Magdalen Graduate Freshers' Guide 2016

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Magdalen College Middle Common Room

MAGDALEN GRADUATE FRESHERS’ GUIDE 2016

On behalf of the Magdalen Middle Common Room (‘MCR’) community, welcome to Magdalen College! This Guide has been prepared by the MCR Committee and answers some of the questions you might have about College life as a New Graduate (‘Fresher’). We encourage you to read this Guide before you arrive in Oxford. If you have any additional questions which are not answered in this Guide, please feel free to contact the Freshers’ Officer, Edward Armitage ([email protected]) or join the Magdalen College MCR Freshers 2016-17 Facebook Page and post the question there. More information can be found on our website at www.magdmcr.co.uk. We look forward to meeting you in Michaelmas Term. 1 If coming from overseas, what should I bring to Magdalen?

 Important documents: In addition to bringing your passport, you should bring some spare passport photos, copies of bank statements, letters relating to scholarship awards, and the letter(s) of confirmation of a place on your course from the University and Magdalen – these will be needed on your arrival (e.g. see page 3 about opening a bank account).  Formal dress: For occasions like matriculation, examinations and graduation, when ‘Subfusc’ is worn, you can chose to wear either (a) a dark suit, white shirt and white bow tie or (b) a dark trousers or skirt, dark tights/stockings, and a white blouse (see page 4 for more details). Also, Oxford has a large number of formal occasions, which require men to wear black tie (i.e. a tuxedo or dinner jacket) and women to wear evening dresses.  Health: Have medical and dental check-ups before arriving. Bring with you chemical names of any prescription drugs, as the proprietary names may be different here. Do not bring prescriptions themselves, as pharmacists do not accept non-UK ones. Bring with you prescriptions for spectacles or contact lenses. It is worth considering bringing spares if you do not already have them.  Electrical appliances: Be aware that if you bring electrical appliances, English electrical appliances are 240/220 volts and 50 Hz. It is usually easier to buy transformers and adaptors in your home country.  Clothing: You will need water-resistant shoes (e.g. goretex) and a warm waterproof jacket for the winter, and ideally a light waterproof jacket for the summer. It may be cheaper to buy these in your home country.  Miscellaneous items: If you have space in your luggage, you might consider bringing expensive household or personal items rather than buying them in Oxford, e.g. a bike helmet (and other bike accessories). If you haven’t the room, there is no dearth of opportunity to purchase them in Oxford. 2 How do I get to Magdalen?

 From Heathrow: The Oxford Bus Company bus service (‘the airline’) from Heathrow (Central Bus station bay 14A, and Terminal 5, bay 9) to Oxford runs every 20-30 minutes. The nearest stop to Magdalen is High Street, Queens Lane: see www.oxfordbus.co.uk. You’ll need cash for this bus, as cards are not accepted. The fare is about £23 for a one-way trip and you can pay for it in GBP, € and $.

- 1 -  From Gatwick: The Oxford Bus Company also runs a service from Gatwick to Oxford (‘the airline’) every hour. The nearest stop to Magdalen is High Street, Queens Lane or St Clements: see www.oxfordbus.co.uk.  From Stansted: A bus service operates every 2 hours from Stansted to Oxford. It takes approximately three hours. Alternatively, there is a Stansted-London (King’s Cross) express train service.  From London: Two bus companies go between London and Oxford regularly. They are Oxford Express X90 (www.oxfordbus.co.uk), Oxford Tube (www.oxfordtube.com). These bus services pick up and drop off in different locations: please check the websites for schedules and travel information. There is also a train between Paddington and Oxford: see www.nationalrail.co.uk for details.  Taxi: There are several taxi companies operating in Oxford which can transport you from any bus stop or the train station to Magdalen. Phone numbers of companies include 01865 778866 and 01865 240000. 3 When should I arrive?

At the latest, you should arrive in Oxford by the evening of Sunday 2nd October 2016, the first day of 0th Week, throughout which the University, College, and MCR will run induction sessions and activities for new Freshers. Some courses require your attendance earlier; check with your faculty for details. The University will run an International Graduate Orientation Programme in the Examination Schools on High Street. Details are at http://www.ox.ac.uk/students/new/orientation. 4 What do I need to do on arrival?

