The Oxford Blue Freshers' Guide 2022

Contents Page • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Before You Arrive: Pages 4-5 • Packing List: 6-7 • Freshers’ Week: 8-9 • What’s a College?: 10-11 • What’s a JCR?: 12-13 • Work and Study: 14-17 • Study Spots: 18-19 How to Work: 20 - 21 Exams: 22-23 Student Life: 24-30 Recipes 31-33 Eating on a Budget: 34-35 Parks: 36-37 Museums and Tourist Spots: 38 Days Out: 39 Shopping: 40-41 Clubs, Pubs and Bars: 42-46 Balls and Events: 47-48 Quieter Night Ideas: 49 Dating and Friends: 50 Societies: 51-53 Arts, Drama and Theatre: 54-55 ERM Society: 56-57 International Students: 58-59 Postgraduate Students: 60-63 Welfare: 64-69

Front cover art by Leyla Baxman

Thoughts from Past Freshers: 70 Sexual Assault Info: 71-74 SU Campaigns: 75-77 Ads!: 78-79 Oxford Glossary: 80-82 The Team Behind the Guide: 83

Introduction From

The Oxford Blue thing’s first, let us welcome you to FtheirstOxford!

You’ve made the grades and got place, and you should be very proud of

yourself. Starting university anywhere (and especially somewhere as prestigious as Oxford) can be nerve-racking. Of course there will be challenges, work, and some slightly strange traditions; but there will also be unique opportunities, lifelong memories, and the chance to explore a beautiful new city.

It’s normal to worry or feel nervous about coming to Oxford, believe me; this time last year, I was in the exact same position. But my nerves settled somewhat after reading The Oxford Blue’s 2021 freshers’ guide, which had none of the squeaky-clean, idealistic nature of the university brochures. Instead, it gave solid advice, reassurance, and reminded me that everyone else would be worried too. And that’s why I was so eager for us to produce this freshers’ guide for you! I hope that you’ll find it as reassuring as I did. Take care, have an amazing year, and maybe I’ll see you around.

Lucy Heywood, Editor-in-Chief MT22

Before You Arrive!

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oin your freshers’ group chat. You’ll be able to find these on Facebook there are usually chats for your year in your college, your course, and even your entire year group. Obviously these can get pretty hectic, and you might end up putting them on mute when a hundred messages about whether or not you can have a toaster in your room come through (p.s. you probably can’t), or how much of the summer work everyone has done. But it’s always handy to be a part of these to stay in the loop, especially during freshers’ week!

Take advantage of every deal or discount. Setting up a student bank account before you arrive will save some time in freshers’ week. Different banks offer you different incentives, from railcards to cash to overdrafts, so look around to find whichever one works best for you. It’s always handy to have a StudentBeans and a UNiDAYS account to get yourself a discount, and maybe a 16-25 Railcard or other student subscriptions such as Amazon Prime or Spotify. Oh, and get yourself a Tesco clubcard (thank me later).

Register! Your college will most likely send an email out about this, so direct any questions their way.

This includes accommodation and getting yourself a BodCard (used to access lots of the university buildings).

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Pack (some of) your worldly belongings. If you’re anything like me, you’ve been watching ‘studytuber’ videos about this for months, choosing a colour scheme, and planning your big trip to Ikea. What’s more exciting than home decor? But please remember that everything that goes into that room, also has to come back out - usually three times a year. Although it’s pretty much a given that you will overpack, you don’t want to be cursing your past self when you have to make seven trips to the car park in order to empty your room. For a handy guide on what you should v pack, check out page 6.

What to Bring: To cook or not to cook...?

If your cooking would make Gordon Ramsay cry, do not despair. Most colleges offer catered options, 3 meals a day, 7 days a week, in hall. However, the quality of that food may vary, especially if you have certain dietary requirements, and so you might prefer to cook for yourself.

A lot of first year accommodation won’t have cooking facilities and, if it does, they’re usually shared and pretty basic. You can ask your college what facilities are available, and bring some cooking equipment if necessary.

CATERED +It’s quick and easy! Plus you don’t run the risk of getting your pasta stuck to the bottom of the pan... +It’s usually quite reasonably priced +Meals are balanced, healthy, and usually tasty! You won’t have to eat instant noodles every day +Hall provides a great opportunity to socialise, especially in the first few weeks -You might have to book in advance and, if you miss the hall sitting or booking window, you have to go elsewhere for food -Sometimes options are limited or can be repetitive

SELF CATERED +You can choose what you eat (within the scope of your culinary skills) +It can be cheaper than hall, especially if you cook in bulk -Cooking facilities are often quite limited, and your shared kitchen may get busy -After a long day in the library, you might not want to spend time cooking

Ultimately, do what works best for you! For some quick, easy, budget-friendly recipes, check out page 31!

Illustration by Leyla Baxman

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Packing List!

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his list isn’t exhaustive; you will probably pack a million other things that you may or may not need, and you might find that you don’t think you need some of these things. As well as that, every college has different rules about things like Blu-Tack and kettles, so check your handbook or send them an email to double check anything that you’re unsure about.

Bedroom: • Bedding - a duvet, pillows, and a • Clothes - shoes, coats, a dress-

•

• •

• •

set of bedsheets or two. You might even want to bring a mattress topper to escape the lumpy college mattress, or maybe a couple of cushions and a blanket for extra cosiness.

• Blu-Tack (or white tack) and drawing pins - Most rooms have a pin board, and it’s always nice to spruce up your drab room with some photos • from home An over-the-door hook - perfect for hanging up damp towels or coats An extension lead - This is really helpful as you rarely have enough • plug sockets in your room, and the ones that you do have are usually in the worst places possible ID - any important documents, and your bank card(s) Decorations - (fairy lights, posters, photos, a mini-whiteboard, etc.)

• Slippers or sliders - Who wants

to walk around their accommodation barefoot?

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ing gown... and lots of jumpers!

Believe me when I tell you that the libraries are much colder than you expect, especially towards the end of Michaelmas Clothes hangers - a laundry basket (with handles!), and laundry pods Reed diffusers - or air freshener! You won’t be allowed candles as they’re a fire hazard, so it’s handy to have other ways to keep your room smelling nice A first aid kit - (or at least plasters for inevitable blisters and some paracetamol for inevitable freshers’ flu...)

Academics & Technology: • Stationery - pens, pencils, eras-

• • • •

Kitchen: • Food containers - for any bulk

ers, bookmarks, sticky notes, rulers, pen pots, calculators (if relevant • to your course). You might not use these, but it’s always good to have them just in case An academic planner - or calen- • dar, lined paper, folders Phone & Laptop - and relevant • chargers • Headphones - (you don’t want to hear everyone coughing in the library when freshers’ flu hits…)

• Laptop stand - or tray

Bathroom: • Toiletries - shampoo, condition-

er, shower gel, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, face wash, etc.

• A shower caddy - to take all of the above with you to the shower, preferably with holes in the bottom to drain. Believe me when I tell you that this will be a lifesaver if you don’t have an en-suite!

cooking or leftovers Cutlery - something easily identifiable as your own, but something that you wouldn’t mind never seeing again...

Cups - mugs, plates, bowls, tea towels, as above

Scissors Washing up liquid and sponges - (you can always buy these once you arrive!)

Bin liners • A kettle - (some colleges even

let you have these in your rooms check!)

If you’re planning to cook for yourself: • Pots, pans, and a wooden spoon

• Towels • A toothbrush holder Illustrations by Marcelina Jagielka

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Freshers’ Week

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f there’s one thing that you need to know about Freshers’ Week at Oxford, it’s that it is usually organised by your college freshers reps. If you have joined a Whatsapp freshers’ group and suddenly fallen victim to random spam texts promising you: ‘THE BEST NIGHT OF YOUR LIFE!!! TICKETS ONLY £15!!!

EVERYONE WILL BE THERE!!! DON’T MISS OUT!!!’

Please ignore them. Your college will most likely have events planned for you already, and will send you an itinerary in good time. Daytime activities include workshops covering important topics such as consent and race, picnics, and opportunities to get to know each other. You will also have inductions at your college library, and possibly your faculty. In the evenings, most colleges will organise some club trips, as well as non-drinking events such as crazy golf and film nights!

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Alcohol Culture Especially for international students, it can sometimes seem like all of British culture revolves around drinking-bar crawls, clubbing, drinking games, pub quizzes...Please remember that you don’t have to drink. At most ‘drinking’ events, including bops and society drinks, there are non-alcoholic options, such as soft drinks and mocktails. If drinking isn’t your thing, you don’t have to skip out on these events!

As previously mentioned, in Freshers’ Week, your freshers’ reps will also arrange alternative evening activities for those who don’t want to go out: movie screenings in the JCR, crafts workshops, and board game nights. In a culture where it seems that everyone drinks alcohol, you might feel as though you’re the odd one out. But believe me, you’re not! You can have just as much fun as everyone else, and should never feel pressured to drink to fit in. It will certainly save you from a hangover...

Whatever you do, stay safe. It’s always best to stick with a group, and freshers’ reps will usually organise people to walk to and from these events with. If you drink, try not to overdo it too muchyou don’t want to attend your tutorials with freshers flu, trust me...

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What’s A College?

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opefully you know what a college is, but let’s look into what it really means at Oxford. Oxford is a collegiate university, meaning that as well as belonging to the university itself you will also belong to one of our 45 colleges and permanent private halls (PPHs). Colleges vary in size, age, student demographics, and courses offered.

Think of your college like a big family; this is where you will probably make most of your friends, at least in your first term. Usually, for undergraduates, your first year of tutorial teaching will also take place in your college, and your college tutors will play a pastoral role as well as an academic one for the duration of your degree. You’ll also live either in or nearby your college in your first year, allowing you to be close to your new friends and the college’s facilities.

Don’t be disheartened if you were moved to a different college to the one that you applied for. It happens to lots of people, but you will almost certainly come to love wherever you end up. Everyone has a sense of pride in their college. As well as this, there will be plenty of opportunities to mix with people from outside of your college, too.

Your First Port(er) of Call...

When you arrive at the front door of your college, the first thing you’ll see is the porter’s lodge (sometimes shortened to the unpleasant sounding ‘plodge’).

These are staffed by college porters. (Most) porters are very nice, and are generally up for a chat any time-if you lock yourself out of your room as many times as I did in first year, they will even know your full name and room number by heart... But their actual job is to help direct both residents and visitors to the college, and to be the first port of call for any queries you might have, from maintenance to directions to lunch recommendations. If you run 10 into any small problems on college grounds, asking a porter is a good bet.

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What’s a JCR?

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ach college has its own Junior Common Room (JCR) and Medium Common Room (MCR). This can get a little confusing, as the JCR/MCR can refer to the room itself, but also to the student body (undergraduates/postgraduates), or the committee that represents the student body. The purpose of these committees is to be a point of contact between students and the college administration, as well as hosting events, providing welfare support, and more. If you want to shape the future of your college, there are lots of different roles, including JCR President.

Interview with Dani Yates, Former President of Worcester College JCR How did you get involved with the JCR? I became very disillusioned with college life through the pandemic in first year and wanted to be part of the voice that would demand change. There was high staff turnover and a risk that college culture and values would be lost due to the pandemic, so I really wanted to set a precedent for the future. I decided to run for President in Trinity of my first year, which involved creating a poster and a manifesto, followed by around 40 challenges and finally a hustings.

Why do you think the JCR is important?

This year, I updated and refined the core aims of the JCR. I think these summarise why it’s important we have a JCR: 1. Representation: to represent the interests of all undergraduates to college authorities.

