A Comparison between Oxford University and Cambridge University

MEI+Qiong-hui　ZHENG+Yun-yan　YANG+Zhi-min

【摘 要】牛津大学和剑桥大学是两所世界著名的英国大学。他们不同于英国的其他大学，但两者本身却在历史、组织构造、教学风格方面拥有很多的相似之处。与此同时，它们在发展过程、框架结构、教学重点方面也有着不同之处。牛津大学和剑桥大学是两所世界一流的大学，它们因此成为世界各地的年青人所向往的理想大学。这两所大学将继续保持它们在将来高等教育界的显著地位。

【关键词】牛津大学；剑桥大学；比较；相同点；不同点

【Abstract】Oxford University and Cambridge University in the United Kingdom are two world-famous universities， they differ from other universities in the United Kingdom， but they themselves have much in common in history， organizational makeup， and teaching style. Meanwhile， they also have some differences in development， framework， and educational focus. As two of the first-class universities in the world， Oxford University and Cambridge University have become the ideal universities that many young people all over the world yearn to enter. The two universities will keep themselves in the foreground of higher education in the future.

【Key words】Oxford University； Cambridge University； Comparison； Similarity； Difference

0 Introduction

Oxford University and Cambridge University in the United Kingdom are two world-famous universities. As two of the oldest universities in the world， they have existed for eight to nine centuries. Oxford University is well-known for its academic achievements in all subjects， especially in arts subjects. As an internationally renowned center for teaching and research， Oxford University attracts students and scholars from all over the world， with almost a quarter of its students from other countries. Cambridge University is one of the largest universities in the United Kingdom. Its reputation for outstanding academic achievements is known world-wide and reflects the intellectual achievements of its staff and students， and the world-class original researches carried out by its staff. As two institutions of higher education and research in a wide range of fields， Oxford University and Cambridge University resemble each other in history， organizational makeup and teaching style， such as various financial sources， beautiful landscapes， excellent studying environment， and high academic status. Meanwhile， they also differ from each other in development， framework， and educational focus.

1 Similarities between Oxford University and Cambridge University

1.1 Similarities in History

Both Oxford University and Cambridge University are historic institutions of higher education. Oxford University and Cambridge University were founded in the 12th century and in 1209 respectively. The long history is one of the reasons why both of them have a world-wide reputation. They have helped to train many important persons with outstanding abilities for the United Kingdom and even for the whole world. Due to its long history， the city of Oxford is popular with tourists because of the splendid medieval buildings at Oxford University.

1.2 Similarities in Organizational Makeup

Besides the similarity in long history， Oxford University and Cambridge University resemble each other in organizational makeup. The two universities have their own distinctive organizational makeup. It is difficult to understand the structures of Oxford University and Cambridge University unless one has first understood the nature and functions of their colleges. At present Oxford University has 39 colleges， and Cambridge University has 31 colleges. “They have no resemblance whatever with the institutions which are also called‘colleges in American universities” （Wu， p.78）. All of the colleges at both Oxford University and Cambridge University are parallel and equal institutions， and none of them is connected with any particular field of study or with any particular stage in a students education. No matter what subjects a student intends to study， he or she may study at any of the colleges， and will remain a member of the same college until he or she has graduated. Each college has a chapel， a dining-hall， some teaching buildings and some residential buildings， though the residential buildings are in general only large enough to accommodate about half of the total students. Each student spends part of his or her university life living in lodgings outside his or her university.

1.3 Similarities in Teaching Style

Oxford University and Cambridge University have characteristic teaching style. Part of the teaching is by means of the lectures organized by the colleges， and a student may attend any of the lectures. At Oxford University and Cambridge University， “The teachers are commonly called ‘dons”（Wang， p.63）. Each week a don gives one or two lectures on a subject that is related to his or her own field of study. At the beginning of each term a list is published to show all the lectures to be given within each faculty during the term. Every student can choose which lectures he or she will attend， though his or her own college tutor will tell him or her which lectures are likely to be most relevant. Attendance at the lectures is not compulsory， and no record of attendance is kept.

Apart from the lectures， the teaching is by means of the tutorial system， which has been one of the chief foundations of the greatness of Oxford University and Cambridge University. The tutorial system is organized by the colleges. Each Fellow in a college is a tutor in his or her own field of study to the undergraduates who are studying the related subject. Each student goes to his or her tutors office once a week and discusses with the tutor the essay that he or she has read. A student does not learn from only his or her own tutor in his or her own college for his or her entire tutorial.“The system of teaching practiced at Oxford University， with its tendency to avoid set courses， probably encourages independent thought and judgment”（Wang， p.74）. The same is true of Cambridge University.