 International Students - Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) collection: You must collect your BRP (the full visa) from your nominated Post Office within 10 days of arrival in the UK. You will receive information about this from the UK Visas and Immigration (the Home Office) in your country of application. Please collect your BRP promptly so that you can enrol; the College will need to scan both your passport and the BRP. You must have your BRP before you can collect your Bod Card

 Collect your keys at the Porters’ Lodge: Upon arrival make your way to the Porters’ Lodge (on High Street or ‘the High’) and receive the key to your room and a Late Gate Key from a Porter (please see the note in this Freshers’ Pack about your Accommodation Licence Agreement and the enclosed booklet, ‘Information and Regulations for Members of the College’). You can then borrow a trolley from the Lodge to transport your luggage to your room.  Collect your Bod Card (your University Card): Your Bodleian Library Card, or ‘Bod Card’, is your photographic ID card issued by Oxford University. On the back of the Bod Card is a magnetic strip that allows you to access various facilities around Magdalen (including the Library, the MCR, the JCR, the Computer Room, and the Post Room) and the University, and once set up also acts as a debit card for paying for food in Hall and for buying drinks at the bar. You will need to collect your Bod Card from the Student Support Administrator, Katie O’Connor, Ground Floor of the Grammar Hall – the building opposite and to the left of the Porters’ Lodge. International students must have collected their BRPs (see above) before they can receive their bod cards.  Activate your University and College computer accounts (including email addresses): You will need your Bod Card to do this. All new students have an email account set up for them automatically. New accounts can be activated by visiting https://webauth.ox.ac.uk/activate. Once you have activated your account, it can be accessed at https://owa.nexus.ox.ac.uk or you can set up a local client on your own computer. General information about the email service can be found at http://www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/email/quickstart/.  Get insurance and computer security: It is very important that you organise insurance for your belongings in your room as the College insurance does not cover these. In particular, if you own a laptop it is essential that you insure it as soon as possible. The cost of the insurance is relatively small and the protection is invaluable. Although we don’t want to scare you, the Colleges can be prime targets for - 2 - thieves, and every year a number of laptops are stolen out of rooms or libraries. There are a number of insurers. One which is popular with students and offers special rates for students living in College is Endsleigh (https://www.endsleigh.co.uk). To secure your laptop, we also highly recommend purchasing a laptop lock (from Ryman the stationer, Queen Street, or Oxford University Computing Services, Banbury Rd, amongst other places). This will be particularly useful in the library, as you can’t leave your laptop unsecured on your desk without serious risk of theft.  Open a Bank Account: Opening an account in the UK can be difficult and time-consuming. In some countries, you may be able to open a UK bank account in advance of your arrival (e.g. with HSBC/Thomas Cook). To open a UK bank account, you will need, at minimum, a recognised form of ID – this will usually be your passport, but if you are not from the EU you may also require a VISA – and a copy of your enrolment certificate, confirming your admission into the University and Magdalen. Your official letters of acceptance are NOT sufficient for this, and you do have to download your enrolment certificate from the student self-service section of the University website. It will then need to be certified by Liz Howdill on the top floor of the Grammar Hall. The most popular banks among new international students are Lloyds, NatWest (National Westminster), Royal Bank of Scotland, Barclays, and HSBC. Make sure you open a current account (checking account) to get a cheque book as you will need this frequently in the UK. It can take some time to set up a bank account, so you should plan on using your home account to withdraw cash in your first week here (at least). However, note that your home bank will probably charge you for overseas withdrawals (you can check the rates in advance). It is a good idea to tell your home bank that you will be living abroad to avoid the risk of having your account frozen because of suspicions regarding international expenditures.  Mobile: There are a number of mobile phone companies in Oxford which sell pre-paid and contract phones. You will find most of the mobile phone shops on Cornmarket. Some phone companies (e.g. Vodafone) sell re-conditioned handsets at a discount price.  International calls: Various international companies offer cheap rates for international calls, via calling cards. You can also make very cheap phone calls over the internet by downloading Skype (http://www.skype.com/) and opening an account.  Internet connection: All College rooms have Ethernet ports which allow you to log on to the internet and to your email in your room. These ports are also available in the Magdalen Library and Magdalen Law Library. To use the port in your room you will need an Ethernet card / Ethernet port activated for your computer and will also need an Ethernet cable (these are available from the Oxford University Computer Shop, 13 Banbury Road (this place is very cheap!) and local computer stores). To activate the Ethernet connection in your room, you will need to fill in an Ethernet application form which you will receive from the porters. After you have filled it out, hand it in to the Magdalen Computer office. It will take a few days to activate (http://www.magd.ox.ac.uk/internal-pages/student- computing). Most college rooms are equipped with WiFi and we can log in to Eduroam. There is information on how to do that in the documentation you get from the porters (log in via OWL, activate Eduroam etc). It is recommended that you sign up for Ethernet as the WiFi connection is somewhat interrupted at times. While you are waiting for your connection to be activated, you may like to use the free WiFi in one of many coffee shops in town, including Starbucks and Café Nero.  Computer Rooms: There are two Magdalen computer rooms available to graduates. One is in Cloisters, the first door after the Founder’s Tower (on the West side, past the stairs to the Old Library). The door is marked ‘Private’ and operates using your late gate key. The inner door is accessible with your Bod Card. The other is in Holywell Ford Staircase V, which is accessible with your late gate key. The computer rooms also have a scanner and a printer for graduate use. Bring your own paper. 5 The who, what, and where of Magdalen:

 Porters: The Porters are among the most important people in your life at College. They’ll be your first point of contact for most question and many problems, and between them they know practically everything you might ever want to know about College. You can phone the lodge to be put through to any member of staff or College department, or to get a number for another student, and if you

- 3 - remember to give them your phone number, they can phone important messages to you, and let you know if you have large parcels that need collecting. Be very kind to the Porters.  Keys: You should receive both a key to your room and a Late Gate Key. The latter one is essential because it opens all the external doors to College after 11.00 pm when they are shut to the public, and certain gates on the Grounds, like the gate at the end of Addison’s Walk, leading to Holywell Ford. If you are a lawyer, you are also entitled to a Law Library Key.  Post Room: The post room is where your mail, messages or notes will be delivered into a mail slot (‘pigeon hole’ or ‘pidge’) with your name on it. When you walk from the Lodge into St John’s Quadrangle, turn right and travel about 30 metres into the Chaplain’s Quad. The entrance to the Post Room will be on your right. You will need to swipe your Bod Card (or use your late gate key) to enter. An opt-out junk mail system has been instituted to reduce waste; students who do not want to receive unsolicited flyers about society events can highlight their names in the post room.  Mail: There is a Royal Mail post box immediately to your right as you enter the lodge from the High. Collection times are marked.  Pigeon Post: The University runs a Pigeon Post system (internal mail service) whereby mail is hand- delivered between the Colleges and Departments once or twice a day. The charge for this service is incorporated into your Batells, so there is no additional cost. To send mail by Pigeon Post write the name and College or Department of the recipient on the front, and give it to the Porters.  Middle Common Room: The MCR is your common room. It is located in the Cloisters, Staircase VIII (adjacent to the JCR). You can access the MCR with your Bod Card 24 hours a day. There are daily newspapers, magazines, games, a TV, DVD, and a CD player. Perhaps the most popular feature is the espresso machine and the biscuit jar. On Friday nights, a low cost bar is run by the MCR Committee (‘Liquid Lounge’) and is the ideal way to relax at the end of the week. Use of the MCR is conditional on the following rules: 1. You are responsible for washing your own mug after use. This is a common misunderstanding among new MCR members, but the dishwasher is for glasses only. Items should NOT be left for the scout to clean and they must NOT be taken from the MCR. 2. The tea, coffee, newspapers, and milk are provided for communal use only in the MCR and should not be removed. 3. You are required to show awareness and courtesy towards other users regarding noise, guests, and cleaning up of general mess.  Junior Common Room: The JCR is located in the Cloisters, Staircase IX. You are welcome to use that Common Room as well as you are also members of the JCR. The JCR features a pool table and fussball table in the ‘games room’.  Noughth Week (‘0th Week’): This is the week before the first week of term, and during Michaelmas Term is referred to as Freshers’ week. During this week, the MCR plans a whole lot of social events and it’s a great way to meet your MCR and really settle in to College. Come along to as many events as you can.  Freshers’ Fair: Don’t miss OUSO’s Freshers’ Fair – you will be amazed by the diversity and number of clubs you can join and activities you can participate in at Oxford. This is held throughout Freshers’ Week, and when you arrive we’ll let you know when we’ve been scheduled to attend. Your wristband will be ‘pidged’ to you. It is only valid for the allocated timeslot, so don’t miss it. At the Fair, all the clubs, societies and sporting teams have stalls so you can meet the organisers, find out about the clubs, sports and activities available and pick up joining information. The best policy is to sign up for everything you like the look of, then remove yourself from mailing lists as term goes on. The Magdalen JCR also runs a Magdalen Freshers’ Fair in Noughth Week which allows you to sign up to the College clubs and sports.

