OXFORD
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OXFORD
chapel where daily service is held during term ac-
cording to the forms of the Church of England.
IV. Tuition, Examinations, and Degree.s. — The university provides 130 professors, lecturers, and readers to give instructions in the several faculties of theology (9), law (8), medicine (17), natural science, including mathematics (27), and arts, including an- cient and modern languages, geography, music, fine arts etc. (69). The chief burden of tuition, however, does not fall on this large body of highly-equipped teachers, whose lectures arc in many cases very sparsely attended, but on the college tutors, whose lectures, formerly confined to members of their own colleges, are now practically open to the whole univer- sity. The exten.-iion of, and great improvement in, the tuition afforded hy the (•(lUcsc tutors has led to the practical dL-iapiJiaianrc al ( )xfor(l, at least in work for
losophy ; the successful candidates in both these exam-
inations being divided into four classes. A first class
in "Greats" (or lilerce humaniores) is still reckoned the
highest honour attainable in the Oxford curriculum;
but the student has seven other Final Honour Schools
open to him, those of modern history (which now at-
tracts the largest number of candidates), mathematics,
jurisprudence, theology, English literature, Oriental
studies, and natural science.
Degrees. — A student who has passed the examina- tions requisite for the B.A. degree, can further qualify himself for the degree of (a) Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery, by passing two examinations in medical and surgical subjects; (b) Bachelor of Civil Law, by pass- ing an examination in general jurisprudence, Roman, English, or international law ; (c) Bachelor of Theology (if in orders of the Church of England) by presenting
honours, of the private tutor or "coach", who for-
merly largely supplemented the official college teach-
ing. What is noteworthy at Oxford is the trouble
taken by tutors in the work of individual instruction,
which, while involving a great, and sometimes dis-
proportionate, expenditure of time and talent, has
done much to establish and consolidate the personal
relations between tutor and pupil which is a distinctly
beneficial feature of the Oxford system.
Examinations. — For students aspiring to the B.A. degree are prescribed two strictly-defined compulsory examinations, and two so-called public examinations, in which candidates may choose from a wide range of alternative subjects. Responsions, generally passed before matriculation, includes Latin, Greek, and mathematics, all of a pretty elementary kind. The second compulsory examination, that in Holy Scrip- ture (for which a book of Plato maybe substituted), includes the Greek text of two of the Gospels. In the two "public examinations", i. e. Moderations and the Final Schools, either a "pass" or "honours" may be aimed at. The passman must first satisfy the exam- iners in Moderations (i. e. classics combined with logic or mathematics), and then for his Final School may choose between various subjects, such as classics, mathematics, natural science, and modern languages. The "honour-man", if aiming at "greats", has, as a rule, first a searching examination in classics, and then a final examination in ancient history and phi-
two dissertations on a theological subject. For what
are known as " research degrees " (Bachelor of Letters,
or Science) two years of residence are required, fol-
lowed by an examination, or the submission of a dis-
sertation showing original work. Candidates for the
degree of Bachelor of Music are exempted from resi-
dence, and need only have passed the examination of
Responsions. Bachelors of Arts can present themselves
for the degree of Master at the end of a stated period,
without further examination; but the Bachelor of
Medicine must pass an examination or submit a disser-
tation before obtaining the degrees of M.D. or Master
of Surgery : and there is a similar qualification required
for proceeding to the degrees of Doctor of Divinity,
of Civil Law, of Music, and of Letters or Science.
There is now no religious test in the case of any de-
grees excepting those of theology; but all candidates
for masters' or doctors' degrees have to promise faith-
ful observance of the statutes and customs of the
university. Honorary degrees in all the faculties may
be granted to distinguished persons, without exami-
nation, by decree of Convocation.
Diplomas in certain subjects, as health, education, geography, and political economy, are granted by Convocation after a certain period of study and an examinational test. These diplomas are obtainable by women students, who are not eligible for any de- grees, although they may, and do, enter for the same examination as men. The halls of women students are
