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What are the main supermarkets and places to buy stuff for our rooms?

Supermarkets: Tesco and Sainsbury's; both have outlets in the centre of town and Cowley. Tesco is generally larger and cheaper.
Boswells has a good range of kitchenware and utensils like cups and plates. Argos has pretty much everything, from electronics to heaters to bed sheets, and you can check out their online catalogue + pre-order to collect in store! Medicines and soap products can be found at Boots.

is there a suggested packing list for heading to oxford for your first year? what items should we get ready for moving into our rooms/what facilities will most college accommodation have?

There's no official packing list, but generally college rooms will be really sparse. Most provide a duvet, pillow, mattress, desk lamp, desk + chair at the minimum, so you'll have to bring your own sheets, mattress protector and linen (all of which can also be bought here at Argos). Some choose to buy a lamp of their own because lighting here isn't as bright as in Singapore. Furnishings aside, it'd be helpful to get things like hangers, a kettle and cooking equipment/utensils (but check with your college first that these are permitted in your room because they can differ greatly), a laundry basket, drying rack if you're not planning to use the dryer, and whatever you need to organise your desk and wardrobe, like storage boxes, bookends or box files. Pretty much everything can be bought in the city centre, so no need to worry about packing too much. If you don't have an ensuite room, a shower caddy or small basket for bringing your soap to the shower, and slippers for wearing around, will be really useful!
Many of us like to bring items from home that can't be found here. Bolsters aren't a thing here so if you use one you can bring it over. Milo packets and powder, and other local snacks like seaweed and gem biscuits are also popular. Rubber bands and those plastic clips you use to "kiap" things like food packets shut may also come in handy :) other assorted things include foolscap paper (it's expensive here) and your favourite pens since they don't use the same brands we have back home

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Exactly how heavy is the workload at Oxford? Is it terribly stressful?

It depends on your personal time management/how much you want to commit to your work, but there is a lot of room for extra-curricular activities and societies. It's definitely possible to accomplish a lot of things if you plan your work and complete your tasks efficiently! Striking a good balance will take some time, but eventually everyone will settle into a routine of sorts.

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will you guys b organising any activities for freshers before we go to Oxford?

Yes! We're hoping to have a tea session where you can mingle with other freshers and seniors, and that'll be followed by the main event - our annual chalet! It's a really great chance for everyone to bond before flying off. You can also sign up for an OUMSSA family, where we'll attach "parents" from second year to you (usually doing your subject) who'll act as mentors and help you with any pre-departure stuff or settling in in Oxford. Keep a lookout for the sign-up forms on the OUMSSA website/Facebook pages this summer - hope to see you there!

At Oxford, is it possible to take extra papers beyond the stipulated workload?

Nope - many courses give you the flexibility to choose some of your papers based on your interests, but the workload is already extremely heavy regardless of what subject you take.

I don't know how to cycle - are there any alternatives to walking everywhere?

There's the bus - not as cheap or well-connected as buses in SG but it works when you need to go far. Alternatively there are cabs; calling one is recommended because they don't ply the streets as much. Can get pricey depending on type of cab/where you're going/traffic conditions.

This is a follow-up to the previous question on switching courses. What if, after NS (and before starting the course), the student changes his mind? Would a complete change be possible? With the aid of admission tests and interviews.

One way of doing it, perhaps, would be to reject the original offer and reapply for a different course, but this of course does not guarantee a place. It'd be best to email the admissions officer at the college you were accepted to, or the department offering the course you applied for, and ask them directly about making a switch, as this is a very rare and case-by-case occurrence.

Is it possible to switch courses at Oxford? For example, after accepting a place, a prospective student may change his/her mind and want to take another subject. It may be the case that the subject is only offered at other colleges and not the college that made the offer.

In the vast majority of cases, no. It may be possible for someone doing a joint honours course, like Maths and Statistics, to drop Stats and just do Maths, but this also depends on your department and college. There is no fixed rule on this, so anyone who wants to change course usually has to write in to the specific department(s) involved. From what I've seen, most complete course changes (to a completely different subject) take place only after a year has passed i.e. you finish your first year of the course you originally applied for and then make a switch - but you have to start the new course from scratch, meaning you spend an extra year at Oxford.

Do you have tutorials through all three/four years at Oxford?

For humanities subjects - yes, with the exception of the term right before finals. For science subjects - for the first three years; the last year is the masters/project year so most will embark on placements or research projects.

How is undergraduate information engineering at Oxford? Do undergrads get to do research at the Information Engineering building, perhaps even in the first two years before you specialise? (http://www.robots.ox.ac.uk/)

Hello! This isn't my personal area of expertise (I study a humanities subject) but if you send another message/question with your name and email I can put you in touch with someone who studies Engineering :)

What are the conditions of the contract you enter after accepting an Oxford offer? Is there a monetary deposit requirement?

There's no monetary deposit, but you'll need to fill in a financial declaration form sent to you by your college with evidence that you can pay for your first year's fees, be it through personal finance (in which you'd submit relevant bank statements) or a scholarship (your scholarship provider will usually provide a letter certifying your scholarship).
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Are students allowed to work while studying at Oxford? Is it common among undergrads?

It's not recommended by the university and colleges because of the demands of the academic work here, which take up a good majority of one's time. Hence it's pretty much impossible to find an Oxford undergrad who works. There are however, some small employment opportunities within colleges - like tending the college bar, or a few ad-hoc paid hours of calling/doing admin work a few times a year, depending on the college.
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how about the furthest/worst-located colleges?

