St Hilda's - Student Life

Housing: Reasonably priced, especially in Cowley.

Eats: College excellent value (snack from £1.50, main meal from £3); veggie alternative often more popular than carnivore. Queen's Lane Coffee House good (£4-£5 for snack, £8 for meal).

Drink: Cheap college bar; fine range of beers (Courage, Fosters, Kronenbourg) and spirits, and regular cocktail+eclectic music nights; £1.20-£1.50 for draught cider/beer, special deals weekly. Oxford Union and other college bars cheap; pubs quite expensive.

Nightlife: Regular college ents (typically featuring well-known bands, LGB Soc, ceilidh, drinks promos, etc) - cheap! College drama, newspaper, choir, magazines, arts societies. Student clubs, Park End, Freuds, Zodiac, Union bar.

Locals: Don't generally mix with students (not very friendly: certain pubs worth avoiding).

Sports: College tennis courts, punts, boat club, rugby. squash, netball, hockey. Iffley Road sports centre.

Travel: Generous travel grants, often subject specific.

Financial help: Very good. Many available. Principal controls emergency fund: stringent assessment but applications encouraged. £50 freshers' book grant for all with receipts.

Jobs: In term, library invigilation, bar shifts, stewarding, occasional waitressing. College employs students in holidays for conferences (kitchens, silver service etc); wages not brilliant, convenient if you need to be around college.

Best features: Atmosphere: everyone is very friendly.

And worst: Conferences during vacation.

Good news: 36 new ensuite rooms; increased internet connections.

More info: Enquiries to JCR President on Tel: 01865 276846, email: jcr(at)st-hildas.ox.ac.uk

Past students: Marjory-Anne Bromhead (economist at World Bank), Nicola Le Fanu (composer), Kate Millett (feminist writer), Beryl Smalley (historian), A Bullard (vice-president, Amcon Corp, USA), Dame Helen Gardner (critic), Barbara Pym (novelist), D K Broster, Jacqueline Du Pre (cellist), Catherine Heath (writer), Hermione Lee (broadcaster), Gillian Shepard MP, Baroness Greenfield (science).