Keep Off The Grass 2020 - Oxford University Freshers Guide

Hello and welcome from the Keep Off The Grass team! First of all, we just want to say a huge congratulations for making it to Oxford University. You’ve all worked incredibly hard to get to where you are, and we can promise you that it’s going to be worth it; you are set to have some of the most fun and exciting experiences of your lives here.

While this year’s Fresher’s week might not be the most conventional, due to a few Covid-19 complications, we are sure that you can still make the most of your first year. This guide has been compiled by us to help you navigate student life, and we’ve included everything we wish we’d known when first coming to Oxford.

Lucy Trudy David Calum

Editors: Lucy Tansley, Trudy Ross, David Tritsch, Calum Taylor Contributors: Nia Brown, Harrison Engler, Sophia Cerullo, Nana SarfoBonsu, Richard Wagner, Eve McCarten, Harry Twohig, Rachel Hart, Scarlett Tommons, Izzy Merriman, Katie Schutte, Lily Kershaw, The Blare Magazine Cover illustration: Anja Segmüller Illustrators: Rachel Jung, Liv Fugger, Lizzie Daly, Anja Segmüller, Emma Hewlett, Calum Taylor

Inside this guide... entertainment

Freshers week, Clubs, Bops, Crewdates, Formals, Balls

oxford essentials

Pubs, Bars, Cafes, Green spaces, What to do in an emergency

academic

Labs, Tutes, Lectures, Libraries, Exams, Collections, Essay crises

community

Welfare, Religion & Culture, First Generation, International, Going home for the vac, LGBTQ+

clubs & societies

Drama, Music, Sport, The Union, Politics, Student Journalism, Charities

life

Sex & Relationships, What to do in an emergency, Sharking, Oxlove & Oxfess, Guide to Oxford Lingo

FRESHERS’ WEEK So, you’ve finally made it to Oxford. It might not have seemed like it was going to happen at some points this year, but here we are! Freshers week will be a bit different this year thanks to Covid-19, and the traditional image of freshers as a 7-day party might not be possible.

However, that doesn’t mean it won’t be fun!

Making friends It might seem incredibly daunting to be starting somewhere new where you don’t know anyone, and it’s easy to feel stressed about making friends quickly.

However, don’t worry if you don’t find your best friends for life in freshers week. Everyone is getting to know each oth- er and it might take a while for you to find the people you most click with.

You’ll probably come to meet your coursemates in college at some point during the week. It’s important to have good relationships with them, as you’ll most likely be sharing tutorials and classes (and 4am essay crises) with them for the next 3 to 4 years.

Try and organise to go to meals with people on your corridor during the week. I know that during my freshers week I ended up eating cereal in my room on several occasions because I was worried about eating alone in hall. Having someone to go down with might

make it a bit less daunting.

Homesickness No matter what anyone says, everyone gets a little homesick at some point. For most people, uni will be their first time away from home for a long period of time; freshers week can make you feel particularly lonely as you won’t know anyone very well, but this is entirely normal, and don’t hesitate to call your mum for a chat - just make sure you’re throwing yourself into college activities as well.

Activities It’s not quite clear what this term will look like in terms of mixing with people and doing the normal college welcome events, but if one’s thing for sure it’s that it will require a bit more creativity to

TOP TIP - Buy a kettle and make friends and tea!

socialise this freshers week. Try having a chat with someone with the window across from you, have a socially distanced picnic outside, or have an outdoor movie night to make the most of your first week with new people.

Work You’ll most likely have been set some work to complete in freshers week by your tutors, but the most important thing is not to get too stressed about this. You might need to spend some time in the library, but there’s plenty of time for work in your degree, and the first week shouldn’t be entirely spent with your head in a book. Try and do what you need to do quickly, and then go out and explore Oxford.

TOP TIP - Bring a door stop to make your room seem open and friendly!

an official guide to Oxford’s clubbing scene While the Keep Off The Grass team aren’t able to make any promises about how big a part Oxford clubs will play in the lives of 2020’s freshers, we thought it was still important to include some information about this much-loved aspect of student life. Though you might have to wait a little before you can enjoy a Fever Friday or a legendary Thursday night Bridge, it’s crucial that none of us give up hope that these clubs may be back, albeit in a slightly different form, at some point during your first year.

We’ve teamed up with Blare Mag, a music zine run by Oxford students, to give you the run down on Oxford’s nightlife.

ATIK

PLUSH

BRIDGE

Tuesday is LGBTQ+ night at Plush, a whirlwind of hormones and iconic pop tunes. While primarily catering for the LGBTQ+ community, Plush also often hosts Oxford’s sporadic techno nights - because pop music is just SO manufactured these days. Perhaps the highlight of a Plush night is a topless man offering you £1 jagerbombs, which will later mean you are incapable of feeling self-conscious.

Dancing beneath the club’s hallowed arches feels like you’re inside someone else’s consciousness: nothing seems real, none of it seems to be happening to you, and none of it lingers in the air too long.

Currently: re-opened as a Covidsecure, LGBTQ+ bar!

Oxford’s Atik branch - Park End to you and me - is a Wednesday night mainstay, despite the better value for money Broke Mondays (£1 drinks!). Oxford’s biggest club boasts many rooms, from the garish but entertaining Cheese Floor, to the cavernous upstairs space.

Sometimes all you want is to hear music that you know and love, and a Wednesday night will certainly provide. Park End is the classic middle-ofthe-road club experience, and doesn’t pretend to be anything else.

Currently: Temporarily closed but looking forward to re-opening soon!

Thursday marks the highlight of any BNOC’s week - despite their protestations, they will be spending their night in The Bridge’s smoking area, sipping a horribly priced vodka-cranberry and speaking to as many people as humanly possible. This is by far the best smoking area in Oxford, so make the most of it by never leaving. The rest of Bridge manages to evade the rules of space and time, with every single trip proving to be a repeat of the last. This mainly results from the music on offer - expect “Intoxicated” to play in at least one of the rooms at all times.

Currently: Temporarily closed ://

FEVER

What better way to end a week of hangovers and missed lectures than a glitzy basement, complete with glitterballs, carpeted walls, and more mirrors than a circus attraction - also known as Fever Friday. Paired with a laughably small smokers area, the questionable decor has the effect of Fever being the sweatiest place in Oxford. The music is acceptable but only because by the time you get into Fever you will be too drunk to care. Expect top 40 hits from the past few years mixed with older classics - think the Vengaboys’s Boom Boom Boom.

Currently: Closed, re-opening status unknown :’(

THE BULLINGDON

Above this weekly circuit, The Bullingdon (aka Bully) is a cocktail bar and gig venue, and hosts some immense themed nights. These can range from techno or live bands, to themed nights spanning psych, noughties pop, and a healthy dose of Darkfruits indie. Every night at Bully is different, which is part

of what makes it worth the trek to the other side of town.

Currently: working to reschedule events for as soon as possible!

THE O2

Further along Cowley Road you will find the O2 Academy, which hosts bigger names like Chase and Status and Jorja Smith - perfect if you prefer live music to club nights.

Currently: Has plenty of hot gigs lined up for 2021!

FREUD

For those of you after a more sophisticated night out, Freud is the answer. A converted church, it is now a cocktail bar, which is occasionally hired out for music events.

From the expensive drinks to the painted ceiling, Freud sticks out from other club nights for its sheer class. More memorable than the dozens of similar conversations in Bridge or the unyielding pop of Fever, nights out at Freud are worth seeking out, even just for variety’s sake.

Currently: open Fridays and Saturdays!

College BOPs Whilst different nightclubs will come and go, we can be safe in the knowledge that one beloved feature of Oxford’s nightlife will never disappear (corona permitting). We are of course referring to Bops (‘Big Old Parties’), JCR organised parties that take place a few times each term, often marking big events like freshers’ week, Halloween and Christmas. Bops vary from college to college, but generally all follow a tried and tested formula for success.

One essential ingredient for a successful bop is a good theme. At times like Halloween and Christmas this will be quite self-explanatory, but other occasions offer the opportunity to get creative. Popular themes include dressing as your subject, different decades, or infamous toga bops. Some attendees will come in their normal clothes, whilst others will go all out!

There’s definitely no need to buy a brand-new outfit especially for a bop - bring any dress-

ing-up items you happen to have at home to Uni, you never know when they might come in handy. Otherwise, charity shops, or even cardboard boxes and some paint, are a cheaper and more sustainable option.