2. Events: to run events that improve life for college members.

3. Equalities: to actively deter discrimination from being inflicted by or against any member.

4. Outreach: to promote access to the college through outreach to schools and the wider community.

5. Culture: to foster college culture and promote a sense of belonging.

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Why should freshers get involved with the JCR? The JCR really holds the college community together. This makes the college system so special because you really don’t have to worry about making friends-you are basically forced to make friends whether you like it or not!

How can freshers get involved with the JCR? My advice to freshers is to turn up to ALL the events on the freshers timetable and on the term card-the more engaged you are, the more you’ll get out of the JCR. Towards the end of your first year, there will be opportunities to run for roles on the JCR committee. These are super relaxed roles and allow you to have an impact in an area that interests you most.

The bonus is that it’s something to put on your CV! What did you enjoy most about your role as JCR president?

My favourite part was getting involved with Prescom, where you get to meet JCR Presidents from other Oxford colleges. It’s a useful forum to rant, get ideas for your college, or just make new friends.

What would be your top piece of advice for any aspiring JCR Presidents reading this?

Think about your reasons for deciding to run for the role. If it’s just for the CV, that’s not enough and you probably won’t survive the intensity of the role-you need to have deeper motivations for wanting to be JCR President!

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Work and Study Your First Term

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ithout trying to scare you too much, your first term at Oxford will likely be one of the most chaotic periods of your life. There’s so much to do and see-it’s impossible to squeeze everything into those eight weeks. Compared to other universities, Oxford has very short terms. Each teaching week is numbered, from 1st week (meaning the first week of what the University calls ‘Full Term’) to 8th week. When you’re in Oxford, expect to hear these as official shorthand, instead of actual normal dates-so expect your essay to be due for “Thursday of 5th”, not Thursday 11th November.

There’s also 0th (“noughth”) week, the week before term begins, and 9th week, the week after term ends. Isn’t that really complicated? Yes. Wait until you start trying to calculate -1st week...

Much like the names of the terms and the weeks, Oxford time generally is pretty weird. With everything crammed into eight weeks, a week feels like a month! But by the end of Michaelmas, you’ll be wondering where all your time went. It’s over before you know it!

The terms are as follows: Michaelmas - the busiest term. Everyone is starting over again, so it’s a

great time to try something new. Michaelmas has Halloween, Queerfest, the Merton Winter Ball, and Oxmas-you won’t be short of things to do.

Hilary - wet, cold, and a little sad- you have neither Christmas or the long vacation to look forward to. But it might snow at some point, so get ready to see that all over your Instagram feed...

Trinity - the warmest, most beautiful, duckling-filled term. You’ll find

(almost) everyone relaxing at Port Meadow, having garden parties and plays, and relaxing after a hard year of work. You’ll find the rest of them with their heads down in the library studying for Prelims or Finals.

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0th week of Michaelmas is Freshers’ Week. Look out for an invitation to the Oxford SU Freshers’ Fair, where you can find out more about the different societies here, as well as picking up lots of free pens, tote bags, and a printed copy of this guide (the biggest selling point, let’s be honest).

It’s normal to have a few organisational mishaps in your first few weeks, and good tutors will understand this. Equally, don’t stress too much about your first essays or problem sheets-they will be quite different to the work that you’re used to. Don’t underestimate the jump from A-level to undergraduate study or equally from undergrad to graduate study - as it’s huge. You’re not expected to know everything, otherwise there would be no point in you studying here!

So don’t worry if your tutor’s feedback in your first week isn’t the best. It’s inevitable, and definitely not a reflection of you. See our section on impostor syndrome (page 70).

By the fourth or fifth week, you will probably have things figured out, and have a solid routine. But, most likely, you will also be feeling pretty tired. This is (unfortunately) normal. In fact, it’s so normal that it even has a name: ‘5th week blues’. In 5th week, your college welfare team will likely run some events to perk you up. Think welfare picnics and alpaca visits (worth every penny of the tuition fees).

But unfortunately free cakes and fluffy animals won’t solve all your problems. Please remember that the university and your college offer a range of services to help you with any stress you might be feeling. See our Welfare section on page 64 for more information.

The end of term is commonly busy with college balls and Oxmas dinners. Another odd Oxford word, you may cry! Oxmas is Oxford’s answer to Christmas - because Michaelmas term finishes so early, festive events take place in November. So it’s good news for those who wish Christmas could be every day, as you’ll now get two. Plus, the term has usually started to wind down by the time the dinners and celebrations are held, so you can celebrate without deadlines looming.

Page 15-19 Illustrations by Leyla Baxman

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Teaching Styles at Oxford - Lucy Heywood

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utorials (or ‘tutes’) are weekly classes, where you’ll have the chance to discuss your subject with a tutor who is an expert in that academic field.

A great thing about Oxford is that teaching groups are usually pretty small, so depending on your subject and college, your tutorials may be one-on-one, or with a couple of ‘tute partners’.

Each week, you will likely be set a piece of work (such as an essay) to complete independently before your tutorial. This is your opportunity to delve into the topic alone, forming your own thoughts on it. Then, in tutorials, you are given feedback on the piece of work that you submitted. You may have to present and defend your ideas to your tutor and tute partners, who will challenge your thinking to help you develop it.

Sound familiar? The admissions interviews are based on tutorials, so you can approach them in a similar way:

• Think out loud. Trust me, it gets awkward if it’s silent. Even if you

think that you don’t know the answer to a question, discussing it with your tutor or tute partners can help you come to a conclusion.

• Don’t be afraid to ask questions. You’ve likely worked independently all week, so if you have any uncertainties, just ask your tutors! Get your money’s worth...

• Don’t be afraid to ask your tutor to repeat something if you don’t understand. Academia is often complex and your tutors will sometimes pitch their ideas at their level of understanding. This also gives you a bit of extra thinking time.

• Respect your tutor and your tute partner. Some people struggle more than others when it comes to tutorials. It can be really intimidating to share your thoughts on a topic. You can disagree with your tute partner, but remember to be respectful and supportive. This is a tutorial, not an interview; you don’t have to prove yourself anymore.

Try to enjoy your tutorials as collaborative discussions, not competitions.

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Classes As well as tutorials, you might also have classes, depending on your tutors’ preferences and your subject. These might take place in the form of seminars, a more interactive version of the classes you had in school. These are usually held in groups bigger than those you will see in tutorials, and will focus on the discussion of the topic that you have been exploring that week. Some classes will require a presentation or a piece of work to be presented, but the larger group means that they tend to be a little less intimidating than tutorials.

If you’re a STEM student, you might have Labs. These are practical sessions, and typically take up an entire day; usually, they will include a variety of experiments, either with your Lab partner or group, before progressing into more independent tasks.

Lectures Not every module will have lectures, but plenty do. Most of these are held in the Examination Schools on the High Street (but double check, as some faculties choose to host them in their own buildings!). Lectures give a broad overview, which can make them helpful as introductions to a topic before you delve into your reading.

Taking basic notes in lectures can help with your understanding of a topic, but don’t get so caught up in taking notes that you forget to pay attention. You will likely be given a sheet with key phrases and sources, so don’t feel that you have to write down every word that your lecturer says!

Also, bear in mind that the topic of lectures may not be in the same order as the topic of your tutorials or classes, which can render them a bit useless. It’s important that you look at your lecture list and figure out a schedule that works for you; if the lectures do happen to be in a peculiar order, or clash with one of your contact hours, remember that many of them can be accessed as recordings on Canvas, which also provides subtitles (those these are not always the most reliable).

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Study Spots - Ben Blackburn Libraries:

University’s library system is called the Bodleian Libraries. This comTies,heprises over a hundred faculty libraries, college libraries, and general librarincluding the unhelpfully named Bodleian Library or Old Bod. You can access and borrow from any faculty library, regardless of your subject. And don’t forget your college library!

Oxford has a lot of libraries. You’ll probably find your own favourites, but we’ll just highlight a few, from the famous to the quirky:

• Radcliffe Camera: Oxford’s most iconic library, in Radcliffe Square in • • • •

the heart of the city. Beautiful Palladian architecture. Always busy with patchy Wi-Fi, but please don’t leave Oxford without visiting.

Old Bod: As the name suggests, the oldest of Oxford’s libraries. Large, well-equipped reading rooms with beautiful views. Also contains the Duke Humfrey’s Library, a library with so many rules it will remind you of Hogwarts’ restricted section. But that’s because it is the Hogwarts library.

Glink: A barren, inhuman, seemingly endless void buried underneath the Radcam. Ever wondered what it’s like inside a Soviet Bunker? Wonder no longer. Only upside is that there’s nothing to distract you.

Taylorian: Probably Oxford’s prettiest library on the inside. The best part about being a language student, but don’t let them have it all to themselves. Is it a library or an elaborate maze? Who knows? Good luck finding your way out!

Social Sciences Library (SSL): Huge, sterile and unrelentingly functional. Somehow only the second ugliest library on Manor Road. You can thank the law library for that. Has a cheap coffee shop upstairs, and you can always find a seat.

Oxford libraries have unimaginably huge budgets, so you will be able to request your college or faculty buy books which are not immediately available. The Bodleian is a legal deposit library, so can request a copy of pretty much any book published in the UK. The University library system consists of more than 13 million books, most of which are housed in a dystopian warehouse in Swindon and can be driven into Oxford upon request in white Bodleian Libraries

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Not all libraries allow you to borrow books. Some are reference only, but you should be able to find a copy of most books somewhere. Failing that, more texts than you’ll know what to do with are available online, and more are being added all the time.

You can easily find resources through the university search engine, Search Oxford Libraries Online, (SOLO, an acronym which reflects the loneliness of endlessly browsing SOLO). You can search resources held by the Bodleian Libraries, college libraries and any other department and faculty libraries. Through SOLO, you can find out which libraries have the books you are looking for, and place reservation requests. You can also find electronic resources here.

Other Study Spaces: • Cafes - from Pret to the Missing Bean to Jericho. Feed that caffeine

addiction and meet that essay deadline at the same time.

• Common Ground Cafe/The Oxford Hub - a popular social enterprise/co-working space in Jericho.

• Green spaces - Uni Parks and Christ Church Meadow are particularly pretty, and you can get into pretty much any college garden by showing your Bodcard.

• Oxford Union - for members only, but you can ask a friend to take you as a guest. There’s the main library, but also three richly decorated rooms which make you feel like you’re the Prime Minister. There are even armchairs for those post-Park End mornings.

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How to Work at Oxford - Guy Ward-Jackson

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ransitioning from the rigid routine of school life to the independent-style of work expected at Oxford, together with a vast drop in the number of contact hours for many students, can be difficult. One either finds that it is difficult to motivate oneself to work, or, just as commonly, that work merely seems to dominate, leaving little time for anything else. Neither are healthy.

Here are a few do’s and don’ts that may help with the daunting task of taking on Oxford academic life:

DO switch up locations: Working in one location day-in day-out can ultimately be very depressing. It’s particularly common amongst freshers to fall into this trap.

Everything is so new, that the prospect of working in the same room, or same college library, every day doesn’t seem stale. In reality though, working in your room just doesn’t help separate your ‘working sphere’ and ‘resting sphere’. Moving around libraries throughout the week is both a good way to explore Oxford and, crucially, to get out beyond your own college - again, something which freshers often struggle with.

DO actively schedule time off: Obviously when you’re a fresher, you’ll be spending plenty of time socialising, trying new societies, and going out. The issue that many, myself included, found in first year is that the majority of your ‘time off’ simply arrives unplanned: usually recovering from a heavy night-out in Parkend or Bridge. Although this is absolutely fine, it’s also worth actively scheduling in the odd afternoon or morning off here and there; for a walk in University Parks with a friend, or a Sunday pub trip.

