Come Into Your Own Welcome To
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UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD COME INTO YOUR OWN WELCOME TO WHAT’S THE WHAT’S THE SOMERVILLE WORK COLLEGE LIKE? LIKE? Principal’s Perspective omerville is a college of the soon became a magnet for those who University of Oxford, which aspired to intellectual distinction and Sopens its doors to the world. Our public service. students come from many different I came to Somerville myself in the nationalities and backgrounds, and 1960s, as one of a generation who go on to succeed in every part of the were proud of our great traditions world and any imaginable field of and ready to blaze new trails though endeavour. life. With the inclusion of men in the Somervillians who have changed 1990s, the College reinvented itself the world include prime ministers on the basis of its pioneering and and a Nobel Prize winner, doctors open traditions. and scientists, business leaders ALICE PROCHASKA Somerville students consistently rate and inventors, teachers, explorers, Principal of Somerville College their learning experience as one of ambassadors, artists, dramatists, the best among Oxford colleges. They musicians, leaders in the media, also tell me “the College feels like generations of illustrious novelists, home”. It is a place where you know world-class philosophers and, not and trust the immensely distinguished least, academic leaders who inspire tutors who guide your studies, and their students to aspire to new heights. the students you work with: a place Somerville’s distinctive character is to do the fullest possible justice to rooted in its origins. One of the two yourself, in your own way. It is a place first colleges to admit women to to excel, and it is also a place where Oxford, it was founded by a group of you can turn for support, inspiration, progressive men and women who encouragement and simple believed that the opportunity of an friendship. Oxford education should be open to Somerville welcomes prospective all, regardless of national, religious students, teachers and families to or social background. They named visit the College at any time. We offer the new institution after one of the open days so you can come and meet great female figures of their time, the our Fellows, staff and students, and scientist and writer Mary Somerville we visit schools to tell you more about (1780- 1872). Part of a circle that life at Somerville. We invite you to included Laplace, Charles Darwin and find out how the College has made John Stuart Mill, and an accomplished a difference in the world, and how it mathematician and astronomer in could change your life. Please read on, her own right, her writings made and discover for yourself something of the scientific discoveries of her day the unique qualities of Somerville, and accessible to a wide audience. Within its place at the heart of the University its first decade the College welcomed of Oxford. students from around the world, and 3 COME INTO YOUR OWN THE LIBRARY Somerville expects the best from its students, and in return With one of the University’s largest undergraduate libraries at your fingertips, we commit to supporting your academic performance whatever the subject area, our extensive collection and resources are there to support your study needs xford colleges play a major Tutorials can be held in other colleges, role in a student’s academic but will generally take place in Oexperience. Somerville is Somerville if the tutors teach your in some ways a small university in chosen topic. its own right, with students and academics all engaging in study, LECTURES & SEMINARS teaching and research. Successful In addition to the numerous applicants can expect their work to be university-wide lectures and classes, enriched by the facilities and teaching the College organises public lectures provided by the College. which have been given by globally eminent academics, including TUTORIALS Nobel Prize winners. There is also a NILUKA KAVANAGH Tutorials centre around the discussion termly research seminar in which all Undergraduate, English of an essay or problem sheet set by members of College can participate. a College tutor. They are typically Twice a term, the “Principal Presents” “For someone like me attended by no more than two or series gives students an opportunity who wants as much three students. Tutorials are a key to meet prominent people in a small- feedback as possible, part of Oxford’s teaching approach, scale setting. the tutors are always offering a really personal learning very willing to give any hile the Bodleian and welcoming atmosphere for working. experience in which students and FINANCIAL SUPPORT additional advice. I’ve faculty libraries have Multiple desks, group study rooms, academics work closely together. Somerville provides financial support also found them really