Donning an outlandish costume and singing along to cheesy 2000s hits at the top of your lungs demands that you let go of most

of your inhibitions. Whilst some will happily engage in such behaviour completely sober, freely flowing ‘bop juice’ often plays an important role in creating the right kind of atmosphere. This mystery concoction of spirits and various fruity mixers will beat the prices at any pub or bar in Oxford meaning that, alongside minimal entry fees, bops are some of the cheapest nights at Uni.​ Some colleges will occasionally hire out one of the smaller clubs in Oxford for bops, offering the benefit of a larger bar and dancefloor. Most of the time, however, they will take place in college bars, transforming them into vibrant hubs of activity a few times a term. This of course comes with the added bonus of the close proximity of your room, dodging a long trek back to college at the end of the night. Either way, you are sure to find yourself surrounded by familiar faces, with an insight into the (sometimes questionable) music taste of various members of the JCR through their DJ sets, bops some of the most fun and friendly nights of term.

Crewdates I was recently reminiscing on my time at Uni with one of my friends from home, both of us exchanging stories from more exciting times to numb the lockdown boredom. As my friend (a Bristol student) recounted a particularly raucous tale from one night out (I’ll leave its contents to your imagination) my automatic response was ‘that would be a great sconce on a crewdate!’ My friend looked at me blankly and informed me I might as well have been speaking another language.

You see, whilst the Bristol social scene is perceived by some as superior to that at Oxford, an opinion largely propagated by Bristol students I might add, it offers no equivalent to the Oxford crewdate.

What is it?

Traditionally, a crewdate is a shared meal between two different sports teams at either college or university level, although they are a popular social event for non-sporting societies too. Essentially, if you want to attend a crewdate during your time at Oxford you can – most of the people on my college netball Facebook group have never played a match but attend every social. They typically take place at any restaurant willing to house a large group of people and put up with a bit of rowdiness (think slightly questionable curry house rather than Zizzi).

Crewdates can be a bit pricier than other social events at around £10-15 for food plus however much you are prepared to pay for the drink you bring,

meani n g most people won’t attend more than a couple each term. If anything, this makes them an exciting change from the same club nights you frequent week in week out.

Crewdate games Crewdates have a bit of a reputation for rowdiness largely thanks to the drinking games associated with them. “Pennying” involves dropping a penny into someone’s drink, compelling them to down it, making it wise to keep the amount of drink in your glass to a minimum at all times.

“Sconcing” is a tradition particular to Oxford, the earliest known use of the word occurring in 1617. Someone at the table will stand up and say, ‘I sconce anyone who (insert embarrassing story)’, and those to whom the sconce applies will stand up and drink, a bit like Never Have I Ever.

There is of course absolutely no pressure to attend a crewdate if they don’t sound like your cup of tea. However, if you are intrigued, I’d recommend going along to one with a few friends.

They can be a great way to get to know new people and provide a welcome break from the academic side of Oxford life.

Pubs Oxford has a great choice of pubs. The literary, the historical, and the trendy.

Moreover, the best ones are often the hidden gems, quirky student haunts unknown to most tourists. Here are a few you should definitely investigate…

TURF TAVERN The quintessential Oxford pub for students. It’s centrally located. It’s very pretty, boasting a beer garden and a cosy wooden-beamed interior. Even better, it still feels authentic, serving mostly locals and students thanks to the inconspicuous entrance alleys. A lovely place to enjoy a lively Oxford evening.

KINGS ARMS Salmon pink walls, right by the Bodleian and Wadham College. It claims to be the oldest pub in the city, and an (unverified) rumour has it that Shakespeare stayed a night here! Still very popular with students, though it can be quite touristy sometimes – and a little bit pricey. Very much worth a visit!

LAMB AND FLAG It would however be a challenge to find a pub more cute and rustic than the Lamb and Flag. Owned by St John’s College, it has a real sense of being a place for students.

Very near a pub of more literary renown, (Eagle and Child, the meeting place of the Tolkien-led circle, ‘The Inklings’), Lamb and Flag can feel like much less of a tourist trap.

CHEQUERS A charming, centrally located pub, with a relaxed vibe and traditional decor. The 16th century building was once used to display rare animals in - now it displays its drinkers.

FOUR CANDLES Perhaps the cheapest place for a pint is Four Candles, the Wetherspoons pub located on George Street. It is a very popular haunt for students, mainly because of these prices.

Despite being part of a chain, Four Candles often has a great atmosphere. Great for crewdates, group bonding, or just an escape from work. When one asks where to go this evening, someone will always suggest “Spoons!” And sometimes, you will follow them.

There are many, many other pubs in the city. Go explore!

Cafes If you enjoy a hot beverage, be it a cappuccino, an oak milk flat white, or simply a tea, you’re in luck! In Oxford, you’ll be spoilt for choice when deciding which café you want to visit, should you want to smash out that last 600 words of your essay, meet up with a chum, or organise a date.

Michaelmas term will probably take you to the classics – the Vault and Gardens in Radcliffe Square does a cracking little selection of soups along with sensational views of the Rad Cam, Oxford’s piece de resistance. When peacefully strolling/ being carried in the swarm of people down the High Street, you will encounter the age-old rivalry of the Queen’s Lane Coffee House (the red one) and The Grand Café (the blue one) – both lovely, but which one is actually older? And, more importantly, do we actually care? Maybe test out both with a pal and decide which one you prefer – a fun little bonding activity, perhaps.

When a friend from home is visiting and you have neither the time nor inclination to find a niche eatery to take them, Taylors will be your saving grace. Upon a Google, turns out there are actually six (6!) in Oxford, but your holy trinity (pun intended. Ha ha!) will be the ones on the High Street and in the Covered Market (worth a visit in itself for many more eating/ drinking options) for the

central Oxfordian, and Woodstock Road for the Northern Oxford frequenter. In Taylors you’ll find a nifty little build-yourown salad and pasta bar (delicious), and of course enough hot beverages to make you openly weep and run away.

If you’re at a Turl Street college and like a mocha, then you’re in luck – bothTurl Street Kitchen (apparently can be referred to as TSK but no thanks) and The Missing Bean (superb bagels) are both excellent choices. You can also find a Missing Bean at the St Cross English/ Law faculty building, should you need a coffee/ massive slab of vegan brownie to help you through an intense work sesh.

The Handlebar Café is a special spot down St Michael’s Street if you need to unpack a particularly controversial Union debate over some avocado and poached egg on toast. A mention should also go out to Triple Two Coffee on Broad Street should a beetroot hot choc take your fancy (a pleasant surprise), Gail’s down Little Clarendon Street (home of a great breakfast), and The Jericho Café in, well, Jericho (make your Americano that little bit trendier).

emergencies It’s important to unwind and have fun with your friends, but what should you do if things go wrong? For many people, alcohol is an important part of their social life, but there are some things to remember if you want to enjoy yourself safely.

Try and eat something before a night out, as this will settle your stomach and make it less likely that you’ll feel sick. Secondly, remember to stay hydrated (with water, not more vodka), and try to drink a large glass of water before you go to sleep when you get home to help reduce a hangover!

If one of your friends has had too much to drink, take them somewhere safe and get them water (and starchy food), before taking them home. If you are also drunk, it might be good to try and find a sober friend to help out.

Remember to look after yourself as well as others, and keep a look out for signs of alcohol poisoning.

Signs of alcohol poisoning • Irregular breathing • Conscious but unresponsive • Pale/bluish skin caused by low body temperature • Vomiting • Passing out If you’re taking drugs: Be safe by knowing what you’re taking and try not to mix alcohol and drugs. Don’t accept anything from people

if you don’t know where it’s come from.

Signs of drug overdose • Passing out • Irregular pulse • Abnormal breathing • Vomiting • Seizures • Decrease in body temperature Being safe out and about: If you feel like someone in a club or other situation is a threat, try and stay with people you know, or perhaps let the bouncer know. Keep your phone, keys and ID with you at all times in a club! It’s better to keep them with you than leaving them with a friend, as it’s easy to lose people in clubs.

Look out for other people when you’re out, even if you don’t know them. If you see someone who seems to be uncomfortable or in an unsafe situation, it’s always worth asking if they’re ok, or pretending that you know them to help them leave and get to a safe space.

If you suspect alcohol poisoning or a drug overdose, call 999

Green Spaces Green spaces in Oxford? What’s the point? Who cares about some dumb fields?

These foolish thoughts were mine at the beginning of Michaelmas; coming into a world of fancy architecture, never-ending essays and a whole lot of alcohol, I thought that I would never truly have any reason to visit these so-called “green spaces”. I have grass at home, so what’s the point?

Well, incoming freshers, please do not repeat my grave error in overlooking these spaces, as they truly do offer a solution to every problem.

Hung over? Nurse your headache in the fresh 70 acres that make up University Parks..

