Student Life
Life as an Oxford Earth Scientist
The Earth Sciences department in Oxford is small and sociable, with an intake of around 35 undergraduates per year, so you easily get to know students both in your year and others, as well as the academic staff. Field trips are always stimulating – whatever the weather. The research community, students, postdocs and others, is large and active and there are numerous seminars and research talks, so you will be in touch with the latest developments in the science.
As a small department, even our lectures are informal. You’ll quickly get to know your lecturers and demonstrators by name – and vice versa.
Oxford University Geological Society (OUGS)
Oxford University Geological Society (OUGS) is a student-run society, that predominantly involves members from the Earth Sciences Department. OUGS put on a range of events throughout the year, including field trips, academic talks/conferences, ‘Inaccurate Geology Film Nights’ and careers events. They are perhaps most famous for their social events which include geology cocktails (the originally-named ‘Rocktails’), as well as termly celebratory dinners, barbecues and the yearly grudge match against their Cambridge counterparts, or ‘GeoVarsity’. The Department is an incredibly close knit community, and OUGS helps to maintain this and acts as a conduit for getting to know both your year and years above. OUGS have their own website, with events, helpful information on past mapping projects, and an alternative prospectus.
Living in Oxford
The most important difference between Oxford and nearly all other Universities is the colleges. They may seem an added complication in the application procedure but, in a University with many thousands of students, they provide valuable support, especially when you first arrive. Colleges give you opportunities to meet people outside your subject, and provide a wide range of facilities from libraries and computers, sport and social events, to accommodation, dining and welfare. With undergraduate intakes of around one hundred a year you quickly get to know people. All the colleges are within walking distance of the town centre and the department.
There is also plenty to do outside college: an immense range of University clubs and societies cater for all tastes, and of course there are the pubs, parks, clubs and other venues unconnected with the University. Although renowned for its dreaming spires, Oxford is a colourful city, with a face distinct from the University and academia. Oxford has a lot to offer: large enough to cater for most types of entertainment, but everything is within walking distance and you are only ever a stone’s throw away from the countryside.
Fees and Funding
Information about undergraduate fees, funding, scholarships and bursaries, living costs and other financial considerations can be found on the University Fees and Funding webpages.
Further information on funding related to fieldwork costs can be found on the Field Courses page.
An independent web database called The Scholarship Hub may have other funding sources, for students with particular needs, backgrounds or project areas.
Several alumni groups make grants available to current students with links to their counties, for projects taking place over the summer break. See the Student Awards page of the Alumni website for details.