LLM Discussion Board

[Edited 27 Mar 2006 by catcat]

Dear all,

I am gonna be a MJur student this fall. I have a question and seek for your advice. Does the colledge choice decide the life in Oxford? Or, for example, my interest is in insolvency, corporate, and tax law. If I was put into a college without tutor having the same major, would it damage my process of learning?

HI catcat!

You have to separate two things. Firstly, the social life in Oxford is governed by the colleges. Secondly, as a graduate students it is quite secondary in which college you are in, if we talk about academics. The letter is a consequence of the fact that Mjur's are entitled to attend courses in other colleges, because there are only the offered Mjur courses (up to one course can be a undergraduate course, though) you can attend. And not each of the college teaches every course. Therefore, it is quite common for Mjur's to attend courses in other colleges. If you are eager to write a dissertation, it might be an advantage to know your professor from fromal halls or other events taking place in your college, though. Bear in mind that prof. don't have to supervise every dissertation!

Best and cu
Daniel
PS: I know my college already becauseI am allocated there through an exchange program. I am lucky becasue it was my first choice(St. Edmund Hall)...

Daniel12:

St. Teddy's Hall, eh? My friend stayed there last year... really enjoyed himself.

I've put down Balliol College as my first choice... however, that seems to be a popular choice... why is that?

If I understand you correctly, you ask me why St. Edmund Hall is a popular choice. Well, Im my case I just took into account that one professor who is a leading scholar in my specialization is a member of this college. I like to opt for the dissertation to combine my Mjur with some research for a doctorate degree in Germany. That's why I wanted to go there. I know I will...
But i don't know anything about a general popularity of St. Edmund Hall. From what I have heard during my time in London I can only say that Christ Church and Balliol are seen as rather "posh" colleges with lots of rich but rather dull kids. But that may mostly apply to undergraduate studies...
Best
Daniel

Er...

I would agree with you that Christ Church has a certain 'rah' reputation.

But Balliol is widely known for it's large intake of state school undergraduates. It is also well known for its socialist reputation - the JCR keep a tortoise named after the communist 'Rosa Luxembourg.'

A better answer to the original question would be that many people apply for Balliol because it's perhaps the most famous college, with some of the most prestigious alumni out of any college at Oxford.