- 4 -  Subfusc and Gowns: subfusc is the name for the formal attire that you have to wear to formal University occasions (e.g. matriculation and exams). Academic dress has been wholly gender-neutral since 2012, and so students have a choice of which subfusc outfit they would prefer to wear. The first is comprised of a dark suit, a white shirt, a white bow tie, academic gown and mortarboard. The second is comprised of a dark skirt or trousers, dark tights/stockings, a white blouse, a black ribbon-tie, academic gown and mortarboard or soft cap. As you’ll see, to save you time and money we’ve included a pre-order form for subfusc in this pack. If you return this form to College by noon on 16th September 2016 detailing your height, neck and head size and desired purchase, we’ll have your subfusc ready to be collected from the MCR on Sunday 2nd October in time to wear your gowns to the formal dinner on Monday 3rd October. The cost will be batelled (see below). At Magdalen, other than for Matriculation and Examinations, gowns are worn for Formal Hall on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays in term (a slightly more formal meal in Hall for which you can sign up online) and for formal visits to the President. It is also encouraged to wear gowns when attending Chapel services (although this is not compulsory).  Matriculation: Matriculation is the Oxford ceremony at which you are admitted as members of the University. You will dress in subfusc, have your photo taken at College, and then attend a ceremony in the Sheldonian Theatre. After the ceremony, the MCR organises a Champagne celebration to help you feel the part, after which you can tour some pubs while still in Subfusc.  Car Parking: Car parking in Oxford is not easy! Magdalen has a number of car parking spots which are allocated to graduates at the start of term. If you are not allocated a parking spot and you have a car, life can be pretty difficult! One option, if you are in a house outside of College walls, is to apply for a resident’s pass to park on the street.  Hall: During term, Hall is generally open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (no booking required), but out of term Hall is only open for certain meals. The list of meals that Hall will be providing is available in the Lodge. The College Bar also serves food and has outdoor seating. Hall times are: Breakfast 8.00 - 9.30 am, Lunch 12.00 (noon)-1.30 pm Monday to Saturday, and Dinner 6.00 - 7.15 pm Monday to Sunday. On Wednesday, Friday and Sunday the time of dinner in Hall is 6.00 - 6.45 pm. All of these times are subject to change and details are on the blackboard at the hall entrance.  Formal Hall: In addition to canteen food, there is a separate, smart, catered sitting on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays in term at 7.15 pm. A gown is required, and smart dress is needed on Sundays. You sign up for Formal Hall online at http://meals.magd.ox.ac.uk/.  Chapel: Magdalen has one of the most beautiful chapels in Oxford. During term time, several different services are held every day. Every evening the world-famous choir performs a 30-minute evensong by candlelight. On Sundays it is followed by a wine reception, which is used by many students as a transition to formal hall.  The Home Bursar: the Home Bursar runs the college and oversees all accommodation issues. If you have any questions about the accommodation, the lease, or furniture, you should contact the Conference & Accommodation Manager, Catherine Hughes. ([email protected]).  Maintenance: if anything in your room needs fixing, you need to notify Maintenance directly by email only ([email protected]).  Scouts: ‘Scout’ is the affectionate Oxford term for the cleaning staff of the colleges. They come to clean the kitchen and bathroom in your building daily during the week and will clean your room and change your sheets once a week if you ask them. Generally, if you would like your rubbish bin to be emptied you can leave it outside your door. Scouts, like Porters, are very helpful – do be kind and respectful to them. It is traditional to give your Scout a small present at Christmas time—perhaps consider bringing something from your home country.  Batells: This is the bill issued by the College which is payable at the start of each term. It includes accommodation, and other expenses incurred, such as membership fees of any sporting teams, as well as charges accrued at the JCR shop.