Somehow, planned time off always feels much more wholesome than a morning spent groaning in bed trying to recall the previous night.

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DO make use of holidays: This isn’t to say you should be working with the same intensity over the holidays as in term time - definitely not. Oxford terms are short and intense, so you’ll find you really need a break. Having said this, a little bit goes a long way. Whether it’s catching up with a few lectures you missed in the previous term, or reading a book in preparation for your next term’s course, I’ve often found that I’m much more relaxed going into 0 and 1st week of a term when I’ve done a bit of work over the holiday.

DON’T adopt irregular work patterns: It’s incredibly easy to fall into a pattern of late nights, slow starts, and last-minute grinds. I’d really recommend trying to be strict with yourself. That’s not to say that you shouldn’t or won’t have late nights, but more that it shouldn’t become part of your routine that you don’t start work until 3 or 4pm and end up working late. Obviously in the first couple of weeks you may want to give yourself some leeway, but once you’re in the thick of term time, try to maintain a normal sleep pattern.

DON’T always prioritise work: This may sound odd, but it’s one of the most important pieces of advice I can give. The reason why Oxford is such a special place is not just because it is academically challenging, but because there is so much on offer. This may sound cliche, but the difference between people who enjoy and don’t enjoy their time here often depends on what else they’ve done beyond their degree.

My best piece of advice would be that, if you’re a fresher and unsure whether to try something like a society or sport, just go for it - you can always drop it later.

And the other thing is, even if you don’t perform as well as you might like in your first year, I can almost guarantee that in the long-term you would regret not trying new stuff more than not getting a 1st in prelims.

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Exams - Lucy Heywood

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ou might have sat down after your last A-level exam and grinned to yourself that your days of sitting exams were over. I don’t want to burst your bubble, but you haven’t escaped just yet.

Collections: At the beginning of each term (excluding Michaelmas of your first year) you will sit collections. These are essentially just mock exams, testing what you learnt in the term before and consolidating your knowledge. They’re not terribly important, but you are advised to revise for them in the vacations - this will be handy for sitting your Mods or Prelims.

Photo by Mike Knell, via Flickr

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Prelims and Mods: Prelims (or Preliminary examinations) will be sat in Trinity of first year for most courses; those studying Psychology or Law will have the equivalent, ‘Mods’, at the end of Hilary term. If you study classics, your Mods will take place in Hilary of your second year.

Prelims (and Mods) aren’t the be all and end all; they don’t count towards your final degree classification, and you only need a Pass (around 40%) to progress into your second year. Of course, if you’ve made it to Oxford, you’re likely very competitive. A Distinction in Prelims gets you a scholars’ gown, but a Pass in your Prelims is just as impressive, and you should be proud of yourself regardless of the grade you receive.

Illustrations by Tilly Binucci

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Student Life - The City Central:

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he heart of the city, this is where you’ll spend the majority of your time - at least in your first year. Most of the colleges, libraries, and other facilities are here, along with nightclubs, restaurants, and more!

But it’s important to remember that there’s much more to Oxford than just the city centre. There’s also:

Jericho:

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t’s fancy, loads of professors live here, and it has an old church that has been converted into a cocktail bar. Burn a hole in your student loan with a brunch or hipster coffee. Further into Jericho, you’ll also find Port Meadow, a lovely place for a long walk, or for lazing about with friends in Trinity term.

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Cowley:

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ull of private and student accommodation, mostly for those in their second and third years. Cowley is vibrant and fun, without the pretentiousness of Jericho, and there are lots of great independent places to try new food. However, the main attraction in Cowley is Big Tesco!

Iffley:

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ou probably won’t head this way much unless you’re into sports, as this is where you will find the University sports centre and swimming pool.

Also home to the city’s THIRD Wetherspoons, found deep in the depths of the neighbourhood.

Headington:

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his is where you will find Oxford Brookes University (they have a Co-Op on their campus!) and the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford’s university teaching hospital. There’s a nice park and The Headington Shark - an art installation of a big shark that has crashed into the roof of a house. Not something you see every day... unless you live in Headington?

Botley:

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n my opinion, Botley is wildly underrated. It boasts a huge Home Bargains and an Aldi. Buy some Christmas decorations! Get some cheap food! Visit the Home Bargains cafe... actually, I think that’s something only my parents do. If you don’t mind a walk, Botley is a great place to go to save a little bit of money.

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Food and Drink - Frances Dowle There are loads of great places to eat and drink in Oxford!

Food!

There are three general areas that are particularly good locations to go to if you’re in search of food:

Cowley Road:

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lthough a little out of the centre on foot, Cowley Road is so worth the trip. The road hosts an amazing range of restaurants and cafes, and many of them are one-of-a-kind, independent venues. For food, I particularly recommend Za’atar Bake (Palestinian), Zhang Ji (Chinese), Antep Kitchen (Turkish), and Aleppo’s Falafel (Syrian). For coffee, Peloton and The Truck Stop are particular favourites of mine. The latter is nestled inside a record shop, which you can browse while you wait.

Gloucester Green:

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ne of the few places that can give Cowley Road a run for its money when it comes to choice and geographical spread, Gloucester Green is an outdoor food market which is open Wednesday-Saturday (a heads-up that it shuts at 4pm Wed/ Thur and 5pm Fri/Sat). Before writing this guide, I asked some of my friends what their favourite stall was. Opinion was divided, testament to the fact that we’re all spoiled for choice. The Goan curry stand and the Mexican taco stand got particularly glowing reviews but, in all honesty, part of the fun of Gloucester Green is trying as much of the food as possible for yourself and picking your own favourite!

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George Street and Cornmarket:

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hese two streets, which run at right-angles to each other, house many of the chain restaurants in Oxford. Franco Manca is a budget-friendly place that serves delicious pizzas. Cornmarket is home to Greggs: a famous UK chain which until very recently, Oxford students had to (rather controversially) go without. You will also find some of the most centrally located independent cafes and restaurants here. For instance, George Street Social, Handlebar Cafe, and TSE Noodle are all nearby and worth a visit.

Also check out Little Clarendon Street for cafes and lunch places, and Walton Street and the surrounding area for more restaurants and cafes.

Illustrations by Marcelina Jagielka

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I’m looking for ... ...Coffee

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here are so many places you can go for coffee or other cafe drinks in Oxford. Some great independent, local cafes include The Jericho Coffee Traders (High Street), The Missing Bean (Turl Street, Magdalen Road), The Paperboat Cafe (near Folly Bridge), Tree Artisan Cafe (Little Clarendon Street) and 101 Coffee (Walton Street). The Queen’s Lane Coffee House is another Oxford classic.

...Something sweet or chocolatey

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arefoot Cafe (two stores in Jericho), Taylor’s (High Street and Little Clarendon Street) and Gail’s (Little Clarendon Street) all offer a great selection of sweet pastries and cakes. Knoops (which our Editor-in-Chief Lucy is a little obsessed with) is a specialist hot (or cold) chocolate shop.

...Somewhere I can work on my laptop in peace

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he Oxford Wine Cafe (Little Clarendon Street) is often quiet during the day, and before 5pm they are quite happy to have laptop workers (also, try their garlic bread). Common Ground (Little Clarendon Street) is also laptop-friendly, as is Branca’s in Jericho. Leon (Cornmarket) has lots of space upstairs (and delicious vegan cheese fries). But - and here I quote -“you can’t be an Oxford student and not go to big Pret” (Pret a Manger on the corner of Ship Street and Cornmarket - the other one on Cornmarket doesn’t have seating). Nero (High Street) and Vaults & Gardens (great scones: a British classic!) are also good options, and you might also want to check out the SSL (Social Sciences Library) Cafe.

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...Somewhere wheelchair accessible

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he Old Fire Station on George Street is a great, independent option for breakfast, brunch or lunch, and it has step-free access and an accessible toilet. The kitchen is run by an Oxford-based social enterprise and serves Middle Eastern food made by refugee women. The Wig & Pen on also has step-free access and an accessible toilet. It serves classic British pub food.

The Royal Oak (Woodstock Road) is another option for a wheelchair-accessible classic pub. If you’re after cocktails, you might like All Bar One. Many of the restaurants in the Westgate shopping centre (such as Mowgli and Pho) are wheelchair accessible. All three G&D’s are wheelchair accessible (with side entrances that can be opened on request). The White Rabbit is somewhat wheelchair accessible. Please note, judgements regarding the accessibility of these places has mostly been informed by AccessAble (www.accessable.co.uk), or from direct communication with the venue, rather than by personal experience.

...An Oxford classic

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wo of the most famous places in Oxford are Taylor’s and G&D’s.

Taylor’s is great for made-to-order salads, hot pasta (20% off on Tuesdays), and pastries. Taylor’s has several other stores around Oxford, although the pasta and salad are only available at the Little Clarendon Street shop. G&D’s is similarly prolific, with stores on St Aldate’s and Cowley Road as well as Little Clarendon Street. Don’t miss out on Turf Tavern, Oxford’s worst-kept secret, or the White Horse, a pub on the doorstep of the famous Blackwell’s bookshop.

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...A cafe with a twist

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ulp Fiction (also a bookstore) and the Truck Shop (also a record shop) are both worth a visit.

...A budget-friendly lunch

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ajar’s on St Giles is my #1 recommendation for a filling lunch that doesn’t cost the earth. I particularly recommend their falafel wraps.

...Vegan or veggie food

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he White Rabbit, the Gardener’s Arms (the one on Plantation Road - there are two pubs with this name in Oxford), George Street Social.

...Inspiration

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eep an eye on the Oxford Blue’s reviews (under the Out & About section) for restaurant and cafe reviews, which might inspire your next choice of food or drink! Check out this review of Al-Andalus for a taste.

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Student Friendly Recipes

Page 31-35 Illustrations

by Leyla Baxman

- Ella Myers Ratatouille (serves two)

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his is by no means an authentic ratatouille, and I’m sure if the restaurant critic from the film Ratatouille tasted this he would not be impressed.

However, this is my go-to meal when travelling and need a delicious but low effort meal with lots of vegetables. There is a bit of chopping, but once this is on the hob you barely have to touch it, so it feels easy peasy.

Ingredients: • • • •

1 courgette 1 aubergine 1 can of chopped tomatoes 3 cloves of garlic, finely chopped

• • • •

Mixed herbs Olive oil Red wine (optional) Feta (optional)

Method:

1. Chop the aubergine and courgette into medium sized chunks 2. Put a saucepan on medium heat and drizzle in some olive oil (about a tbsp), letting the oil heat for a few minutes 3. Add in the finely chopped garlic and allow to fry for a few minutes, until beginning to become golden 4. Add 1 ½ tsp of mixed herbs and mix 5. Add in the chopped courgettes and aubergines, stirring to mix 6. Add in the can of chopped tomatoes, mix and turn up the heat to medium-high 7. Allow to cook for 30-40 minutes, until the cubes of courgette and aubergine are no longer hard 8. Add in two splashes of red wine and mix, allowing to cook for another 3-5 mins 9. Take off the heat, serve up in bowls and top with crumbled feta!

Note: If you want to, you can totally skip the red wine and feta these are just for some added flavour, but this is perfectly delicious without (and then also vegan and halal friendly!).

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Pimped Up Pesto Pasta (serves one) This is a student staple for a reason. However, with a few extra touches your pesto pasta can become a sophisticated and balanced meal.

