, whilst living in a smaller supportive college community. The University welcomes students from all backgrounds. Candidates are considered on individual merit and potential. Entry requirements are very high but tutors also look beyond grades to examine motivation and commitment to a subject.

In both the arts and sciences, Oxford research is consistently in the top rank, nationally and internationally, and there are strong links with research institutions and industrial companies.

Facilities

There are around 80 libraries in Oxford. The world-famous Bodleian Library has a stock of over 6.5 million items. There are also major research libraries, college, faculty and departmental libraries.

Colleges offer computing facilities and support for their students, including internet and ethernet connections in most rooms. The University s computer service offers additional facilities and training in aspects of academic computing.

Within the college system, opportunities exist for all levels of sporting ability. Most colleges provide sports grounds, squash courts and boat houses on the river for annual inter-college rowing competitions. The Iffley Road sports complex caters for the major sports of athletics, football, swimming, rugby, hockey and tennis.

College accommodation is provided for most international students for at least their first year.

Student life

The city of Oxford has a youthful and cosmopolitan atmosphere with all the main shops and amenities that can be expected of a town of its size. There is a wide range of restaurants including Lebanese, Thai, Jamaican and French. Oxford s historic architecture is world renowned; less well known is the large amount of green space in and around the centre, including parks, gardens and meadows.

There are more than 300 student clubs and societies including sports ranging from aikido to water polo, music, drama and media, including two student newspapers and a radio station. The Oxford Union is the largest student society in Oxford and is the place where high-profile speakers take part in debates or address students. Most colleges have an Anglican chapel and there is a Roman Catholic Chaplaincy. Within the city there is an Orthodox Church, United Rorm, Methodist and Baptist churches, a Jewish Centre, a prayer room in the Islamic Studies Centre, a Mosque and an active Buddhist Society.

LOCATION

The historic city of Oxford is located within the Thames Valley in the South East of England. Oxford is a lively city with the usual high street shops, bars and restaurants. Live entertainment includes drama, dance, opera, and musicals performed by leading national and international companies, as well as student theatre and concerts. Pubs, clubs, and cafes also provide venues for jazz, comedy, and other entertainment.

Oxford has excellent national and local road connections. The journey to London by train takes about an hour and other rail services include Birmingham, Manchester, Scotland, and the south coast. There are frequent coach services to the centre of London and the airports at Heathrow and Gatwick.

ACCOMMODATION

All colleges provide accommodation for undergraduates in their first year and many can offer accommodation throughout your course. Overseas graduate students will usually be offered college accommodation in their first year. There is also some university accommodation for graduate students and those with families. All colleges are for men and women.

Costs vary from college to college. For undergraduates, accommodation during term (27 weeks) costs about ￡3,000. You have to pay additional rent if you stay over vacation periods. University residence is from ￡80 per week self-catering. A privately-rented room costs from ￡80, excluding heating and electricity costs. Some students rent flats or houses. The average rent in a shared house is between ￡300-￡450 per month (excluding heating, electricity and water costs)

The University Accommodation Office has information on privately rented rooms or properties which it has inspected.

FACILITIES

There are around 80 separate libraries in Oxford. The Bodleian Library has a stock of over 6.5 million items. It is a copyright library and can therore claim a copy of every book or periodical published in the UK and Ireland. It has extensive research collections and is mainly rerence-only. There are other major research libraries, and libraries attached to faculties and departments of the university. You will also be able to use your own College s library. This outstanding libarary provision means that it is not always necessary to spend a lot of money on books for your course.

Colleges provide computing facilities and support for their students, including internet and ethernet connections in most rooms. The University s computer service offers advice and free training in all aspects of academic computing.

The University Language Centre has audio and visual cassettes in over 100 languages and offers free courses in the major modern European languages. It runs a pre-sessional English course for overseas students who will be coming to study at the University as well providing courses during the year in Academic Writing for postgraduate students whose first language is not English.

Whatever your level of ability, there is opportunity for you to take part in sport at Oxford. The majority of colleges provide sports grounds, squash courts and boat houses on the river for the annual inter-college rowing competitions. The university sports complex caters for the major sports of athletics, association football, rugby, hockey and tennis. It includes a modern multi-gym, an all-weather track, an indoor cricket school, a rowing tank, gymnasium and swimming pool. At University level, many sports clubs compete in national inter-university competitions.

