Hi! My name is Alexandra, and I am studying Engineering at St Catherine’s College, Oxford. Maths has always been my strongest subject, so doing a degree where I can apply my knowledge to the real world in one of the best universities in the world was a great opportunity for me.
In a typical week we usually have 8 lectures(4 for each topic), which in normal times would be held in big lecture theatres, with around 180 of us present, but now, due to covid-19, are all online. On Fridays we will also have live remote Q&A sessions where we can ask questions about the lectures content. Then we get a problem sheet for each topic, so 2 problem sheets a week, each taking 7-8 hours to complete, depending on how well you know the material. We will then have 2 tutorials, in groups of 3, with the professors at St Catherine’s, where we will go over the problem sheets and any material we need to work on. Finally, we have labs once a week, 11-5, with a lunch break in between. In the first term for example, we had computing, mechanics, electronics and drawing labs.
Even though the workload might seem like a lot, it is possible to manage, and you will always have time for extracurricular activities and just to relax and spend time with your friends.
My advice for the interviews would be to revise school material, in particular physics, because the interview consists mostly of physical and mathematical problems. They will be quite challenging but will only require knowledge you got from your A-levels, and tutors will always help you and lead you to the right route. My interview experience in St Catz was much more relaxing than I expected; tutors were very welcoming and helpful, they asked me some questions about my personal statement and we had a small chat about engineering in general before we got to the main part with the questions.
Overall, Engineering at St Catherine’s is a challenging degree, but it is totally worth it, because of the amazing people you will meet, access to the world’s best academics and resources and the support you get. I am incredibly happy to be here, and would not change it for anything else.