Prospective Students Hub
Why Oxford?
Tutorials vary widely in content and format depending on the subject and tutor, but they are generally taught in small groups by leading academics. They are intensive, discussion-based sessions that centre on close engagement with ideas and texts, guided by an expert in the field. You will usually be expected to prepare work in advance and use the tutorial to explore your thinking, test arguments, and receive detailed feedback through sustained academic conversation.
https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/academic/guidance/skills/tutorials
As students at Oxford, we have access to some genuinely incredible facilities. That includes the famous Bodleian Libraries, but also online resources, such as the University’s new access to ChatGPT.
There are 22 different Bodleian libraries across the city, and any Oxford student can use all of them, alongside the many college and department libraries that come with their own spaces and character. The libraries themselves are wildly different, from the 18th-century Radcliffe Camera (RadCam to its friends) to the brutalist Law Library and the brand-new Centre for the Humanities. And because the Bodleian is one of the UK’s legal deposit libraries, it’s rare not to be able to find the book you’re looking for.
https://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/libraries
https://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/collections-and-resources/legal-deposit
Tourists flock to Oxford for a reason; it’s a beautiful, compact city where history feels like it’s everywhere you go. As a student, you quickly get used to walking past centuries-old buildings on your way to a lecture or revising in places that people have been studying in for hundreds of years.
At the same time, Oxford feels very safe and easy to navigate, with most of the city centre and colleges well lit, busy, and walkable. Some of my favourite places to explore include the Botanical Gardens, the Ashmolean Museum, the Natural History Museum, and Port Meadow.
Why Trinity?
If there’s one reason to come to Trinity, it’s the food. We’re incredibly lucky to have an amazing catering team, and the quality and choice really stands out compared to a lot of other colleges. While some colleges might offer two or three options at a self-service meal, Trinity often has ten or more, and it’s really good food (the chips in particular are genuinely life-changing).
Even better, it’s very affordable. At the time of writing, a main typically costs around £4, with simpler options like a jacket potato even cheaper, and sides usually under £1. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Sundays we have formals, which don’t require formal dress and cost under £6 for a three-course, table-service meal. Then on Fridays there’s guest night: a four-course feast for just under £24, perfect for treating family or friends after a long week.
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thur | Fri | Sat | Sun |
| Breakfast | Breakfast | Breakfast | Breakfast | Breakfast | Brunch (breakfast but longer) | Brunch (breakfast but longer) |
| Self-service lunch | Self-service lunch | Self-service lunch | Self-service lunch | Self-service lunch | ||
| Formal (deep-fried brie followed by steak) | Self-service dinner | Formal (often chicken or fish) | Self-service dinner | Guest Night | Self-service dinner | Self-service carvery followed by a formal |
In addition to Hall, we also have access to four on-site kitchens where you can cook for yourself. They’re well-equipped (yes, that means a proper oven), so whether you’re baking a cake or just boiling some pot noodles, you’re covered. That said, plenty of people rarely bother, because the food in Hall really is that good.
On top of all of this, we also have an on-site cafe. It’s a really popular spot for grabbing a quick coffee, cake, or sandwich, but it’s also a great place to sit and get some work done. Because it’s college-owned, you don’t have to buy anything to be there, so lots of people just use it as a relaxed study space.
If there's a second reason to come to Trinity, it's the lawns. We have the most walkable grass per student of any Oxford College. This means that we've got loads of room for lovely gardens, tranquil woodland and the massive back lawns, which we are free to walk, play croquet and picnic on all summer long (surprisingly rare in Oxford)!
Trinity has very strong welfare provision that complements the support available across the wider University. Within college there is an onsite College Nurse who students can see for advice on both physical and mental health concerns, as well as a visiting College Doctor linked to Summertown Health Centre who provides access to NHS medical care. Alongside this, Trinity has a team of Wellbeing Advisors who offer confidential one-to-one support and can help students navigate personal, social, or academic difficulties.
Within the JCR there are also elected Welfare Representatives who work to promote student wellbeing in college, organise welfare initiatives and events, and help ensure that students know how to access the support available to them. Together these services aim to make sure that students have multiple points of support throughout their time at Trinity.
Lots of colleges say they have a “central location” — and to be fair, many of them do. What people don’t always mention is that many of Oxford’s faculties and departments are actually in North Oxford. Trinity sits right on the northern edge of the city centre, which ends up being a really convenient spot. Tesco, Sainsbury’s, and all the shops on Cornmarket Street (Oxford’s main shopping street) are about a three-minute walk from the gates, while even the more far-flung faculties, like Maths in the north or Law to the south, are still within a ten-minute walk. In practice, that means most things you need day-to-day are comfortably walkable.
Moreover, walking to the Universities Parks takes less than five minutes, perfect for when you need to take a well-earned break.
Don't believe us, look at this map of the university to see just how perfect our location is!
Frequently Asked Questions
When doing outreach events we often get asked quite similar questions. We've compiled some of our responses for those who cannot attend one of our many in person or online events.
For me, the best part about Oxford is undeniably the tutorial system. I still find it incredible that I get to ask a world expert all of my silly questions multiple times a week. Tutorials are an intense and sometimes slightly stressful and are not for everyone but I find them an invaluable way of learning.
-- Tristan, Maths
Oxford’s student community is amazing. Although the city may seem surprisingly small, the students fill it with life. There are always society events running, which range from watching movies, arts and crafts, debating, dance/ sport; if you have access to all the social medias, you’ll find something that piques your interest and will allow you to meet likeminded people.
-- Ife, Theology
The work is hard, I won't sugarcoat that, but it is also a huge amount of fun. There is something incredibly rewarding about finally reaching the end of a difficult problem sheet and then discussing your solutions in tutorials with a subject expert. Being able to collaborate with both tutors and other students helps to develop a much deeper understanding of the mathematics and makes the challenge feel very worthwhile.
-- Tristan, Maths
Particularly if you are moving far from home, the first few weeks or even term may seem quite overwhelming. There are a lot of responsibilities that come from living alone, and it may take you some time to find a group of friends you feel yourself around. All this, whilst balancing the workload and figuring out what study methods work best for you! The university and college understand this completely- there is a wellbeing system in place as well as an academic advisor to support students through this process. The college community also makes it easier to meet people- you’re in a smaller space which means you’re able to meet friends in your accommodations, at lunch, in the gym and just around the college space.
-- Ife, Theology
Super-curricular is obviously quite subject specific. I would generally advise people to follow their interests, since any reading, watching, or listening can grow from that. Try to engage with the areas you enjoy and ask questions about the material around them. When you try to answer these questions you will often find yourself coming across new ideas and perspectives, which then lead you to explore further.
-- Tristan, Maths
The most important thing is to just apply. Many people here (myself very much included) did not think we had any chance of getting and wouldn't if we hadn't applied.
-- Tristan, Maths
Once you get the offer, there may be a tendency to overwork yourself to ensure you meet the conditions of your offer- it is important you avoid this! Stay calm, remember you received your offer not only because of your grades, but because the tutors who interviewed you believed that you would thrive in the Oxford academic system. Definitely stay organised and do the work, but also take your sleep and eating schedules very seriously. Don’t feel you have to cut out all of your hobbies, it’s very healthy to have a balance between your work and social life.
-- Ife, Theology