Music is another great strength of Oxford. As well as University and college student orchestras and choirs of professional standard, there are music societies to cater for varying abilities and interests. There are two University Opera societies and many student clubs ranging from soul to jazz, and from Indian to contemporary.

Welfare support is provided by colleges and advice is also available from the Student Union. There is a University Counselling Service particularly to help students who are suffering from psychological or other stress. The International Office offers advice on funding, immigration and other issues of concern to international students.

STUDENT LIFE

There are some 300 student clubs and societies at the University of Oxford, including; sports ranging from aikido to water polo; music; drama; and media, with two student newspapers, and a student run radio station. In addition to college drama societies, there are also three Oxford theatres available for student use, one of which is owned by the University and puts on sixteen shows per term. However, the largest student society is the Oxford Union, where public figures are often invited to give talks, it also plays an important role as a social centre with its own bar and nightclub.

Oxford University Student Union (OUSU) represents the interests of students through its membership of major university committees. It also runs the annual Freshers Fair, which brings together all clubs and societies at the start of the academic year. OUSU also provides welfare and legal advice to students.

Most colleges have an Anglican chapel and there is a Roman Catholic Chaplaincy. Within the city there is an Orthodox Church, United Rorm, Methodist, and Baptist churches, a Jewish Centre, a Mosque, and an active Buddhist Society.

All those who have studied for degrees or undertaken academic work at Oxford are eligible to become members of the Oxford University Society. It has an international network of some 200 branches run by volunteers, which run local events to bring alumni together and keep them informed of developments in the University.

FEES ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

University Fees (2007-8)

2008-9 rates to be published soon at

Undergraduate (non-EU)

Classics/Literae Humaniores, Philosophy and Theology ￡9,235

Most Humanities/Social Sciences/Human Sciences courses ￡10,775

Sciences (including joint degrees with a laboratory-based element); Computer Science, Music, Fine Art ￡12,315 Clinical Medicine ￡22,570

Postgraduate (non-EU)

Fee levels vary see the Graduate Studies Prospectus () for details.

Postgraduate (EU)

￡3,240 (2007-08)

MBA ￡28,000

College fees vary from college to college but are in the region of ￡4,900 for non-EU undergraduates, ￡2,100 for all graduates and ￡3,000 for the MBA.

Entry requirements

For undergraduate study:

Oxford admissions staff have a lot of experience of assessing a range of international qualifications. As a minimum, candidates would normally be required to achieve the qualification from their home country which is considered equivalent to UK A-levels. We follow the British Council guidelines on the equivalence of international qualifications. All candidates are considered on their merits but in general we look to admit candidates who are among the top two per cent of school leavers. Further guidance on specific qualifications may be obtained from the Undergraduate Admissions Office.

The closing date for applications for entry to undergraduate programmes is 15 October of the year bore that in which you would start your course (i.e. 15 October 2008 for entry in October 2009).

For graduate study:

Candidates are expected to have a bachelor s degree with a first or upper second class honours or the international equivalent. An applicant with less is very unlikely to be accepted. Again, we consult the British Council guidelines on the equivalence of qualifications. If you are unsure how your degree compares to those of UK universities, you may find usul information on the web at English language test requirements for candidates whose first language is not English are set out in the Graduate Studies Prospectus.

For postgraduate courses there is a series of closing dates during the year. Not all subject areas use all closing dates and it is essential to consult the Graduate Studies Prospectus for more information. If you want to be considered for a university scholarship, it is expected that you will be required to apply for admission in either November 2008 or January 2009.

SCHOLARSHIPS

University has around 30 scholarship schemes available to assist international students to study at Oxford. Approximately 350 new full or partial awards are made each year. The Clarendon Scholarship, for students studying for a postgraduate degree who are liable to pay fees at the overseas rate, offers around 115 awards annually. All schemes have their own conditions of eligibilty; many awards are for students from particular countries or regions but there may also be course or subject restrictions. Most awards are for postgraduate study but a small number of scholarships are offered each year for study for a first or second undegraduate degree. Students should look at the details of awards in the funding section of the University s Undergraduate or Graduate Studies Prospectus to find out about awards for which they may be eligible. The closing date for most awards will be in January 2009 for courses beginning in October 2009 but some may have an earlier deadline.