Ingredients: • • • •

Pasta Carrots Pesto Salt and Pepper

Method:

1. Peel and chop your carrots 2. Bring a pan of salted water to the boil (to salt the water add in about a good few pinches of salt) 3. When boiling, add the pasta to the water and boil for the minimum amount of time suggested on the packet (this should be around 8-10 minutes) 4. 2-3 minutes before the pasta is finished, take a mug of the pasta water and set it aside 5. At the same time, put your carrots into the water with the pasta 6. Once the pasta is done, drain this and the carrots 7. If you want to, you can separate the pasta and the carrots out, but you can jumble them together as well 8. Return the pasta and the carrots to the saucepan (off the heat) and drizzle with a tiny bit of olive oil and a couple grinds of black pepper 9. Add a few teaspoons of pesto and mix, adding in a couple of teaspoons of the pasta water you collected earlier.

10. The pasta water will help make the pesto creamier. Continue adding more pesto and pasta water until you have a creamy pesto sauce that coats all of your pasta (and your carrots too if you want).

11. Top with some grated parmesan or cheddar (and maybe some more black pepper) and enjoy!

Note: If you want to spruce this meal up, frying some mushrooms, prawns, bacon, or chicken whilst cooking the pasta and then combining with the pasta at the end (when you’re adding the pesto) would work perfectly.

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French Toast with Plum & Cinnamon Compote (serves one)

You’ll inevitably get a bit bored of the monotony of bowls of cereal for breakfast. This easy recipe will make you feel very fancy and put-together, as well as tasting delicious. Initially created as a recipe to use up stale bread, this works perfectly for using up those last few tired slices.

Ingredients: • • • •

2-4 slices of bread • Sugar Eggs • 3-4 Plums Milk • Maple/Golden Syrup Cinnamon or Honey

Method:

1. Chop the plums 2. Put a pat of butter in a frying pan over medium heat 3. Place the plums in one pan, adding some cinnamon and sugar, mixing and then turning down to a medium-low heat once the mixture begins to bubble.

4. Take a flat-based bowl (any bowl big enough for a piece of bread to sit in it will do) and crack an egg in it, then add about three quarters of a mug of milk and a sprinkling of sugar and cinnamon. Mix well.

5. Place the first piece of bread in the bowl, allowing it to soak up the liquid.

6. In the meantime, put a medium sized piece of butter in a frying pan over medium high heat.

7. Flip over the piece of bread to allow the other side to soak.

8. Once the butter in the pan is bubbling, add the piece of soaked bread into the pan.

9. After 1-2 minutes, once one side of the bread is golden brown, flip it over so the other side can fry as well. Once done, take this piece of bread off and put it on your plate.

10. Repeat this process with the other slices of bread, making more French toast mixture if required.

11. Once finished, place the plum compote on top of the bread and pour over some maple syrup or any other condiment that you fancy.

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Eating on a Budget - Lucy Heywood

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oming to Oxford, you might find that things are a bit more expensive than back home, especially if you have to pay for your own food for the first time. Centrally, we only have supermarkets such as Tesco and Sainsbury’s, and usually pretty small ones at that. If you can’t make the trek out to Aldi and Home Bargains in Botley, here are some top tips for eating on a budget in Oxford!

• Reduced food - It’s always a shout to have a look in places such as Tesco around 6 or 7 PM, when they start putting the glorious yellow ‘reduced’ stickers on things! You can usually get a few bargains here, whether they’re almost out of date, or just a little damaged.

• Too Good To Go - TGTG is an app that you can download to find

reduced food from different places, from Pret and Greggs to local cafes and restaurants. TGTG offers ‘Magic Bags’ for a fraction of their original price, and all you have to do is reserve one on the app and pay for it when you go to collect it from the store. As well as being a huge bargain (some Magic Bags are amazing value for money), you’re also helping to reduce food waste!

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• Tupperware - On the topic of food waste, make sure you have tup-

perware. Especially if you’re getting a big Magic Bag, or maybe having a meal out that you can’t finish, it’s a good idea to be able to save any leftovers, reducing food waste and getting more for your money.

• Meal prep - Sort of linked to the tupperware comment, but if you

cook in bulk and freeze your leftovers, your money will go much further.

Plus, you’ll thank yourself when you can just shove your dinner in the microwave rather than having to cook it all again from scratch!

• Clubcard - Sadly we’re not sponsored by Tesco, but using a Clubcard is a great way to save some money, both with Clubcard-only discounts and Clubcard points. Since Tesco is the supermarket that most people use in Oxford, it makes sense to have a Clubcard, whether a physical card, or just by downloading the app.

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Parks - Frances Dowle

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xford has a lovely collection of parks and green spaces. University Parks (“Uni Parks”) and Christ Church Meadows are the two most central options (but be aware that both are shut overnight, closing at dusk in winter). Next to Christ Church Meadows, you can also find the Botanical Gardens, which you can enter for free as an Oxford student!

From Uni Parks, you can take a nice walk to Marston and back: head over the steep footbridge in Uni Parks known as Rainbow Bridge, and follow the path until you reach the Marston Road Sports Ground. Turn right along Edgeway Road, and then right again on Ferry Road. Then, pick up the Marston Cycle Path which will lead you back to Uni Parks (near the Linacre College entrance). This takes a little under an hour, and there are many other paths to explore if you wish to extend it. Although a little further from the centre, South Park, in east Oxford, is also a draw since it offers wonderful views of Oxford’s famous skyline of dreaming spires, as is Hinksey Park, a beautiful park with a pond, a lake, and lots of activities on offer, which you can read more about here.

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Port Meadow, to the north of the centre, is also well worth a visit (in fact, several). In the summer, it’s a great place for picnics, although do make sure to take your rubbish home as it is also still used as grazing land for cattle and horses, and is an important wildlife habitat. It’s worth including the Burgess Field Nature Park (which is often considered part of Port Meadow) in your visit. You can enter Port Meadow from Walton Well Rd (south entrance, handy from Castle Mill), or Aristotle Ln (north entrance), or even via the lovely tow path along the River Thames (which you can join from Osney Bridge or Rewley Road). From Port Meadow, you may wish to walk to The Perch (a popular pub with lovely outdoor seating and a magical pathway leading up to it), the ruins of Godstow Abbey, or even Wolvercote. If you go all the way to Wolvercote, you can come back along the Oxford Canal.

If you want to go somewhere further afield, you may wish to go to Boars Hill or Wytham Woods (pronounced “whiteham woods”!). Be aware that for the latter you need to apply for a free permit to visit (permit holders can bring guests). You can apply for one here. You may also want to read this article which describes a lovely route to and from Shotover Country Park.

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Museums and tourist spots - Frances Dowle

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he first time visitor to Oxford can take in many of the most famous sites by following a little route that begins at Christ Church College. From there, continue the route up St Aldates Road, possibly stopping to visit the Story Museum or the Museum of Oxford, and then turn right onto High Street!

Along the High Street you can see the University Church of St Mary the Virgin. Behind this is the famous Radcliffe Camera library, and behind that the main Bodleian Library. Visitors can pay for tours of the Bodleian, although students enter for free. Follow the route past Hertford College, being sure to take in the Bridge of Sighs on the right and the Sheldonian Theatre on the left. You can then turn down Broad Street, where you may wish to visit The Weston, the History of Science Museum, Blackwell’s bookshop or the White Horse pub.

Many colleges are open to visitors at particular times and, of course, Oxford has a veritable plethora of museums in addition to those mentioned. Some of the most popular include The Ashmolean (free general admission for Oxford students and discounted prices for special exhibitions) and The Pitt Rivers Museum (also free). These two, and the Modern Art Museum, are particularly recommended if you’re looking for wheelchair accessible options.

For something a little different, why not visit the ice rink, or the lido in Hinksey? (Both are wheelchair-accessible).

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Days out from Oxford - Frances Dowle There are a number of places a little further afield that are also worth a visit, especially once you’ve got to know Oxford’s more central delights. You might wish to take a trip to Radley Lakes or Abingdon, the Harcourt Arboretum or even Blenheim Palace and Woodstock. You can either pay to go into Blenheim Palace (it’s huge!) or you can use the public footpath through the grounds for free. It’s also super easy to get to London, either by train or bus (the Oxford Tube). The beautiful city of Bath is only about 1hr 15 mins away by train. Many places in the Cotswolds are accessible by public transport (some of these are up to a couple of hours away); consider Burford, Castle Combe and Minster Lovell. Keep an eye on more day trip ideas and articles from The Oxford Blue for inspiration!

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Shopping - The Lifestyle Team MT22

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xford is home to a diverse shopping experience, with something for everyone.

The centre of the shopping scene is Westgate, in the heart of the city.

Here you’ll find some of the high street giants! From Zara to Superdry. This is just the beginning. There are numerous independent stores that are worthy of mention; The Ballroom Emporium in Cowley is a vintage shop with a huge variety of unique clothes, furniture, and even costumes. Cowley is also home to Indigo, a small shop that sells products from all over the world. Their combination of high-quality products and fair-trade policies mean they are certainly worth a visit or two.

It is impossible to talk about shopping without mentioning Oxford’s Covered Market. Located on the High Street, the Market has it all. The Hat Box is filled with beautiful, coloured hats of all descriptions, you are guaranteed to find your perfect fit or, at least, have a fun try-on session with friends.

There’s also Next To Nothing and Ansari, a must see if you’re wanting a wardrobe refresh but The Garden is a student favourite for the weekly flower shop.

In terms of shopping for University, Shepherd and Woodward, Ede and Ravenscroft, and Walters of Oxford are the recommended places to acquire sub-fusc.

For your stationery needs, Scriptum in Turl Street has the best high-quality equipment in Oxford. You’ve probably gathered that Oxford’s shopping scene stretches widely, but I’ve only scratched the surface. Some other notable mentions include Blackwell’s Bookshop and Gloucester Green Market. There are plenty of opportunities to treat yourself with a shopping trip during your time in Oxford!

Top tip:

There are also Facebook pages such as Oxtickets and Students of Oxford Swap. Here, you can find people selling things like tickets, as well as second hand furniture, books, and clothes.

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Clubs, Pubs, and Bars

- The Lifestyle Team MT22

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xford has a wide variety of venues contributing to the bustling night life of the city! These are just a select few of the clubs, pubs and bars in Oxford, but you’ll quickly discover the wealth of places to explore!

• Park End (ATIK)

This is probably the most popular club, particularly on a Wednesday (which is student night despite the cheaper on ‘Broke Mondays’). It has a number of large floors, with a favourite being the underground ‘cheese floor’, where they play exclusively feel-good hits - think endless ABBA and Spice Girls.

• Bridge

Most popular on a student Thursday and a favourite of our senior editor, Bridge has a more enclosed feel than ATIK which makes it a better club for socialising. It has three dance floors and features a large outdoor smoking area, which is a great place to hang out and an ideal spot for bops.

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• Plush

Deep into Cornmarket Street and tucked just out of sight can be found Plush, an underground LGBTQ+ bar and club. This is most often visited on a Tuesday (‘Tuesgays’), with the LGBTQ+ Society hosting drinks at a different college every week beforehand.

• The Bullingdon Club (Bully)

Bully is further out than the other clubs, located on Cowley Road, a 15/20 minute walk from Cornmarket Street.

Bully often features different themed nights such as Fluorescent Adolescent or Call Me Maybe but the trek often calls for a 3am taxi back to college.

Oxford’s extensive pub list means you’ll always be within a stone’s throw from one: • Turf Tavern - down an alleyway under the Bridge of Sighs, prepare yourself for “an education in intoxication” at one of the most aesthetically pleasing pubs in Oxford. Not only is their food phenomenally good but Turf prides itself on their extensive list of famous figures who have visited their bar - from David Bowie to Stephen Hawking and President Bill Clinton.