Parks Want to avoid an essay? Why not visit the Botanical Gardens, and pretend you’re being productive by learning about the medicinal value of many of the plants they have on show?

Want to impress your date while also doing the bare minimum? Why not show off your butterfly knowledge in Wytham Woods which plays host to over 800 species of butterfly?

Its particularly easy to feel rather overwhelmed by the Oxford experience. The 400-year-old libraries somewhat lose their appeal once you’re forced to spend countless hours in them attempting to understand problem sheets and meet word counts.

Green spaces offer a welcome reprieve from the intense pressure of daily life in Oxford; a breath of fresh air amongst the oppressive yet beautiful sandstone of our colleges.

While there are many wonderful green spaces around Oxford, the most notable, for me personally, have to be University Parks and Christ Church Meadow. The wide, open spaces of the former provide the perfect place for a post-exam jog or, even just a walk to blow off some steam. Unfortunately, due to COVID, I have not personally been able to see University Parks in the summer, but I have been informed that it is the perfect space to meet up for a socially distanced picnic.

When asked, one of my friends even said “I’ve been to Uni Parks, which are lovely” and, if that’s not high praise, I don’t know what it.

The natural beauty of Christ Church Meadow offers the perfect space for any student to wander around and clear their head. As someone who doesn’t attend Christ Church, I found the meadow to truly offer the best of both worlds: a temporary escape from uni and the ideal location to truly take in the beauty of Oxford and its architecture (from a distance).

The green spaces dotted around Oxford have to be a must-see for any student.

Formals Formal dinners are one of the many traditions that make Oxford University unique. Although they vary between colleges, they generally involve a three-course meal, accompanied by wine. Some colleges only hold them once a week, whilst others hold them every night. Formals usually take place in a fancy college hall, and most colleges require students to wear their gowns. Some allow their students to wear casual clothes underneath the gown, but others insist on maintaining the tradition of wearing smart suits and dresses.

It’s definitely worth checking before you turn up in jeans!

Before the meal starts, students will stand up and remain silent whilst Latin grace is recited, usually by a senior Fellow. General etiquette requires you to wait until everyone at your table has been served before digging in. Some colleges have themed formals, such as at New College where a different cuisine is cooked each Thursday. Past themes have included Indian, Chinese and Hungarian

food, but themed formals can also reflect a special event, such as Halloween or Christmas.

Formals are a great opportunity to meet new people and often generate interesting and engaging conversations.

It’s definitely worth trying out formals in other colleges, because each offers its own unique experience of food and company. Plus it’s a great way to look round another college - just ask a friend at the college to invite you. Otherwise, Oxford Raise and Give (www.facebook. com/oxfordrag) run Formal Hall Surfing, giving students the chance to buy a ticket for a different college formal.

The future of formal dinners may be uncertain this year what with Covid-19, but whilst the tradition may sound antiquated - especially compared to the modern fast food chains we have access to today – formals have a unique charm, and are integral to student life.

Besides, they give the perfect excuse to dress up and take photos for the gram!

Balls Going to a ball is viewed by many as a quintessential activity for Oxford students. Most colleges hold them in Trinity term, either annually or every couple of years, so chances are you’ll go to one before graduating (coronavirus permitting!). Tickets for more prestigious Commemoration balls can often be in the region of £200, but there are many more affordable options and alternatives.

What to expect Balls will usually last from evening until the early hours of the morning (some even take ‘survivors’ photos at 6am for those who have made it until the end!).

There will be live music acts performing, usually lots of food, and sometimes different stages with different styles of music playing depending on what you’re into.

You’re free to go to balls at other colleges as well as your own, but ticket release priority is given to members of the host college.

Dress Most balls at Oxford are black tie, tie meaning boys will wear a dinner jacket suit with bowtie and girls will wear a long dress. Some of the fancier balls might be white tie, tie which for boys means a black tailcoat, white waistcoat and white bowtie, and for girls

means... a long dress. Dress code gender boundaries are, however, not strict, and you are ultimately free to wear whatever you want!

Unsurprisingly, most people don’t have a tailcoat knocking about in their wardrobe, so most boys will hire them for the night. There are also forums for people to borrow dresses/outfits from each other for a night, so there’s no pressure to buy a whole new outfit for a ball!

Society balls Many societies run balls throughout the year, for example the RAG ball, the ACS ball, and Caledonian society ball, which takes the form of a ceilidh in the Oxford town hall! There’s also the Sports ball for all those involved in university sport each year.

Balls can be fun but they are also expensive - it’s not essential to go to them to have a ‘real’ Oxford experience, and many colleges have discount schemes for students from lower income households!

How to...

Tutorials

T

echnically, you’ve already had your first tutorial: your interviews were meant to simulate a tutorial situation and you’ve shown that you have what it takes to master it.

Tutors aren’t there to catch you out but to help you with the work you’ve produced - don’t be shy to ask for help! You will often have one or two tutorial partners who are - you guessed it - also there to help you, so don’t view them as competition. Have their back when they mess up an answer and you will make a great team.

Labs

I

n Labs, you get to put all those hours of solving problem sheets into practice. They’re the other teaching module that you should definitely show up to, as some subjects grade your labs. However, they count very little and the grades are more of a guide for how you’re doing. Using your labs to gain a deeper understanding of your subject will save you time on revision at the end of the year.

Some subjects have gruelling lab hours - sometimes the entire day The most important bit is showing and it’s good to not plan anything up. Tutors have seen it all - there big for the rest of the day. Make are urban myths of people reciting sure you can take the rest of the entire essays without a single word day off and go for a pint with your written down - but they’ll get anlab group. Labs are a great oppornoyed if you don’t show up so make tunity to make friends with people sure you don’t miss a tutorial. Keepoutside of your college who also do ing notes during your course the tutorial is and havTute Tips: really useful, ing a sosince your tuciable lab 1. Go through your notes before heading in as tor’s comments group is a you might be asked to summarise your work will be tailored godsend! to your work 2. Print out your work before the tutorial to and help you make note-taking easier once it comes to revising. 3. Don’t start dating your tutorial partner there are no recorded cases of success

Lectures

L

ectures can be really useful for getting a holistic understanding of a topic on your course. Or, sometimes, they’re just an Associate Professor rambling on about his own research interest that’s completely unrelated to what you’re meant to learn.

ent topics. For me, going to lectures also helps with motivation: hearing someone talk about their subject with passion can give you the energy you’ll need to go through a pile of books in the afternoon.

That being said, lectures are timeintensive and if you feel you could get more work done doing an hour of reading on your own, you won’t necessarily be at a disadvantage if you don’t show up to some lectures.

Finally, lectures are a great way to meet people on your course and walking to lectures together with your mates can make you forget even the worst hangover.

It’s a debate as old as time: should you go to lectures? If you’re a STEM student, the answer is relatively simple: yes. Textbooks and lecture handouts are the main substance you’ll be examined on and they’re often completely unintelligible without someone walking you through the material. Some lectures even check Lecture Etiquette attendance and you really shouldn’t miss these. Now, 1. Arrive on time. Lectures usually start at unlike labs and tutorials, five past the hour, but getting there on you won’t get into trouble if time is essential as a good seat can make you miss one lecture - but if or break your morning you can’t make it, it’s good 2. Don’t sit at the end of a row by yourself to ask someone to send nobody wants to climb over three bags to you their annotated lecture get to an empty seat. handouts. In humanities, 3. Decide what to note down - there’s no social sciences and lanpoint in copying the lecture slides. And guages, lecture quality and don’t type aggressively loud, please relevance vary much more.

However, there are still 4. Questions: if the lecturer asks for questions and you think the answer everyone some good reasons to go: if could benefit from the answer, ask. If not, the lecturer is doing a good be aware that time is limited and maybe job, they’ll save you a lot wait until after the lecture of time on reading because you already understand the connections between differ-

Libraries Whether you’re looking for a cosy study environment or you actually need to borrow a book - with more than 30 libraries to choose from, your first term is a great opportunity to go library hopping and find your favourite spot.

The Bodleian

The Taylorian

The Taylor Institution Libaray being the languages library, don’t be surprised if everyone in here is fitter than you. Its study rooms are graced by chandeliers and pretty paintings, so if the aesthetic makes or breaks your study sessions, this is your place to go.

Highlight: curating your perfect studying playlist - studying optional

The Sackler

With more than 12 million items, the only books you can’t find in the Bodleian are the ones yet to be written. It’s also home to the Duke Humphrey’s Library, which was used as the Hogwarts library in all of the Harry Potter films.

The equivalent to getting detention at school. Little to no natural light and an architecture that reminds you why neoclassicalism was a mistake. If you spend any more time than necessary in here, you might morph into a Classics student with curtains and tortoise shell glasses.

