Oxford and Cambridge are a bit different from most UK universities. The college system is orthogonal to subject-specific departments. A college provides accommo

Oxford and Cambridge are a bit different from most UK universities. The college system is orthogonal to subject-specific departments. A college provides accommodation, social support. Academic staff are also associated with a college, and teach students from that college in small group tutorials. Lectures however tend to be organised by department rather than by colleges. As students become more specialised, or if their college doesn't have many professors in their particular subject, they may have tutorials with academics in other colleges.