• Four Candles and Swan and Castle - both located a 5 minute walk from the highstreet, these are our beloved Wetherspoons. Whilst Four Candles is heavily dominated by students and ideal for pre or after drinks, Swan and Castle offers outdoor seating and is opposite Junkyard Golf if you fancy a tipsy game.

• The Kings Arms - it’s impossible to miss The Kings Arms and as a bright pink pub they make sure of that. Not only does this pub boast a lot of history, built in 1607, but it is a perfect spot for different societies’ socials.

• The Castle - a little underrated, this pub sits opposite Westgate Shopping Centre and next to Swan and Castle, however it arguably has the best G&T in Oxford. Furthermore, its underground seating area is ideal for large student groups who can get a little loud on a night out.

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And in terms of bars, these are some favourites: • The Varsity Club - located next to the Covered Market, this is a great place to go both in the day and at night, spanning a number of floors. Drinks are a little pricey but with a dance floor, lounge and a rooftop bar with panoramic views of Oxford, you should definitely go at least once.

• Freud - a much more sophisticated vibe, Freud features a great cock-

tail list and is set in a beautiful old church on Walton Street. It doubles up as an events venue having previously hosted masquerade balls and fashion shows, this is one place you don’t want to miss!

• The Mad Hatter - located on Cowley Road, the Mad Hatter is a

favourite of many, renowned for its Alice in Wonderland theme. Entrance requires you answer a riddle correctly, and once you’re in you’ll be sipping cocktails from teacups or taking part in a karaoke night - what’s not to love?!

• The House - located on Blue Boar Street and Christ Church students’ local, The House offers a sophisticated vibe, perfect for birthdays and other special occasions. They have happy hours every day, discounted drinks for members of The Oxford Union and the cocktails are delicious!

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Bops - Lifestyle Team MT22

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OPs (Big Organized Parties) are a central part of the social scene at Oxford. They are organised by your college’s Entz Reps (Entertainment Representatives) and include all college members, so they are great for socialising and getting into costumes that centre around different BOP themes. Past themes include ‘70s vs Seven Seas’, ‘Pirates, Pilots and Pixies’, and ‘Wild West vs Under Arrest’. Some Entz Reps from different colleges even work together and organise joint BOPs, another great way to meet other members of the University. One of the biggest bops the last academic year was the ‘Seven Deadly Sins’ BOP in which the seven colleges whose names include ‘Saint’ had a collaborative bop - a highlight of first year! Most Entz Reps are open to hearing your ideas for possible themes and appreciate your input, they just want to make sure everyone enjoys themselves. BOPs are fun, inclusive, and will soon become one of your favourite social events while studying here.

Sharking Although Fresher’s week is generally a positive experience, for many, going to university will involve your first time clubbing, there are some less than idyllic aspects which every fresher should be aware of. ‘Sharking’, refers to a situation in which older students prey on inexperienced younger students in order to make sexual advances. This is frequently (but not always!) older male students who make it into a game to target female students. It is something which, unfortunately, happens every year, and you may feel pressured to do something you don’t want to.

Spiking ‘Spiking’ is when someone gives you alcohol or a drug without your knowledge, most commonly by slipping it into your drink. This can happen at any bar or club - not just university.

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To try and prevent these, here are some tips that will hopefully make you feel much safer on a night out: • Go with a group, and try to stick together - if you notice your friend has disappeared unannounced, try to look for them or contact them. Girls make sure to go to the bathroom together and take your drinks with you!

• Similarly, keep an eye on your friends - if they seem uncomfortable at any point, or if you notice anyone getting a bit too close, reach out to them and maybe go elsewhere, never leave the club without the entire group.

• Turn your location on for someone you trust - this has proved

invaluable for me, with me and my friends having turned on our ‘Find my iPhone’ location in case someone wanders off on a night out.

• Charge your phone - ensure your phone is fully (or at least 80%)

charged before you go out, so that you can keep in contact with your friends, call someone in an emergency, or order a taxi at the end of the night.

• Know your limits - you want to have a good time, but be aware of

the point at which you should stop drinking. Make sure to eat something before you go out or drink milk which protects your stomach during alcohol intake.

• Alert security if you feel uncomfortable.

• Keep an eye on your drink and never leave it unattended -

some colleges have drink covers in their Freshers ‘week welcome packs, but if not these are easily accessible online, and some come in the form of a scrunchie which you can keep on your wrist! If you forget to take this with you, make sure you keep your palm over your drink whenever you are dancing.

These tips shouldn’t be necessary but, unfortunately, they are.

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Balls - The Lifestyle Team MT22

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hat you’ll learn quickly is that Oxford is always bustling with life and activity. You’re bound to find an event on any given week. All colleges hold formal dinners in their dining halls, but many colleges and societies also hold balls, a much bigger spectacle. The price of tickets can range from £60 to £250, though most have access tickets in place to ensure anyone can attend, no matter their financial situation.

Balls often feature an open bar and food from many of Oxford’s local vendors.

Some may even include a formal sit-down meal! They also involve great entertainment, from well-known artists and student bands to ferris wheels and bumper cars.

Top tips for balls:

• Take professional photos early! That way you can relax and not worry about having to look picture perfect after one too many drinks and diving into the ball pit.

• To avoid queues for food, go a bit later in the evening and have a light snack before you attend. As soon as the doors open there will likely be a mad rush to the food stalls, so try to space this out if possible.

• Enjoy yourself! Oxford balls are a privilege, and are probably unlike any event you’ve ever been to, so make the most of it!

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Events

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xford is so much more than a city of scholars! Our social lives as students are filled with lots of fun and unique events. One of my favourite experiences so far has been attending crewdates. Crewdates are socials between two different societies/subjects/years to encourage interactions between different teams and social groups. They usually involve drinking games, including sconcing (similar to Never Have I Ever).

Oxford has so many events that you would never get to experience elsewhere, so my advice is to take advantage of them all - but stay safe and don’t do anything you’re uncomfortable with. It won’t take long for you to discover your preferences and, once you have, they will make your time here even more memorable.

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Quieter Nights: The Authoritative Guide - Thomas Britton

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xford nightlife is great, but it’s not the only way to enjoy an evening in the city, and come 5th week you may well want some ideas for a relaxing night...

Go for a meal: Not necessarily too expensive if you pick the right place,

going out for a proper meal with your mates is a great way to relax and enjoy yourself. There are so many options for great food places around the city that you’ll never run out, and there’s something for every taste; from authentic East Asian food, to Italian, to vegetarian-speciality places, and from cafes and coffee-places, to proper restaurants. See page 26 for some ideas.

Thirsty Meeples: This board game

cafe offers a selection of games so broad that you start to wonder whether it can be classed as the Bodleian of Board Games. Take a group of friends, and either play one of the classics or pick one at random and question how they even came up with the idea for such a weird game.

See a film: Oxford has a number of great cinemas, from the swanky Curzon

on the roof terrace of Westgate to the more historic and indie Phoenix off in Jericho. There’s nothing like a trip to the cinema to see the most recently released film to distract a group of highly-stressed Oxford students from their assignments - and with a student discount, it’s not too pricey either. A wise idea is to find the film nerd in your friend group and go with them because, while you think you’re just watching a film, after it finishes you’ll be enlightened as to why the use of camera angles means it’s the greatest masterpiece ever created/a disaster that should never have been allowed within a hundred miles of a screen.

Ice Skating: The ice rink is just beyond Westgate, and well worth the ef-

fort. During term time, it offers cheap entry late at night (around 10/11 PM, until 12 or 1 AM) for students. Even if you’re a novice, within a couple of hours basically everyone gets the hang of it.

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Dating - The Lifestyle Team MT22 New city, new you! In the wild realm of dating, that can be very exciting.

Whether you are in a relationship and university turned it into long-distance, or you’re single and ready to mingle, dating in Oxford will be a thrill. Aside from the fact that most colleges in Oxford are within walking distance from each other, therefore minimising the length of the ‘walk of shame’, there are plenty of things to do. For those happily involved in long-term relationships, Oxford can be an awesome place for couples. There is something for everyone, and it won’t be hard to find something that both you and your other half love.

For those looking for something new, there are some rules you should follow. First things first, beware of ‘flat-cest’ (roommates are off limits!).

It only makes interactions complicated in the long run...especially if you don’t see it going somewhere serious. Secondly, college family members are also a no-go! Whilst some may find it odd, in Oxford the college family tradition is sacred - better not tamper with it.. and lastly, the rule of three.

If you wish to date someone who does your course, is in your year, and is in your college, you should proceed with caution to avoid those awkward post-break up interactions during tutorials.

Making Friends Moving away from home can seem daunting. You feel this sense of pressure to find a social group instantly, whilst juggling the new environment and busy Freshers’ week timetable. But Oxford is full of all different types of people, and you’re bound to find those you click with. There is no need to change yourself to fit into a friendship group; you will find that the right people will eventually stumble into your life.

There are so many different places where you might make friends: you may run into someone repeatedly on your daily Pret trip and form a bond, bump into someone in a club and decide to exchange socials. Societies are also a great way to find those with similar interests. Wherever it may be, you’re sure to find ‘your people’. The biggest advice I can give you is to not be scared to approach people and put yourself out of your comfort zone!

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Societies - The Lifestyle Team MT22 Skating, baking or candle-stick making, I can assure you that at university you will find something for you! The huge variety of societies, sport clubs, and various activities that are always around in Oxford mean that, when you do get a break from work, you will never get bored. For all my introverts out there, making friendships can be a daunting task, but that is why societies make it so much easier to bond over similar interests. Alternatively, befriend an extrovert - they tend to know what they’re doing.

It’s good to remember that, whilst it’s fun to find things to do that you already love, that shouldn’t stop you from trying out new stuff. Freshers’ week will be filled with lots of fun socials, and it is a great opportunity not only to meet new people but to try out new stuff. You might discover a new and improved side to yourself that you were missing out on, but remember to stay true to yourself at the same time. University life should be a fun experience, and everyone has a different definition of ‘fun’, so trust your gut to find the right people and the right hobbies!

Student Journalism - Lucy Heywood If you’re interested in journalism, Oxford is a great place to get started.

Personally, we recommend The Oxford Blue (although of course, Cherwell and The Oxford Student also run very respectable papers). We have a great reputation as a training paper, offering workshops, talks with leading journalists, and other, more social events. Commissions are posted on a weekly basis on our Facebook Writers Groups on a variety of topics, from Lifestyle to Global Affairs, and we welcome articles about pretty much anything. The Blue is also a fantastic place for budding creatives; we have lots of photographers and illustrators, some of whom helped to put this guide together!

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Student Sport - Guy Ward Jackson

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hether you’re an experienced athlete going for a Blue, a passionate amateur, or simply want a way to get in some exercise in an enjoyable and social way, Oxford offers a very wide spectrum for different abilities and levels of commitment.

For those who are experienced within their given sport, representing your University may be something you’ve always aimed for. In that case, it’s really just a matter of figuring out what team you can make, and whether you might have a shot at achieving the notorious ‘Blue’. One obtains a Blue performing exceptionally at the given sport. In solo sports, such as tennis, there are usually only a given number of people each year who can achieve a Blue - which is designated based on seeding. For team sports, on the other hand, one would usually obtain a Blue by competing either at Varsity (the annual Oxford versus Cambridge match) or BUCS (the inter-university national competition).

One mistake that students often make, however, is to assume that University sport is inaccessible to those not at the very top level.

This is in fact untrue: the beauty of University sport is that, given the number of teams and different levels of commitment, one can quite easily enjoy playing at a decent level without having a Blue at the back of your mind at all. For example, there is a social tennis team, a rowing development team (comprised often of those who have not rowed before university), and a non-selective Cross-Country and Athletics squad - to name just a few. Moreover, there are plenty of really niche sports that you may never have heard of. So if you’re really keen on getting a Blue or Half Blue, you can always aim for a less well-known sport and dedicate your time to that.