But you’ll probably also get a first, so…

Highlight: flexing your Bod card to walk past the tourists when you enter

Highlight: the cries for help on the toilet walls

The Rad Cam

We’re all guilty of it: nothing screams “I go to Oxford” more than plastering your Instagram feed with Rad Cam pictures for the next three years. Apart from dusty history books and squeaky desks, it’s known for being a true Oxlove hotspot. So put on your best turtle neck and get there early to find a good spot!

Highlight: subtle eye contact flirting

College Library

This is where you’ll get the most and the least work done. Most college libraries are open 24/7 – perfect conditions for a caffeine-fuelled all-nighter – but you’ll end up spending a lot of that time chatting with your mates. Just beware of grumpy finalists come exam-season…

Highlight: shushing others to assert dominance

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Exams Alright, fair enough, if you didn’t care at least a little bit about exams you probably wouldn’t be here. One word of caution, however: take it easy. Your first term at Oxford is something you’re never getting back and exams should be the last thing on your mind right now. That being said, it’s good to know what’s waiting for you.

Collections

These are college-internal mock examinations that you will usually sit at the beginning of each term. Nothing more, nothing less. Although described by some as “ritual humiliation”, making a good impression here certainly doesn’t hurt and prepares you well for the real deal. Many essay subjects also don’t give marks on tutorial work so this might be your first chance to see where you’re at. Generally, collections have no real consequences and while it’s good to aim for a good mark, failing a collection paper is okay (and fairly common).

Modulations (Mods)

If you study Law or Experimental P s y chology, your first “real” exams will be at the end of next term. Whilst this is slightly earlier than other subjects, this means you get to spend your summer exam-free which has its perks. It can be frustrating having to revise when all your friends are out and having fun but you’ll be the one laughing come Trinity.

Oh and if you study Classics, you will have your first exams in Hilary term of your second year, so not Trinity exams for you either!

Preliminaries (Prelims)

These will be your first university-wide examinations and test you on everything you’ll learn during your first year at Oxford (apart from how to down a pint in under five seconds). First things first - they still don’t *really* count. You have to pass to continue your course - though if you fail you get to resit them once - but they don’t count towards your overall degree that you get when you leave Oxford. If you do well in your Prelims, you can get what’s known as a distinction - this entitles you to some money from college and a swanky “scholar’s gown” that you can wear at formals and for your final exams.

Speaking of which - you’ll have to wear full sub-fusc for these exams (academic dress that you’ll also wear during matriculation) and it’s a tradition to wear carnations with it. White for your first exam, pink for the others and red for your last one.

People used to keep a white carnation in red ink so it would gradually take a red colour but nowadays, your college parents will just buy you three different ones. Once you’re done, your friends will “trash” you with glitter, and shaving foam for you to end the year with a ceremonial jump in the river.

Oxford exams can be scary and chances are you will feel completely hopeless at times.

But let me remind you that Oxford is a marathon - a long, sweaty, uphill one - that you’re meant to do at your own pace. Don’t be afraid to ask for help; we’ve all been there.

The Essay Crisis ‘Stay away. I’m having an essay crisis!’

For many Oxford students, the ‘essay crisis’ is a way of life. Terms are short, reading lists are long, and extra-curricular distractions can be everywhere.

Often, without anticipating it, your weekly essay is left to the last minute and written deep into the night. If someone tells you they’re having an ‘essay crisis’, you might not see them until tomorrow.

entirely feasible. You can avoid an ‘essay crisis’ as easily as you can fall into one.

Thirdly, this experience is not unique to essay-related subjects. We could easily call it a ‘Problem Sheet Palaver’ or a ‘Lab Report Pickle’. It can really creep up on anyone.

The key is to be aware of your work. It will have to be completed at some point, so why not get it done in good time? People have very different ways of managing their workload. The so-called ‘essay crisis’ A few things worth mentioning though. Firstly, in one shape or anoth- is most often an excuse to be unnecessarer, you will survive it. ‘Crisis’ is nearly ily dramatic. Remember: the crisis, like always an exaggeration; it is never that all things, will pass. bad. An intense few hours in the library, a couple of caffeinated beverages How to avoid an essay perhaps, and a gleefully weary smile crisis: of accomplishment at the end of it all – there can be much worse crises. You • Manage your time - If you know you have a busy week ahead, plan in might be tired the next day, but your advance so you can juggle commitwork will be done and you won’t need ments. to worry about it anymore. Perhaps we • Resist the FOMO and accept that ought rename the essay crisis a simsometimes, missing that night out or ple ‘LLL’ (Late Library Learning), or that late night trip to G&D’s might be maybe ‘The Final Productivity Push’. beneficial in the long run.

• Don’t leave it till the very last minute Secondly, it is not an inevitability.

- your tutor might be suspicious if If you stay organised and on top of you submit the essay at 4am with your your work, you might even be able to own name misspelled. maintain a reasonable sleeping routine. It feels like a distant ideal, but it is

WELFARE It’s no secret that Oxford can be an intense environment, and that means that sometimes things can get a little bit hard to handle. You will build an amazing support network of friends while at Oxford, but there’s plenty of other places that you can turn if you feel as though you need some extra support too.

Peer Support Every college has a dedicated team of peer supporters, including rainbow peers and peers of colour. They’re fellow students who have completed thirty hours of training for the role, and are on hand to listen to your worries, no matter how big or small. Any conversations you have with them are strictly confidential, and their experience of student life puts them in a perfect situation to emphasise with whatever you’re going through. You can usually find posters around your college giving details of your peer supporters and how to contact them, so reach out if you need them.

The University Counselling Service If you’re looking for some more structured support, you can reach out to the University Counselling Service.

Booking an appointment is really easy: just drop them an email to counselling@admin. ox.ac.uk, and they’ll reply with a quick form for you to complete so they can assess the urgency of your request. Waiting times fluctuate, but appointments are typically arranged within a week.

The great thing about this service, apart from

the short waiting times and genuinely caring counsellors, is that nobody is ever turned away.

Other Support Services In addition to the support networks above, there are many other places that you can turn when life just gets a bit too much. For instance, the university offer specialist services such as the Sexual Harassment and Violence Support Service, and colleges often employ their own welfare teams such as Junior Deans and Chaplains. Every JCR bench will have at least one welfare officer who will organise college events such as welfare teas, and most clubs and societies will have a welfare officer on their committee too.

If you’d rather talk anonymously, then Oxford Nightline offer a totally confidential listening services between the hours of 8pm and 8am every evening during term time at 01865 270 270. Remember that there’s lots of other amazing support services out there such as Samaritans and The Mix, if you’d rather reach out to somebody outside of the university too.

Hopefully this information reassures you that your mental health and wellbeing is something that is taken seriously in Oxford. Never forget that, no matter what barriers you are facing, you never have to face them alone.

Everyone deserves support, so reach out when you feel as though you need a listening ear or a shoulder to cry on. It’s okay not to be okay.

Religion and culture Oxford University Jewish Society (JSoc) runs events throughout the term, including, most importantly, Friday night dinners, with proper chicken soup, for up to 100 students. Other events include ‘lunch and learn’, social action projects, and interfaith events. We have events ranging from movie nights to pub crawls, and the biggest event of the term is usually Jewbilation (pardon the pun). Highlights of Jewbilation include Bar Mitzvah-style dancing – with Park End to follow. Oxford JSoc is proudly pluralist, whether your Judaism is religious or cultural, Orthodox or Egalitarian, or if you just want to learn about the religion, you will be welcome.

Oxford Inter-Collegiate Christian Union (OICCU) meets fortnightly as a university-wide community to worship, study the Bible and organise Outreach events. We hold lots of events throughout the year, and encourage anyone to come along and learn something, no matter what their faith.

Oxford University Islamic Society (ISoc) is the central focus point for Muslim students in Oxford and those wanting to learn more about Islam. It holds events almost every day, and the society provides free iftaars every night during Ramadan in the University Muslim Prayer Room next to the Pitt Rivers museum.

Oxford also has lots of cultural societies, with most nationalities and cultures having some representation. One of the biggest is the Oxford African and Caribbean Society (ACS).

The Oxford ACS is a home away from home for many during their stay at Oxford.

They are committed to widening access and ensuring the welfare of their members, as well as creating dynamic spaces for students to celebrate their culture and heritage. They host weekly events which vary from exclusive networking opportunities with the sponsors of the society and events hosting esteemed celebrities within the black British community, to a build-your-own cheesecake session or a private cinema screening of the latest blockbuster. Whatever the occasion, the sentiment remains that ACS truly is more than just a society. It’s family.

