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[sockysockthesockman]

I'm finding surprisingly little on JRFs from the forum search function. I'm not sure if it's being wonky or what.

At any rate: yay! I have a JRF interview. But I'm an American and don't understand the British system well. I'm interested in anything people can tell me that might be helpful, and in particular:

1) I have to send them a copy of my "original degree certificate" - is this closer to an American diploma or transcript or what (I'm not sure how one would scan a diploma, since they're way too big)?

2) How many people tend to advance to the interview stage (I don't want to get my hopes up unnecessarily)?

[wegie]

Socky, you might get more responses if you get the mods to move this thread into the "Academics in the UK" section of Working Abroad.

"Original degree certificate" is your diploma. If you've had yours mounted and framed (which we don't do over here), you may need to ask the college you're applying to if they'll accept an original transcript sent directly from your degree granting institution(s).

Numbers at interview is completely dependent on the college. I've heard of as few as two and as many as ten, but I'd probably expect there to be about half a dozen.

[bibliothecula]

I have a British degree-type thing (ok, it's a certificate, and there is no associated transcript), but when people need a copy I photograph it, turn that into a PDF, and send it.

Good luck!

[sockysockthesockman]

Numbers at interview is completely dependent on the college. I've heard of as few as two and as many as ten, but I'd probably expect there to be about half a dozen.

That's considerably better odds than I thought. I had assumed dozens!

Does anyone know of a good resource explaining the Oxbridge system to a complete outsider (preferably an American)? I'm curious especially about how the system of individual colleges interacts with the larger university from the perspective of a faculty member. Would any teaching I undertake be through the college (i.e. only to students from that college)? Or is there a difference there between tutorials (which I think I understand on a basic level) and things more like an American lecture course? As a faculty member of one college, may I use the library facilities of another? Etc.

[bacardiandlime]

If you search for "Oxbridge" or "oxford" or "cambridge" in the UK forum section, you'll find a lot of relevant explanations. Use the search link at top left and select the right section.

As a member of one college, it is normally possible to be allowed into the library of another college, just email ahead and ask (I never had any problems). But you won't be able to borrow. In most cases though the resources you need are likely to be at a faculty library or the UL/Bodleian.

[bacardiandlime]

Here are some links I just found, using the "search" function:

http://chronicle.com/forums/index.php/topic,81387.0.html
http://chronicle.com/forums/index.php/topic,63708.0.html
http://chronicle.com/forums/index.php/topic,83120.0.html

[sockysockthesockman]

Thanks for those links. Some questions I haven't been able to find an answer to:

Do JRFs have administrative responsibilities within the college? Or is it pretty much all research all the time, with the option of a little tutorial/supervision teaching?

Does "free meals in college" indicate that each individual college has its own cafeteria-like setup, and that I would go to my college specifically for these meals?

[bacardiandlime]

Do JRFs have administrative responsibilities within the college? Or is it pretty much all research all the time, with the option of a little tutorial/supervision teaching?

Depends. Chances are you'll be put on various college committees, which may or may not be onerous. As for whether teaching is an "option", if you're in a rare field, you may find yourself pinned with being director of studies whether you like it or not. It's very unlikely you could opt NOT to teach at all.

Does "free meals in college" indicate that each individual college has its own cafeteria-like setup, and that I would go to my college specifically for these meals?

Yes. Your meal allowance will be for a certain number of college cafeteria meals, or formal dinners.