St Catherine's - Student Life

Housing: College cheapest (living out nearly London prices); find a place from people moving out or estate agents.

Eats: Hall - quite good food (incl vegetarian): 3 course evening meal £2.60 or less with tickets, lunch £1.40. breakfast £1.00. Pete's Cafe - informal, cheaper alternative; The Turf, Maxwells, Freuds, Old Orleans good but generally pricey.

Drink: Catz bar - excellent £1.30 a pint, cheap spirits.

Nightlife: Good college ents: discos, bands, etc (free entry, restricted to JCR members and guests); music, drama, 5-6 main student clubs. College band, visiting bands in pubs etc. Student clubs, The Coven, Zodiac. Oxford theatrical productions are cheap and frequent. Numerous cinemas in town, mainstream to foreign/classic.

Locals: Never see any.

Sports: College squash, tennis and netball courts, weights room, punts, shared boathouse, sports field (1 mile away).

Travel: Generous travel awards (college and JCR). £6 return coach to London runs regularly from town.

Financial help: College discretionary awards in extreme cases (theoretically unlimited).

Jobs: In hall, bar and library during term. Conference work and gardening in college during holidays (£170 pw plus board & lodging).

Best features: Community spirit; very friendly and relaxed.

And worst: Can get a bit close; distance from centre.

Informal name: Catz.

Past students: A A Milne, John Birt, Simon Winchester, Peter Mandelson, Jeanette Winterson, Matthew Pinsent.