Again, depends on far from where, but St Hilda's is probs the furthest from town and most faculty buildings. St Hugh's and LMH are the furthest from town, but pretty near the science buildings. So it all depends on where you need to go!

best Asian food in Oxford

A very contentious question, but top picks:
- Angrid Thai
- Zheng's
- Sojo
- Opium Den
- CreAsian
- Oli's Thai
- Sasi's Thai
- Koto
- Edamame
Avoid Wagamama at all costs. Itsu is Westernised sushi. Wasabi is okay but not that value for £.
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is tap water drinkable?

Yes, it's safe, although some choose to buy water filters for their jugs to be extra safe. Having a kettle would also be handy in case you want warm water (warm tap water isn't as safe as cold) or to make hot drinks.

Which colleges are the most centrally located?

Depends on what you define "central" as, but if you mean the exact centre of town (i.e. Carfax Tower and Cornmarket), it's hard to beat the Broad St colleges (Trinity and Balliol), Turl St colleges (Lincoln, Exeter, Jesus), St. Peter's (a bit isolated from other colleges though). For closeness to the Rad Cam and main Bodleian, Hertford and Brasenose and maybe even Wadham are pretty close - even then all three are fairly close to town. It really depends on what you want to be close to.
Oxford is pretty small, however, so nothing is completely out of reach on foot, and even better if you cycle!

What subjects are the most studied among OUMSSA members?

The top 5 subjects are Law, PPE, E&M, Engineering and Physics, but OUMSSA members study a very wide range of subjects (we have musicians, classicists and even a theology student)! :)
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Are Oxford tuition and college fees constant through all three/four years of study?

According to the uni's website, fees are likely to increase every year. A rough calculation from last year to this year shows an increase of about £1000 in total (for international students at least), but since fees vary from subject to subject (I study a humanities subject so am not too sure about the science subjects with lab components), it'd be best to check out the individual course page for your subject to get the exact number!
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What's the weather like now? (May-June)

Unpredictable. We just emerged from a heatwave of Singapore-like temperatures, but now it's back to the low 20s. There's a lot more sun, with occasional rain that can get pretty heavy. Most of us don't need jackets nowadays, or just wear very light pieces.
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How is Oxford wifi?

Eduroam is available throughout colleges, college accommodation, and all uni buildings e.g. faculties and libraries. It's generally fast, connects quickly and no log-in required once you register at the start of Freshers' Week, so safe to say that everyone relies on this. Your college will send you details on how to log-in, or arrange sessions with the IT staff when everyone arrives. Rarely any downtime other than scheduled maintenance, and even then that will last barely minutes. Many rooms also have very fast wired broadband but it's very not necessary unless you room happens to be surrounded by thick walls/in a bad spot for wifi.
Outside of uni buildings, many public places have wifi -- especially cafes in town, so it's hard not to find a study spot with a connection!
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i'm a Christian and want to continue going to church in Oxford... what churches do the Singaporeans go to?

Most go to St Ebbe's or St Aldates, but there are other smaller churches both in town and on the outskirts of the city centre (e.g. Cowley)!

Do all the colleges have at least one Singaporean each?

To my knowledge, most colleges (including graduate ones) are represented, with the exception of some of the PPHs that specialise in religious teaching!
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how convenient is it to get to london from oxford? and is it expensive?

There are two ways to get to London:
1. Bus: you can take the X90 or Oxford Tube; a same/next day return ticket will cost around £14, and tickets can be bought directly from the driver. The journey will take between 1.5h to 2h depending on traffic conditions. If you have a date in mind, you can book Tube tickets in advance on megabus.co.uk for as low as £1 each way! It's also really convenient to catch the bus since it stops at Gloucester Green/High St, and leaves from multiple stations in London, including Victoria station and Baker St.
2. Train: a faster option (the ride is about 1h each way), with multiple direct trips throughout the day to either Paddington or Marylebone (super central). It's best to have a date and book online, because advance tickets can go for as low as £5.40 each way, while a normal open return ticket is about £25. The train station is a bit of a distance from the city centre, but you'll save traveling time anyway! Plus it's a good option for people who have motion sickness and don't wanna brave the heavy road traffic into London (lol)

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Do the supermarkets sell Asian ingredients like instant noodles and oyster sauce?

The bigger supermarkets like Tesco in town or the big store at Cowley Road may carry a few ingredients, but the Asian supermarkets are definitely better-stocked. There's Lung Wah Chong near the train station/business school, Jingjing in Cowley (along with many Asian grocers) and even New Loon Moon in London if you happen to be there. These stores carry everything from Indomie to fresh noodles to fresh veggies to even durian!
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What's the cycling situation like in Oxford? Is it dangerous?

It depends on where your college is and how far/where you plan to cycle, but generally, cycling is not for the faint-of-heart and is definitely at a much higher standard than "leisurely-ride-down-ECP". High St can get chaotic, especially with the buses and traffic, but St Giles and northward are relatively quieter and the roads wider. The Cowley Road roundabout is also pretty crazy, but after that it's not too bad. I don't cycle, but tips from my friends who cycle: wear a helmet if you're not confident, don't forget to get good lights and a lock (because bike theft is rampant in Oxford), it's better to be safe than sorry so study the traffic and roads first before heading off, follow traffic rules. However, the overall situation is still manageable and biking remains a fast and convenient mode of transport :) (esp. since walking can get very sian after a while)

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