So it’s best not to think of there being a binary divide between University and College sport in terms of ability: in reality it’s much more of a gradient.

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College Sport One of the most special things about college is that it offers a way of doing sport - and other societies - in a lower-key way. Each year, a tournament called ‘Cuppers’ takes place for each college sport: where college teams play each other.

College sport is a great way of meeting everyone in your year at college, as well as making friends in the years above. Further, it would be wrong to assume that college sport is simply very amateur. In reality, you’ll find that it’s often performed at quite a high level - especially in the higher teams. So, for example, rowing is often taken fairly seriously in the higher boats, with some University Blue rowers actually also rowing for their college boat.

And, if you really don’t fancy any form of competitive sport, colleges often have more informal, social sport: such as social runs or morning yoga - a great way to get some exercise in without devoting your time to something more serious.

Expense The price of sport will vary, and that goes for both college and university level sport. However, colleges are usually very good at offering bursaries, often giving each student a yearly sports budget to buy equipment or pay for a membership.

When Do You Need to Join?

The beauty about college sport, and even lots of university sport, is that even if you don’t manage to get into it Illustrations by straight away, it’s generally very easy Tilly Binucci to join later. For example, in the case of college sport, often if you just drop the captain a message they’ll be really helpful. So, if you find you spent too much time in Bridge in your first term and forgot to join the basketball team, that’s no problem.

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Arts, Drama, and Theatre - Elspeth Knight

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tarting university is a perfect chance to try something you have never done before. It is so important to make sure you don’t get stuck in the habit of being at the library all day just stressing about deadlines; part of your degree is to enjoy your time at Oxford, so get out there and explore the city’s amazing arts scene!

Arts One of my favourite things to do when feeling overwhelmed is to explore Oxford’s galleries; the Ashmolean Museum has free entry for students and a wide range of permanent exhibitions. They have new exhibitions every season: currently they have a Pre-Raphaelite exhibition on until November, which I highly recommend. The Pitt Rivers Museum also has free entry and is right next to the Natural History Museum.

For more contemporary artworks there is the Modern Art Museum, and in Gloucester Green there is a creative pop-up space that features a range of local artists and hosts community events. But best of all are the student art shows! Follow facebook pages like Oxford Uni Arts Hub to make sure you never miss the latest event (and they usually have free drinks, too).

Drama Before coming to Oxford I was a bit intimidated by student drama, but you will soon discover there are so many different productions out there that you are bound to find something you enjoy! Each production offers a range of opportunities to get involved, from acting, directing, and producing, to the more creative side like costumes and props. It caters for everyone, from beginners shows, to musical theatre and comedy, and each summer most colleges put on a Shakespeare Garden Play. The Oxford University Dramatic Society is a great place to look if you are 54 unsure where to start.

If you would rather watch than act, there are plenty of theatres. The Oxford Playhouse hosts major productions, whilst the Burton Taylor Studio usually leans towards intimate student shows. There are plenty of cinemas, too, with multiple Odeons and the Phoenix Picture House, an indie cinema tucked away in Jericho which sometimes gives away posters from the films they are showing.

Because the arts scene is so broad, there are always reviewers needed for student journalism pieces! Try your hand at writing for the newspapers such as The Oxford Blue (which we obviously recommend), or explore more creative magazines such as Isis or Onyx. For each publication, there are also opportunities for illustrators and photographers to contribute to articles. At The Blue, we send out weekly commissions on a range of different sections. It doesn’t matter about experience, we encourage everyone to write for us! As well as quickly developing your skills in writing and editing, it is also a great way to meet new people and find out more about Oxford.

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Societies Linked to Identity - Hannah Selig ERM Societies:

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he University of Oxford is proud to host an incredibly diverse student population. Below are introductions from only a few of the ethnic and religious minority societies. For more information on a specific society, reach out and contact one of their committee members or your college’s ethnic and religious minority representative. While it is generally difficult to make sweeping judgements about Oxford’s variety of ERM societies, it is safe to say that all look forward to welcoming new students without judgement or prerequisites.

We reached out to some of Oxford’s ERM societies - their introductory articles can be found HERE!

And here’s an introduction from the Oxford Feminist Society: “Welcome to Oxford University! Here at the Feminist society, we are dedicated to creating a fundamentally intersectional space that addresses intersecting unequal power relationships, including economic, environmental, social, sexual, racial, generational, and ethnic discrimination.”

You can read more about FemSoc in their introductory article HERE.

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International Students - Gioia von Donhoff

Moving to a new country can be intimidating, especially if you do so by yourself.

Last year I was nerve-racked, and I am now happy to give you some tips that helped me through my first year. It’s a challenge, but also a huge opportunity, as you are in a dynamic environment, surrounded by kind and interesting fellow students. Here are some tips to keep on top of things and settle in:

Banks When spending a longer amount of time in England, having an English bank account will be useful. Many banks offer accounts for international students, but it’s definitely worth double checking if they have an easy method of transfer from your country. For this, many use services such as Wise or Monzo, which offer good exchange rates and an easy way to transfer money internationally.

For some, having either of these is enough; but if you prefer having a physical bank with in-person support, I’d definitely recommend a proper bank.

Admin Something that gave me peace of mind was keeping everything relating to my visa, registration, admission, etc. in one place. An online or a physical folder is very useful if you forget details (as I did all of the time). Also, if you have any questions, you can always turn to college support. Even if they can’t solve it, they will point you in the right direction. And never feel bad about asking them, as they are there to help you with your questions.

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Arrival It is often worth arriving in Oxford a few days before freshers’ week (or the arrival date your college set) to get over jet lag and to get used to the surroundings. It helps you pace yourself, as well as orient yourself around Oxford.

This also gives you a chance to pick up some objects you might need...

What to buy here You will be able to buy a lot of things in Oxford when you arrive. Oxford itself is slightly expensive, so a good idea is to order things such as pots, towels, duvets, etc. online. Either option will save your luggage space. One more thing to remember is that everything that goes into your room must also come out.

At the end of each term, colleges will provide you with storage space and boxes to move all your belongings into, so there’s no harm in buying things once you know you need them (e.g. cooking equipment - but double check if you have access to kitchens).

Homesickness Most people who come to Oxford are leaving home for the first time, and even Brits will feel homesick. As an international student, this can be especially hard. One of the best ways to combat it is to meet other international students in the same position. Each college has an international rep who will organise events where you can meet other international students in your college.

There are also lots of cultural and country societies that are active in Oxford which frequently host events. It’s a fun way to get to know people from home, and get to know Oxford as well.

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Postgraduate Students

- Tom Evans and Frances Dowle For those of you starting a postgraduate degree, and who may have already had time out of formal education before starting, or who are first timers to Oxford, starting postgraduate studies can be daunting, but it doesn’t need to be! Have a read of our top-tips for postgraduates.

Navigating Administration

There’s an old joke that sums up many Oxford students’ relationship with the somewhat antiquated system that Oxford employs:

Q: “How many Oxford Dons does it take to change a lightbulb?”

A: “Change?”

If you’re entering Oxford as a postgraduate for the first time, you may be perplexed by the seemingly endless layers of administration. Oxford has a decentralised administration system, meaning that admin is split between your college, the central University, your division (e.g. Social Sciences or Humanities), and your department. Things get lost in the system from time to time, so don’t feel guilty for sending follow-up emails if you’ve not heard anything back for a while.

The Department

As postgraduate students, you will be mainly managed by your department. Your department will be responsible for your teaching, syllabus, and assessment. Read and re-read your student handbook to get to grips with what will be expected of you, and make a note of any deadlines for examinations or milestones such as Transfer of Status for those on the DPhil programme. If in doubt at any stage, contact your departmental graduate administrator, your supervisor, or the head of 60 graduate studies.

Managing your supervisor

Unless you are working directly under your supervisor on a project that they themselves are leading, you will likely be contending with an academic who is working on multiple projects, supervising and teaching multiple students, and may have pastoral duties in college (plus attempting to have a semblance of a personal life). Their supervising styles are also like snowflakes: no two are alike. It’s worth meeting with your supervisor at the start and setting out both your and their responsibilities and what’s expected. It never hurts to be proactive about things; you shouldn’t assume that someone will always be chasing you up.

Funding

Funding isn’t just awarded pre-enrolment. There are a number of funding opportunities that arise throughout the year. Look out on the University notice boards within your College and the Department. The central university also has money for postgraduates, so check the funding webpage. Departments and Colleges often have pots of money for fieldwork, conferences, or other work-related expenses such as vital equipment. Keep an eye out for emails about these as they often have short turn-arounds and need supervisor sign-offs.

It’s worth spending a few minutes on your college’s and department’s website near the beginning of your degree to see what might be available, especially as some pots of money have a yearly cap on what you can claim (and you can’t backdate if you only discover them in your final year).

Where to Work

Postgraduates will usually have access to study space within their departments and colleges, but it’s also worth noting that you also have access to a huge range of libraries at Oxford - see page 18. Additionally, the University Club on Mansfield Road is postgraduate only if you want to escape the Undergrads as well as lots of cafes - see page 28 for our favourites. I recommend visiting plenty of spots and finding your favourites.

Mental Health

Postgraduate degrees are tough, and the short but very intense term times at Oxford can have a real impact on your mental health. For those working on individual DPhil projects, it can also often be lonely as you slog away for years on one big piece of work. If you find that your mental health is deteriorating at any point, please do let your departmental supervisor, college advisor, and doctor know as soon as possible. You can find more welfare advice in our welfare section, which starts on page 64.

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Keeping Afloat

Regardless of subject or programme, you’ll be taking in a lot of information during your studies. It is well worth using a reference manager from the very start of your course. Trust me, having a system to keep track of things you’ve read will pay off in the end. Get familiar with SOLO, the University’s catalogue of all books, journals, theses, and primary sources in its collection. Additionally, for those of you undertaking a DPhil on a project where you will be the sole author, making a timetable and being practical about your workload is very important, so as not to burn out. Remember, it’s a marathon, not a sprint.

Freshers’ week - and indeed plenty of other points in term - can be pretty exhausting. Personally, I find that prioritising sleep, even when I’m busy, helps a great deal. And don’t worry if things don’t go according to plan - they never do. Tell your supervisor, be prepared for the unexpected, and factor in contingency plans. Most importantly, be kind to yourself! If you’re feeling unsure of what to expect from your studies, or looking for guidance part way through, you might find it helpful to consult the book ‘The Unwritten Rules of PhD Research’ by Petre & Rugg (3rd ed. 2019) - this was recommended to me by my supervisor.

Clubs and Societies

For those of you returning to University after a little time off, joining societies can be daunting, but it’s a great opportunity to pick-up something that you love, or try something new for the first time. These are just as open to postgraduates as to undergraduates. Sports, politics, community, identity, news (hint: get involved with The Oxford Blue), are all catered for.

Escaping the City

You’ll spend most of your time working, socialising, and living within a small section of Oxford, which can get a little claustrophobic. Fortunately, escape is just a bus, train, cycle, or walk away. The city has a number of beautiful green spaces to unwind in such as Port Meadow (an Oxford summer classic), Christ Church (if you can dodge the rowers), University Parks (look out for the parakeets and kingfishers), and Headington Park, and South Park. If that’s not enough, you can travel further afield. RSPB Otmoor is a short cycle or bus away for any keen birders, and you can wander along the Thames Path. Oxford is also located at the foot of the Cotswolds: designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. You can get a train or a bus to a plethora of picture-perfect towns with silly names such as Bideford, Burford, Blenheim, Chipping-Norton, and Charlbury. More ideas for days out from Oxford can be f found on page 39!