First Generation Who are First-Gen students?

Oxford First-Gen is a society made up of people who are the first in their family to access higher education.

Being first-gen looks different for everyone. Some students are the first in their family to go to university. Some have had extended relatives attend - but nobody in their household. Some have a sibling who attended university. Some may be estranged. Some had a parent who never completed their degree.

No matter your circumstances, if you consider yourself to be first-gen we welcome you to join us.

What we do: Being a first-generation student is an amazing achievement and a testament to great hard work and the determination of students from a wide range of disadvantaged backgrounds. We believe that being first-gen constitutes a unique experience that can be a source of great pride and achievement.

But it can also be a challenging and lonely experience. We provide support and an environment for

these students through a wide range of social, academic and career based events.

We’ve hosted informal formal dinners, free Greggs, trips to restaurants, mentoring, networking receptions, career insight events and many other things in the past. We believe financial circumstances shouldn’t be a barrier for anyone taking part in society events thus many are subsidised by our partners.

We participate in many of our own, internal, and external access programmes and events to inspire students just like us to apply to Oxford in the future.

This year we are also participating a wider network of first generation societies from universities across the UK to join the national conversation about the first-gen experience and co-host new events.

How do I get involved?

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to get the latest updates about the society and first-gen news. Sign up to our mailing list for regular exclusive invitations and initiatives you can involved with.

Internationals Oxford is scary. And for internationals, it’s often even scarier - the culture shock, visas and travel are just a few of the challenges you will face if you’re from abroad. But fear not, you are not alone: more than 40% of Oxford students are from abroad. Here’s some advice from one international to another:

COVID-19

Travelling

You’ll be so caught inside the “Oxford space” that it’s easy to forget about the outside world.

While you’re here, there are cultural societies for almost any country that send students to Oxford - their events are a great opportunity to speak your native language and make some new friends .

Ah, yes. Us internationals have really been done extra dirty by this global pandemic.

The UK has been hit pretty badly and if you’re from a low-risk area, it’s important to get used to observing social distancing rules. It’s definitely worth paying extra for travel insurance or an airline that lets you Language and Culture change dates last-minute, in case regulaNo TOEFL can prepare you for the culture tions change. Finally, if you do have to shocks you’ll experience here: Why do the isolate for 14 days upon arrival, plan early English put gravy on their with your college to get a chips (no, what’s gravy and room before term starts.

Checklist for moving to why do they even call them Oxford: Keeping in chips)? And why are there a million different accents?

Touch Socialising might be hard 1. Buy a UK Sim Card for your If things go well, you’ll at first: your sense of huphone - you’ll need a UK num- soon have a ton of new mour will be a different one ber for taxis and delivery apps friends from all across to that of people who grew 2. Open a UK bank account. account Lloyds the globe - but wait! You up in the UK. But on the and Barclays tend to have the haven’t texted anyone plus side, you have converbest conditions for internationals from home in months sation starters that no-one and now you have to go else has. British people of- 3. Get a national insurance num- back for the vacation. To ber - you’ll need it for internships ten only speak English and make sure this doesn’t love learning about other and the forms can take a while happen, schedule time cultures - maybe cook some 4. Register with a GP and make sure to reach out to friends food from home for them! your vaccinations are up-to-date and family from home.

You’ll see your British friends arrive at Oxford with trucks full of kitchen utensils and decoration, all while you have to squeeze as much as you can into two 56cm x 45cm x 25cm suitcases.

It’s worth buying most your kitchenware in the UK instead of paying for the excess baggage when flying. As an international, you usually get extra vacation storage in college, and you’ll most likely need it.

THE VAC One of the many oddities of Oxford terms is how quickly they can fly by without you even realising. There’s no doubt your first Michaelmas will be one of the most action-packed periods of your life, and maybe that’s why you barely have the time to even notice how fast it’s all going. Blink, and Fresher’s has happened.

Blink again, and it’s already halfway through 4th week! During this time you will most likely be constantly on the go.

When the vac comes, you’ll probably be dying for a bit of peace and quiet after the busyness of student life. But then comes the problem of that long stretch of time when everything isn’t quite so action-packed, when you actually do have time to sit down, have a cup of tea, and think about what day of the week it is. It’s totally normal for Oxford students to get a bit of withdrawal from constant activity and a bit mopey wondering what to do with themselves.

Tip number 1:

Get some rest! No matter what reading you’ve got to do or how many collections (those are what we call exams at the start of a term) you have looming over you, make sure to prioritise giving yourself a little TLC. Make sleep a priority again and set aside some time to just lie in bed and watch Netflix, or whatever else helps you to relax. Often in first term it feels like you always need to either be working or socialising, so make sure you give yourself a bit of space to do neither.

Tip number 2:

Appreciate time with family and friends!

Oxford can be a bit of a bubble and it’s easy to get wrapped up in the little social world of college. But don’t forget your day one friends and family at home because at the end of the day they are just as important as your uni friends. And they’ll be sure to pick you up on any weird Oxford slang you might be trying to bring home.

Tip number 3:

Join societies to keep you busy with socials etc over the vac. Lots of societies keep operating over the vac, so you can still keep up the fun parts of uni life from your bedroom at home. I know being a part of Cherwell, one of the student papers, made life a lot more fun for me during lockdown.

Tip number 4:

Not what anyone is really wanting to hear, but setting a routine for yourself which fits in all the vac work your tutors have set you is a pretty good idea. It gives your life some structure, which we often feel like we lack when we’re back at home, and you’re being productive. Win-win. Ish. I give you this tip as someone who loves to leave all her vac work to the last minute, only to massively regret it a week before term starts.

I can only hope these help get you through the long, cold, Oxfordless weeks you are yet to face.

And if not, don’t worry we’ll all be back soon.

DRAMA Oxford offers a really rich and exciting range of student theatre that’s open to all levels of experience. Whether you’re interested in acting, producing, directing, marketing, costume, lighting, sound, or set design, there’s plenty of opportunities to get involved with drama at Oxford.

Venues From the 650-seat Oxford Playhouse to the more intimate Burton Taylor Studio, Oxford has a wide and varied mix of theatre venues, which means that there’s always a lot of new and interesting plays being put on every week. Shakespeare, Sondheim, Greek tragedies, college garden plays, and even lots of original writing can often be seen across Oxford’s stages.

Getting involved Oxford University’s dramatic society (OUDS) is a great place to start for anyone interested in theatre. Their website offers audition announcements and there’s a lot of really useful information and resources (including funding) to be found there that will

be useful for anyone planning on staging their own production. Signing up to the OUDS newsletter is the best way of keeping up-to-date with all the theatre announcements, and giving the OUDS facebook group a ‘like’ can also be really helpful.

Auditions The idea of auditioning is often a really daunting one, but definitely don’t be afraid of jumping right in! Auditions usually last around 10 minutes and directors will normally ask you to prepare a monologue and a song if you’re auditioning for a musical.

Actors may be asked to return for a callback before casting, but try not to get disheartened if you don’t get roles, just keep at it!

Cuppers Drama cuppers is an annual intercollegiate drama competition that occurs during Michaelmas Term and it’s a really great way of getting to know other students who are interested in theatre. Open only to firstyears, you need to put together a 30 minute production with a group of students from your college. For more information on cuppers (or on anything else theatre-related) you can speak to your college Drama Rep who you can find listed on the OUDS website.

MUSIC Musicians and music lovers: Oxford has got you covered!

The university offers countless opportunities to perform and listen to all kinds of music. The city itself attracts some of the best contemporary acts, in the form of concerts, gigs – even street busking! Join a band, play at an open mic night, or sing in Broad Street at midnight. Contribute to the Oxford music scene in any way you see fit.

You should first investigate the music opportunities in your college. Most colleges have a variety of choirs, orchestras or smaller ensembles for you to join.

Chapels are important to the colleges, and their chapel choirs have a long history, stretching back centuries. Sign up for an audition in Michaelmas. All these groups can be a productive, relaxing opportunity

to meet like-minded musicians. There are also many university-wide music groups – particularly orchestras – worth considering. And with these groups, you might get to perform in one of Oxford’s very own (and very old) venues.

The most stunning music venue is without a doubt the Sheldonian Theatre, located beside the Bodleian Library and opposite Blackwell’s bookshop. Ar-

chitecturally gorgeous, with a heavenly painted ceiling to match, the experience of hearing a concert here is unique.

There is nothing quite like hearing a violin concerto in the company of history. It is a very popular destination.

A lesser known gem is the Holywell Music Room on Holywell Street. This intimate, acoustically impeccable venue boasts the title of the oldest purposebuilt music room in Europe, and they host regular concerts. Keep an eye out.

