The
Weird and Wonderful World of the British University When it comes to higher education, the United Kingdom stands at the forefront of academic excellence. With over 100 universities spread across the country, the British higher education system is among the most well-respected in the world. However, there's more to British universities than just academic rigor and prestige. From bizarre traditions and quirky architecture to weird courses and strange facilities, there are many oddities and curiosities that make studying in the UK a unique experience. In this article, we delve into the world of British universities and discover some of their lesser-known and more unusual facts. Let's start with the buildings themselves. Many British universities boast striking and eccentric architecture. One of the most iconic examples is the Radcliffe Camera, a circular library building located in Oxford. Built in the 18th century and designed by James Gibbs, it's considered one of the best examples of neo-classical architecture in Britain. Another noteworthy example is the Portland Building at the University of Nottingham. Designed in the 1960s by the architect Denys Lasdun, it has been described as "marmite architecture" because of its polarizing design – some love it while others loathe it. Other universities with interesting architecture include the University of Cambridge, which has Gothic Revival colleges, and the University of Bath, whose main building features an eye-catching blend of modernist and brutalist styles. Now let's move on to the courses offered by British universities. While most universities worldwide offer traditional programs such as English, history or mathematics, many British universities have courses that are, to put it mildly, a bit quirky. For example, the University of Sussex offers a joint honours degree in philosophy and football, which combines studies in philosophy with practical football skills. The University of Kent has a course in paranormal studies, where students can explore the supernatural and investigate ghosts, poltergeists and other spooky phenomena. Meanwhile, the University of Warwick has a module in the philosophy of zombies, where students can examine the ethical, philosophical and cultural implications of the zombie genre. Of course, British universities are also renowned for their long-standing traditions – some of which are downright weird. Take the University of St Andrews, for example, which has an annual May Day tradition called the "Bottle Walk". This involves students attempting to walk across a row of champagne bottles while balancing a glass of champagne on their heads. Then there's the "May Dip" which takes place at multiple universities across Scotland, where students brave the freezing waters of the North Sea at dawn on the 1st of May. At Durham University, students have to climb the daunting "Peninsula" – a steep hill in the center of campus – at midnight before exams in order to increase their chances of success. Meanwhile, at the University of Oxford, there's the "Raisin Weekend" – a tradition in which first-year students dress up in weird and wacky costumes and offer a present of raisins to their academic tutors. In return, they receive a small gift and are invited to a formal banquet. Finally, there's the strange and wonderful array of facilities and services that can be found on British university campuses. For example, at the University of Exeter, there's a medieval well that's said to be haunted by the ghost of a monk. The University of Roehampton in South London has a campus cat called Frodo who is beloved by both students and staff. And at the University of Sheffield, there's a dedicated "Fungi Lab" where students can study the fungal kingdom and its role in ecosystems, medicine and biotechnology. Other campuses have facilities such as its own vineyard, an observatory, a fire station, a wind tunnel, and even a nuclear research reactor. In conclusion, while studying at a British university might be a serious academic pursuit, there are plenty of curious and unconventional aspects that make it a unique experience. From strange traditions to odd courses and quirky facilities, British universities are full of surprises, each with a unique charm and character of its own.