New College - Student Life

Housing: Most (but not all) live in comfortable rooms in college (with telephones and ethernet points); good self-catering accommodation for fourth years. Rents £2400 for 24-week year.

Eats: All meals subsidised, including 2 sittings of Hall each night (one formal); dinner in hall for 24 weeks, £450. JCR guest dinners fortnightly. Food edible and varied, with healthy and veggie options and provision for special diets. No kitchen facilities for first years.

Drink: Good, cheap student-run college bar (pint £1.30): popular with lively atmosphere, excellent facilities (leather sofas, big-screen TV, film projector and screen, darts, table football and games machines.

Nightlife: High-profile college ents including fortnightly bops, band nights, college trips, and huge summer garden party; Sky Digital in the JCR, along with pool table.

Sports: Excellent college sports facilities. Students can use university gym facilities free of charge.

Travel: Numerous travel grants for course-related vacation travel.

Annual living costs: The minimum amount students say you need to live on each year (covering all living expenses but excluding tuition fees) is £3500 (in college accommodation, 24 week year), £6200 (in private accommodation, usually 40-week lets).

Financial help: Generous college supplementing of the university bursary scheme; sympathetic College attitude, with a committee to facilitate financial assistance.

Jobs: Officially not allowed in term; some work available in College, e.g. Bar, Library, Buttery; many students work during vacations.

Best features: Balanced attitude to work; enthusiastic participation in social and sports activities.

And worst: General apathy towards student politics.

More info: Enquires to JCR President, email: president(at)icr.new.ox.ac.uk or check out the website: www.newcollegejcr.org.uk

Past students: Nigel Rees; Tony Benn; Lord Longford; Len Murray; John Fowles; Hugh Gaitskell; Naomi Woolf; Kate Beckinsale; Hugh Grant.