University of Oxford

University of Oxford

University of Oxford (or simply Oxford) is the second oldest University in Europe (the oldest is the University of Bologna, Italy). The exact date of the founding of the University be called impossible, but it is known that teaching was carried out here in the XI century. The University began to grow rapidly and gain popularity year after 1167, when king Henry II forbade English students to study at the Sorbonne.

In 1209, after conflicts students with residents, faculty and students moved to Cambridge, where he founded the University of Cambridge. Two oldest University in England have much in common, but in many ways the history of these educational institutions is the history of their centuries-old rivalry.

After the expulsion of foreign students and teachers from the Sorbonne, many scientists returned to England and settled in Oxford. Soon they were joined by foreign colleagues. The head of University 1201 is the Chancellor. In the middle of the XIII century, many monastic orders founded in Oxford educational institutions.

The Renaissance had a huge impact on Oxford as a system of teaching and content. In 1636 William laud, Bishop of Canterbury and Chancellor of the University approves the Statute of the University, which has served unchanged until the mid-nineteenth century. Then the Constitution was amended: the oral exams are replaced by written, formed four women's College (single-sex classes was maintained until the 70-ies of XX century).

University of Oxford

Among the graduates of Oxford 40 Nobel laureates, 50 heads of governments and many famous scientists, writers, philosophers and politicians.

Students of Oxford historically divided into "North" (including the Scots) and the South (including the Irish and Welsh). This affects their membership in various student associations and on the distribution of the colleges.

The structure of Oxford University is a Federation: the University consists of 38 independent colleges and 6 so-called hostels (halls) who do not have the status of the College and are managed by third-party organizations, particularly religious. At the head of the Central administration – Vice-Chancellor. The post of Chancellor is largely nominal, and the Chancellor is not directly involved in the daily life of the University. Academic classes – lectures, seminars, laboratory work is conducted centrally, the training program also are coordinated for the entire University and the colleges provide a unique system of tutorship – when every student has a personal mentor. With rare exceptions, colleges do not specialize in any branch of science. The oldest colleges at Oxford – Blackfriars hall, University College, Balliol College and Merton College. The latest is Kellogg College, founded in 1990.

University of Oxford

In Oxford more than 100 libraries, 40 of which includes the Bodleian library – one of the oldest in Europe and one of the largest in the UK and worldwide. The University owns several museums, including the Ashmolean Museum, natural history Museum, the pitt rivers and Museum of the history of science.

In the Oxford tradition, preserved since the grounds. Here you can see people in academic gowns. Each College has its own color, and students wear striped scarves wool colors of your College or smooth Navy blue scarves – this shade of blue is called, "Oxford blue". Traditionally, much attention is paid to sports – team sports, tennis and, of course, the famous rowing eights.