Indians in Top Colleges | ‘Oxford University offers a work-life balance,’ says PhD student

It's a good idea to start preparing your application as early as July or August as this will give you more time to shortlist universities, talk to current students on the programme, says an Indian student at Oxford University.
(In this series, indianexpress.com will talk to Indian students who have secured admission to some of the top colleges in the world. They will share their journey of admission — from deciding which course and college, to the importance of SoPs, LoRs, documents and more)
— Ramya Warrier
I am currently pursuing an MSc in Neuroscience at the University of Oxford as a part of the Department of Physiology, Anatomy, and Genetics. The programme started on September 25 this year. I found out about the top-ranked universities when I was studying at IIT Gandhinagar, pursuing an MSc in Cognitive Science. I heard about these universities from our alumni and found out more while I was doing my online research for graduate study programmes.
A majority of Indian students must have heard and wished to study at Oxford University. While researching to pursue a higher degree from abroad, I applied to many institutes. I also applied to Dartmouth University in the USA and the Max Planck School of Cognition in Germany. However, I decided to go to Oxford as their Neuroscience programme allowed me to do lab rotations. This would let me gain experience in diverse areas of neuroscience before I pick a lab for my PhD. Oxford is also a great place to live in as it is safe, beautiful, and filled with other university students like me. The lifestyle here also offers a work-life balance which is something I was very keen about.
Admission process
The admission process to Oxford’s Neuroscience involved the submission of an application by their December deadline, which was followed by an interview of the shortlisted candidates in January, and the selected candidates were intimated in the first week of February.
Oxford’s application is not very different from those submitted to other institutes. Besides the details of your personal and academic history, it also requires you to submit your English language proficiency test results, two SoPs (Statement of Purpose) — out of which one SoP should be about 500 words long, and an extended SoP is about 1000 words long with more details about your research interests and plans.
When it comes to SoPs, these should follow a logical structure, and for me, a narrative structure works well. Your SoP is your chance to let the admission committee know you as a person, so use it well. While talking about your academic interests and why you have chosen a particular course, drawing from your past experiences and how they have shaped your interests and career goals helps. If you are applying for a course a little different from your previous academic training, talking about transferable skills is a good idea.
The application also requires you to submit the details of 3-4 referees who would submit reference letters for you. I submitted the details of my undergraduate and graduate research supervisors as my referees, as they would not only be able to speak to my research interests and capabilities but also comment on my work ethic and personality. The interview involved a presentation of my previous research work and technical questions about my research interests.
Once you are offered a place, you either look for funding opportunities if you don’t have any already, or you just get straight to the administrative part of moving to Oxford and starting your programme, such as applying for accommodation and a student visa.
Documents needed for admission at Oxford University
— Degree certificates
— Transcripts
— English language proficiency test results (like IELTS/TOEFL)
— Statement of Purpose (SoP)
— CV
— Letter of recommendation (LoR)/ Reference letters
Application key points
Most programmes usually have their application deadline from the last week of November till January. It’s a good idea to start preparing your application as early as July or August as this will give you more time to shortlist universities, talk to current students on the programme, and, if you are applying for a PhD position, then contact potential supervisors. This is an important life decision, so it’s good to take your time and make informed choices.
Another important thing to remember is that going through the university website and course page thoroughly is a good way to shortlist your colleges. One can also refer to QS world rankings to find top colleges but bear in mind the criteria they use to provide those rankings and the extent to which those are relevant to you and what you expect from the course. Talking to current students and your academic supervisors is a good idea too. Looking at various aspects besides the academic reputation of the college is also important — like extra-curricular activities, geographical location, work-life balance, and career and personal growth opportunities.
Candidates should remember that any sort of extracurricular activities that add to you as a person should be mentioned. Academic extracurricular activities such as participating in journal clubs, organising conferences, debating, etc, also add credits to your profile.
Additionally, work experience that is relevant to the course you are applying for would be ideal, but even other experience that might have contributed in some way to your interests or current skill set is worth mentioning. Students can gain such experience via various internships and independent research projects. Taking up volunteering opportunities is also a good decision as it makes you stand out, especially when applying for scholarships. When looking for volunteering opportunities, make sure to pick something you are passionate about.
Life at Oxford – worth the hype
My first few days in the country have been great. Since Oxford follows a collegiate system, I was assigned to my college- St Peters’ College, where the graduate community welcomed me and helped me settle into the city. They organised a number of social events to help us get to know each other and also guided us with things like finding grocery stores, setting up a bank account, and figuring out local transportation.
One instance I particularly remember is my neighbour helping me out with some of the basic kitchen supplies by handing over some extra cutlery and pans she had so I could start making my food. She also invited me to her house for lunch. This was a heartwarming experience. Equality and diversity are valued by the Oxford community, and so everyone has been very welcoming.
The one thing I struggled with was the sudden change in weather as winter was starting to set in when I arrived in Oxford. However, I adjusted to it soon. Navigating a new city that is culturally and geographically miles apart from your home country can feel intimidating. Which is why it is incredibly important to build a social community and stick with it. Find other people in similar situations as you and help each other through it. Take up opportunities to socialise and build networks with people, and don’t shy away from conversations- you very likely have something valuable and different to add.
It has been a great experience meeting people from different parts of the world at the university. Gaining exposure to a lot of academic opportunities has also made me more confident in my skills. Studying with a group of students from very different academic and cultural backgrounds means that we help each other and add to each other’s skills. It has also helped broaden my perspective and be more open and accepting of new ways of thinking.
After I got into Oxford, a lot of potential applicants approached me asking for advice on applications, and I am happy that I can help them. It is also a good feeling to see other students look up to you.
I would say that being part of such a vibrant, diverse, and intellectual community at an early stage in your career is something that will help you grow both personally and professionally. It also allows you to learn from some of the best academics in the world, and learning from their experiences is an invaluable opportunity. Being in Oxford has also let me be a part of some very rich culture and tradition that the university has kept alive for centuries, and that is truly an unparalleled experience. It helps you get out of your shell and experience a whole new world. So I would say that life at Oxford is surely worth the hype.