Welcome to New College

Tute (Tutorial)

A small teaching session run a couple of times a week with a tutor and one or two other students (your 'tute partners'). You may go through an essay or problem sheet you completed beforehand, or explore concepts you find difficult or interesting.

Formal Hall

A three-course candlelit dinner served to you in the College Hall, held every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, seated for 7:15pm. You wear your gown, but there's no other dress code. Book through food.new.ox.ac.uk, where bookings for the following week open by Friday at the latest, and you can bring up to three guests on any one day. Bring your own wine or buy from the College wine cellar beforehand.

Guest Night

The fanciest dining option, seated for 7:15pm on alternating Fridays (JCR guest nights fall on even weeks: 2, 4, 6, 8). Smart dress code, no gown required. Costs £26.50 for New College students, £40.38 for non-Oxford guests. Books up fast.

BOP (Big Organised Party)

A College club night with a fancy dress theme, held two or three times per term and organised by Entz Officers Holly MacKinnon and Ella Bunten. Alternative BOPs (like movie nights) run for those who'd rather have a chilled night.

Sub Fusc

Oxford's academic dress, worn for Matriculation and exams. It consists of a dark suit or black skirt/trousers with dark tights or socks, a plain white collared shirt, a white bow tie or black ribbon, black shoes, a gown, and a mortarboard. There will be an opportunity to buy this together during Freshers' Week. If cost is a concern, check out Oxford Class Act (@oxfordclassact on Instagram).

Matriculation

The formal ceremony in which you officially become a member of the University of Oxford. You wear sub fusc. This year it takes place on Saturday 17th October 2026, followed by portraits and brunch.

Battels

The termly bill you pay to College, covering accommodation and food. Expect around £2,010 for rent (including insurance) plus roughly £375 per term on Hall evening meals. The statement is emailed at the start of Week 1 and must be paid by midday on the Friday of Week 1, via food.new.ox.ac.uk.

Bod Card

Your University Card: student ID, library card, key into and around College, and payment card (via your till account) for food and drink. Top it up online through food.new.ox.ac.uk under 'EPOS'. Keep it safe: replacements must be paid for and reuse the same photo, so pick a good one.

Crewdate

A shared meal between two sports teams or societies, typically at a curry house. You pay around £15, share food, bring your own drinks, and play games. Very sociable.

Cuppers

The inter-collegiate competitions at Oxford. New College has won rugby cuppers three years running (2023-2025), and NCAFC won football cuppers in 2026, taking home four trophies in one year.

Prelims / Mods

The first public examinations at Oxford, held at the end of Trinity Term for most subjects and Hilary Term for Lawyers (Classicists sit Mods in Hilary of 2nd year). They don't count towards your final degree grade but you must pass.

Collections

College-run exams at the start of each term, based on the previous term's work, sat under exam conditions. Useful preparation for Prelims.

Room Codes

Rooms follow staircase-building-number, e.g. 9OB3 is room 3 on staircase 9 of Old Buildings. NB = New Buildings (all Freshers), OB = Old Buildings, HW = Holywell Cottages, H = above Hall, LW = Longwall Street, NCL = New College Lane, BH = Bodicote House, SH = Savile House, SB = Sacher Building, WB = Weston Buildings, GQ = Gradel Quadrangle.