Well, Yeeees, technically that’s true … although I always feel uncomfortable about this …  It’s a genuine degree … a genuine Oxford Degree … I did go to Oxford, I did all the things that Oxford undergraduates do, the sort of “Brideshead” experience that most people associate with the name of Oxford: I went punting on the Isis and the Thames; drank in the Mitre and other alehouses (pubs); played Rugby – although I never went rowing; strolled down the High and Broad Streets and bought my books, (on account) in Blackwells; oh, and yes, I did study (and it wasn’t easy) and sat the exams (neither were they); and I sat in the Sheldonian Theatre to have the degree conferred on me.  And, as I say, it is an Oxford University Degree … albeit a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) and not a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree.  I didn’t buy it over the internet or from from some agency that no-one’s ever heard of (except their clients) … but I was never an undergraduate, a member of the University.  That’s why I say that I got into Oxford through the “backdoor”.

Let me explain.

Oxford University claims, according to their website, to be “one of the leading universities of the world” … and quite rightly so!  It is the oldest university in the English speaking world and traces its history back to the 12th century when foreigners (including a number of English scholars) were expelled from the university of Paris.

Unlike most universities, it’s not a single monolithic organization but a collegiate organization, a federation or a collection of thirty odd independent colleges and ten “halls”, (Permanent Private Halls or  PPH), with a central administration and various departments which carry out research.  The oldest of these constituent institutions can trace it’s history back to 1221, whilst the youngest was founded in just 2008.  In order to study at the University, undergraduates (students) have to belong to one of these Colleges or Halls, and, given the history and reputation of the place, competition is fierce.  Although independent, the colleges do work together and with the central administration to ensure that the “best” applicants are offered a place even if it’s not at their preferred college.  Selection is based upon a combination of examination results (either existing results or predicted results), submitted examples of written work, interviews and special admission tests.

Although there are lectures – and I went to several very good ones which I remember well to this day – teaching is based mainly on the “tutorial” where an individual or small group of students (usually no more than four) meet with their tutor (or “don”) to discuss a topic and/or the students’  work, (essays, etc.).

Now, the problem is that the college I attended is not, (was not – it doesn’t exist anymore as the result of a “merger”), in the list of those thirty odd colleges and ten halls.  Indeed, when it was founded back in 1851, it wasn’t even in Oxford.

Westminster College, was based, (as the name implies), in Westminster, London.  It only moved to Oxford, (actually to a purpose built campus on the outskirts of Oxford – on the other side of the newly constructed Ring Road by the time I got there), at the end of the 1950′s.  The Horseferry Road site in Westminster had been small and restricted the activities and growth of the college.  The buildings were requisitioned during the First World War and the college had nowhere to continue its work and so ceased to function for the duration of hostilities.  So, as early as the 1920′s plans were mooted to move from its Central London location.  Then, the original neo-Gothic buildings were damaged in the blitz during the second world war, and they were never repaired, (… they were eventually demolished in the 1960′s and the headquarters of the Channel 4 TV station now stand on the site).  Finally the college moved to its new home in 1959.  The new campus featured a mix of Oxford style “quad”, a ‘New England’ style of architecture, and a large and distinctive chapel, (being a Methodist college, the chapel was designed to be the focal point of the campus).

Originally the college specialized in training teachers for Methodist schools and had a close relationship with the University of London. Following the move to Oxford, it offered a number of Theology and Education degrees which were originally validated by the Council for National Academic Awards (the CNAA), but when that organization was abolished, four of the Colleges of Education, (Teacher Training Colleges), entered an academic partnership with the University, allowing their students to read for degrees of the University through the Department of Education.  Westminster was one of those four colleges.  It was never officially a college of the University of Oxford, but over the course of time undergraduate students who “read” for their degrees at the college were entitled to become members of Oxford University Student Union and the Oxford Union and once they graduated, to associate membership of the Oxford University Society, (the alumni association of the University of Oxford).  They received their notification of results from the University, not the College. Degree certificates bore the crest of the University of Oxford and were issued by the University Offices, with graduation ceremonies presided over by University officials in the Sheldonian Theatre. Subsequently, although these students were not “matriculated” by the University throughout their studies, they are entitled to call themselves University of Oxford graduates.

Apparently the move to Oxford confused a lot of people … For example, back in the 1960′s, a famous politician accepted an invitation to speak at the college … he arrived late because he thought it was “just down the road” from the House of Commons!    Then, there were stories of students who applied to the college because they thought it was in London, (well, they would, wouldn’t they, given the name name “Westminster College” … however, I can’t help wondering what was going through their minds when they wrote the Oxford address on the envelope when they posted off their application forms!).

When I applied, however, I wasn’t confused.  I knew it was in Oxford.  I didn’t, however, make the connection with the University … or anticipate the confusion that this would entail later on.  My reasons for choosing to apply to Westminster included:

• it was not far from home,
• it was a Methodist college, and
• it offered me the opportunity to continue my studies in my two “favoured” subjects … Religion and Mathematics … allowing me to chose a career either in the Church, or in teaching.