Oxbridge Fast Track

09/12/2023

UK universities attract students from the world over, but not all degrees are the same. Graduates from prestigious institutions are far more likely to secure job offers or opportunities for further study than those with less well-recognized names. Compounding the problem is the fact that many international students simply don't know what makes a good university. Simply having "London," "Oxford," or "Nottingham" in the name doesn't mean that you will receive a great education, and indeed, there are many institutions in these places that ride on the coattails of the wider city's reputation. The UK government has sought to step in to address this problem and to better align British degrees more generally with the needs of the job market. With demand for science, technology, and medical backgrounds continually strong, this may mean axing humanities, language, or social sciences courses at less competitive universities. But questions remain regarding whether the policy shift will go too far and where the line should be drawn in terms of the instrumentalization of education.

Click the link in our bio to learn how the shift may have huge ramifications for universities in the UK.
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09/12/2023

06/12/2023

~ A foodie's guide to Oxford ~

The culinary scheme exemplifies why Oxford is more than just a university town.

Begin your journey with the historic elegance of The Ivy, offering refined
dining amidst timeless charm.

Hassan's Street Kitchen beckons with affordable Middle Eastern food, presenting mouthwatering kebabs and street cuisine.

Freewheel into culinary delight at The Handlebar Cafe, where cycle-inspired decor meets an eclectic menu in a cozy ambiance.

Georgina's, a quaint cafe tucked away in Oxford, promises homemade Mediterranean fare and a friendly atmosphere, providing a delightful respite from the cold.

Indulge in the many flavors of the Oxford food scene, and read more about just where to go on our site 🍽️ just click the link in our bio!

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26/10/2023

Between bookshelves or between coffee shops? The debate rages on. Whilst some students are die-hard library advocates, preferring the quiet serenity of a dedicated space to study in, others disagree. Coffee shops, the traditional haunt of European intellectuals, have now become places for focused work as well as catch-ups and contemplation. But too many forget the wealth of options out there, from the vaunted halls of galleries and museums to techy and fresh co-working spaces.

Read why some people are tuned psychologically to prefer coffee shops at the link in our bio.
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22/10/2023

Taylor Swift is one of the most successful music artists of all time. Her fans are devoted, her tracks are ubiquitous, and her tours affect the GDP of entire nations.

It's not so commonly, however, that you would associate Swift - for all her merit - with academia. Perhaps, until now. A new study by College Rover has found a surprising correlation between GPA scores, the average used by much of the world to calculate academic performance, and listening to Swift.

There are many reasons this could be - it could be down simply to the ubiquity of her music. Or, to the role that listening to music with positive messages plays in successful scholars' lives. One argument says that those who listen to emotionally uplifting music are better at regulating the peaks and troughs of their feelings, and thus, manage to stay more motivated.

Oxbridge Fast Track dives into the research, and historical literature on study music, to help you figure out whether this headline is one you should pay attention to.

Click on the link in our bio to find out why a taste for Swift may indicate you are better at multitasking
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22/10/2023

Taylor Swift is one of the most successful music artists of all time. Her fans are devoted, her tracks are ubiquitous, and her tours affect the GDP of entire nations.

It's not so commonly, however, that you would associate Swift - for all her merit - with academia. Perhaps, until now. A new study by College Rover has found a surprising correlation between GPA scores, the average used to calculate academic performance, and listening to Swift.

There are many reasons this could be - it could be down simply to the ubiquity of her music. Or, to the role that listening to music with positive messages plays in successful scholars' lives. One argument says that those who listen to emotionally uplifting music are better at regulating the peaks and troughs of their feelings, and thus, manage to stay more motivated.

Oxbridge Fast Track dives into the research, and historical literature on study music, to help you figure out whether this headline is one you should pay attention to.

Click on the link in our bio to find out why a taste for Swift may indicate you are better at multitasking
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12/10/2023

Harvard and Yale have been competing for the last 300 years. They have produced Nobel Prize laureates, canonical writers, legendary business people and fearsome lawyers. But they have also collaborated on dozens of projects to bring top-tier education to everyday people, drive the cutting edge in healthcare research, and nurture the environment. The two oldest universities in the United States may lock horns day to day, but there's more to their relationship than you might think.

