An A-Z guide to student life at the University of Oxford (Part 3: Q-Z)

Hello, and welcome to the third and final segment of my A-Z guide to student life at the University of Oxford (parts one and two are linked here and here). If you’ve made it this far, you’ll already know a great deal about the institution. However, there are just a few slang words left for you to pick up, and a few traditions left for you to learn about, so keep reading, and by the end of this article, you should be a true expert on the place!

‘Q’ is for…

Quads

In each college, you’ll find various open squares surrounded – on most or all sides – by buildings. These are usually referred to as ‘quads’. In my college, we have three: Front Quad, Garden Quad, and Holywell Quad. Beware that in a lot of places, you won’t be allowed to step on the grass!

‘R’ is for…

Radcliffe Camera

If there’s one building you won’t miss while in Oxford, it’s the iconic Radcliffe Camera (usually abbreviated to ‘Rad Cam’). This magnificent domed structure is home to one of the city’s many libraries, with thousands of books on its shelves for English, History, and Theology students to make use of. Even if your degree is completely unrelated, it’s still well worth coming here to work, just for the amazing views you’ll get each time you look up from your notes.

Rowing

Rowing is a very important part of many Oxford students’ lives. Some wake up at the crack of dawn nearly every day to attend training sessions; others sign up primarily for the social perks. Either way, you’ll meet so many new people if you take up this sport, and will have loads of intercollegiate competitions – including Torpids and Summer Eights – to participate in throughout the year.

Rustication

If, at any point during your degree, you start really struggling, it is possible to take some time off. This process is called ‘rustication’, and is taken very seriously by the University. Speak to a trusted member of staff, and they should offer you all the support and guidance you require to see this through.

‘S’ is for…

Sconces

There’s a lot that goes down at crew dates (see: Crew dates) besides the eating. Sconcing – essentially ‘never have I ever’ for Oxford students – is one of the more popular drinking games. Someone stands up and says, ‘I sconce anyone who’s ever…’, and anyone who has done said thing must take a shot (or equivalent).

Shoes

Another common crew date tradition is to ‘shoe’ people. From time to time, someone will take off one of their shoes and put it on their head. Everyone around the table must do the same, but whoever gets there last must pour their drink into their shoe, then down it. 'Doing a shoe' is not the pleasant thing in the world, and I speak from experience…

Societies

Life at Oxford is about so much more than just your studies. With hundreds of societies to join, you’ll doubtlessly find yourself getting involved in all sorts of extra-curricular activities. You’ll get a proper idea of what’s on offer by attending the Freshers’ Fair. Here, members of each society will set up stands, and try to convince you to sign up to their mailing lists. Just make sure you don’t put you name down for too many, or you’ll be spammed for the rest of your degree!

Spouses

During the first few weeks of your time at Oxford, college marriages will be all that anyone talks about. They can be between any two (or more) students – no heteronormativity or mononormativity here! – as long as said people study different subjects (this rule is sometimes broken). Some people go so far as to have pretend weddings, while others barely speak to their spouses after the initial proposal. At the beginning of the second year, all couples (or trios or quartets) will be assigned ‘college children’, and there’ll usually be a Family Formal (see: Formals) to celebrate the coming together of these new relatives.

Sub fusc

‘Sub fusc’ is the name given to the uniform that Oxford students are required to wear for the matriculation ceremony and during exams. The term comes from the Latin ’sub fuscus’, which means ‘dark brown’, but things have obviously changed slightly over the years, as these clothes are now black and white. If you do particularly well in your first year exams – or are awarded a scholarship at any point during your degree – you may be upgraded from a ‘Commoners gown’ to a longer-sleeved ‘Scholars gown’.

‘T’ is for…

Terms

The academic year at Oxford is made up of three terms, each lasting eight weeks. The first is called Michaelmas Term, the second is Hilary Term, and the last is Trinity Term.

Trashing

When a student has finished the last of a series of exams, they’ll usually be met with a can of shaving foam and a cloud of coloured streamers. Why? Because at Oxford, ‘trashing’ – i. e. totally messing up someone’s appearance – is a big thing! By all means, go along with this tradition, but try to keep the environment in mind, and stick to using biodegradable products.

