2024-25 Class Act Freshers' Guide

CLASS ACT UNDERGRADUATE FRESHERS’ GUIDE 2024-25

CONTENTS About Class Act

03

Managing Academic Work

04

College Life

10

Advice

12

Social Life

16

Our Favourite Spots in Oxford

20

Oxford Terminology

22

Class Act Committee Contacts

26

02

ABOUT CLASS ACT Class Act is a Students’ Union campaign supporting and representing Working Class, Low Income, First Generation, State-Comprehensive Educated, Care Experienced, Estranged, Young Carer, and Foundation Year students at Oxford. This means campaigning for better support for Class Act students, putting on socials and speaker events, and acting as a point of contact for any class-related issues.

We have lots of exciting things planned for this academic year, including socials, craft nights, club nights and more! To keep up to date, follow our Instagram @oxfordclassact. Most of our events are free to attend, and offer a great way to meet people with a similar background to you in a fun and informal setting.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us on our email classact@oxfordsu.ox.ac.uk or DM us on Instagram @oxfordclassact.

03

MANAGING ACADEMIC WORK COLLEGE AND FACULTY

What are they and what do they do?

As students at Oxford University, you are a member of both a college and subject faculty. Your academic journey is supported by both of these bodies; different academic roles are fulfilled by your faculty as well as tutors at your college.

College Your academic journey within your college is the responsibility of your tutors. Every college has academics who primarily act as tutors, who deliver tutorials. In addition, some of your tutorials may take place at other colleges.

Faculty The main role of your faculty is to organise, design, and plan your degree course. Your degree outcome is based upon centrally-sat exams. In addition, your faculty will generally provide lectures, practicals, and classes, based on your subject.

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MANAGING ACADEMIC WORK TUTORS AND TUTORIALS How do they work?

Tutorials are a central part of learning at Oxford. They are an academic discussion between a tutor and a small group of students (usually between 1 and 3). Generally, you’ll be asked to complete some work beforehand, which you’ll then discuss together with your tutor and tutorial partners.

Tutorials Tutorials can vary greatly depending on your subject and your tutor’s style.

Some tutors will ask you to research a topic and write an essay about it to then discuss in the tutorial; Some may be targeted at understanding a topic better; STEM subjects are usually based on a problem sheet or essay you completed before the tutorial.

Advice Tutorials can be intimidating and confusing, especially at first, but it’s important to remember that they’re there to support your learning. It’s your tutor’s job to provide you with constructive feedback and answer any questions you have, so take advantage of this resource! No tutor expects you to have all the answers, just that you do your best.

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MANAGING ACADEMIC WORK

EXAMS AND COURSEWORK How do they work?

Almost all undergraduate freshers have exams at the end of their first year called ‘prelims’ (although, timing of these can differ between subjects, e.g. Law freshers have mods at the end of Hilary term, so it’s a good idea to find out early on when yours are). Usually, none of your exams you do in first year will count towards your grade at the end of your degree, but it’s important to work hard to lay the foundations- and, you still have to pass your prelims! We also have Collections, which work like mock exams and take place in college at the beginning of every term. You won’t necessarily have them at the beginning of every term, but be sure to check with your tutor so you know what to prepare for!

Exam Support Exams have a lot of traditions associated with them, which can make them feel quite daunting. However, it’s important to remember that there is support available to help you through these- all the work you complete during term will be extremely valuable in preparing for your exams, speaking to your college parents for advice, and the Disability Advisory Service (DAS) can accommodate your needs and put into place a Student Support Plan (SSP).

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MANAGING ACADEMIC WORK LIBRARIES

College Library Your college library provides a wide variety of books across different subjects, as well as study spaces. You or your tutor can request books to be bought into your college library if you need it for your tutorials or wider study, which can be really useful if a book is difficult to get hold of!

Bodelian Libraries There are 26 Bodelian Libraries, each of which is dedicated to a different subject (e.g. Languages, Law etc.). Each library has its own rules (e.g. some don’t allow bags) and functions a bit differently, but there’s info on each library on the Bodelian website, so if you’re not sure, check it out!

SOLO SOLO (Search Oxford Libraries Online) is Oxford’s online library, which contains a catalogue of every book in Oxford University’s libraries (college and Bodelian). It’ll tell you where you can find a book (inc. shelf and reference number), and sometimes also provides an online version, which can be really helpful in a 2am essay crisis!

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A DAY IN THE LIFE HISTORY AND POLITICS

“My standard week involves one or two essays, 0-5 hours of lectures, and one or two tutorials. My subject is very independent, and most of my time is spent reading books and articles in preparation for writing my assigned essay. I then submit this to my tutor for marking and attend a tutorial with one or two other students where we discuss the topic.