Oxford University Music Society is a good place to turn, too. OUMS is the parent organisation of some of Oxford’s top ensembles (Wind, Jazz, Brass…) and the OU Chorus, the largest nonauditioning choir in the University. The more competitive orchestral positions tend to rotate on a termly basis.

Rehearsal commitments will be at least once a week, ending with a termly concert.

Time management can be important here, but the music life is certainly doable, alongside your degree. The society is committed to the social side of things; it is a great way to settle into university life.

Sports Life at Oxford can sometimes feel very work-heavy, and it can be good to take a break from academics to take part in some physical activity. There are loads of options available in Oxford, and you don’t have to be an amazing athlete to join a club. There’s a sports team of just about everything you can think of meaning there’s bound to be something for everyone!

University sport The university-level teams represent Oxford in BUCS (British Universities and Colleges Sport) leagues, usually having weekly fixtures against other universities during their season. The top team in a sport is called the ‘Blues’, and some players from this team will be awarded a ‘Blue’ or a ‘Half Blue’ each year, which is essentially a badge of honour, and a very sought-after achievement.

Some university-level teams hold tryouts in the first few weeks of Michaelmas, so it’s worth keeping an eye out on their social media if you’re interested in

trying out.

Lots of teams don’t require previous experience, so definitely go along to the taster sessions in Freshers week/first few weeks of term to see if you’d be interested in joining something.

College sport College sport is much more relaxed than university sport, and is a great way to make friends within college and from other yeargroups.

There are college leagues in sports like football and netball, with teams being promoted and relegated each season, and many other sports such as rugby, lacrosse and volleyball have regular inter-college fixtures as well.

Some colleges who don’t have enough people interested in a sport will join forces with another college to create a combined team, for example the MertonMansfield football team.

Cuppers Cuppers is the name for any inter-college competition, and is usually the highlight of any college sports team’s calendar. The competition usually consists of knock-out matches drawn randomly. For football, there is also the Reserves Cuppers, for the second teams from each college, and those who are knocked out from the main competitions can also play in the Hassan’s Cup, a plate competition that is no less hotlycontested. If you get to the later stages of a cuppers tournament, especially ones such as football, expect a large college turnout to watch the matches, featuring lots of chanting, and friendly abuse of the other side’s spectators.

Rowing Rowing is arguably the most iconic Oxford sport, with over 1,000 students taking part in college rowing every year. At college level, most people have never rowed before, so it’s a great way to bond wih your newfound friends over why you’ve aggreed to get up at 6am to go and row on a freezing cold morning. There are three main rowing competitions each year: Christ Church, for novices in Michaelmas term, Torpids, in Hilary term, and Eights, in Trinity. Last

year, all three were cancelled due to poor weather conditions and then coronavirus, but hopefully there will be more luck for novice rowers this year. Torpids and Eights consist of colleges lining up their crews down the river Isis and, on the starting gun, rowing as hard as they can to try and smash into the boat in front of them.

Varsity Varsity matches are the name for sports fixtures played against our arch rivals, Cambridge. Most university-level sports will have varsity fixtures, often at the end of the season. One of the biggest ones is the rugby varsity match, which takes place at Twickenham stadium, and another prestigious clash is the annual Boat Race on the Thames, watched by thousands of people every year and broadcast on television.

There are many viewing parties organised at various spots along the route, so it’s a great opportunity to support Oxford with your friends. Whatever, the sport, watching Varsity matches is always fun, especially when the Dark Blues shoe the tabs! (Oxford lingo for defeating Cambridge - don’t ask why). Some colleges also do their own mini-varsities. Jesus College, Oxford pair up with Jesus College, Cambridge each year, for example, for an informal sports day at one of their grounds.

Oxford Union The Oxford Union is an old debating society, notably separate from the University itself, that attracts many famous speakers into its chambers. But should one join it? Let’s debate!

“ This house believes that the Oxford Union is worth joining.”

The Oxford Union is a wonderful society to join. The speakers it attracts are phenomenal, and the events intimate.

The nature of the events also mean that speakers confide a little more than they usually would do.

Sure, the Union has its faults. The joining fee is not small, and we recognise that. To help, there is access membership for those on low incomes and an option to pay monthly rather than in one chunk if that suits better.

The Union is also changing, and easy to get involved in. There is a very welcoming committee open to new members, events on often several times a week and the opportunity to go to one of most affordable balls in Oxford.

There is no correct reason to join the Union. Though despite this, there are many good ones. CV points, a cheap bar, your love of debate, participation in a famous institution, new ideas and finally a place to come back to, long after your time at Oxford is over.

Overall, the Oxford Union is an excellent investment. I hope to see you in the chamber next year.

- Oxford Union Access Officer

There is no place more overhyped than the Oxford Union. It cannot be stressed enough that this place is not the only Oxford society worth considering. Nor is it necessarily the best one for you.

The membership fee is very expensive, and each year countless freshers end up regretting it. So many students do not visit the chambers enough to justify such an investment. Worse, they often end up feeling jaded by the society’s unnecessary internal politics and its controversial history, both past and recent.

There is also the ‘hack’ culture. This is unfortunately endemic to the Union. To ‘hack’ is to relentlessly electioneer, often feigning friendship in order to secure a vote. Many people will find this overlycharged political climate uncomfortable.

It is undeniable that this society has its positives, particularly with the speakers it can attract. But it might not be the place for you. They often try to lure freshers into paying for membership early, offering them a small discount. If you join the Union, make sure you do it for the right reasons. Please don’t rush into it.

- a disappointed Union Member

Political Societies O

xford is known for being a breeding ground for future cabinet ministers - but even if you don’t have your eyes set on Number 10, many students care about politics to some degree, and be it only as an excuse to go to one of the many drink & debate events. Find out which one’s right for you!

Very strongly

Are you gunning for a cabinet position?

How strongly do you feel about politics?

No, but I feel strongly about the SU

Not at all

What’s your go-to choice of booze?

Yes bby Prosecco

Do you consider Thatcher your political hero?

Hell no

I would die for Maggie

OUCA is Oxford’s Conservative voice and the largest party-political soc in Europe. Best known for Port and Policy, a weekly debating social every Sunday of term. They also organise charity work, and run an online blog.

OULC is a large and active club, with socials ranging from their weekly debate, ‘Beer and Bickering’, to a termly club night. They publish the termly magazine ‘Look Left’ and host speaker events.

Oxford University Lib Dems (OULD) is Oxford’s oldest political soc. Their weekly debate social is called ‘Spirited Discussions’ and they sometimes host joint events with other socs, such as ‘Coalition of Chaos’ with OUCA.

Budgeting Budgeting and finances are always going to be very different for different people; not only do we all have different amounts to spend but we also have different places that we like to put our money. Nevertheless, KOTG is here to help provide you with a guide to spend wisely as a student.

For some students, a big priority in their first term as a fresher is to try to get out and meet as many people as possible. This can mean a fair bit of eating out and pub trips, hence the reason why the first Michaelmas might be your most expensive term - something it’s good to take into account.

In order to be an effective budgeter, you need to firstly establish your income, and secondly allow yourself a certain amount to spend.

Many people like to do this weekly - though people who’ll be tempted blow an entire weekly budget in one night out might prefer to got for daily. Remember that your maintenance loan will come in three big installments, and it’s up to you to measure this out across the year.

That being said, it works out pretty nicely for us since there’s three terms.

Next up, think about what you are likely to spend money on. Essentials come first - accommodation, food, any books you need to buy for your course. Food can be tricky to estimate because you don’t know exactly how you’ll eat every week, unless you’re the meal planning type. According to a survey done by savethestudent.org, the average student s p e n d s

about £30 a week on food, though this can be higher for Oxford students because the city we live in is expensive and Lidl is pretty far from most colleges. You can give or take depending on how much you like to eat out and how expensive hall food is in your college, if you plan to eat there.

Going out can be pretty expensive in Oxford if you don’t quite know how to go about it. Pubs like Turf or The Bear are lovely every once in a while, but if you’re looking to save I’d recommend Spoons or, even better, a cheap bottle of wine from Tesco (The Straw Hat is my personal fave at just £3.90).

You’ll want to think about how many times a week you’re planning to pub/club and factor this into your budget - it can really take up the bulk of a lot of people’s spending.

Transport is usually not a huge issue in Oxford. If you’re lucky enough to be at a central college then most things will probably be within 15 minutes walk.

