Magdalen is a fantastic place to study physics. For a start it’s
such a friendly college, and a beautiful place to live and work.
We have a DEER PARK. But I’m sure you can read all about
that at numerous other places on this site… What I wanted to tell
you about is what it’s like being a physics student here.
The tutorial system at Oxford is simply THE best way of gaining an
in-depth knowledge and understanding of your subject from the world’s
leading physicists. Far from being scowling professors to be revered
and awed, the tutors at Magdalen are not only outstanding academics,
but also genuinely fun people who really care about their
students. One of our tutors is a DJ and a bit of a legend
throughout college, another is by all accounts a wicked dancer! For me,
tutorials are the most important part of the week in terms of getting
to grips with the material covered in the lectures, and it really helps
to have friendly tutors who are on your level.
Physics lectures and lab work take place in the department; about 15
minutes walk away. Physics and philosophy students take the
physics component of their course along with the rest of the physics
students. The science library is on the same site, although there
are copies of all the recommended texts in the college library.
All physics tutorials happen in college, so it’s important that we have
such great tutors.
Magdalen has a brilliant college atmosphere, as students are granted
college accommodation for every year of their course. In
addition, Magdalen operates a ‘college parenting’ scheme, which means
that you’ll get to meet physics students in the years above you, who
are only too happy to give you reassurance and pearls of wisdom (or do
I mean anecdotes?) about their experiences.
The interviews provide a great opportunity to experience living in
Magdalen and to fully appreciate what an amazing place it is.
You’ll be interviewed by the tutors themselves who, in addition to
going out of their way to make you feel undaunted by the process, are
looking to see how much you like physics and what potential you have
for learning here. The interview experience can be a lot of
fun. You are well looked after by the student volunteers, who put
on various entertainments for you throughout your stay (such as subject
parties/films/teas). Basically you get to live in this beautiful
college for a few days and meet like-minded students from all over the
world. What have you got to lose?
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