Click the link in our bio to read why football doesn't have the last word.

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16/09/2023

The United Kingdom is well known for being home to some of the oldest universities in the world. But London only welcomed its first university seven centuries after the UK’s oldest university – the University of Oxford – had been established in 1096.

The “London University”, now known as UCL, was founded in 1826. The University was created as an alternative to Oxford and Cambridge, that were only giving degrees to members of the Church of England. UCL, on the other hand, was the first university to admit individuals regardless of their religion. Later on, the capital’s first institution was also the first to admit female students on equal terms with male students.

However, the elite at the time believed the capital of the country should have an institution that corresponds with the Church’s values. That is why in 1829 they founded King’s College London (KCL), initially supposed to be a religious, Catholic institution.

Differentiated on attitudes to religious belief, purpose, and style, it is not surprising that the rivalry between the institutions was immediate. But the healthy competition has become a source of inspiration, encouraging students to strive for excellence, and showcasing the best of what each university has to offer.

Click the link in the bio to learn how a lion stuffed with rotten apples became a symbol of London university culture.

06/09/2023

Who wrote as Shakespeare, but gained none of the credit? Which writer is better known for her death than her poetry? What children's novelist was also a talented political scientist and mathematician?

The Oxbridge literary scene has been thriving for hundreds of years - and continues to produce legendary writers. It's hard to find influential names in British culture who are not connected to Oxbridge, especially before the contemporary era. The world of poetry, novels and plays is no exception. But fame and glory do not come to all those that have talent. And often, it comes to writers for entirely different reasons.

Click the link in our bio to find out which poet became famous for his saucy affairs rather than his works.

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04/09/2023

Life as an international student is highly rewarding - there's no question. The opportunities are incredibly rewarding, you can build an international professional network, and you gain life experience of another culture which brings with it immense personal development. But like most things which are worth doing, studying abroad can be hard. We share a personal perspective from one of our writers on the challenges of international student life.

Click on the link in our bio to find out what change is in store when you study abroad.

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29/08/2023

Peer into the halls of Oxford, Harvard, and MIT, and you'll find plenty of people eager to underestimate their own intelligence. Impostor syndrome is an all-too common affair at universities across the world, thanks in part to competitive academics colliding with the often tumultuous start of adult life. As if it wasn't stressful enough starting a difficult course in a new environment, add in sprinkles of toxic behaviour by others and fledgling support networks and you have a perfect recipe for a self-esteem disaster.

But fear not: solutions are at hand. With the right mentality, impostor syndrome can be overcome, or at the very least, be completely manageable. Once the realisation really sets in that many of the people around you are thinking in exactly the same way, things become a lot easier. But it takes several different approaches to tackle a really tricky case. Luckily, we've compiled all of them for you in our guide.

Click the link in our bio to find out why you need not fear impostor syndrome - and what to do if it does arise.

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19/08/2023

You step into a room, feeling the thick, crimson-colored pile of old English carpet beneath your feet. The doorway expands into a dimly lit space, dotted with brass lamps that glow a hazy evening amber which seems to emanate the very essence of books. One wall is entirely obscured by hefty tomes, stacked up on shelves so lofty that they reach the fullest extent of the double-height ceiling. You see a certain name repeating itself, over and over again on the shelves. And as your eyes turn from the plush leather sofas and low-lying coffee table that square off half the room, a tweed jacket greets you. The tufts of her hair stick up into the air like little unruly grey mountains. "Welcome", she says. You have come for a tutorial.

It is hard to mention the word "Oxford" in an educational setting without "tutorial" soon following. The tutorial system and the ancient university are inimitably interlinked. But few outside the hallowed halls actually understand what goes on in them - and why so many think them to be so special.

Click the link in our bio to find out what an "Oxford tutorial" really means.
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