Of course, the best way to figure out how much you need personally is to live for a week or two and then try to total up your expenses. Downloading apps like Monzo and Starling Bank is great for this as they allow you to put your spending into categories and warn you when you might be going over budget. Setting yourself a spending goal is always best, and it’s good to bear in mind that pretty much any budget can be stuck to if you plan your week carefully.

The JCR The Junior Common Room is the undergraduate student body at your college. JCRs have elected committees that represent you to the college’s governing body and send representatives to Oxford SU, the Students’ Union. JCRs hold regular meetings throughout term where every member can propose motions to ask for money from the JCR budget for student projects or adopt a certain policy that represents the student body. It’s a bit like Parliament, although attendees tend to be better behaved and there’s Pizza and drinks.

The President

The President’s role is to represent the entire college’s undergraduate body to the governing body and the outside world.

Whilst it’s a very prestigious role and will definitely look good on your CV, it also comes with an immense responsiblity - it happens quite often that colleges are in the press and Presidents have to speak on behalf of students. Presidents also have to sit in countless meetings and need strong time management skills to balance their job with their studies.

Equalities Reps Every JCR has equalities reps that serve as your first point of contact if and as people you can trust if you’re being unfairly discriminated against.

They advocate for projects that empower underrepresented groups and make sure JCR policies are inclusive and fair to everyone. Equalities reps usually include BAME, LGBTQ+, Social Backgrounds, Disabilities and Women’s Officers.

Welfare and Social Secs Welfare reps are responsible for the well-being of JCR members. Being a first point of contact for anyone feeling unwell or uncomfortable in college is an immense responsibility. At many colleges, they also organise Welfare Tea, where JCR members come together to chat and grab some snacks paid for by the welfare budget.

The job of a social secretary (some colleges call them Entz reps) is to organise bops and any other JCR socials. But their role goes beyond chugging Jagerbombs - organising a Bop with 300+ attendees and making sure everyone feels safe and welcomed is far from an easy task.

They also have the thankless role of having to clean up afterwards. On the plus side, no other position on committee comes with better sesh credentials than this one.

CHARITIES There’s some great opportunities to volunteer at Oxford, and the low-commitment projects you can get involved in won’t be difficult to fit into a busy week. RAG (Raise and Give) at Oxford SU are a student-led project which helps to organise, inspire and support student fundraising. Every year RAG put on loads of wonderful events (balls, parties, blind dates, fun runs), and challenges, including bungee jumps, Jailbreak (spend 36 hours exploring the world, without spending any of your own money) and Lost (after being dropped off in a mystery location somewhere in the UK, you have 24 hours to get yourself back to Oxford) to raise thousands of pounds for charities elected by students each year.

Currently RAG are supporting Oxfordshire Mind, KEEN Oxford, Meningitis Now, and Beat Eating Disorders. It’s really up to you how you want to get involved – if you’re keen you can join RAG as a committee member, or just take part in the exciting activities they put on throughout the year. Find more information about how to get involved at https:// www.oxfordsu.org/activities/rag, or go and have a chat to the committee at Freshers Fair.

The Oxford Hub are a wonderful charity based in Little Clarendon Street in North Oxford. As a student, you can volunteer with the Oxford Hub to take part in one of the programmes which support organisations to build a better Oxford. They run programmes such as Phone Links, supporting isolated people by linking them up to someone who can offer companionship over the phone. Oxford Hub’s Youth Projects include Big Brothers Big Sisters, which provides long term mentoring for children, Branch Up, giving children fun weekend days out in Oxford, Summer School in Blackbird Leys, and Schools Plus, a fantastic programme which provides free 1:1 tutoring for local primary and secondary age pupils.

Tutoring with Schools Plus in particular is an ideal way of volunteering as a student at Oxford – not only is it lowcommitment and won’t eat massively into your week, but your expertise will be incredibly valuable, maybe even life-changing, to a child. To find out more about the Oxford Hub projects, you can visit https://www.oxfordhub.org/projects or email ellie@ oxfordhub.org.

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STUDENT JOURNALISM Student Journalism, in our humble opinions, is one of the best extra-curriculars to get involved with at Oxford.

Not only do you get countless oppotunities to meet amazing people, you can also write about pretty much anything that interests you, whether that be news, politics, culture, satire, or whatever else. There are loads of student publications around Oxford: here are just a few of the best-known.

Cherwell: Founded in 1920, Cherwell is Oxford’s oldest student newspaper, and indeed, one of the oldest student publications in the UK. It is completely student run and published, recieving no university funding, and is released weekly. There are an abundance of sections included in the paper, from News to Lifestyle to Opinion and Culture, so it’s easy to find something for everyone. If you choose to write for them, you’ll find yourself following in the footsteps of famous alumni like W. H. Auden, Evelyn Waugh, and Rupert Murdoch.

The Oxford Student: Usually abbreviated to OxStu, this newspaper was founded in 1991 by the Oxford Student Union. Like Cherwell, it includes multiple different sections and students can apply for various editorial roles within these. The paper recieved the “Student Newspaper of the Year” award at the Guardian Student Media Awards in 2001.

The Oxford Blue: The Oxford Blue is the university’s newest online student newpaper, founded in the last academic year. It

operates on a similar basis to Cherwell and The OxStu and aims to provide a new voice for the new decade.

The ISIS: This magazine is released termly, focusing mainly on creative pieces and features journalism. Established in 1892, it is the longest running student publication in the UK. For students interested in fiction, poetry and culture, this is an ideal place to look; you’ll also be joining the ranks of a host of incredible figures, such as Sylvia Plath and Graham Greene.

This magazine hosts social events such as poetry nights and discussion panels throuhout term-time.

Onyx Magazine: This publication is a creative magazine dedicated to showcasing the work of Black creatives. Founded by Black Students at Oxford University, the first issue was released in 2018.

Its next issue, Transcend, will continue to empower underrepresented voices, particularly those of BlackBritish students.

Other Oxford Zines: There are a multitude of student zines at Oxford for people of any interest. Those of you with a passion for women’s rights will want to look to Cuntry Living Zine, which focuses on feminism and the female experience, while students with an interest in music might want to check out The Blare Mag. It’s important to look out for Zine fairs in Oxford and keep checking Facebook pages for anything that interests you. And if you can’t find the right thing, be sure to start your own student publication!

Sex & relationships In Fresher’s Week, with everyone thrown together to meet an abundance of new people, there’s always bound to be a few romances.

Indeed, universities are always going to be full of love, heartbreak, sex, relationships, and everything inbetween. If you sometimes find these things pretty tricky to navigate, don’t worry - everyone else feels the same!

Budding Romances No doubt there will be one or two faces during Fresher’s week which catch your eye - we’re only young and human. Don’t hold back if there’s someone you want to chat to or ask out! That being said, it’s important to first figure out what you are wanting from your first year experience, whether that be a bit of fun, a relationship, or anything else for that matter. Think carefully about what you want before jumping into anything - especially if they’re at your college or studying your subject (you might have to ee them quite a bit!).

Long Distance Relationships A lot of people get to uni still in a previous relationship. This can be really hard, especially if the relationship is long distance. While it’s important to invest in this relationship, make sure you don’t sacrifice your uni experience by spending too much time with

your significant other, whether that’s on the phone or IRL. There are so many new people to meet and friends to be made! Long distance relationships can definitely work if you trust each other and are happy, but you should make sure your SO is not your only priority.

Using Protection Don’t forget to always use protection; even if you are of the same gender or one of you is using birth control, you want to protect against STIs. Condoms will most likely be handed out to you at a number of points during Fresher’s so use them wisely. Check whether your JCR delivers free condoms or the morning after pill to your pidge, as many do.

STIs Don’t put off getting checked! It can seem like a drag, but its always worth it for your health, the health of others, and your own peace of mind. Visit https://www.sexualhealthoxfordshire.nhs.uk/ to find out which clinic is nearest you.

Love in the Time of Covid-19 It’s still a little uncertain how dating is going to work in the covid world. While going back to someone’s room on a night out might prove a little difficult, depending on college accomodation rules, there will always be pubs and restaurants, parks and cafes, for a bit of socially distanced dating to take place.

LGBTQ+ Whether you’ve been ‘out’ for years or just starting to question your sexual/gender identity, starting university as an LGBTQ+ person can feel terrifying. Fortunately, there’s loads of support in Oxford and a community that can’t wait to welcome you here.

LGBTQ+ Soc The Oxford University LGBTQ+ Society (often just nicknamed “Soc” for short) aims to create a vibrant and diverse environment where all LGBTQ+ students feel welcome and at home. We are one of the largest societies in Oxford, and provide free membership to any LGBTQ+ person or ally at the university. Each term, our committee holds events in various formats that provide relaxing opportunities where you can meet other people from the community, and express yourself and your identity freely. Whether you want to come along for film events, international potlucks, make-a-bear workshops, or a drink or two before Plush (Oxford’s LGBTQ+ nightclub) – whatever it is, we hope you’ll find something for you here.