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Accommodation

Oxford is notoriously expensive for private accommodation. The University itself has a limited housing stock, including for couples and families, and many colleges offer some accommodation. College or University accommodation may sometimes be cheaper, and can be more convenient (especially if you’ll be living in Oxford for less than a year). House shares are often, the cheapest option; they have their own pros and cons (it can be quite sociable, but it’s down to luck of the draw with your housemates). Many people use Facebook groups like OxGradHousing to find housemates, but be aware that the group is not closely moderated, and is sometimes used by scammers. It’s worth getting in touch with estate agents about potential properties within your budget, some of whom will have dedicated student rental properties. It’s also worth reading the UK government’s ‘How to Rent’ guide, especially if you’ve never rented before. For further advice and assistance with rental matters, you may wish to make use of resources from Shelter, Citizens Advice and ACORN (a renters’ union).

Family Life

For those with families, it might be worth checking out the Newcomer’s Club, which offers help and a community to partners of visiting scholars, graduate students, and newly-appointed academics and administrators. If you have young children, you might enjoy visiting the public library in Westgate, or going to Hinksey Park, which has a playground, ducks to feed, and an outdoor, heated pool. Many museums, such as the Ashmolean, also run events for children and families. You may also want to check out events at the St Clements’ Family Centre or Rainbow House, especially as these events also offer an opportunity to meet other parents.

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Welfare Health and Exercise - Guy Ward-Jackson

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n the endless chaos of work, socialising and deadlines, one of the things that can be easiest to let slip is self-care. For me, and for many, that primarily comes from fresh air and exercise. Here are a few tips about how to keep healthy and scout out the different options which Oxford has to offer:

College Sport College sport is a great way to try new things, or simply meet the people in your college. They’re really accessible, and good fun, too. Playing for your college team can provide the perfect mixture of socialising and competitiveness.

There are also non-competitive sports, such as social runs and morning yoga; these are usually quite informal and can really help with work-life balance.

Take on more, not less It is easier to drop a commitment than find yourself in Trinity term and feeling like you should take one up. If you’re ambivalent about trying a sport, just go for it. The worst that happens is you try it for two weeks and decide you have too much else on.

Work routine and sleep cycle Much of what determines your health and wellbeing in Oxford is contingent on how you manage your work-life balance. Try to be rigid with yourself and set a regular schedule. It’s far better to be in the library working by 9am than dragging yourself to your desk at 9pm, redbull in hand, prepared for an all-nighter (although it does happen...).

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Not a sporty person?

Then just find what works for you. Even if it’s just making sure that you make time to meet a friend for coffee and walk around University Parks two times a week, this can make the world of difference when you’re in the thick of a relentless term.

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Mental Health - Evie Craggs

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lthough Oxford is a wonderful place, it can also be stressful. Moving out of your home and into a new place with new people can be really scary, and it’s natural to feel worried. There are a few things that might help with the adjustment and have some work life balance that allows you to properly rest.

• Try to separate work and relaxation by not working in your room but only in the library or the faculty, for example.

• Try exercise, walking or sports! Anything that gets you outside.

• Make sure that you schedule your breaks just as much as you schedule work.

• Sleep. I really mean it. Although we all might pull an all-nighter now and then, or stay up late with friends, sleeping enough can make you feel a lot better.

However, we all know that there are some things that cannot be fixed by sleeping or a walk in nature. There are lots of specialist support services within your college and the university as a whole to help when needed.

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College Support • The Porters (These people at the door to college will help with an immediate concerns/ emergencies).

• College chaplain/ welfare lead (College staff member who can help you access support and provide listening services).

• Welfare JCR Representatives (These are the student council representatives who deal with welfare concerns) • Peer supporters (Students in your college trained to listen and direct you to the right services for more support).

• Tutors (They have a wellbeing role as well as an academic role. If you feel comfortable, contact them if you are struggling, especially if it is to do with your work/ affecting it.)

Illustration by Leyla Baxman

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Welfare Support Contacts The Student Union Advice Service

An independent email and phone advisory service specially catering to Oxford University students, available Mon-Thurs term time, 10.30am-12.30pm.

Email: advice@oxfordsu.ox.ac.uk Phone: 07436 225637 The University Counselling Service

The University Counselling Service can offer you a confidential appointment with a trained counsellor. You can refer yourself and complete a form to explain the difficulties you are having, and an appointment will usually be arranged within two weeks.

The Counselling Service regularly sees up to 13% of the University population, so requesting help doesn’t mark you out as ‘odd’.

Email: counselling@admin.ox.ac.uk Phone: 01865 270300 Oxford Mindfulness Centre

The Oxford Mindfulness Centre provides key resources related to meditation and mindfulness which may prove useful. The Centre provides online guided sessions and runs regular mindfulness courses.

https://www.oxfordmindfulness.org/ Oxford Nightline

If you need support outside of normal working hours, the Oxford Nightline is a volunteer service which operates during term time.

Phone: 01865 270 270 68

Samaritans

The Samaritans are an emergency service available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you feel in immediate danger, you can call a volunteer for support.

Phone: 116 123 Disability Advisory Service

The Disability Advisory Service (DAS) supports students with physical and non-physical disabilities at Oxford. The DAS can help you with a new diagnosis, assist with housing provision, or arrange special accommodations for examinations.

Email: disability@admin.ox.ac.uk Phone: 01865 280459 Harassment Advisory Network

If you are being harassed or bullied - within your department or outside of it - the Harassment Advisory Network can provide you with confidential, non-judgemental support. Academic faculties and departments have designated harassment advisors, but if you prefer, you can request an advisor outside of your department.

Email: harassment.line@admin.ox.ac.uk The Vice President for Welfare and Equal Opportunities (VP WEO) at Oxford SU is a key student contact for issues relating to welfare at the University, and can be contacted at:

vpweo@oxfordsu.ox.ac.uk.

The Vice President for Women at Oxford SU is a key student contact for women’s issues at the University, and can be contacted at:

vpwomen@oxfordsu.ox.ac.uk.

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Thoughts From Last Years Freshers “Try not to worry about appearing a certain way or falling into peer pressure to ‘fit in’. There are people at Oxford of all types, backgrounds and personalities and you will find your crowd. Be yourself and you will find people that you love.”

“It’s okay to feel overwhelmed, not only are you staring a new course. But also you have to learn how to live by yourself. Remember to take time for yourself.”

“You don’t have to be perfect immediately. You’re going to Oxford to learn and grow as a person and that is a process that takes time and is constant. You are not defined but your tutor’s comments, take their feedback on board but don’t be disheartened if you don’t hit the nail on the head immediately.”

“Everyone will feel imposter syndrome at some point and that’s completely normal and valid. Talk about it with a friend or confidant and that discussion can often ease your stress.”

Imposter Syndrome

One experience that many Oxford Students have is the feeling of Imposter Syndrome. This is the internal feeling that you are less competent than others perceive you to be. It is feeling like a fraud amongst other students and feeling like you don’t belong. Coming to a place filled with other high-achievers can be a big adjustment, and when you are no longer way ahead of everyone else it is very common to feel this way.

There is no ‘fix’ to imposter syndrome, but talking to friends and peer supporters can help remind you that you are not alone in this experience, and that you deserve to be here. The very fact that you are at Oxford in the first place is proof. All applications are vigorously examined and students hand-picked. You were not an accident, but a choice from scholars who see something great in you.

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Sexual Assault Information IT HAPPENS HERE It Happens Here

Sexual harassment and assault is a conversation that nobody enjoys talking about but everyone must be aware of. It Happens Here is a campaign against sexual violence closely associated with the Oxford Student Union with the aim of preventing sexual assault through educational events, protecting survivors, and empowering them to report their experience.

What is sexual assault?

Sexual assault is any sexual activity conducted using coercion or without consent.

What is consent?

Consent is the freedom and capacity to choose. Passivity is NOT consent and the conversation around sexual activity has increasingly adopted the term ‘enthusiastic consent’ to reflect this.

What does consent look like?

• Engaged body language: nodding, initiating physical contact, kissing, etc • Verbal encouragement: “Yes,” “Keep going,” “Don’t stop,” etc

What does non-consent look like?

• Disengaged body language: tense / stiff body, unresponsive, turning away, etc • Verbal discouragement: “No,” “Stop”, “I don’t want to,” silence, etc.

If you experience sexual harassment or assault you can reach out for help. There are services both within the University and outside of it which will support you through the process.

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Oxford University has a dedicated Sexual Harassment and Violence Support Service. admin@supportservice.ox.ac.uk All students can access it regardless of age or gender, whether you have experienced sexual violence in Oxford or somewhere else, and no matter how long ago this was. It offers a safe space to be heard in that is independent of your college or department. The service’s Independent Sexual Violence Advisor will talk you through your reporting options - whether this is to your college, the university or the police. Trained advisors at the Service can also assess your immediate health needs, discuss therapeutic options and provide practical support.

Oxfordshire Sexual Abuse and Rape Crisis Centre (OSARCC):

Rape Crisis Centres are charities set up to support survivors of sexual violence through counselling, support groups, and advocacy.

They offer appointments and have an online help system to talk you through the options.

admin@osarcc.org.uk 01865 725311 Refuge:

An independent sexual advisory service for both men and women aged 16 or over.

0800 221 8186 72

Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs):

This is a centre made up of specially trained advisors and is the first port of call recommended by the NHS after an assault. The nearest SARC to Oxford is Solace SARC, Bicester. Some colleges may reimburse taxis there and back.

0800 970 9952 Your case will be referred to a Sexual Offences Liaison Officer (SOLO).

The police have specialist teams who are trained to handle cases of rape and sexual assault and it is within your rights to request an officer or staff member who is of the same gender as you. If you contact the Police, they can refer you to a SARC, and vice versa.

Calling 999:

If you call 999, you may be directed to the police or the hospital. Oxford Students can attend the GUM clinic at Churchill Hospital for an STI check or for emergency contraception. Sexual Health Advisors there are trained to support survivors of sexual assault.

If you decide to build a criminal case against the perpetrator, consider reporting immediately to the police through phoning 999 or 101. Reporting immediately means you may be able to collect DNA evidence. This can be a lengthy and emotional process. If the assault has happened very recently, keep the clothes you were wearing and don’t wash them.

If possible, do not shower. Forensic evidence usually must be collected within 72 hours in a legal defence.

The UK has no statute of limitations on how long you can wait before reporting rape or sexual assault to the police. Contact police on the non-emergency 101 line and speak briefly to the operator about what has happened to you. You will then be put through to a specially trained officer, who will take your initial statement and arrange a time and place to take a more detailed one. You will not be asked to face the perpetrator. You can also report the crime to a SARC, where a Crisis Worker will listen carefully to understand what has happened to you, when it happened and what your situation is now.

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It Happens Here - Events and Education:

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he Student Union conduct events for awareness and education of sexual assault throughout the year. Mandatory consent workshops for first-year undergraduates have taken place in Fresher’s Week in every college since 2016, run by trained students.

Beyond Fresher’s Week, the Student Union put on voluntary panel discussions, film screenings, and talks designed to educate people about sexual violence and provide survivors with an opportunity to discuss their experiences. The latter is similarly the goal of the ‘Survivors Stand Together’ social gatherings that take place twice a term, including activities such as games and crafts. The Student Union has conducted LGBTQ+, BME, and disability focused events in order to promote a greater understanding of how sexual violence affects particularly minority vulnerable groups. They also remain committed to raising awareness about male sexual violence survivors.