2 Differences between Oxford University and Cambridge University

2.1 Differences in Development

Oxford University is a historic institution.There is no exact date of its foundation， but teaching in some form existed at Oxford in 1096.Oxford University has developed rapidly since 1167 when Henry II， the King of England from 1154 to 1189， banned the British students from attending the University of Paris. Oxford University played a leading academic role in the Victorian era. The people who took part in Oxford Movement led by John Henry Newman broke away from the Anglican Church in the 1840s. Twenty years later， the first museum built at Oxford University was the site of the famous debate between Bishop Wilberforce and Thomas Huxley， the champion of evolution.

Cambridge University traces its history back to 1209 when a group of Oxford scholars who had felt tired of the constant strife that characterized their relationship with the burghers of Oxford appeared in the town of Cambridge to found a new university. In the 16th century， some changes were reflected in the curriculum.“Henry VIII， King of England， issued a series of injunctions to the University in 1536， suppressing the Faculty of Canon Law and forbidding the study of scholastic philosophy. The study of canon law declined， and the Greek and Latin classics， mathematics and Biblical studies came to the fore” （Ward， p.123）. However， the situation was improved later.

In the 17th century， mathematics came to dominate the studies in Cambridge University and the term“Tripos” was used to indicate the examination in mathematics. However， at the beginning of the 19th century， “Tripos” was used to indicate the final honors degree examination in any subject at Cambridge University. Some additions were slowly made to the staple mathematical curriculum. An examination for the degree of Bachelor of Laws first appeared in 1816. In 1843 a voluntary examination could be taken in theology which was to develop into a theological Tripos. Cambridge University continues to change in response to the challenges it faces.

2.2 Differences in the Framework of Colleges， Staff and Students

At present Oxford University has 39 colleges. Three of them are for only female students， and the rest take both male and female students. Cambridge University has 31 colleges. One of them is for only male students， two are for only female students， and the remaining 28 take both male and female students. The most famous colleges of Oxford University and Cambridge University originated early and are all unique. “In Oxford， the best known colleges are： Christ Church， founded in 1546， with its large front quadrangle and its famous chapel； Magdalen College， founded in 1458， with its tall bell-tower in the perpendicular style on which the chapel choir sings at dawn on May Day； All Souls College， founded in 1437， which is unique in having no undergraduates but only Fellows； and New College， founded in 1397， with its fine chapel and well-known choir”（Brooke， p.98）.

The total number of the teachers at Oxford University is over 1，000. The current academic staff at Oxford University includes 76 Fellows of the Royal Society and 105 Fellows of the British Academy. A further 97 Emeritus and Honorary College Fellows are also Fellows of the British Academy， and 142 Emeritus and Honorary College Fellows are Fellows of the Royal Society. The total number of the students at Oxford University is just over 16，100. There are almost 5，000 postgraduate students， and around 3，000 of them are studying in the arts and humanities faculties. The rest are undergraduates. Almost a quarter of the students are from other countries， including the countries in the European Union. More than 130 nationalities are represented among the student body（Sun Dingguo， p.56）.

At present Cambridge University has more than 1，000 teachers， including professors， associate professors and lecturers. Besides， it has more than 1，000 visiting scholars. The total number of the students at Cambridge University is more than 16，900， including 6，935 postgraduate students. 72% of the postgraduate students at Cambridge University come from other universities， 42% are overseas students， and 36% are female students（Sun Dingguo， p.56）.

2.3 Differences in Educational Focus

Oxford University and Cambridge University have different educational focuses. For instance， the teachers and students at Oxford University often ask the question：“What do you think？” However， the teachers and students at Cambridge University will ask the question：“What do you know？”（Li Cunxiu， p.135） It is obvious that Oxford University pays more attention to thinking while Cambridge University emphasizes learning. It is acknowledged that Oxford University is preponderant in arts subjects while Cambridge University is preponderant in science and engineering subjects. As a result， Oxford University has trained many politicians while Cambridge University has trained many scientists.

3 Conclusion

There are so many similarities and differences between Oxford University and Cambridge University. As two historic institutions of higher education， both of them have a world-wide reputation for outstanding academic achievements， and advanced researches undertaken in a wide range of arts and science subjects， they will keep themselves in the foreground of higher education in the future.

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