Coming out We understand that it can take a lot of courage to come to events and get to know new people in an environment or setting that might be unfamiliar to you. We will make the journey as comfortable as possible for you, however don’t worry if you haven’t figured out everything just yet – there is no pressure at all to act in a certain way, and we’re happy for you to come as you are, when and however long you wish.

Welfare On top of the society’s events (we run general and identity-specific ones), we also provide a range of welfare support: we have two welfare officers, a welfare working group and many rainbow peer supporters among our committee who ensure you get the information and support you need.

Get involved The easiest way to get involved with Soc before your arrival is to join our rainbow family scheme: it’s similar to your college family, but you’ll be matched up with older members of Soc who will be your first pals in our amazing community, but can also help you out with any questions you might have about LGBTQ+ life at Oxford.

To sign up to the scheme, email ousecre@ gmail.com We post all our events on our Facebook page (Oxford University LGBTQ Society) and have more information (including our newsletter sign-up) on our website (oulgbtq.org). For now, stay safe and we look forward to meeting you soon!

PS: We‘re still trying to work out how to best proceed with our events regarding social distancing measures. Last term, all our events were fully remote, but we do hope we’ll be able to safely host some of our events in-person.

“Sharking”: What does it REALLY mean?

One of the many Oxford-isms you’ll come across in your time at the University is one of my least favourite: “Sharking”. It’s an inside joke that’s bandied about a lot in your first week, term and year but the Historian in me is crying out for us to please, “define the term before you make your argument!!” So here goes: What is “sharking”?

Sharking is commonly used to describe an older student hitting on a first year.

But the term was originally coined to describe the practice of older students deliberately seeking out and chasing after “vulnerable” new students in the hopes it would increase their chances of sexual gratification. Subconsciously, or worse, consciously, they are acknowledging that their success relies on a power imbalance that is often pretty stark between a fresher and a second year, as the latter has a wealth of experience at the university which the former inevitably lacks. It’s a pretty gross way to behave.

But often, a moment of mutual attraction between a younger and older student that ends with nothing more than a kiss in a club and awkward eye contact in the college library is given the same “sharking” label too. Sure, sometimes the age or experience gap between a first year and an older student can be significant and in some horrible cases that is

manipulated. But more often than not, the “sharking” label is slapped on any brief tryst or actual relationship because it’s seen as fun to tease. This is a bit stupid, because it undermines both the potential severity of sharking in its true form and the potential for those in different years to have a genuine connection. Freshers aren’t just fresh bait, they are other fish in the sea and it’s incredibly reductive (and insulting!) to reduce you to little more than aesthetically pleasing with a nice smile. I think you’re all worth a lot more than that.

The overuse of the term “sharking” has exaggerated the differences between younger and older students, making it harder to form friendships or flirtationships. As with many of these things, when you ask someone to actually explain the joke behind “sharking” they trip over the semantics, trying desperately to avoid sounding as unpleasant as the original term actually is. Inevitably though, you will probably suffer a joke or two about sharking. Honestly, it’s up to you to decide how you feel about that – I remain remarkably unimpressed with it as the basis for a joke, but for other people it’s the highest form of wit. (Even at Oxford, I’m sorry to say.) But whatever you decide, keep in mind its real definition, not just its common usage, and watch out for fins.

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Oxfess and Oxlove

Oxfess 3 October 5

#OxfessThree12345 ‘Have beef? Unfinished drama? Got milk?’

Some would say that Oxfess is at the heart of the university’s cultural discourse.

Others would see the unhealthy amount of Facebook tagging a waste of time. Either way though, it’s almost inescapable. It can be great fun. Contribute to discussions, tag your friends in comments, or just ignore it.

Oxfess is a popular uni-wide Facebook page where anyone is welcome to post whatever they’d like (*within admin rules). You’ll see relentless memes, shoutouts, funny stories, contentious views, pleas for advice. It can be a great way to get a sense of the thoughts of the wider student body. And it can be very fun.

Oxlove 3: electric troolgaloo October 6

#OxloveTheThird54321 Oxfess’s sentimental sibling. Oxlove is where you can declare your crushes and pour out your heart. Or show some platonic appreciation for someone – and all anonymously. As with Oxfess, never name anyone directly. Instead, you can use their initials and their college (e.g. ‘OW @ Magdalen’).

Do be respectful though. It is a community of love and tolerance, and friendships can sometimes blossom here. Sometimes, even love! At the very least, it can be comforting to know people are thinking of you, even under the veil of anonymity.

Share the love!

a guide to oxford lingo 0th week (noun) - ‘Noughth week’, the week before term officially starts, when students return to Oxford. Usually collections take place in this week.

Bop - (noun) ‘Big Organised Party’, fancy dress parties held in college a few times a term.

Bod card (noun) - The name for your Oxford student card, used to get into college and the university libraries.

Crewdate (noun/verb) - A rowdy dinner between two teams/societies/groups of students, usually held at a curry house and featuring lots of strange games and traditions.

Collection (noun) - A kind of mock exam at the start of every term (except your first term!). Fortunately, they don’t count for anything.

Eights (noun) - The biggest college rowing competition of the year, in Trinity.

Expect lots of alumni wandering around in rowing blazers.

Hack (noun/verb) - Someone running for a position in a society. Expect to be invited for coffee at least once by someone who actually just wants you to vote for them at the Union.

Hilary (noun) - The name for the second term at Oxford, from January to March.

Husting (noun/verb) - When candidates for a position give a speech followed by questions to help voters decide who to vote for.

Isis (noun) - The part of the Thames that runs throught Oxford. Also a termly arts magazine and website.

JCR (noun) - Both the physical common room for undergraduates, and the undergraduate student body at a college, who have their own committee and hold regular meetings for students.

Michaelmas (noun) - The first Oxford term, from October to December.

Matriculation (noun) - May not be happening thanks to Covid-19, but essentially a short ceremony in Latin while wearing your sub fusc followed by the all-important Matriculash.

Mayday (noun) - Night where everyone stays up all night and then gathers on Magdalen bridge to listen to some choirboys sing at the top of a tower at 6am.

Don’t ask why.

Mods (noun) - ‘Honour moderations’.

The first exams in your degree for some subjects, such as Classics and Law. As with Prelims, they don’t count to your final grade.

Oxmas (noun) - Oxford’s Christmas day equivalent, held on 25th November as our holidays are so long. Usually involves a rowdy formal dinner featuring lots of mince pies and carol-singing.

PPH (noun) - Like a college except smaller and people often forget they exist.

Prelims (noun) - ‘Preliminary Examinations’. The first exams for most subjects, usually in Trinity of first year. Don’t count to your final grade.

Sconce (noun/verb) - A game a bit like ‘Never Have I Ever’ played at crewdates.

Usually used to expose all the weird things your friends do.

Scout (noun) - A member of staff whose job it is to empty your rubbish and basically look after your accommodation.

Also notorious for walking in on students while still in bed at midday.

Sub fusc (noun) - The fancy outfit you wear for matriculation, exams, and graduation. Essentially involves buying

a gown and mortarboard that you never wear.

Stash (noun) - College or society-branded clothing. Bonus points if it has your initials on to maximise chances of getting Oxloves.

Tab (noun) - Short for Cantab, an old word for someone from Cambridge, used to refer to a student from there, also known as The Other Place.

Torpids (noun) - The rowing competition in Hilary term. Essentially colleges line up and try and smash into each other with their boats.

Trashing (verb) - When students annoy everyone else in Oxford by spraying shaving foam/alcohol/silly-string/confetti at their friends who have just finished their exams. Often followed by jumping into the river.

Trinity (noun) - The third Oxford term, from April to June. Also the name of a college.

Vac (noun) - ‘Vacation’. The name for the holidays between terms, usually lasting around six weeks. The ‘Long Vac’ is the summer holiday, which is around three months.

Oxford Bingo!

Make up an Run across the Buy college stash implausible Write an Oxlove grass of your and wear it excuse why your college quad to everywhere, just to your crush essay was feel like a rebel for the flex handed in late

Lose your bod card

Agree to do a rowing taster session, and regret it at 6am the next day

Eduroam dies on you at a crucial essay crisis moment

Go punting with your friends

Get woken up in the middle of the night by a fire alarm

Visit all of Oxford’s kebab vans

Befriend your college porters

Get college married

Get lost in the covered market

Have an argument over where the North begins

Reach your library fines limit

Fill up a G&D’s loyalty card