Every member of It Happens Here is proficient in First Response, a training which teaches individuals how to respond appropriately to disclosures of sexual violence and best support the survivor. These It Happens Here members will be knowledgeable in the procedures of reporting, support services and medical attention.

Further information can be found at the official Student Union It Happens Here website:

https://www.oxfordsu.org/campaigns/ithappenshere/ 74

SU Campaigns Oxford’s Student Union has a variety of campaigns which aim to represent and help groups who might face specific problems relating to their identity whilst at Oxford. Below, we asked representatives of each SU campaign to tell us a little about themselves. Information on the Campaign for Racial Awareness (CRAE) and the Disability Campaign can be found via the Oxford SU website.

LGBTQ+ Campaign The Oxford SU LGBTQ+ Campaign is the political arm of not only the University’s LGBTQ+ student body, but the wider Oxford queer community as well.

We liaise with colleges and the University in order to foster change at both levels. The scope of our work is not limited to members of the University; we are also committed to fighting homophobia, transphobia, and any other forms of discrimination faced by members of the Oxonian LGBTQ+ community at large.

(Continued on the next page). Our staff reflects a wide range of identities and works with other SU Campaign groups, allowing us to understand and represent the interests of as many queer students as possible.

If you ever have any new ideas or causes you want to bring to the table, please do get involved!

You can contact us at lgbtq-chair@oxfordsu. ox.ac.uk, or via our Instagram @lgbtqoxford.

P.S. For a more detailed (and hopefully more fun) look at what we do, take a look at our Freshers’ Guide (coming soon!).

Illustration by Leyla Baxman

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The International Students’ Campaign The International Students’ Campaign advocates for and supports all international students at the University of Oxford across undergraduate, postgraduate, and continuing education programmes.

Our aim is to help international students have the greatest experience possible while studying. This includes helping solve problems, find resources, build communities, and work towards the goals of the international student. Contests, mixers, lectures, and socials are some of the events we will deliver.

We work with all colleges and administrative bodies, faculty, and students as best suits our members and the international student community at large.

We maintain an ‘open door’ policy in governance. We always welcome feedback, suggestions, and put genuine dialogue with our constituents at the core of our service for students.

Interested in bringing forward positive change to the international student community? Want to join a dynamic, fun, and impactful team? The International Students Campaign might just be for you!

Women’s* Campaign Hi, we’re Lucy and Disha and we are the Co-Chairs of the SU Women’s* Campaign. Our work prioritises helping out all women and non-binary students in Oxford who face and have experienced misogyny. We hope to create a safe and welcoming space for all. Each term, we host social events to help students meet new people and understand the work happening behind the scenes at the SU. Through lobbying on behalf of those who identify with our campaign, we aim to be a force for change across Oxford. Our current focus is on reducing the difference in experience that women and non-binary students face depending on their college. This means looking at how instances of misogyny are tackled across colleges, the provision of sanitary products and anti-spiking resources, as well as support for women’s* officers.

This Michaelmas, we look forward to running several social events and workshops and continuing to lobby colleges and the university for change.

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Class Act ​​ Class Act is a student-led campaign that provides support, advice and a welcoming community for students from a range of underrepresented backgrounds. These backgrounds include working class, low income, estranged, first generation, care leaver, and state comprehensive. Over the past few years, an influx of students from these backgrounds have gained their place at Oxford University; despite the door being open to these students, their experience of university can be extremely difficult for many reasons including financial, social, and work-related. This is where our campaign comes along. Through social events, Class Act provides a space for students to make new acquaintances, with people from a similar background to their own. Class Act also provides advice and support to students who are experiencing an issue that is directly associated with their background. Next term, we will be hosting a range of events that are open to all our campaign members, kicking off with our welcome drinks event. We hope to see many new faces at our events next term, and cannot wait to welcome new freshers to our community.

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Isn’t it better just to know?

Designed to make testing for HIV at home easier.

Oxfo Spec rd Blue ial O ffer

£20

Use Prom OXB o Code LUE *

Delivering an accurate result in just 15 minutes. simplitudebyme.com *Special offer available for a limited time period only from 1 September 2022 – 30 April 2023.

Isn’t it better just to know?

Designed to make testing for HIV at home easier.

Oxfo Spec rd Blue ial O ffer

£20

Use Prom OXB o Code LUE *

Delivering an accurate result in just 15 minutes. simplitudebyme.com *Special offer available for a limited time period only from 1 September 2022 – 30 April 2023.

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Oxford Glossary You may already have heard some of these weird and wonderful words; Oxford is full of them. I wish I could say that I made some of these up, but I can confirm they are all very much real.

Battels - The fees that you pay to your college for accommodation, food, and

facilities at the beginning of each term.

Blue - A sporting award, or a person who has been awarded one.

Bod - The Bodleian Old Library, opposite the Radcliffe Camera.

Bodcard - Your University ID card, used to gain access to libraries, your college, and sometimes your accommodation.

Bumps - Rowing without the pressure of not crashing into other boats (or so the rowers tell me).

Buttery - The college kitchen, or a part of some colleges which serves light food at lunchtime.

Cambridge - Our sworn enemies!

Chaplain - The person who runs the college chapel, also acting as a point of contact for lots of welfare needs.

Crewdate - A night out organised between the members of 2 or more societies or sports teams. You will probably get very drunk and drink out of your shoe (don’t ask…)

(TO GET) Deaned - A disciplinary measure for bad behaviour wherein you are sent to the Dean. Avoid at all costs.

Dominus illuminatio mea - The University’s Latin motto. “The Lord is my light”, or so says Google translate.

Don - An academic senior member of college - a professor, tutor, fellow, etc.

Eights - Summer Eights, an inter-collegiate rowing competition held annually in Trinity.

Entz - Entertainment and events run by your college’s Entz officers. Silly Oxford word, because apparently we can’t be bothered pronouncing more than one syllable per word.

Essay crisis - Something I experience every week (please, learn from my mistakes) Involves leaving your essay to the last minute, with an optional cry about how you have to drop out because your degree is too hard. You will almost always get it done in time, don’t worry.

Finals - The exams at the end of your degree. These decide your degree classification.

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Formal - A fancier version of a meal in Hall, usually with three courses, wine,

and fancy outfits. Some colleges will make you wear your gown on top (ruining your outfit).

Freshers’ flu - The annoying mega-cold that we all seem to catch at the beginning of Michaelmas. Buy tissues and Lemsip.

Hacking - The absolute bane of my existence, usually seen in 7th week of each term. You’ll receive lots of annoying Facebook messages from people that you hardly know asking you to vote for them, usually in the termly elections at the Oxford Union. They will forget you exist the day after the election.

Hilary Term (HT) - The second term. There is little to look forward to, and it’s quite rainy and cold. My least favourite term by far.

JCR (Junior Common Room) - both 1) the undergraduate representative council of your college and 2) the communal space in your college with sofas and a TV. Matriculation - A ceremony that marks your official induction into the University. This takes place at the end of 1st week in Michaelmas of your first year.

You’ll wear your sub fusc, get a big group picture with your college year group, pile into the Sheldonian for a few lines of Latin, and then enjoy spending your day drinking and lazing around.

Michaelmas Term (MT) - The first term. Filled with freshers’ week, excitement, and Oxmas. You will be exhausted afterwards.

Mods - Exams for Law students (Hilary 1st year) and Classicists (Hilary 2nd year).

Oxfess - An anonymous confession page on Facebook. Lots of drama, rants, and arguments take place there, so use it at your own risk. It’s a good way to procrastinate an essay though...

Oxlove - You may have seen ‘rush hour crushes’ in some newspapers commuters write about a cute person they saw on their way home from work. This is Oxford’s answer to that. Oxlove is Oxfess’ more wholesome (and more horny) sibling.

Paper - Oxford terminology for what is commonly called a ‘module’ or ‘option’ at other universities.

Pidge (room) - Your pidge room is where you will find your pigeon hole, where all your mail (I’m being optimistic here) will arrive. You might even get pidge buddies, a scheme where you and other person put little gifts in each other’s pidges.

Porter - A member of staff at college who works in the Porters’ Lodge. They take your post to the pidge room, look after security and access to the college, and are usually the first port(er) of call should you need anything!

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Punt - A little wooden boat that you can… punt? down the river in Oxford

with a large pole. This is especially popular on matriculation and in Trinity term, but you need some serious upper body strength…

Queerfest - An annual LGBTQ+ party held in Wadham College’s grounds.

Rustication - Dropping out, suspending for a year, or being kicked out of the University (for this, see also “Sent Down”).

Sent Down - Being removed from the University.

Sharking - The exploitative and predatory act of an older student purposely getting with a fresher.

Scholars’ Gown - Like a commoner’s gown but with cool sleeves. Achievable by scoring 70% or more in Prelims.

Sconce - A verb and a noun. Sconcing is a drinking game that’s pretty hard to explain... you’ll see.

Subfusc - Academic dress, consisting of a gown (commoner’s or scholar’s), tie/ ribbon, and mortarboard. Underneath, you’ll either wear a dark suit or a white shirt and black trousers/a skirt with dark tights. Worn to matriculation and exams.

Summer Eights - A rowing competition which takes place in Trinity with eight people per boat.

Stash - College, University, or society merch. Puffer jackets are particularly popular (and slightly obnoxious). But hey, they’re warm, and if you’re lucky your initials and college crest being embroidered on them might just get you an Oxlove.

Tescolator - The escalator in the Magdalen Street Tesco, which gives access to the lower floor. It broke in Hilary 2022, leading to many distressed posts on the Tescolator Updates Facebook page.

Trinity Term (TT) - The third term. Sunny, full of garden parties and garden plays, and relaxing... unless you have exams.

The Union - The Oxford Union, a debating society and member’s club located on St. Michael’s Street.

Univ - Colloquial abbreviation of “The College of the Great Hall of the University of Oxford” Vac(ation) - The Oxford word for the holidays. We have Christmas Vac, Easter Vac, and the Long Vac (summer).

Varsity - A competition (usually sporting) or event which includes both Oxford and Cambridge. Prepare to hear all about the Varsity Skiing Trip in the Christmas Vac.

These might seem a bit overwhelming now, but they’ll be part of your daily vocabulary in no time, and all your friends from home 82 will be very annoyed by how obnoxious it makes you sound.

The Freshers’ Guide Team!

Editorial Lead Lucy Heywood Creative Lead Leyla Baxman Contributors Amy Ellis Winter Ben Blackburn Betta Molteni Dani Yates Ella Myers Elspeth Knight Evie Craggs Frances Dowle Gioia von Donhoff Guy Ward-Jackson Hannah Selig Rosie Somers Sophie Mackenzie Thomas Britton Tom Evans With thanks to...

Ashley Wong and Alex Nowak (International Students Campaign) Danial Hussain and Jenni Lynam (Class Act Campaign) Disha Hegde and Lucy Sarell (Women’s* Campaign) Felix Clayton McClure (LGBTQ+ Campaign) It Happens Here Artists Leyla Baxman Marcelina Jagielka Tilly Binucci

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Getting Involved with The Oxford Blue If you have enjoyed this Fresher’s Guide, perhaps you would like to get involved with The Oxford Blue, the student newspaper that produced it. We are a training and access-oriented paper. So long as you’re curious and friendly you’ll fit right in!

There are many ways to get involved: • Join our writer’s groups on Facebook to see weekly commissions from each of our sections.

• Pitch an article to one of our editors. We are always receptive to new ideas and happy to work with you to develop your piece.

• Apply for a Junior Editor role. No experience is required.

• Apply for a role in the business, tech or creative team.

And of course, keep reading The Blue! We publish new content online daily so whether you are interested in politics, culture, food, travel, local events or sport (to name but a few), we have something for you!