- 5 -  Late Gate: If you are leaving or returning to College after 11.00 pm, the Porters’ Lodge door will be closed. Instead, you have to use your late gate key to enter via the late gate on High Street next to the Library, or through the Longwall Street gate.  Housing: College accommodation is generally guaranteed for the first two years of graduate study. For more information, visit the MCR website (http://magdmcr.co.uk/college-housing).  Deans: The Deans of Arts are in charge of matters disciplinary and welfare. They tend to be occupied by undergraduates, but their remit does extend to members of the MCR also. Their co-operation is needed to organise events and book rooms in the college, for example, so if you do come into contact with them, try to stay on their good sides.  Communal living: Living together with other people can be a difficult task. When people are placed in a communal living situation at random, the opportunity for conflicting views on issues increases and problems can arise. However, some of your best friends and most memorable experiences may come from the people with whom you are randomly allocated to live. Here are some tips from five students who lived together for three years: 1) Communication between people is vital. Most of the time people are not aiming to displease their housemates and often are unaware that their actions are offensive. Don’t be scared to explain logically why a certain habit is annoying you, and to hear why the other person has it. 2) Show open-mindedness towards the ways and habits of others. Don’t think that if somebody is doing something differently it’s wrong – if you take the time to understand it, you may find the good in it as well. 3) Stick to deals, but be flexible: getting annoyed about the washing-up that was left out once and making a big fuss about it creates a hostile environment. If you wash somebody else’s dishes one night, they’ll probably return the favour somewhere down the line. 4) Include everybody in your activities, even if they constantly refuse to participate. The most lasting friendships come from the team atmosphere that you build. 5) Get started early: don’t wait two terms before organising your first house dinner. It just makes the whole affair more awkward. Also, stick to the task: initially every interaction is likely to be awkward, but with time your friendships will grow through common experiences. 6) Eat together. Meals are the best time to discuss things. First it starts with food, and pretty quickly moves on to every other topic you can imagine... 6 Shopping:  Groceries: Sainsbury’s (Cowley Road) and Tesco (Cowley Road and Magdalen Street) are the main supermarkets and are probably equidistant from Magdalen in either direction. There are also smaller Sainsbury’s Locals (closest to Magdalen is the one on the Plain roundabout), and a Tesco Express on St Aldate’s. Tesco and Sainsbury’s have delivery services (costing around £5). Many grads order communally with their flatmates from Tesco, while some organise organic box schemes through Only Organic, Abel and Cole, or Riverland. However, note that the Porters’ Lodge must be informed if you are expecting a delivery to the college. Also, delivery boxes should not be left in the college.  International: Lung Wah Chong (Hythe Bridge Street towards the train station) has a wide range of East Asian foods and there are also a number of excellent small shops on Cowley Road which stock fresh fruit and vegetables, Indian/Pakistani foodstuffs, Halal meat, and Mediterranean food.  Covered Market: Entrances off Cornmarket, High Street, and Market Street. This houses several sandwich shops, unique stores, fresh meat and fish, bakeries, fruit vendors, delicatessens and florists. A great place to bring visitors or lunch guests or just for a stroll.

- 6 -  JCR Shop: Magdalen operates a very small tuck shop in Cloisters IX where you can get chocolate, cereal, washing powder etc.  College Cellar: Terry, the college butler, has many wines available for purchase. Email him at [email protected] to enquire after a current wine list.  Eating out, Take-Out and delivery: If the subtle delicacies of Hall don’t suit your taste buds, there are numerous cafés, restaurants and pubs in Oxford that serve a diverse range of food. The biggest range of eateries is along Cowley Road, St Clement’s, and George Street, and on Walton Street in Jericho. For more information see www.dailyinfo.co.uk.  Household items: Argos (New Inn Hall Street, behind Clarendon Centre, off Cornmarket) sells practically everything via a no-frills catalogue-order system. You can also shop online at www.argos.co.uk. Boswells (Cornmarket), a large and relatively inexpensive store with everything from pillows to kettles, offers a discount for students. Second-hand items are available at www.dailyinfo.co.uk and www.gumtree.com in addition to the many second-hand shops that can be found on High Street and down Cowley Road.  Books: Oxford has two main chain bookstores: 1. Blackwell’s (Broad Street): An award-winning shop, which has an extensive range of academic and non-academic books (bigger than most libraries’). There is a second- hand shop on the top floor of the main store. Blackwell’s is a treasure—make sure you visit the Norrington Room below the main shop, which has boasts three miles of shelfing and is officially the world’s largest single room dedicated to selling books. 2. Waterstones (on the corner of Broad Street and Cornmarket) is a large UK chain with good new releases and a limited range of academic books. It offers a student discount. There are a number of charity shops around Oxford which specialise in cheap second-hand books, most notably the Oxfams on Turl Street and St Giles, while Oxford has a range of eclectic and homely smaller bookshops for you to discover all manner of reading delights. The Albion Beatnik on Walton Street is particularly good; the only independent bookshop in the city, it frequently hosts jazz and poetry nights and runs weekly reading and writing clubs.  Stationery: WH Smith (Cornmarket) and Ryman (Queen Street) have a good selection of supplies. Ryman’s offers a 10% discount with your Bod Card. If you don’t mind a slightly longer walk, Staples (14-16 Park End Street) has a huge range of stationery, as well as laser- and inkjet-printers and accessories.  Post Offices: The General Oxford Post Office is on St. Aldate’s opposite Christ Church. There is also a Post Office on Cowley Road and one at 17 Woodstock Road (St Giles Post Office).  Dry cleaning: Unfortunately, dry-cleaning services in Oxford are often over-priced and under-effective. The most central dry-cleaner is on New Inn Hall Street (Elite, Number 27). Others are to be found on Cowley Road and Woodstock Road. Also, in Headington is the relatively well-priced Sketchley at 102 London Road, as well as the Regency Dry Cleaners.  Haircuts: For men, there are two barbers that tend to be most popular. One is on the High (near Queen’s College) and the other is on Turl Street. Cheaper hair-cutting options are to be found on the Cowley Road. For women, some options include Mahogany (Little Clarendon Street, Turl Street, and Market Street), David Popham Hair (North Parade) and Toni & Guy’s (George Street).  Bicycle: Bicycles are the most popular form of student transport and can be really handy! Warning: if you do buy a bike, buy a good lock to go along with it – bike theft is rampant. In fact, some would suggest buying a used, moderately-beat-up bike rather than a brand-new bike in an attempt to ward off the discriminating thief. A good place to start is on www.gumtree.com for second-hand bikes. It’ a very good idea to bring a helmet and good lights or plan on buying them when you arrive. Bike shops are in the following locations:

- 7 - o Reg Taylor Cycles: 285 Iffley Road o Walton St Cycles: 78 Walton Street o CycloAnalyst: Cowley Road (just past Tesco on the right) o Bee-Line Bicycles: 205 Cowley Road o Bike Zone: 28-32 St Michael’s Street (good for repairs, and has a nice café upstairs – Handle Bar) o The Oxford Bicycle Company: 251A Cowley Road o Cycle King (On Cowley Road – NOT RECOMMENDED) 7 Where are the libraries?

The first thing you need to realise is that while Oxford may have every book your heart wishes, actually getting it into your hot little hands may be quite a challenge. The library system can be confusing and intimidating, so it is important to attend library orientation programmes, details of which will be given during Freshers’ Week. During the term, keep an eye on the excellent series of short workshops called WISER (http://ox.libguides.com/workshops).  The Bodleian Library (“the Bod”) is Oxford’s main library and, as a copyright library, has virtually every book published in England. Be forewarned about a few ways in which the Bod may be different from your undergraduate university’s libraries: 1st: The hours. It doesn’t have 24-hour access. Opening hours vary according to whether it’s term-time or vacation, and are not the same across all parts of the library: details on www.bodley.ox.ac.uk. 2nd: You can’t take it with you. Unfortunately, because it’s a copyright library, you are not able to check books out of the Bod. In other words, unless you can find your books at one of the other libraries in Oxford (or at a bookshop), be prepared to camp out in the Bod. 3rd: Photocopying. “Ah,” you might say, “I won’t have to sit in the Bod all day. I’ll just photocopy my chapters and then mosey back to my room”. Sadly, the Bod is strict on copyright law, and tends to restrict photocopying. Think of all the money you’ll save.  The Magdalen Longwall Library: Found in Longwall Quad. Entrance is with your Bod Card, and the librarians are very friendly. You’ll probably be taken on a tour in your first week here. It has plenty of books and an impressive DVD collection. The librarians are usually happy to order any book for the college, if it isn’t easily available.  The Denning Law Library: Magdalen’s own law library is located in the Grove Building, adjacent to Longwall Street. All Magdalen Law students are issued with a Law Library key and can access the Law Library 24 hours a day (handy for those doing the BCL). Like the Bodleian, this is a non-lending library. There is, however, a photocopier for which you need to supply your own paper.  Public Library: One of the best libraries in Oxford isn’t associated with the University. The Central Library for Oxfordshire Studies is Oxford’s public library and is located in the Castle Quarter. Unlike what the University offers, this library is quite user-friendly. It’s free to join, you actually get to take the books home, and you can check out videos and CDs for £1 per week. Bring along proof of residency (a bank statement) and a photo ID to register. 8 Out and about:

There are numerous extra-curricular activities to get involved in during your time at Oxford. The University and College will send around information about some of these. You should also look at Daily Info, Oxford’s own internet information resource: http://www.dailyinfo.co.uk/whatson/index.html.  Gym: Every member of Magdalen College is given a free membership of the University Gym on Iffley Road. You will have to register your Bod Card at the gym to gain swipe access to their facilities. The Iffley Road Gym has a pool, basic gym equipment, and a number of classes (although these carry extra - 8 - charges – usually about £3). The other major gyms in Oxford are Burton Mill (located on High Street) and Puregym (on St Ebbe’s). Both offer more comprehensive facilities and can be joined privately.  Sports: You’ll find lots of information about College and University sports during 0th Week. Croquet: Croquet is played in Trinity Term and summer on the lawns of the New building. It is a great Oxford tradition. We are free to use the JCR croquet set which is located in staircase IV of the New Building (a small room under the stairs on the ground floor). You will have to get the keys for this room from the Lodge. The alternative is to get the MCR croquet set which comes in a handy wooden box at the MCR. It is usually in a better condition than the JCR set and you don’t have to hand in your room keys to get to it. The College also has its own lawn (and hard) tennis and squash courts, and an MCR badminton set is available at Holywell Ford should you wish to use it.  Rowing: Probably Oxford’s most popular and important sport. The Magdalen College Boat Club is one of the better clubs in the University; our Women’s crew finished at the Head of the River in Torpids in 2016, which is to say that they were the best boat in the University in that tournament. Torpids and Summer VIIs are two major tournaments in March and May in which the colleges compete against each other draw in hundreds of boats and thousands of spectators. Complete novices are just as welcome as experienced rowers—the club will train you up to racing standard. Magdalen has its own rowing gym with excellent facilities. ● Language Classes: The University runs a number of free or heavily subsidised language classes out of the Language Centre (www.lang.ox.ac.uk). Enrolment takes place in person at the Centre, 12 Woodstock Road, generally during First Week. The enrolment date and time vary for different languages and can be found on the Centre’s web page.  Joining the Union (Oxford Union Society: www.oxford-union.org): The Union is Oxford’s famous members-only debating society (one of the oldest societies in the English-speaking world) which hosts an array of well-known speakers, sportsmen and -women, politicians and celebrities. It also offers members facilities including a library, restaurant and a bar (with very cheap drinks). However, be warned that the Union has a life membership fee of £213 (one year masters students pay only half, but it’s not for life) and is dominated by undergraduate political aspirants. It also has two full-size billiards tables, and an excellent (lending) library in which to work.  Magdalen Film Society: The Magdalen College Film Society shows a wide range of critically-acclaimed films on the big screen in Magdalen’s state-of-the-art Auditorium every week during term. Check your pigeon holes in 0th Week for term cards and subscription forms.  Computer classes: the University Computing Service offers a range of excellent courses including advanced use of Microsoft Word for long documents, Adobe Photoshop, programming, and the like. Details are at http://www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/itlp.  Pubs: Here’s a quick review of some of the highlights: The Cape of Good Hope (at the Plain roundabout, 1 Iffley Road): this recently renovated ‘gastropub’ has an antipodean feel and an excellent range of lagers on tap. The King’s Arms (‘KA’): centrally located (right across the street from the Bodleian Library). Decent drinks, but a bit touristy. The Half Moon (St. Clement’s): right next to Magdalen, late closing hours and live music. The Turf: The Turf is a bit harder to find than the KA: it’s right near New College (down Bath Place). Among the more popular pubs in Oxford, the Turf has one of the better atmospheres, and prices to match. An excellent place to take visitors to Oxford. The Bear: One of the oldest and smallest pubs in town—very nice for a pint. Watch your head. It’s located near Corpus Christi, Oriel, and those other Southern colleges. The Eagle & Child (St Giles): CS Lewis drank here. It’s a pretty good place to meet people, since it’s quiet, easy to find, centrally located, and has plenty of places to sit.

