Oxford Dictionary
117 - Offsite accommodation, next to Sainsbury's on St. Aldgate's
Ashmolean - The Ashmolean is the University of Oxford's museum of art and archaeology, founded in 1683. It's Britain's first public museum
Ball - An occasion to dress up and dance, hosted by colleges or societies. Christ Church host one every 3 years, with the next one being in Trinity Term 2028.
Battels - The charges made to a member of a college (student or Fellow) for accommodation, dinner, college events etc. These need to be paid in advance for the term between Friday Week 0 and Friday Week 2 at Christ Church.
Blue - The Blue is the highest sporting achievement at Oxford and Cambridge. Information about being awarded a blue can be found here.
Blue Boar - One of the Quads used to accommodate Freshers. Each room has an en suite! (c.f. Meadows Building)
Bod Card - A card used to access the Bodleian Library, also used at Christ Church to pay for food and as a general student identity card.
Bodleian Libraries - The collective name for the University’s libraries around Oxford.
Bodleian Library - Also known as "the Bod" and officially "Bodleian Old Library", this is the largest of Oxford's libraries. It's located in between the RadCam and Sheldonian.
Bop - The name for a college-organised party (abbrev. Big Open Party). At Christ Church, we host 2 every term, Saturday Week 0 and Week 7
Brookes - Another university in Oxford, located across the river Cherwell.
Cantabury Gate - Entrance to college near Oriel. Closes at 1am.
Carfax - The meeting point of four major roads in the centre of Oxford, on the corner of which is a 13th Century bell tower. For many purposes, it's the centre of Oxford.
Carnations - Traditionally you wear a white carnation for your prelims, a pink carnation for your middle exams and a red carnation for your final set.
Chancellor - The Chancellor is the ceremonial head of the University, it is currently Lord Hague of Richmond.
Cherwell - Part of the river on which you can punt, also the name of one of Oxford's major student newspapers. It runs through Christ Church Meadows
Christ Church Meadows - Beautiful stretch of fields and river right next to Christ Church. Perfect for jogging and picnics. Also very close to the college boathouses for rowing. Plus there are cows.
Christ Church Sports Ground - Contains many facilities for playing sports, including MUGA (multi use game area, used for hockey, tennis, netball and football), Rugby pitches, Football Pitches, outdoor tennis courts, cricket nets and a cricket pitch
Class - The level of award of a degree (e.g. 2:1 or Upper Second) (full name: Classification)
Class - A lesson attended by approximately 6 students (though may be expanded to 8-15) of 60-90 minutes duration; sometimes intercollegiate.
Collections - College exams taken at the start of each term on content from the previous term. These don't count towards your classification and are mainly used as mock exams.
College Family - Freshers have the opportunity to "get married" to one of their friends (this can be as extravagant as you want!) and then adopt incoming Freshers. This way, there are entire families and family trees! You are guaranteed to have a parent who is of the same subject as you, who can help you adjust to uni life.
Coming Up/Going Down - Arriving at Oxford at the beggining of the term/leaving at the end.
Commoner - A student who does not have a scholarship or exhibition. They wear the commoner's gown.
Constitution - Document detailing how the JCR is run, updated every 3 years by the Vice President
Crew Date - Social organised by a sports society, often in collaboration with another sports society. Often involves a lot of drinking. Not mandatory by any means.
Cuppers - A competition between college, typically for sports, but there are also Drama Cuppers and some societies even host their own Cuppers competitions!
Dean - A Fellow responsible for supervising the conduct and discipline of the Junior Members of the College. To be ‘deaned’ is to be sent to the Dean. At Christ Church, the Junior Censor is also involved in disciplinary matters and the dean is more involved in the Cathedral.
Dean's Collection - Annual meeting with your tutor and the dean where they discuss your progress. They only last around 5 minutes and are usually nothing to worry about.
Division - There are four academic divisions – Humanities; Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences; Medical Sciences; and Social Sciences.
DPhil - Doctorate of Philosophy. The PhD is known as the DPhil in Oxford.
Entz - Social events in college, including bops and bar nights.
Entz Reps - JCR committee members who run Entz events (new ones every term!)
Examination Regulations - The large grey book containing details of syllabuses for all courses, currently issued to all students as they start their course. Also known as The Grey Book and formerly called the Examination Decrees.
Exec - Part of JCR Committee that have more responsibility and are ultimately responsible for the JCR, consisting of the President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary. They also get a bump to the top of the Room Ballot.
Exhibition - An award given on academic merit and exam performance, £200 per year.
Fellows - In colleges, the senior members of college who, together with the college head, constitute the governing body of the college.
Finalist - A student taking, or about to take, their final public exams of their degree.
Finals - Final examinations at the end of three or four years as an undergraduate student – the level of degree awarded is largely dependent on performance in these exams.
First - Highest class of degree.
First Public Examination - Exams normally taken at the end of the first year, although there are exceptions, and that must be passed for a student to be allowed to continue their course; called either Prelims or Mods. These usually don't count to your classification.
Fob - The thing you use to get into your room and into college.
Formal - A traditional meal held in college. At Christ Church, there is a formal sitting for no extra cost (beggining at 7:20pm) where you can bring up to 2 guests (for an extra fee). Grace is held at the start and food is served by hall staff.
Fresher - A first year student.
Freshers Fair - Opportunity for clubs and societies to advertise themselves to Freshers, with many freebies handed out!
Freshers Week - Week 0 of Michaelmas in 1st year. There are no lectures or academic commitments so this time is for moving in, induction, and the Freshers Fair
Full Term - The main undergraduate teaching period at Oxford. It lasts for eight weeks and runs from Sunday of First Week to Saturday of Eighth Week. The dates of Full Term are prescribed by Council and are published on the University website.