This work helps us prepare for our exams . In addition, in some terms I take papers such as statistics, in which there is assigned work and larger classes, with a coursework assignment at the end of the term.”

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A DAY IN THE LIFE

HUMAN SCIENCES AND MEDICINE Human Sciences: “The academic work I do each week can vary widely across the year. However, an average day for me sees me attend 2 hours of lectures, with the rest of my time being spent reading and researching. This is to prepare for my essays, which make up most of my academic work: I generally write one or two essays a week, and attend a tutorial to discuss each of these.”

Medicine: “Most of my academic work involves structured ‘contact hours’: in a given week, I generally have 2 or 3 essays or presentations to prepare, 2-4 tutorials, 5-12 hours of lectures and 0-8 hours of practical labs. Outside of this, I spend the week learning content to prepare for my tutorials and essays. I am assessed through a combination of exams, which cover most of the content for my subject, and cousework modules.”

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COLLEGE LIFE Bar- Every undergraduate college has a bar, and many of them turn into a cafe or study space during the day. Drinks tend to be cheaper than in public bars, so it can be a good place to go before a night out, formal, or bop. Most colleges have a special drink, e.g. Balliol Blues or the New College Seven.

Many societies hold college bar crawls, so keep an eye out for those!

Hall- Depending on your college, you can often get breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily0 Many people use hall often- it’s an easy, reliable, affordable option when you’re not in the mood to cook! Some people have the option to self-cater if they have a kitchen too. If you have any dietary requirements, be sure to let the head caterer know in advance so they can be sure to cater to your needs.

Formals and subject dinners also take place in the hall, but usually require you to wear your gown and sometimes formal dress. You can also dine at many other colleges if you have friends there for a slightly increased price.

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Laundry Room- The laundry room houses the washing machines, dryers, and often an iron and ironing board. Try not to leave your washing machine in the washer long after the cycle has finished, as you may find your laundry left on the floor!

Library- Every college has its own library, which usually has longer opening times than Bodelian libraries (some are even open 24/7). Librarians can also order books on request that you need for your degree. Many college libraries also have spaces where you can study with friends but these do need to be booked in advance.

JCR/MCR- The Junior (undergraduate) / Middle (graduate) Common Room is essentially a “hangout” area. These vary quite a lot across colleges, but generally have some kind of entertainment (e.g. pool table, ping pong table, a TV, board games etc.). Most whole JCR/MCR meetings take place in the Common Room. It’s open 24/7 and can be a great place to relax and socialise!

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ADVICE

FROM CURRENT AND EX-OXFORD STUDENTS An Oxford student’s guide to the best recipes, restaurants, and takeaways BBC Easy Recipes Supercook (generate recipes with the ingredients you have) Too Good to Go Wasabi (with student discount and 50% off before closing) Fusion House (cheap Chinese takeaway) Najars

Expensive events that are worth the money College balls (inc. unlimited food and drinks, entertainment etc.)

93% and Crankstart balls offer a more affordable opportunity to experience an Oxford ball Punting- it can be expensive, but usually cheaper or even free to rent through your college’s punt Anything with your nearest and dearest <3

12

The best more affordable events Summer Eights- free to attend and some college boathouses offer free pimms!

Magazine launch parties College events, e.g. formals, bops, bar nights, etc.

Galas (black tie, but generally a bit cheaper than balls)

Finding people similar to you Class Act (naturally) Getting involved in societies targeted at things you’re passionate about Oxford SU Campaign socials (e.g. LGBTQ+, Disabilities, CRAE, etc.)

Getting in contact with your college’s access / socioeconomic backgrounds rep

Activities we recommend trying Sports- it can be quite intimidating, but most do accept complete beginners too!

Ice Skating at Oxford Ice Rink College bar crawls can be a great way of doing a bit of college tourism Visiting the university museums (Ashmolean, Natural History etc. )

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Negotiating Differences between you and your peers from different backgrounds “People can sometimes struggle with my accent and don’t know where I’m from. The biggest way to address this, though, is to be loud and proud about who you are.

99.9% of people aren’t choosing to be ignorant, and those who are don’t matter anyway.”

“It can be quite stark the difference in opportunity your peers have had compared to you, [...] When I started I felt quite jealous that all of these other people didn’t have to deal with the incredible stress that comes from a lack of money. This can be a hard gap to bridge. Ultimately, it’s not their fault they grew up comfortably- at the same time, it’s okay to feel bitter for a while about not having the same opportunities”.

Being a first-gen student “I struggled with student finance, applying to internships, navigating the academic experiences as I didn't have any family who'd been to university before. I spoke to my tutor about this and they were also first generation which surprised me! over time, I've learnt to reassure myself that I'm just as capable as my peers and it's okay to speak out about my struggles at university.”

