Editing Oxbridge (section)

==Meaning==
[[File:Percentage of state-school students at Oxford and Cambridge.png|thumb|Percentage of [[state school]] students at [[University of Oxford|Oxford]] and [[University of Cambridge|Cambridge]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN00616/SN00616.pdf |title=Oxbridge 'Elitism' |date=9 June 2014|publisher=Parliament of the United Kingdom}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200203/ldhansrd/vo030605/text/30605w03.htm#30605w03_sbhd2|title=Acceptances to Oxford and Cambridge Universities by previous educational establishment|publisher=Parliament of the United Kingdom|access-date=7 September 2017|archive-date=20 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220081811/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200203/ldhansrd/vo030605/text/30605w03.htm#30605w03_sbhd2|url-status=dead}}</ref>]]
[[File:Club_house_flags.JPG|thumb|[[Oxford and Cambridge Club]]]]
In addition to being a collective term, ''Oxbridge'' is often used as shorthand for characteristics the two institutions share:

*They are the two [[List of oldest universities in continuous operation|oldest universities in continuous operation]] in the UK. Both were founded more than 800 years ago,<ref name=oxfordhistory>{{cite web|title=A brief history of the University |url=http://www.ox.ac.uk/about_the_university/introducing_oxford/a_brief_history_of_the_university/index.html |access-date=2008-03-29 |website=ox.ac.uk |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080411014607/http://www.ox.ac.uk/about_the_university/introducing_oxford/a_brief_history_of_the_university/index.html |archive-date=11 April 2008}}</ref><ref name=cambridgehistory>{{cite web | title=A Brief History&nbsp;– Early Records | url=http://www.cam.ac.uk/univ/history/records.html | access-date =2008-06-27|website=cam.ac.uk}}</ref> and remained England's only universities until the 19th century. This duopoly was actively protected, with both universities until the 1820s requiring their graduates to swear not to teach at any other universities in England, and lobbying royalty to close down establishments at [[University of Northampton (13th century)|Northampton]], [[University of Stamford|Stamford]] and [[New College, Durham (17th century)|Durham]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.historytoday.com/miscellanies/medieval-university-monopoly|title=The Medieval University Monopoly|first=William|last=Whyte|authorlink=William Whyte (historian)|work=History Today|date=7 March 2018}}</ref> Between them, they have educated a large number of Britain's most prominent scientists, writers, and politicians, as well as noted figures in many other fields.<ref name="guardian_20080316_1">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2008/mar/16/highereducation.news |title=Education: It's the clever way to power&nbsp;– Part 1 |author= Cadwalladr, Carole|work=The Guardian|date=16 March 2008 |access-date=2009-03-22 | location=London}}</ref><ref name="guardian_20080316_2">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2008/mar/16/highereducation.careers |title=Education: It's the clever way to power&nbsp;– Part 2 |author= Cadwalladr, Carole|work=The Guardian|date=16 March 2008 |access-date=2009-03-22 | location=London}}</ref>
*Each has a similar [[collegiate university|collegiate structure]], whereby the university is a cooperative of its constituent colleges, which are responsible for [[Tutorial system|supervisions/tutorials]] (the principal undergraduate teaching method, unique to Oxbridge), accommodation and pastoral care.
*{{Multiple image
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}}They have established similar institutions and facilities such as leading publishing houses ([[Oxford University Press]] and [[Cambridge University Press]]), botanical gardens ([[University of Oxford Botanic Garden]] and [[Cambridge University Botanic Garden]]), museums (the [[Ashmolean Museum|Ashmolean]] and the [[Fitzwilliam Museum|Fitzwilliam]]), [[national library|legal deposit libraries]] (the [[Bodleian Library|Bodleian]] and the [[Cambridge University Library]]), [[debate|debating]] societies (the [[Oxford Union]] and the [[Cambridge Union]]), and notable comedy groups ([[The Oxford Revue]] and [[Footlights|The Cambridge Footlights]]). {{Multiple images
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*[[Oxford–Cambridge rivalry|Rivalry between Oxford and Cambridge]] also has a long history, dating back to around 1209, when Cambridge was founded by scholars taking refuge from hostile Oxford townsmen,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cam.ac.uk/univ/history/records.html |title=A Brief History: Early records |website=[[University of Cambridge]] |access-date=2009-03-22}}</ref> and celebrated to this day in [[List of British and Irish varsity matches|varsity match]]es such as [[The Boat Race]].
