Oxford
Oxford is a noble
university. It has a great past. It is at present the greatest university in
the world and it has a great future. The beginning of Oxford
was probably in the 12th century.
The University
of Oxford is a
collection of colleges. Some of these colleges were founded hundreds of years
ago. "The University” is only an administrative centre which arranges lectures
for all the students of the colleges, holds examinations and gives degrees.
Every college has students of all
kinds, it has its medical students, its engineers, its art students, etc.
The Tutorial system is one of the
ways in which Oxford and Cambridge
differ from all other English universities. Every student has a tutor who plans
his work. Each weak some students come to see him and he discusses with them
the work which they have done.
The academic year in England
is divided into 3 terms, which usually run from the beginning of October to the
middle of December, from the middle of January to the end of March and from the
middle of April to the end of June or the beginning of July. Terminal
examinations are held at the end of the autumn, spring and summer terms. Final
examinations are taken at the end of the course of studies. British
universities keep to the customs of the past. At Oxford University
all the students wear long black gowns and "students’ caps”. Without the gown
no student is allowed to call on a tutor, to have dinner in the college
dining-hall or attend a lecture.
There are many great names connected
with Oxford: Sir Philip
Sidney, William Penn (who founded Pennsylvania),
Shelley, and Sir Christopher Wren. Christchurch –
one of the biggest colleges in Oxford
gave England 5 Prime Ministers.
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