“The main consistent difference for me is how much of a jump it feels to go home when term ends.”

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Budgeting and money-saving Having a bank account to put in a weekly budget can make handling money more manageable Have your expenses set out before you get SFE to see what you can afford to spend each week and avoid overspending Use spreadsheets to set out your spending Only have the money you CAN afford to spend in your bank account before you start drinking- it’s really easy to spend money you don’t really have on a night out!

Welfare Keep active- join a sports team, go on a run or a walk, use your college’s gym if you have one etc.

Remember that you’re here for a reason- you are smart enough and you deserve to be here! It’s normal to have a wobble or two, but make sure to speak to your college’s welfare lead if it gets too much If you’re struggling, you can get in touch with Oxford Peer Support or your JCR/MCR welfare reps If you need mental health support or feel unsafe walking home, Nightline is a confidential and free service that you can call if you need it- you can find their number on the back of your bod card.

15

SOCIAL LIFE SOCIETIES A society is a group of students from across the university that focus on a topic or hobby, from Chess and Hip Hop to Music and History.

Some societies charge membership fees, but do check if they offer access memberships at a discounted price- get into contact with the society’s treasurer and/or access rep if you have any questions!

For a full list of societies registered with the university, visit www.ox.ac.uk/students/life/clu bs. d in!

16

SPORTS At Oxford, sports are organised at a college and university level- you can play for your college’s team, and if you’re really good, you could be selected for the university team and play for them both at the same time.

Every college JCR and MCR has a sports rep, whose main job is to advocate for funding for college sports, and oversee any issues regarding college sport. Every sport has its own ‘cuppers’ each year, where you compete against other colleges.

At the university level, the first team of each sport is called the Blues, and the highest (and most sought-after) award is a ‘Blue’.

Uni teams compete against Cambridge every year in ‘Varsity’.

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NIGHTS OUT AND PARTYING Colleges often have parties in their bars/JCR/MCRs or in clubs, organised by the Entz reps, which are called BOPs (Big Organised Parties). They’re basically a big fancy dress party with different themes every time!

Societies and colleges sometimes hold galas and balls, which is basically a black tie/fancy dress event which usually occurs annually. Trinity term is full of end-of-year balls and big events, but there’s usually at least one or two balls every term, like European Night, the Oxford Union Ball, and 93% Club’s black tie events.

The main spots for nightclubs are Plush, Bridge, and The Bullingdon.

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CASUAL OUTINGS Punting is a popular way to get out with friends on (though rare) warmer days- it’s essentially a small boat that you row along the river, although it does require some skill!

Every Saturday at 9am there’s a Park Run at University Parks, which is a 5k run open to the public (though you don’t have to run the whole thing!).

Oxford is full of bookshops and cafes to discover, and are often a popular spot to get a bit of work done.

College JCRs and MCRs run social and welfare activities every week, often including themed formal dinners, so make sure to check out your JCR/MCR’s term card to see what’s on!

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OUR FAVOURITE SPOTS IN OXFORD THE ASHMOLEAN The Ashmolean is Britain’s first public museum. It has something to interest everyone, from artwork and pottery, to statues and clothing. They often hold special collection exhibitions, which you can access for free with your bod card. If you fancy a bite to eat, there’s also a rooftop cafe!

BLACKWELL’S Blackwell’s on Broad Street is one of the oldest and largest bookshops in Britain. It has a huge collection of texts, so you should be able to find whatever you’re looking for there! It is also home to Caffe Nero, which has a 25% student discount on barista-made drinks!

BOATHOUSE ISLAND Boathouse Island can be found just off Christ Church Meadow along the river. It’s home to most of the college boathouses, and offers a beautiful view of the sunset on a sunny day. In week 5 of Trinity Term, Summer Eights (the biggest boat race in the calendar) takes place, and you can go down and grab a Pimms and watch the races there!

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THE COVERED MARKET The Covered Market is situated just off High Street and is home to a variety of shops and food stalls. From cookies and pies, to jellycats and books, you can find just about anything you’re looking for in the market.

GLOUCESTER GREEN Gloucester Green is a market open Wednesday-Saturday every week in the centre of Oxford. Here you can find food from many different cultures, so you’ll never run out of new foods to try! You can also find fresh produce and many different jewellery, clothing, and trinket stalls.

JUNKYARD GOLF Junkyard Golf offers 3 different crazy golf courses at a discounted price for students, and a variety of funky cocktails and mocktails. They’re also offering 40& student discount until the end of November.

UNIVERSITY PARKS Uni Parks is a really popular place to play sports, enjoy a quiet walk, have a picnic, and sunbathe with friends. It’s located just a couple of minutes away from the Museum of Natural History in the northeast of the city centre.