*They are usually the top-scoring institutions in cross-subject UK university rankings,<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://extras.timesonline.co.uk/tol_gug/gooduniversityguide.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080622120258/http://extras.timesonline.co.uk/tol_gug/gooduniversityguide.php |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 June 2008 |title=University Rankings League Table 2009 |access-date=2009-02-04 |work=Good University Guide |publisher= Times Online | location=London | first=Roland | last=Watson}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
|url=https://extras.timesonline.co.uk/stug/universityguide.php |title=University Rankings League Table |access-date=2009-02-04 |work= The Sunday Times University Guide |publisher= Times Online | location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/single.htm?ipg=6524 |title=League table of UK universities |access-date=2009-02-04 |work=The Complete University Guide |author=Bernard Kingston |date=28 April 2008 }}</ref> so they are targeted by ambitious pupils, parents and schools. Entrance is extremely competitive and some schools promote themselves based on the achievement Oxbridge offers. Combined, the two universities award over one-sixth of all English full-time research doctorates.<ref>{{cite web |title = Research degree qualification rates |date= July 2010 |url = http://www.hefce.ac.uk/pubs/hefce/2010/10_21/#exec |publisher = [[Higher Education Funding Council for England]] }}</ref>
*Oxford and Cambridge have common approaches to [[University and college admissions#Undergraduate entry 2|undergraduate admissions]]. Until the mid-1980s, entry was typically by sitting special entrance [[exams]].<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ms8OAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA202 |page=202 |title=Life in Public Schools |last=Walford |publisher=Taylor & Francis |year=1986 |isbn=978-0-416-37180-2 |access-date=2009-02-02 |first=Geoffrey}}</ref> Applications must be made at least three months earlier than to other UK universities (the deadline for applications to Oxbridge is mid-October whereas the deadline for all other universities, apart from applicants for medicine, is in January).<ref>{{cite web|title=UCAS Students: Important dates for your diary |quote=15 October 2008 Last date for receipt of applications to Oxford University, University of Cambridge and courses in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science or veterinary medicine. |url=http://www.ucas.com/students/importantdates |access-date=2009-02-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090201114118/http://ucas.com/students/importantdates |archive-date=1 February 2009 }}</ref> Additionally, candidates may not apply to both Oxford and Cambridge in the same year,<ref>{{cite web|title=UCAS Students FAQs: Oxford or Cambridge |quote=Is it possible to apply to both Oxford University and the University of Cambridge? |url=http://www.ucas.com/students/applying/faqs/eligibility/faq1 |access-date=2009-11-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091001013817/http://www.ucas.com/students/applying/faqs/eligibility/faq1 |archive-date=1 October 2009 }}</ref> apart from a few exceptions (e.g. organ scholars).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.music.ox.ac.uk/assets/files/Chor_Org_Downloads/OrgAwards2009.pdf |quote=It is possible for a candidate to enter the comparable competition at Cambridge which is scheduled at the same time of year. |title=Organ Awards Information for Prospective Candidates |publisher=Faculty of Music, [[University of Oxford]] |access-date=2009-03-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120822114305/http://www.music.ox.ac.uk/assets/files/Chor_Org_Downloads/OrgAwards2009.pdf |archive-date=22 August 2012 }}</ref> Most candidates achieve, or are predicted to achieve, outstanding results in their final school exams, and consequently interviews are usually used to check whether the course is well suited to the applicant's interests and aptitudes,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/publications/interviews.pdf|title=Cambridge Interviews: the facts|publisher=University of Cambridge|access-date=2009-08-11}}</ref> and to look for evidence of self-motivation, independent thinking, academic potential and ability to learn through the tutorial system.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate_courses/how_to_apply/interviews/index.html |title=Interviews at Oxford |publisher=University of Oxford |access-date=2009-02-02 |archive-date=28 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130128115705/http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate_courses/how_to_apply/interviews/index.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Membership of the [[Oxford and Cambridge Club]] is largely restricted to those who are members of the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge.