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Guide
Thu 25 Jul 2024 • 8 min read
Deciding between Oxford and Cambridge? Compare their academic offerings, campus life, costs, locations, scholarships, notable alumni, and career prospects.
Deciding between Oxford and Cambridge? From academic excellence to campus life, compare which university aligns with your educational goals and lifestyle preferences.
Students interested in top universities often find that they have a difficult decision to make at the start of their application: do I choose Oxford or Cambridge? As you can only apply to one of them in a given academic year (not both),this can pose quite a dilemma! Ultimately, they are both wonderful universities with lots in common, but there are also some important differences. Which university is the best fit for you will come down to both academic factors, such as what you want to study and how, and also personal ones such as where would you enjoy living and what extracurricular activities matter to you the most. Read on to learn all about how Oxford and Cambridge differ I these ways, and how to decide ultimately which one is the right choice for your studies.
Oxford and Cambridge, sometimes referred to collectively as “Oxbridge”, have a centuries-long connection, sometimes thought of as a rivalry. This comes to a head every year with the internationally famous and hugely exciting Oxford-Cambridge boat race on the Thames! The link between the two esteemed universities goes back over 800 years to when Cambridge was founded in 1209 by Oxford academics and students who had run into disputes with the townspeople of Oxford and decided to found their own institution of higher learning. For many centuries Oxford and Cambridge had a duopoly on higher education in the UK by royal decree, which was highly unusual. The connection has endured to this day as they are consistently recognised as the top two UK universities and share many common features such as a collegiate structure, application dates, and teaching methods. The rivalry is generally friendly competition, and in fact, many students who are undergraduates at Oxford undertake further studies at Cambridge and vice versa. Similarly, many faculty have taught at both.
The University of Oxford has a centuries-long history of excellence in teaching and research and continues to be one of the most prestigious and competitive universities in the world. is Undergraduate students enjoy individualised, regular tutorials with subject experts and belong to college communities.
The University of Cambridge was founded in 1209 and has a global reputation for outstanding academic achievement and original research and boasts numerous historic buildings. Students can choose to apply to one of the 31 colleges which will be their home during their studies, providing accommodation as well as academic support.
The University of Cambridge slightly outranked Oxford in the QS World University Rankings® 2023, with Cambridge placing in second and Oxford fourth. However, the differences between the two institutions in reality are generally very minor. Both are regularly in the global top 10, and both received high ratings in QS’s international surveys of academics and employers. Last year, Cambridge came second in the world for both academics and employers. Oxford claimed the world’s third-highest ratings from graduate employers and academics.
Cambridge has a slightly stronger score for citations per faculty member – an indicator which aims to reflect the influence attained by research produced at each institution, although both schools rank in the global top 50. Oxford, however, was ahead on faculty-student ratio (number of students per academic staff member). Both universities are known for their commitment to small group teaching and individual tutorials/supervisions.
Looking at the QS World University Rankings by Subject confirms both Oxford and Cambridge are among the world’s leaders across a comprehensive range of fields. In the most recent edition, Oxford features in the subject rankings in a total of 40 subjects, while Cambridge makes 41 appearances. Both universities boast top 10 positions for most of their subjects. It is worth exploring the tables to find your own subject of interest to see how they compare.
Both have highly rigorous admissions processes and entry requirements. Typical entry standards at Oxford are AAA – A*A*A at A Level, 38 – 40 points at IB, or equivalent. Typical entry standards at Cambridge are A*AA – A*A*A at A Level, 40 – 42 points at IB, or equivalent.
Whether you choose Oxford or Cambridge, there is no shortage of exciting clubs to join, sports to play, or campus activities to take part in. These cover sports, politics and journalism, languages, theatre, and arts. Each university does have its own particular mixture of famous clubs, such as the Oxford Union debating society, and the Cambridge Footlights theatre group. Have fun exploring what each university offers and think about what you might like to do at university when you’re not studying.
If you come from outside the UK, the amount you’ll pay in tuition fees varies considerably depending on the programme you decide to study. For UK undergraduate students, both universities charge £9,250 per year. For undergraduate international students, the fees range from £28,950 to £44,240 (excluding clinical medicine) at Oxford, and £24,507 and £37,293 for international students (excluding medicine) at Cambridge. For graduate students, costs of fees varies depending on subject, but Oxford and Cambridge fees are broadly similar.
Both cities are relatively small and are easy to get around on foot, although many students choose to cycle. Both cities have beautiful and inspiring historic architecture and rivers running through the city centres. Oxford and Cambridge are also both close to the UK capital. London is around an hour on the train from Oxford, and slightly under an hour from Cambridge. Each has different transport links so if there is a particular location in the UK you need to get to easily, for example, this may be worth looking into. Generally however, both cities provide a wonderful place to be a student: inspiring, accessible, and lively.
Overall, the cost of studying at Oxford or Cambridge is less than the up-front price of a degree at most top universities in the USA but for many students, some kind of financial support is still needed.
Undergraduate students from within the UK can apply for financial support from the UK government in the form of student loans. These cover tuition fees and are paid back gradually once the student begins work and starts earning a certain amount. Full-time undergraduate-level UK students can also apply for additional loans and grants to help cover living expenses.
Both Oxford and Cambridge also offer a range of scholarships and financial support schemes. At Cambridge, UK can apply for bursaries, in addition to a range of funding opportunities which are open to students of various backgrounds. Oxford’s website allows students to search for any scholarships they may be eligible for, based on their course and nationality.
The individual colleges of which the two universities are comprised also offer scholarships and bursaries. There are also various prizes for academic performance which can be financial.
Oxford University has produced many notable alumni from politicians, including 28 UK prime ministers, to scientists including 72 Nobel Prize laureates, to Olympic medallists and authors, these individuals have made a significant impact on society and continue to do so. They include Adam Smith, also known as the father of Economics; Tony Blair the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom; Oscar Wilde, who was a prolific writer, publishing poetry, short stories, and novels. He was also a playwright and one of the most successful authors of his day; J.R.R. Tolkien, who created The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings; and Tim Berners-Lee, best known as the World Wide Web inventor, attended Oxford University where he received a BA (Physics).
Cambridge has also produced an impressive array of alumni across all fields such as in science Alan Turing, Robert Oppenheimer, Charles Darwin; in philosophy Bertrand Russell; in economics John Maynard Keynes; and in the arts Tom Hiddleston, Rachel Weisz, Emma Thompson, John Cleese, and Sam Mendes.
The average post graduate employment rate is just under 90% in the UK, but the rate for Oxford and Cambridge is higher at 92–95%. Cambridge is normally slightly higher, most likely because the employment rate varies by subject and the two institutions have a slightly different subject mix.
Choosing between Oxford and Cambridge is a big decision for a student one that needs to be made relatively early in the process. It is a personal one, and you should be guided by both academic and personal considerations. Sometimes, the decision is relatively straightforward for example if you know you want to study Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE), this degree is only available at Oxford. However, if your course is taught at both, you will need to look closely at the specifics of the degree, and consider the differences between the universities. Both have a demanding admissions process involving written tests and interviews, but they can also be a rewarding experience and almost all students agree it is worth the effort, whichever university you end up attending.
At Dukes, we provide support for applications to various universities across the world, including Oxford and Cambridge. Our programs offer personalised guidance and tutoring, and strategic advice to strengthen your application.
We can support you to identify and showcase your unique strengths, align your application with Oxford and Cambridge’s values, and effectively communicate your accomplishments and potential contributions to the admissions committee.
For more information on how Dukes can assist with your application, please visit our private Oxbridge admissions consulting page. Alternatively, you can contact us here, and we can help you submit a winning application.
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