Magdalen - Student Life

Housing: College accommodation guaranteed for all undergrads; quality ranges from palatial C18th sets (bedroom and sitting room) to the infamous concrete 60s relic (The Waynflete). Rooms chosen by ballot, 3rd years have first pick. Some flats and houses, some married/family accommodation.

Eats: Cheap in Hall (approx £2 for evening meal); good range, quality medium. Formal Hall (sit down and be served) twice a week for the traditionalists. Bar serves potatoes, pasties, salads, soup, sandwiches etc. Kitchen facilities vary from the supreme to the minimalist. JCR runs shops for basic provisions.

Drinks: Bar not exceptionally cheap (£1.80 per pint lager, £1.50 spirits & mixer, £1.40 wine). JCR Wineshop opens every term-time evening for students to buy booze on credit.

Nightlife: JCR has its own ents equipment for fortnightly bops, plus several themed events per term. Oxford excellent for cinema, theatre, music, restaurants. Clubs cheesy rather than cool.

Sports & societies: Excellent facilities and funding for all. Socs range from film to discussion and debate to poetry. Drama and music have long standing and impressive reputations. Sport is for all levels: football excels, large boat club.

Travel: Grants available for all undergrads, size depends on relevance to course, but requirements are fairly flexible.

Financial help: Government funds supplemented by college cash. No student should be unable to complete their course from lack of funds (some students entirely subsidised). Everyone qualifies for vac grants to help with cost of staying up in holidays to study.

Jobs: Work available in college bar and JCR wineshop (other term-time work not really an option). Paid work (and free college accommodation) also on offer in vacations.

Annual living costs: The minimum amount students say you need to live on each year (covering all living expenses but excluding tuition fees) is £3400 (in college accommodation).

Best features: Friendly, very liberal atmosphere with space to develop.

And worst: Surface impressions can be very misleading - the awe-inspiring surroundings should deter no one from applying.

More info: Contact JCR President, on Tel: 01865 276011, email: president(at)jcr.magd.ox.ac.uk

Past students: Oscar Wilde, C S Lewis, Sir John Betjeman, A J P Taylor, Lord Denning, Kenneth Baker, John Redwood, Dudley Moore, Charles Sherrington, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Erwin Schroedinger, William Hague.