Studying at Oxford
c.900 A.D. (By permission of the
Ashmolean Museum
Oxford University provides a unique experience for all its students. With a vast array of intellectual, social, cultural and sporting challenges on offer, students are encouraged to find a balance between academic excellence and their other interests.
All students at the University become members of one of the many colleges or halls of residence. Although there are difference between the colleges in the facilities they offer and in their character, graduate life is played out on a university level, with many of the taught courses and lectures taking place in the Ioannou Centre for Classical and Byzantine Studies.
There is a weekly seminar in Late Antique and Byzantine Studies in each of the three terms, where leading scholars from Oxford and all over the world give a lecture, followed by questions and drinks. A weekly Byzantine Art & Archaeology seminar also often invites guest speakers and distinguished scholars to talk. These lectures and seminars are open to all members of the university.
There is a wide range of lectures and seminars taking place across the university which are of interest, arranged by the various faculties and departments. Many are listed on the website of the Oxford Centre for Late Antiquity (www.ocla.ox.ac.uk), but there are many other events which are of interest on a weekly basis.
Here are the thoughts of some current graduate students:
Name: Rebecca McGann (left)
Course: D.Phil : ‘Art and Text in Late Antiquity: The Language of Christian Narrative Images’
Name: Foteini Spingou
Course: MPhil in Late Antique & Byzantine Studies.
What is your typical week like?
R : ‘Like most DPhil students, a substantial part of a typical week during term time is devoted to research and writing. I also attend a few relevant seminars or talks that I select from the lecture lists helpfully emailed out by the faculty or Oxford Byzantine Society.’
F: ‘Within the term the weekly program is extremely demanding. Usually, I have 4 to 5 seminars per week and at least one tutorial. Of course, as I am in Oxford, I cannot miss the chance to attend the weekly delivered lectures by scholars from around the globe. I spend the rest of my time among the various libraries and in the Ioannou centre.’
Do you have time to do things other than research; if so, what?
R: ‘I think it is extremely important to allocate time for activities other than research. I make time to catch up with my friends and play football. I am also the Social Secretary of The Oxford Byzantine Society which offers social and academic opportunities to graduate students. The social aspects of the Society include pub outings, college dinners, and organising special events. Run by the students, the Society each year hosts the Graduate Student Day Conference, where graduate students from Oxford and outside universities are encouraged to present their research. The Society also collaborates with other societies and programmes such as study trips abroad and overseas conferences. The Oxford Byzantine Society keeps people informed about current academic activities, including lectures conferences, calls for papers, exhibitions and academic job advertisements through its weekly email publication, The Byzness.
F: ‘Even if term-time is rather demanding, it is also important find some time for oneself. Oxford is famous for rowing after all, so I have given that a try!’
How often do you see your tutor and what do you do when you see them?
R: ‘I see my supervisor two to three times a term. We discuss the current state of my research and written work, further areas of study relevant to my thesis, and future career options.
F: ‘We meet with my tutors once every two weeks. For each week I have to prepare an essay, which will discuss during our meeting.’
Where do you do most of your work?
R: ‘In the first few years of my degree, I spent a lot of my time researching in the Sackler, Bodleian, and Theology Faculty libraries. These libraries have extensive and relevant material for the range of disciplines my thesis topic covers (for instance, archaeology, art history, theology, and linguistic studies). During this time I did most of my work in the Sackler Library, as I was producing a large catalogue and required access to resources and reference material available at this library. Now that I am editing a full version of the thesis, I divide my time between writing at home and researching in the libraries, with the Bodleian serving as my main library. I visit the Ioannou Centre for seminars and special events.’
F: ‘Byzantine studies program has the chance to be located in the newly built Ioannou centre. The building is in the very heart of Oxford, extremely near to all the main libraries. Furthermore, most of the classes take place there. So, I find it extremely convenient and helpful to work there – even until late at night sometimes !
How often do you have the chance to present your research in public?
R: ‘This has mostly happened in Oxford at the Byzantine Society Graduate Student Day Conference and the Art and Archaeology Seminar series. However, a number of opportunities to present papers at conferences, symposiums, etc are advertised regularly for both within and outside Oxford. It depends on your subject area and the current state of your research.’
F: ‘At the Graduate Student conference, where the audience varies from Professors to other graduate students. The ‘Byzantine Theatron’, which takes place every second week of each term, gives the chance to two graduate students each time to present their work to their colleagues. The discussions which follows each presentation help us all as a team, to think hard about our research methods and to produce more ideas. I think this is a really important facet of working in a thriving academic community.’
Why did you choose Oxford?
R: ‘I originally chose Oxford because of the one-year taught Master of Studies in Byzantine Studies. This degree offered a thorough, well-structured programme taught by distinguished scholars. Having completed this, I decided to continue with a doctorate at Oxford because of the lively Byzantine community, research facilities, research opportunities, and the standards expected of graduate work.
F: ‘Oxford is one of the major centers for Byzantine Studies of the world. The Bodleian library, where some of the most important medieval manuscripts can be found, is in Oxford. Some of the most efficient, profound and renewed are teaching in the university. Also, the interdepartmental master's program of Oxford gives the chance to examine the Byzantine civilization by more than one scopes. One has the chance to study the methodology of different disciplines at the same time.’
Would you choose Oxford again?
R: ‘I would definitely choose Oxford again. I have been fortunate to work on (what I find) an exciting topic with a gifted supervisor. The large Byzantine community at Oxford offers many occasions to discover and discuss material. Having come from Australia, the Oxford system was very foreign to me, but I enjoy collegiate life and the town of Oxford. I have made a fantastic bunch of friends with whom I share my experiences of work and play in a leading institution.’
F: ‘Of course! Being a master’s student (I’m now in my second year of my MPhil), I feel that I have learned an enormous amount and I make the most of my time here. Every day I’m learning something new and that is exciting! Furthermore, one of the most best features of Oxford is the ‘team work’: we work all together in order to improve ourselves and make helpful contributions to each other’s fields. All the scholars are most willing to help us with our work and to discuss the problems that come out of the various sources and materials we look at.’