Why Oxford and Cambridge have competed for centuries, and how they are fundamentally different

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

More than five hundred years remained before the establishment of the first university in Russia, and the rivalry between Oxford and Cambridge had already begun. The lucky ones who happened to name one of these two universities as their alma mater discover amazing secrets, some of which, however, are known to those who are far from the English education system.

When and how the oldest universities in England appeared

The exact date of the founding of Oxford University is unknown, but in 1096, according to historical documents, teaching at it was already carried out.

There was no fashion for education then, few students comprehended the basics of theology and were preparing to become priests, of course, it was only about males - until the twenties of the last century women were not accepted at Oxford University. With the development of cities, crafts, trade grew and the role that this educational institution played in the life of the country. Oxford's popularity increased after the decision of King Henry II Plantagenet, which banned English students from studying at the French Sorbonne. There are more students and teachers in the town on the banks of the Thames.

At the beginning of the 13th century, the University of Cambridge was founded. It is believed that the initiators of the creation of this educational institution were the scientists of Oxford, who left the former place as a result of the unrest: several students were convicted of the murder of a resident of the city, and the situation there was turbulent. The new university is located in an old town on the River Cam, about the same distance from London as Oxford.

Like Oxford, Cambridge was essentially a religious institution - and so it was to remain for most of the university's history. Students also mastered knowledge in various fields of scientific knowledge - in mathematics, philosophy, logic.

For a long time, these two English universities retained a monopoly on the conduct of educational activities in England. Even during the Middle Ages, it was forbidden by royal decree to create any other universities on English soil. Therefore, among the seven "old" universities in Great Britain and Ireland - those that arose no later than the end of the Renaissance and still exist today - there are as many as four Scottish educational institutions and only two - English. Two universities gained power and retained their privileged status until until the twenties of the XIX century.

Newton's Bridge, Cromwell's Head and Candidate Requirements

The current leadership of Oxford and Cambridge in the field of education by an order from above, of course, can no longer be explained. Despite the emergence of a huge number of universities in the world, including England, the two oldest British universities continue to maintain their positions as the best on the planet, getting into the top ten in any rankings. Applicants should choose either Oxford or Cambridge for admission - apply simultaneously to two universities are not allowed. You will have to decide on the college, each has its own history, its own campus and its own teaching method. The oldest of the colleges in Oxford is called the University College, it was founded in the middle of the XIII century and until the XVI century taught students only theology.

Candidates are interviewed - but not to assess knowledge and intelligence, this is revealed in exams. The main thing for interviewers is the way of thinking of a potential student, as well as his ability to meet the high standards of the educational institution. Education, which is given in Oxford and Cambridge, is not in vain appreciated so highly - behind it there is hard work, which not everyone can do.

Not surprisingly, there are so many distinguished names among the graduates of the two oldest English universities. Suffice it to mention that among those who studied or taught at Cambridge, there are eighty-eight Nobel laureates - according to this indicator, the university ranks first in the world. the mythical will not be difficult. One of the simplest entertainments available to visitors to Oxford buildings is trying to find the interiors that appear in the film adaptation of the Harry Potter saga. An impressive number of scenes from these films were filmed in the Christ Church College building.

In the Clarendon Laboratory, Oxford, an electric bell has been ringing continuously since 1840. This is a low sound - since the device itself is hidden behind double glass. The bell is activated by a chemical current source, which was filled with sulfur for airtightness. For this reason, it is not possible to establish a diagram of the structure of this device. The bell continues to ring - and will do so until the current stops being generated or until the parts of the device are worn out. This is not a perpetual motion machine - but still a unique exhibit.

On the territory of Cambridge, you can find the Mathematical Bridge, built, according to legend, by Isaac Newton without a single nail or other fasteners. Once upon a time, students dismantled the bridge in search of the secret of its structure, but they could not assemble it in its previous form and used the usual means of connecting the fragments of the bridge together. In any case, the assumption about Newton's role in the construction of this structure is only a legend, if only because it - this structure - appeared twenty-two years after the death of the famous Cambridge graduate.

It would be strange if, over the centuries of existence of student communities in universities, their myths did not appear. According to one of them, somewhere in Cambridge, the head of Oliver Cromwell is buried, a statesman who died a natural death, but then was exhumed for the so-called death penalty, after which his head was put on public display and then kidnapped. It is believed that the collector in whose hands it fell, buried his trophy in the chapel of one of Cambridge colleges. And the poet George Gordon Byron, when he arrived in Cambridge, he discovered an annoying ban - students were forbidden to keep dogs in the room. Then the poet got himself a bear cub - formally, the requirements of the university were not violated.

Some of the old traditions of universities are still preserved, others are a thing of the past. The latter include, for example, the custom of handing the student with the worst score on the exam a huge wooden spoon - it existed until 1909. But night climbing, which students have been practicing for over 150 years, is still a traditional pastime. Strictly speaking, they climb the buildings of Oxford, but the Cambridge students have become much more famous in this matter. This is a rather dangerous form of entertainment, involving "conquering" the roofs of rather dilapidated college buildings. Tradition prescribes to leave a memorable "souvenir" on the roof. In June 1958, a real Austen Seven appeared on the roof of the Cambridge Senate House.

A regatta that did not exist in 2020

In 1849, thanks to the novel "Pendennis" by William Thackeray, the word "Oxbridge" came into use among the British, which is still successfully used today, even in official documents. There are too many similarities and similarities between the two universities - both history, and basic values, and fame. One of the symbols of this relationship is the famous Oxford-Cambridge Regatta, which is the oldest and most prestigious competition in rowing. For the first time, the prize was raffled between the two teams on June 10, 1829, and since 1856 competitions have been held every year, with the only exceptions being the war periods and 2020 with its pandemic.

University teams sail 4 miles 374 yards (6779 meters) upstream. The Cambridge rowers are blue, the Oxford athletes are navy blue. They start at Putney Bridge, finish at Chiswick Bridge. The entire race takes about a third of an hour. The event, celebrated in literary works - including the books of P. G. Woodhouse, attracts the attention of the whole UK. Several tens of thousands of spectators gather on the banks of the Thames, and millions watch competitions on television.

This competition has its own statistics. In the entire history of the competition, Cambridge won 84 times, and Oxford - 80. Once - in 1877 - a draw was recorded.

Of course, members of the British royal family are studying at one of these two universities, and Prince Charles of Wales was no exception. one of the 10 most likely contenders for the English throne, educated at Trinity College, Cambridge.