limited opening and computers mean approachable which I W These are often challenging in many forms, including funds for hours, Somerville’s that there is plenty think is very important encounters but always highly books and academic-related travel. library is open around of space to work. As when it comes to For more details on financial support, the clock, and it well as everything productive and valuable ones. learning” see page 16. consistently features you need for your in the top reasons studies, the library why students say stocks a range of they applied to DVDs and novels, the College. Not including works by only is it one well-known alumni of the largest of the College like Vera college libraries Brittain, Iris Murdoch, and in Oxford, it also has a warm and Penelope Fitzgerald. “As an English postgraduate student, the Somerville Library has almost every book I needed for my courses and dissertation. On the off chance the library did not have a copy of a book, they purchased the book for me, and this process was impressively RITA MANSURYAN MANSURYAN RITA MSt, English quick as well.” 4 5 THE CITY & THE UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY FACILITIES CAFÉ CULTURE THE ARTS NIGHT LIFE Standard undergraduate Within Oxford, everything you need Aside from our own Terrace Galleries are not hard to find in Jericho comes to life at night. LIVING IN SOMERVILLE accommodation consists of is a short walk or bike-ride away. The Bar, which serves coffee all day, Oxford, with the world-famous Cocktail-lovers will have trouble study bedrooms with shared University’s largest development for Somerville is ideally located for Ashmolean and Modern Art Oxford deciding between several exciting bathrooms, showers and kitchens. over a century puts Somerville at nearby cafés. G&Ds is a regular so close by, plus the beautiful new bars in the surrounding area. The In keeping with the college’s relaxed Undergraduates are guaranteed rooms the heart of modern Oxford life. The student hangout, serving ice cream galleries of the Weston Library. main night-clubs are all within a and welcoming atmosphere, in their first, third, and fourth years, Radcliffe Observatory Quarter (ROQ) until midnight, while Companion In terms of theatre, the Oxford short walk from the College, and anyone can walk on Somerville’s and most second year students also is transforming Oxford and will bring is the ultimate brunch spot. The drama scene is always thriving. students who act as ‘Entz Reps’ are beautiful central quad, one of have rooms in College. Somerville together most of the humanities Jericho Café has great coffee and It takes about 5 minutes to get on-hand to provide tickets. If you’d the largest in the University. The aims also to provide accommodation subjects to a central site for the first loads of room downstairs to hang to the main three performance prefer a quiet drink, pubs like The library, dining hall, most student in or close to the College for all first- time in 900 years, as well as housing out with friends, and Taylors is the spaces. For film aficionados, the Victoria, The Rickety Press, and The accommodation buildings and most year postgraduate students, and gives the Mathematical Institute and place to go if you want a takeaway Phoenix Picturehouse is right on the Eagle and Child are Somervillian teaching rooms border it. priority to those arriving from abroad. Blavatnik School of Government. coffee or sandwich. College’s doorstep. favourites. “I’m a languages student, so for me SHOPPING NATURAL BEAUTY FOOD the College literally couldn’t be better French French placed. The Language Centre is right opposite our Lodge, the Taylorian Central Oxford has all the High Somerville is one of the closest Little Clarendon Street boasts an (language library and lecture hall) is Street brands you could want, as colleges to Oxford’s beautiful Port impressive range of bakeries and only 5 minutes’ walk away and Italian well as the famous Covered Market. Meadow, an ideal place for a walk, delicatessens, and for the basics classes are two minutes from the Closer to home, you can find charity picnic, or jog. The University Parks there are two branches of Co-Op RUTH AKINRADEWO AKINRADEWO RUTH Undergraduate, and Italian side gate! ” shops, a post office, a florist and are also nearby, offering a space to right next to Somerville. It isn’t far to more in the immediate area. For play football, or an alternative route Tesco, Sainsbury’s, and the weekly books, The Last Bookshop always towards the English, Law, and Social Gloucester Green food market. has bargains, while Blackwells, Sciences faculties. In summer, the Restaurants in Jericho include some Waterstones and The Albion Beatnik river beckons, and you can try your well-known names as well as student all offer literary events alongside hand at punting on the Thames. favourites Mamma Mia and Arzoo’s. their wares.