Graduate Common Room (GCR) - The equivalent to the JCR for postgraduates
Guest Dinner - A fancy dinner held twice every term where each student gets to bring a guest. The dress code is black tie and you need to ballot to get seats.
Hack - Informal name for those running for elected positions in the Union or less commonly the Student Union or political societies. They are known for sending messages encouraging people to vote for them en-masse (hack message)
Hilary Term - The second of the academic year’s three terms, running from January to mid-March (c.f. Michaelmas, Trinity).
Intranet - Website available to members of Christ Church with their SSO that contains a lot of useful information about the college.
Isis - The part of the River Thames that runs through Oxford.
JCR (Junior Common Room) - In addition to being the formal undergraduate student organisation of a college, the Junior Common Room is the hub of undergraduate social activity; also a physical location in a college for student recreation. Our Common Room is in Tom Quad!
Junior Member - A Student Member of the University, undergraduate or postgraduate.
Lecturer - Lecturers are those who have the responsibility to present lectures, to which all University students in that discipline may go.
Liddell - Offsite accommodation, across the river, near St. Hilda's. Next to Christ Church Sports Ground
Long Vac - Long vacation – the period between the end of the Trinity Term and the beginning of the Michaelmas Term each year, roughly 3.5 months long.
Matriculation - Matriculation confers membership of the University on those students who are enrolled at the University of Oxford and following a degree-level course. This typically happens around the end of Week 1 for Freshers and there is a ceremony at the Sheldonian.
Meadows Building - One of the buildings used primarily to accommodate Freshers. Each room has an en suite! (c.f. Blue Boar)
Meadows Gate - Entrance to college through Christ Church Meadows. Closes at 8:30pm
Michaelmas Term - The first term of the academic year which begins in October and ends in December (c.f. Hilary, Trinity).
Mods - (abbrev. Moderations) Honour Moderations are first year university (or in the case of Classics, second year) exams. Not all students take Mods – some take Prelims, depending on the subject in question. (c.f. Prelims).
OUDS - Oxford University Dramatic Society, pronounced ‘owds’.
OUP - Oxford University Press.
OURFC - Oxford University Rugby Football Club
OUSU - Oxford University Student Union
Peck - (abbrev. Peckwater Quad) A quad with mainly sets - one living room and 2 bedrooms. A popular option for many second and third years. You can only have a peck set once!
Pidgeon Post - Nickname for the University Messenger Service, the free internal mail system. Every student gets a pidgeon hole (pidge) in the Porters Lodge
Porter - Member of college staff in the Porters Lodge. They can help you with many general things around college (especially if you forget your fob in your room)
Porters Lodge - In some ways, the "reception" of the college. They can help with general issues and you can also call them using their number which can be found on the Intranet!
Postgraduate - A student who is studying having already completed (at least) one university degree. Often referred to as a Graduate or Graduate Student.
Prelims - (abbrev. Preliminaries) Preliminary examinations are first year examinations and are not classified into Firsts, Seconds etc. These are only awarded on a Pass/Fail/Distinction basis. See First Public Examinations (c.f. Mods).
Room Ballot - Process for picking a room to live in next year. The order is randomised and it is run by the CAKE ballot.
SAQ - (abbrev. St. Aldgate's Quad) Offsite accommodation, next to Tesco on St. Aldgate's. Also home to the Squash courts
Scholarship - An award given on academic merit and exam performance, £300 per year
Scout - Member of college staff who comes in to clean your room (remember to say hi to them and be nice!!)
Sheldonian - The main ceremonial hall used by the University for events such as Encaenia, Matriculation and degree ceremonies. (Full name: Sheldonian Theatre)
Social - Event organised by a society, for example pub nights or watch parties.
SOLO - Oxford Libraries catalogue
SSO - (abbrev. Single Sign On) Oxford University email, used for many University websites
St. Aldgate's - The street Christ Church is located on, also the name of the women's football team (joint with Corpus Christi and Pembroke)
Stash - College branded or society branded products which can be used to show loyalty. (e.g. college puffers!)
Subfusc - Formal attire worn by students and academics on formal occasions, including matriculation, examinations and graduation. It is made up of a dark suit, skirt or trousers, a white shirt or blouse and a white or black bow tie, black full-length tie or black ribbon, worn with a black gown and a mortar-board. The name derives from the Latin subfuscus, meaning dark brown. See here for more information.
Suspension of Status - Suspension of status within the University ‘stops the clock’ for all elements of your degree, including residence, fees and terms for which a particular status may be held. University information on suspending your studies can be found here, or check out the student led campaign for Suspended Students here.
The Union - The University debating society, not affiliated with the University and not to be confused with the Student Union. See also hack.
Tom Gate - Main entrance to college, open 24/7
TrinX - Annual sports exchange with our sister college, Trinity, Cambridge. Includes playing them in many sports, followed by a formal and potentially a club night.
Tutor - Someone who teaches students on an individual basis or in pairs. They may be a Fellow, JRF, or a graduate. They act as both a teacher and an academic guide.
Tutorial - Undergraduates attend, on average, one hour-long tutorial every week, either on a one-to-one basis or with one or two other students. There is usually work set for the tutorial depending on the subject.
Undergraduate - Someone studying for their first degree.
Vac - Abbreviation of vacation – the periods between terms See also Long Vac.
Varsity - University, especially when concerned with sport.
Varsity Match - Sporting fixture between Oxford and Cambridge (c.f. Blue).
Viva - (abbrev. Viva Voce) oral exam.