- 9 - The Lamb & Flag (St Giles, opposite the Eagle & Child): a large pub owned by St. John’s College. A student favourite. The Angel & Greyhound (St. Clement’s, just over the bridge and past the roundabout): a nearby favourite with billiard tables and games to keep you entertained. Head of the River (at the bottom of St. Aldate’s): fantastic outdoor seating on the Isis and Sunday afternoon roasts in winter. Purple Turtle: subsidised by the Union and the truly cheap prices (for Oxford) show it! It gets good reviews whether you are looking for the Simpsons or dancing on the weekend. The Trout: a real gem located on the river up by Godstow bridge. It’s about a 1-hour walk through Port Meadow, or you can catch either the no. 6 or no. 6A bus to Wolvercote.  Bars: Duke of Cambridge (Little Clarendon Street, Jericho): a cool, trendy bar with an amazing happy hour (1/2 priced cocktails) from 5.00 to 8.30 during the week and 5.00 to 7.30 on the weekend. Definitely worth the hike. Freud (Walton Street, Jericho): a converted church with nice cocktails. Great atmosphere. The House (Blue Boar Street, access via Cornmarket): great for cocktails, stylish and centrally located. Raoul’s (Walton Street, Jericho): a tiny, hip bar with extremely delicious cocktails that are outrageously expensive. Sigh. Hi Lo Jamaican Bar (Cowley Road): you’ll feel so much warmer after an evening there.  Clubs: There are numerous clubs in Oxford, which range from really sketchy to just somewhat sketchy. Nevertheless, if dancing, watching people dance, or trying to pick someone up in the presence of people dancing is your thing, then you should (or, arguably, should not) try Park End (Park End Street), Lola Lo (St Giles), Emporium (St. Ebbe’s), Plush (LGBTQ-friendly, Park End Street) or Maxwell’s (Queen Street).  Travel Agents: There are two main student travel agencies in town. STA Travel – STA is probably the most popular travel agency among students. Unlike Campus Travel, STA focuses only on airline travel. Campus Travel – Campus Travel can usually find you really cheap prices to wherever you want to go. In addition to booking airline flights, you can also book train travel here! Online – There are many excellent search engines for cheap flights online: www.cheapflights.com, www.lastminute.com, and www.thomascook.co.uk. Also, the discount airlines RyanAir and Easyjet fly across Europe and often have outrageously good sales. Other options to reduce the cost of travel include an ISIC card, a National Express Student Coachcard, and the Young Person’s Railcard.

9 How to contact people General notes As a rule, email is the best way to contact most people at the college. Addresses will usually follow the form: [email protected]. (This works for students, too.) The college website has a lot of contact information should you need to contact anyone in particular before arriving at college. After you have come up, you should consult the booklet of rules and regulations (which you will receive on arrival) for a comprehensive list of people whom you should contact in different circumstances.

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Phone numbers Fresher Representative (Edward): +447943454682 Porters’ Lodge + 76000 or + 76001 President, Professor Sir David Clary + 76101 PA to the President, Carolyn Tucker + 76101 Tutor for Graduates, Dr Mark Pobjoy + 76064 Academic Administrator, Liz Howdill + 76113 Senior Dean of Arts, Professor Chris Garland + 76021 Junior Dean of Arts, Dr Sophie Duncan + 76021 Student Support Administrator, Katie O’Connor + 76021 Home Bursar, Mr Mark Blandford-Baker + 76050 Conference & Accommodation Manager, Catherine Hughes + 76051 PA to the Home Bursar, Celia Brown + 76052 Steward, Linda Norton + 76006 Maintenance Administrator, Aimie Bartlett + 76039 Dean of Divinity, Revd Dr Jonathan Arnold + 76027 Note: All telephone numbers are internal. Within the city of Oxford (but outside the University network) add + 2. Within the UK add + 01865 2. From outside the UK add + 44 1865 2. All of the above may also be contacted via e-mail (e.g. [email protected]).

- 11 - Frequently asked questions: I lost/broke my Bod Card, what do I do? 1. You MUST report your card as lost to Katie O’Connor, Student Support Administrator, or to Liz Howdill, Academic Administrator. You must then go to the University Stores website to pay for a new card (http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/card/online_store). 2. Once a card has been reported as lost, the College puts a stop to the current barcode and replaces it with a new barcode (this happens within a few minutes of your reporting the card as lost). The College CANNOT reinstate old barcodes. 3. The University does not expect people to pay for damaged or stolen cards. If your card is stolen the College needs a crime number from the Police. I have a problem with my room. Help! Contact the Conference & Accommodation Manager, Catherine Hughes. What do I do if my computer/internet/computer room code doesn’t work? Take a deep breath, realize some problems take a while to get fixed, and contact the computer office ([email protected]). I’m bored. What’s going on in Oxford? www.dailyinfo.co.uk has tons of event listings for every day of the week. Or just go to the pub.

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