Differing costs of Oxford colleges?

HC_2

I'm a parent, not a student.

It's difficult for prospective students to make judgements on the comparative costs of Oxford colleges, since most current students sing the praises of the college to which they belong, they have limited knowledge of other colleges, and so they don't really know how their costs compare.

However there are, so I understand, significant differences in the accommodation and food costs at different colleges.

To save me trawling through two or three dozen websites, tapping on a calculator and creating an Excel spreadsheet, does anyone have thoughts on the most expensive, and cheapest, Oxford colleges?

QuirkyChemistry

I don't know about the actual costs but remember to consider additional costs. E.g. needing to pay for a bus to get to town, supermarket, sports ground etc or needing to buy books if the library is poor.

It may be worth considering as well if there will be college accommodation available for all years of the degree.

Is there a central body at oxford university that would have the data?

HC_2

QuirkyChemistry wrote: »

I don't know about the actual costs but remember to consider additional costs. E.g. needing to pay for a bus to get to town, supermarket, sports ground etc or needing to buy books if the library is poor.

It may be worth considering as well if there will be college accommodation available for all years of the degree.

Is there a central body at oxford university that would have the data?

Interestingly, some colleges appear to pride themselves on the fact that their students don't need to buy any textbooks - they're all available for loan at the college library.

That's a substantial saving. (I currently spend a great deal of money on A level textbooks for my 17-year-old twins, and that piece of information amazed me.)

Oxford, despite being a medium-sized city, is fairly compact with regard to the colleges, and most distances between college and, say, the science area are walkable.

The colleges are autonomous and I think it's unlikely that there is any central data.

Probably a case of compiling a shortlist, then a pin on a page with eyes closed, if you know what I mean!

Masomnia

Queen's is supposed to be one of the cheaper ones I believe, and is pretty central.

I can't find anything specifically about how expensive the particular colleges are, but the Oxford bursaries are probably as good as bursaries get:

http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate_courses/student_funding/oxford_opportunity_bursaries/

Also, the more informal colleges, ie. Keble, Hertford, Wadham, St Cats have fewer formal dinners and things like that, and so may work out cheaper.

tkane

Pembroke College is pretty cheap

Try: https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk

Loose_Cannon

HC wrote: »

Interestingly, some colleges appear to pride themselves on the fact that their students don't need to buy any textbooks - they're all available for loan at the college library.

I really wouldn't rely on that. I studied at Cambridge, where many of the colleges make a similar claim, but the reality is that they will generally have 5 copies of the textbooks, but 10 students studying the subject. HOWEVER, since many students find they only need a textbook for a year or two, you may be able to get second-hand bargains - my college organised a book fair at the start of each academic year for students to sell their unwanted textbooks to those in the years below. I generally found I could get a £50 textbook for maybe £10-£15 at these fairs.

Voyager2002

I don't think that comparing cost is a good way to choose a college. Remember that the selection process will include an interview, and there will almost certainly be questions about why the candidate chose this particular college. Answers that stress the academic or sporting reputation of the college, the quality of the facilities (including the library, of course) or indicators of student satisfaction (perhaps the National Student Survey would give useful evidence of this) are far more likely to impress the selectors than the simple answer "because it's cheap to come here".

HC_2

Voyager2002 wrote: »

I don't think that comparing cost is a good way to choose a college. Remember that the selection process will include an interview, and there will almost certainly be questions about why the candidate chose this particular college. Answers that stress the academic or sporting reputation of the college, the quality of the facilities (including the library, of course) or indicators of student satisfaction (perhaps the National Student Survey would give useful evidence of this) are far more likely to impress the selectors than the simple answer "because it's cheap to come here".

The costs at a particular college will not, of course, be a major factor. However if one is torn between two, it's useful to bear it in mind.

I'm not at all sure you're correct when you say that you'll be asked about the reasons for your choice of college during the interview. From my research, I understand that that question will certainly not come up. For one thing, if what you say is true then it would disadvantage those making an open application.

celyn90

Balliol is lovely Food is very cheap - lunch is under £3 (hot food plus dessert). Not sure about accomodation as I've always lived out. Formal dinners are rare (we don't do that stuff very often, despite it being the oldest college ). Very high concern for student welfare, bursasries and finacial assistance available as well as standard university funds. My friend is at New college, food is around £3.30 a meal (drink excluded) and she has had accomodation for two years of four at £96 a week, which is pretty standard.

OH was at Linacre which was a grad college so probably not much use to you, but food was expensive and accomdation cheap with good accomodation provision for couples.

When I was interviewed for medicine I was asked why I chose that college - and that was via an open application. My answer was honest, that I had made an open application and it didn't stop me getting the place even though I turned it down to study something else. I was also asked in Cambridge why I had selected particular colleges, both as an undergrad applicant and as a post-grad. I wasn't asked at Balliol (the real answer was because I walked past it on my way home so I could check my mail without having to go halfway across town ) So it varies, but I would certainly advise doing some research before hand and having an answer prepared for that one even if it is simple and honest. They aren't looking for rehersed answers, they want to know about you.

Some colleges do have book grants availalble - a friend of mine was at John's Cambridge and had all her books paid for. But to be fair, you honestly don't need as many books as you think you will and I think it is quite rare to be funded like this. It's your choice to spend on books as it is on most things like formal dinners and eating in hall, the libraries are more than adequate - both the main ones and the college libraries in my experience. The kitchen facilities are not normally great, but I have cooked mutli-course meals on two rings, so it is more than possible to survive without college catering.

I don't think cost is a good way to choose. Come and visit if you can and find a place you have a feel for, look at what you want from the college system and what support there is for the chosen subject. It's more important to find out things like what sort of provision is made for accomodation (eg do you get one year, two or all years housed) as private sector accomodation in Oxford is horribly expensive. If you phone or e-mail the colleges with a list of questions, I'm sure they will be more than happy to help.

Edit - you are right about most things being quite central; you don't normally need the bus unless you are flitting between the hospitals, but it's worth bearing in mind that not all accomodation is actually on the college site. Most students cycle - and I'd advise getting a really cheap bike as you've a high chance of "losing" a new one. One of the guys I work with jokes he spent all his time in a 1/2 mile strip between Magdalen and Sainsbury's.

Stubert

Somebody mentioned the cost of travelling etc to town. Oxford is pretty small, and most things are definitely cyclable if not walkable.

Masomnia

Yup I wasn't even asked why Oxford, and nothing off my personal statement. It was entirely on stuff I'd studied, and my submitted written work. Then the second interview on an article we were given to read.

Have you looked round any colleges? I do think it's worth choosing one that your son/daughter feels comfortable with, they are quite different. Magdalen is completely different to the newer ones for example. It's not like Durham where they're all much of a muchness, apparently. (That might be a touch unfair to Durham but just going off what I hear!)