Our tutors - rory tyler

Rory - geography, University of oxford

Hi! I’m Rory, a third year Geography student at Hertford College, Oxford. In my studies, I am fascinated in understanding how cultures, communities, environments and governments interact and shape the world we live in. After university, I hope to enter the world of diplomacy and international relations.

Before Oxford, I studied Biology (A*), Geography (A*) and Psychology (A*) at Ashton Sixth-Form College, Greater Manchester. I also achieved full marks in an Extended Project Qualification (A*) which focused on the historic and cultural factors impacting the development of India. I have maintained connections with my sixth form while at university, being involved in the production of the school’s first Oxbridge co-ordination team, helping with mock tutorials and interviews.

While my degree focuses on Geography, my interest in and experience of both Biology and Psychology are integral to how I understand the world around me and I am proud of my abilities in these three subject, all of which I tutor. In fact, I thoroughly enjoy the chance to work on these two disciplines as a breath of fresh air from my usual studies.

I have been state educated all my life and know what it is like to not have access to the best resources or to feel as though you are not as good as the rest. I know how it feels to see the path ahead of you as one full of impenetrable obstacles. My aim is to help my students realise that they can in fact be better than the rest and go beyond what they thought was possible, regardless of where they come from or what their previous exam results are. This is something that I pride myself on. Nothing is better than seeing a student’s eyes light up and say, “I’ve got it!” after telling themself it’s impossible. This is my inspiration for becoming a tutor in the first place.

Outside of the classroom, I am heavily involved in numerous sports teams and societies, contributing to college life. I am on the college’s football, rugby and rowing teams and have various leadership roles within these, namely as the President of the rugby club. I reflect my love of sports in my studies, with my dissertation focusing on the appropriateness of ‘sportswashing’ as a term within the English Premier League. I also have a passion for music, playing guitar and singing at many University events.