Here are some Oxford specific terms you may encounter at some point of your stay here.
Battels
Your account in College – covering food, drinks, stash, and, for those living in, rent.
Bessie Building
The part of College facing onto The High.
Blue
An award earned for competing in Varsity sports (usually against Cambridge) at the highest level. Half-Blues are awarded for sports where the level of attainment is not deemed to be of national standard.
Bod
The Bodleian, Oxford’s main research library, between Broad Street and Radcliffe Square.
Bop
A college social, usually involving dancing and booze.
The Cherwell
A tributary of the Isis, popular for punting. Also a student newspaper.
Congregation
‘The Parliament of Dons’, comprised of all academic members of the University.
Convocation
All those with an Oxford degree of some kind, or who are members of Congregation. Elects the Chancellor and Professor of Poetry.
Cuppers
Inter-collegiate sporting events.
Dean
The senior fellow responsible for discipline in College.
Don
Fellow or tutor in the University.
Eights Week
Also known as Summer Eights, this is Oxford’s main intercollegiate rowing competition held at the end of Trinity term. Also a popular time for non-rowers to spend some time boozing by the river before finals.
Emden Building
Past Wolfson Hall, Emden contains accommodation, a games room, and the JCR.
Encaenia
The ceremony at the end of Trinity, awarding honourary doctoral degrees.
Fellow
Member of a College’s Governing Body, usually an academic.
Full Term
The three eight-week periods that make up the Oxford year. Each is preceded by noughth week, -1, and so on, and followed by ninth and tenth week.
Going Down
Leaving Oxford, either at the end of term or at the completion of a degree.
Going Up
Arriving at Oxford, at the start of a term or beginning of a degree.
Hack
Someone involved in student politics, most often in the Union or OUSU. Notorious for schmoozing, nefarious machinations etc, ‘hack’ is both a derogatory term and, for some, a badge of honour.
Hall
Dining in College. Formal Hall (with gowns) takes place once a week in Teddy Hall. Confusingly, the College as a whole is sometime known at The Hall.
The High
Colloquial name for the High Street, running between Carfax and Magdalen.
High Table
Where Fellows dine during formal hall; postgraduates may join them for a small extra charge. Superior wine.
Hilary
The second term of the academic year.
Isis
The part of the Thames that runs through Oxford, and also the name of the College accommodation on Iffley Road. Also a student magazine.
JCR
The Junior Common Room, primarily for undergraduates. The room itself is between Wolfson and Emden; it’s pretty grim, but does have the biggest telly in College.
Junior Dean
Responsible for working with the Dean with regard to discipline and welfare issues.
Kelly Building
The building beside Wolfson Hall.
Late Gate
Entrance to Teddy Hall from The High – the only way to get into, or out of, College after midnight.
Living In
Renting College accommodation.
Living Out
Finding accommodation outside the University (in digs).
Long Vac
The summer vacation between Trinity and Michaelmas. For many postgraduates, not much of a holiday.
Matriculation
The ceremony in which you formally register as a member of the University.
MCR
The Middle Common Room, composed of postgraduates and fourth-year undergraduates. The room itself is on the North face of Front Quad, and is the focus of postgraduate life in College.
Michaelmas
The first term of the academic year.
Norham Gardens (NSE)
College accommodation in North Oxford.
ODH
The Old Dining Hall, on the West face of Front Quad. One of Teddy Hall’s grander rooms.
OUSU
Oxford University Student Union, responsible for representing student views in the University.
Oxmas
Because terms are so short, yuletide festivities in Oxford have to be brought forward; hence Oxmas, and mince pies and carolling at the end of November.
Pidge
Your Pigeonhole, where post arrives. Located beside the Porter’s Lodge.
Pigeon Post
The intercollegiate postal service, organised by the Porters.
Porter
Primarily responsible for security, but also for the smooth running of College life more generally.
Porter’s Lodge
Found at the main entrance to College on Queen’s Lane, and home to our friendly Porters. Sometimes known at the Plodge.
Principal
Head of the College. Known as Master, Provost and various other titles at other colleges.
Proctor
Senior officer responsible for enforcing discipline at a University, rather than College, level. They conduct examinations, and serve as the Fun Police during trashings.
Quad
Short for quadrangle, these are the grassy spaces many colleges are organised around. Teddy Hall only has one, known as Front Quad. You can’t walk on it.
Rad Cam
The Radcliffe Camera, a landmark library on Radcliffe Square.
Rustication
Temporary suspension from a degree, either for academic or disciplinary reasons; in earlier times, you’d be sent back to you country home as a result, hence rustication.
Schools
Examination Schools on the High, where exams take place and theses are submitted.
Scout
Cleaners, both within Teddy Hall and in College accommodation.
SCR
The Senior Common Room, for Fellows of the College and others with associated rights. The room itself is next to Wolfson Hall, and filled with expensive paintings.
SEH
St. Edmund Hall, obvs.
Sent Down
Permanent expulsion from Oxford, either for academic or disciplinary reasons. Postgraduates not exempt!
Stash
University or College attire, ranging from the laddiest rugby shirt to the most demure Chess Club hoody.
Steward
The Teddy Hall social secretary, responsible for arranging fun times for all.
Sub-Fusc
The classic Oxford get-up of gown and mortar board. Not worn much these days, except for matriculation and exams.
Tab
A member of Cambridge University. “You’d rather be a leper than a tab”. Often referred to as being filthy.
Torpids
The intercollegiate rowing competition in Hilary term, so called because it tends to be slower than Summer Eights (See Eights Week).
Trashing
Sombre ceremony for those finishing final exams, usually involving covering people in silly string, champagne, flour etc.
Trinity
The third term of the academic year.
Tute
A tutorial.
The Union
The Oxford Union, a jumped-up debating club on Cornmarket.
The Uni Club
University sports club and bar located on Mansfield Road (not the same as the uni gym which is located on Iffley Rd)
Weeks
The divisions of a term. See Full Term.
Whitehall
Accommodation block, on the right once you leave Front Quad.
William R. Miller
The College accommodation on Dawson Street.
Wolfson
The College dining hall, also known as “Ming”. Not to be confused with Wolfson College.