A week in the life of an Oxford student

Two students share their timetables here to give you an idea of a typical week at Oxford University. They show how they organise their time for studying, and that they make time to have fun and relax as well.

Carys - 2nd year, Philosophy, Politics and Economics

Carys is a second year PPE student who has shared her timetable to show an example of a student’s week at Oxford University. It demonstrates how she organises her time for studying, and that she makes time to have fun and relax as well.

Monday
9 am Get up and go for a run around Christ Church meadow.
11 am Microeconomics lecture in the department. While I’m there I go to the Social Sciences Library and get the books for my next assignments.
12.30 pm Have lunch in hall then go to the college library to read for a political theory essay in the afternoon.
8.30 pm Go to the Oxford Union to watch the debate ‘This House believes that there is nothing "Special" about the "Special Relationship"'. Have a drink with friends in the Union bar then go to bed.

Tuesday
9 am Get going on politics work that I need to hand in later today.
11 am Lectures on microeconomics and political theory.
1.30 pm Meeting at Oxhub, the student charity society, to discuss a volunteering project I’m starting this term that involves teaching maths to school pupils in East Oxford.
2 pm Complete my politics essay and hand it in.
4.30 pm Microeconomics tutorial, discussing the work and the topic in general. It lasts a bit longer than expected, as our tutor wants to make sure we understand!
7.30 pm Buy a baguette from my favourite sandwich shop opposite college, and then go to see the new Twilight movie with friends.

Wednesday
9.30 am Politics tutorial, going over our essays and the topics we encountered in the reading. Everyone disagrees, and we end up debating whether cricket and football should be available on the BBC.
10.30 am Distribute leaflets for our college Access Scheme, which encourages students to talk to sixth-formers in their area about Oxford.
11 am Lectures on applied maths and international relations.
2 pm Go to an internship fair and find out about possible future careers.
4 pm Work on a maths problem sheet with my tutorial partner, and other people on our course when we get stuck.
10 pm Watch some TV and go to bed.

Thursday
10 am Read the material for next week’s economics essay.
1 pm French lesson at the Language Centre.
3.30 pm Roundtable discussion with Amartya Sen, a famous political philosopher and economist in Oxford to talk about his book, The Idea of Justice.
7 pm Go to a meeting at Oxford University Student Union (OUSU) about equal opportunities in the University.
8 pm All the PPE students at my college go for a meal and drinks with PPE students from another college. Some of us continue to a club.

Friday
10 am Carry on with my economics work in the Bodleian Library.
2 pm Maths class to go over the problem sheet.
4 pm Go swimming at the University sports centre.
6 pm Write my economics essay.
8 pm Relax in the evening with friends.

Saturday
Morning: Have a lie-in and get up in time for brunch. Wouldn’t want to miss the Belgian waffles!
12 pm Look for a house to rent next year, and stop for a coffee break.
3 pm Read for my next politics essay.
Evening: Go out with friends to a dubstep night.

Sunday
Morning: Brunch followed by a walk along the river with friends.
Afternoon: Work on my politics essay, as it is due in on Tuesday.
8:30 pm JCR meeting. We discuss what happened in the week and elect Charities and Communities reps. We also get free pizza!
10 pm Go to a Motown and rock’n’roll night, where tea and cake are served with the Sunday papers.

Helena - 2nd year, History

Helena is a second year History student who has shared her timetable to show an example of a student’s week at Oxford University. It demonstrates how she organises her time for studying, and that she makes time to have fun and relax as well.

Monday
10 am Reading for this week's essay, usually in the Upper Camera or in college if our library has the books.
12 pm Lecture in the Exam Schools.
1 pm Lunch and catch up with friends.
Afternoon: Carry on reading and note-taking.
6 pm Dinner in college.
Evening: Do a bit more reading.
10 pm Have tea with friends.

Tuesday
8.30 am Flyering in the lodge for the upcoming OUSU elections which I am an activist for.
9 am Reading for essay.
12 pm Lecture in exam schools.
1.30 pm Meeting in college about OUSU elections and getting people to vote.
Afternoon: Finish reading for essay and make essay plan.
6 pm Dinner in college.
Evening: Usually on Tuesdays there is an Academic Affairs meeting in OUSU that I go to as I am Academic Affairs Officer
for the JCR in college, but it is cancelled for the OUSU elections so instead watch a film with friends.

Wednesday
9 am Write essay and take it to Pembroke to hand in as this term my tutor is not in college.
12 pm Lecture.
1 pm Lunch in college, quick meeting with the JCR president to discuss the agenda for this afternoon’s Tutorial Committee.
2 pm Tutorial Committee, a meeting of college fellows to discuss academic-related issues; the JCR has two positions for the unreserved agenda which the JCR president and Academic Affairs officer take.
4 pm Observe a study skills session for first years, giving them tips on how to approach reading lists and essays, in order to compile a report on the session.
6 pm Dinner in hall.
7 pm Catch up on emails and call some friends for a chat.
9 pm Watch Spooks in the JCR and catch up with friends in college.

Thursday
Morning: A lie-in for a change!
12.45 pm Hold an academic feedback session in college where one subject gets to give feedback on their subject teaching and course, part of AcAff.
2 pm Coffee with a friend.
3.30 pm Tutorial for the week. Afterwards I check the reading list to see where next week's books are available.
7 pm Annual history dinner in college with all three year groups and tutors.
9.30 pm Bar with all the historians!

Friday
11 am Head to the library to take back books and get books for my next essay. Go into town to go to Sainsbury’s and have a look around the shops.
1 pm Lunch.
2 pm Have a look at one of the general background books for my essay.
4.30 pm Drinks at the Union with some friends from college.
7 pm Formal Hall in college.
9 pm Head down to the college bar then out into Oxford.

Saturday
Late morning: Meet up with friends, have a wander into Cowley to see when housing lists are published. Catch up on emails and the student newspapers.
12 pm To my favourite high street sandwich shop for lunch!
Afternoon: Read some articles or chapters for my essay.
6 pm Dinner.
Evening: Catch up on iPlayer for the week and have tea with friends.

Sunday
11 am Read for essay.
12 pm Brunch in college.
12.30 pm Carry on reading for essay.
4.30 pm Ring home to catch up with family.
5.30 pm Dinner.
6 pm Reading for essay.
8 pm JCR meeting in college.
Evening: Catch up with friends and do laundry!