WESTGATE Westgate is Oxford’s shopping centre with both designer and affordable options. The top of Westgate offers a spectacular view of the whole city, as well as a range of restaurants, a cinema, and a gym.

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OXFORD TERMINOLOGY Battels- The fees you pay at the beginning of each term (rent, utilities and any other costs).

Blue- A highly honoured sporting award awarded to highperforming sportspeople.

Bod Card- Your university card which gets you into faculty buildings, Bodelian libraries, and sometimes also college facilities.

Bop- ‘Big Organised Party’. JCR/MCR entz reps organise parties with a dress-up theme.

Collections- Mocks that you may have at the beginning of each term.

Crew Dates- These are usually a social with a couple of clubs/societies, often including a lot of drinking games.

Hilary- The second term of the academic year (January-March).

Initiations- Initiations aren’t really common anymore, but do take place in some colleges and clubs/societies, hosted by the older year students. They often involve some form of drinking and dressing up, but are not compulsory.

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JCR- ‘Junior Common Room’. All undergraduate students are part of the JCR. Matriculation- The formal enrollment into the university for new students at the university. You are required to wear your sub fusc and gather in the Sheldonian Theatre, but will usually meet in your college beforehand.

May Day- May Day is a big tradition in Oxford. Lots of people go to the club until the early hours of the morning, before waiting on Magdalen Bridge to hear the choir sing from Magdalen Tower.

Locals and students join together for the early May Morning tradition.

MCR- ‘Middle Common Room’. All postgraduate students are part of the MCR. Michaelmas- The first term in the academic year (OctoberDecember).

Mods- First/second year exams for some degree courses, such as law.

Oxfess- A Facebook page dedicated to Oxford gossip.

Pidge- Your pigeonhole for all your post.

Plodge- The Porters’ Lodge, which is located at the main entrance of each college.

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Porters- The people who work in the Lodge. They act as security and helpful friendly places. If you need help, porters are a great first point of contact.

Prelims- First-year exams for most subjects.

Radcam- The Radcliffe Camera Library in the centre of Oxford.

Scout- Responsible for cleaning student rooms and communal areas.

SCR- ‘Senior Common Room’. All academics and fellows are part of the SCR. Stash- University and college branded clothes. You can also get stash from most societies and clubs.

Sub fusc- The gown, mortar board, and ribbon/bow tie you wear for matriculation, exams, and graduation.

Tescolator- The escalator in Tesco on Magdalen Street.

Tute- A tutorial is a weekly academic discussion with your tutor and usually 1 or 2 other students, in which you usually discuss essays or problem sheets you completed before the tutorial.

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COMMITTEE

CONTACTS

Name

Role

E-Mail

Class Act

General Inbox

classact@oxfordsu.ox.a c.uk

Chloe Pomfret

Co-Chair

chloe.pomfret@stcatz.ox.ac.uk

Francesca Clifford

Co-Chair

francesca.clifford@pm b.ox.ac.uk

Talyn Baker

Secretary

talyn.baker@wadham.o x.ac.uk

Kenneth Lim

Treasurer

kenneth.lim@educatio n.ox.ac.uk

Rosa Moore

Communications

rosa.moore@chch.ox.a c.uk

Libby Morrell

College Reps Officer

libby.morrell@new.ox.a c.uk

Henry Morris

Social Secretary

henry.morris@some.ox .ac.uk

Rose Harris

Academic Officer

rose.harris@wadham.o x.ac.uk

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Name

Role

E-Mail

Lucas Valladares

Class and Masculinity Officer

lucas.valladares@hertf ord.ox.ac.uk

Roo Foreman

Welfare Officer

some5326@ox.ac.uk

Amelia Taylor

Regions Officer

amelia.taylor@sjc.ox.ac .uk

Isabel Thompson

Working Class Officer

isabel.thompson@pmb .ox.ac.uk

Betsy ElliottFricker

Low-Income Officer

betsy.elliottfricker@some.ox.ac.uk

Molly Jefferies

First Gen Officer

molly.jefferies@hertfor d.ox.ac.uk

Anita Okunde

State-Comp Officer

anita.okunde@magd.ox .ac.uk

Bassam AlMeshal

Foundation Year Rep

bassam.almeshal@keble.ox.ac.uk

Krishh Chaturvedi

International and BAME Rep

krishh.chaturvedi@stannes.ox.ac.uk

Yassin Hachi

Estranged Students Rep

yassin.hachi@trinity.ox .ac.uk

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Written by the Oxford University Students’ Union Class Act Committee 2024-25 Designed by Francesca Clifford (Class Act Co-Chair)