A day in the life of a student at the University of Oxford
Meet Erin, a first-year student working on her DPhil in Education — a three-year degree which combines sociology and technology — at the University of Oxford. Before moving to Oxford, where she previously completed a Masters in Education, Erin read Classics as an undergraduate student at the University of Cambridge's Downing College.
Erin attends Brasenose College, one of 35 colleges that make up the University of Oxford. It was founded in 1509 by Sir Richard Sutton and William Smyth, the Bishop of Lincoln.
Source: University of Oxford
As a postgraduate student, Erin lives a short distance away from her college in student accommodation with four roommates. Though her suite is similar to dorms at other universities, with a bed, desk, and sink, Erin's friends from other universities often say her suite is much nicer when they visit.
During term-time, Erin wakes up in time to get ready for supervisions which are usually held at around 9.30am. She has four supervisions — in which she meets with her supervisors to discuss the progress of her DPhil — per term. For each supervision, Erin puts in about two weeks' worth of studying between 9am and 5pm each day. As the amount of paper on her desk suggests, it's a lot of work.
To get to Brasenose College, Erin takes a five-minute walk through the scenic city centre.
Twice a week, Erin meets with other Education students for three-hour-long seminars, in which they discuss research techniques and the progress of their studies. Though everyone focuses on different topics, the seminars are like support groups, Erin said. They get through a lot of work — and, on this occasion, Krispy Kreme doughnuts.
Though there are hardly any lectures for her course, Erin sometimes attends talks and lectures that are open to all students at the university.
She juggles her studies with a part-time job as a research assistant at the Oxford Internet Institute, working between 1.5 to 2 days per week. The hours are flexible, at least, and she gets her own office. The Institute hosts a number of interesting talks and conferences that Erin can attend as well.
When she's not studying in her office or room, Erin takes her books to the Bodleian Library. Containing over 12 million printed items, the Bodleian is the UK's second largest library, next to London's British Library. It's one of her favourite places in Oxford.
Source: Bodleian Library
But, Erin often has to get past hordes of "Harry Potter" fans in the library, as the building was used in several of the films, appearing as Hogwarts Library and the Divinity Room.
She also likes to study at Brasenose College Library. It has a fantastic view of the Radcam (the Radcliffe Camera, named after its location on Radcliffe Square) — the most famous part of the Bodleian Library nearby.
To fuel her studies, Erin heads to Brasenose Hall for lunch and dinner. Food is heavily subsidised, with a three-course meal costing just £5. The portrait-lined dining hall is also open on weekends, serving brunch.
Occasionally, when the weather's nice, Erin eats outside in the communal courtyard of her student accommodation. In the summer, Erin and her friends regularly have barbecues and parties here. Snowball fights have been known to break out here in the winter as well.
Somehow, around her busy schedule, Erin finds the time to model. It earns her some extra cash, and she enjoys walking in catwalk shows. In one show, at Oxford Fashion Week, Erin walked down the runway alongside a mix of amateur and professional models (including fellow university students) at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History.
As a model, Erin is used to wearing glamorous outfits, but for more formal university events she has to wear a "subfusc" — a black skirt, white shirt, and black ribbon ensemble that's worn at matriculation and graduation ceremonies. Here, she poses with a group of friends outside the Radcam.
Erin's also a fan of more down-to-Earth uni events. She loves to cheer on her friends in rowing competitions that take place on the River Thames.
And often, she goes punting with friends on the River Cherwell. Brasenose College has its own punts that students can sign up to use at their leisure. The only problem with having punts provided for you, Erin said, is having to punt yourself. It requires some serious upper body strength.
On many evenings during term-time, there's parties or social events going on. As former social secretary for one of Oxford's student groups, Erin has helped planed and attended events including formals, garden parties, and balls. There are usually three balls each year, and students go to other colleges' balls as well as their own.
A ball at Oxford is an elaborate event packed with attractions. This one, held at Magdalene College, has vintage-style swings to go with its fairground theme. There was also a silent disco, and a dance floor flooded with dangling fairy lights.
When college parties wind down, Erin and her friends head out into the city centre. George Street, which has some cool student hangouts and bars, is one of her favourite places to go out.
Occasionally, Erin will stay up all night. For one university tradition she participated in, she stayed awake with friends for an entire night to celebrate May Day on Magdalene Bridge. This photo was taken at 6 a.m. Somehow, after zero sleep, Erin and her friends are still smiling.
Then again, staying up to watch the sun rise in Oxford doesn't look so bad.
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