Tutorials

One of the things that marks Oxford out from most other universities is the tutorial system. A tutorial – or ‘tute’, as they’re more commonly known – is a discussion held between a tutor and one to four students. You’ll usually have submitted a piece of work (either an essay or a problem sheet) before one of these sessions, so most of you time will be spent going over that. This can, however, quite naturally lead on to conversations that stretch far beyond the syllabus. Make the most of your tutorials, because it’s a real privilege to be able to participate in them!

‘U’ is for…

UNIQ

If you’re a state school pupil thinking of applying to the University of Oxford, it’s well worth attending a summer school in the city. UNIQ is probably the most popular organiser of these: not only will they give you the opportunity to live and study as an Oxford student would, but also they’ll give you lots of helpful advice on your UCAS application.

University Parks

University Parks is a central green space that’s the perfect location for walks, picnics, or just a good old sunbathe! It’s open from dawn to dusk (roughly) each day, and is completely free to enter.

‘V’ is for…

Vacations

‘Vacation’ – or ‘vac’ – is the word used to describe each period of time that falls between terms. The University won’t go so far as to call these ‘holidays’, because you’re still supposed to be studying a fair bit during them. However, it is definitely a good idea to relax and unwind a bit, especially if the stress has really taken its toll on you during the trimester.

Varsity

If you know anything about Oxford, you’ll be aware of the rivalry between this city and Cambridge (commonly nicknamed ‘the Other Place’). These feelings of competitiveness reach their peak each year with the famous boat race, but also during the countless Varsity matches that take place between the institutions’ top sports teams. If you head along to one of these fixtures, you can guarantee that everyone from Oxford will be shouting ‘shoes the Tabs’ from the sidelines!

Visiting students

If you’re already enrolled at another university, but would like to study at Oxford for a semester or two, why not consider being a visiting student? There are all sorts of programmes you can apply for, and if you get on to any of them, you’ll have the opportunity to meet friends from across the world and collaborate with world-class academics. Some visiting students enjoy their time at Oxford so much that they come back later to do their master’s degrees there!

‘W’ is for…

Westgate

Whether you’re a spender or a saver, you’ll doubtlessly find yourself spending quite a lot of time in the Westgate, Oxford’s recently opened shopping centre. Here, you’ll find all your favourite high-street brands, as well as restaurants, bars, and a cinema. This is also a great place to come if you want to get a glimpse of the city from above. Just head up to the Roof Terrace, and you’ll be able to see for miles around!

‘X’ is for…

X5

The X5 is the name of the coach that runs between Oxford and Cambridge. As someone who studies in the former place and lives in the latter, I’ve had my fair share of journeys on this vehicle, and let’s just say that I don’t exactly look forward to them. Still, if you’re looking for a cheap way to get one city to the other, this is the company to go for! (Do you research, though, as the train does sometimes cost less if you book well in advance. )

X-mas

Michaelmas Term (see: Terms) at Oxford ends long before Christmas: usually in the first of second week of December. As a result, this festival is celebrated by students a month early, on 24th and 25th November! ‘Oxmas’, as it’s nicknamed, is the perfect time to exchange presents with friends, eat traditional meals, and decorate your college with trees and fairy lights.

‘Y’ is for…

Year abroad

If, like me, you study Modern Languages, the second or third year of your degree will be spent abroad. During this time, you’ll either work or study in another country, and will get the chance to pick up the language as you go. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so make the most of it!

‘Z’ is for…

Zzzz (or lack thereof)

When you’re trying to juggle work and social life (or just trying to meet an essay deadline), it can be pretty hard to factor sleep into the equation. However, it’s so important that you try to maintain some self-discipline in this area, because not doing so can lead to all sorts of physical and mental health problems. Learn to say ‘no’ when you need to, and remember that lost sleep can never be regained!

Here endeth the final part

So there we have it: the third and final instalment in my A-Z guide to student life at the University of Oxford! I hope that you’ve enjoyed learning more about this institution, and that you’ve maybe even been tempted to apply for a place here. My time at Oxford hasn’t always been easy, but I can safely say that choosing to study there was one of the best decisions of my life, and I hope that you’ll be able to say the same too in years to come!

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