St Edmund Hall (Oxford): Detailed Guide, General Information and Contacts

St Edmund Hall occupies a tranquil and relaxed location down Queen’s Lane, just off High Street. The location is central and well hidden from tourists.

The College offers nearly 150 scholarships, awards, and prizes every year in addition to bursaries and grants. Every undergraduate student is entitled to apply for a College Grant each year of up to £300. This is an extensive amount of financial support for students and more information can be found here.

The specific college societies are:

Drama Society

BAME Society

Chess Club

Choir Society

Christian Union

Creative Writing Society

Film Society

LGBT+ Society

Music Society

Venus Society

Yoga Society

As well as these, there are over 300 university societies you can join.

First year undergraduates are guaranteed on-site accommodation with breakfast and dinner included. These rooms are single bedrooms and allocation is done randomly. All rooms are the same size and furnished so there is no significant difference between the rooms. Kitchens and bathrooms are shared between 4-6 students each and ensuites are available for people with health or religious reasons. All students live out for their second year, either renting privately or in houses from College, in East Oxford. Third- and fourth-year students are accommodated on the main College site or at one of the annexes and these rooms are allocated by ballot. More information can be found here.

All students living in accommodation will automatically be charged for a minimum of 24 meals each term, even if they are not consumed.

St Edmunds Hall aims to accommodate most new graduate students who are in their first year of study. Accommodation is allocated on a first come, first served basis. Graduate accommodation is in North Oxford, just a short walk across University Parks. The houses have large kitchen with one bathroom for every 3-4 bedrooms. The shared facilities include a college gym, a common room, and more. The College also boasts a small number of furnished one-bedroom flats for couples, and there are a further two flats and house available for students with children, although this accommodation will not necessarily be available every year.

More information can be found here.

St Edmunds Hall is renowned for its sporting excellence with teams competing in every available competition. Teams welcome all levels of ability and there is an emphasis on participation as the College has more second and third teams than any other College. There is a free College gym at Nordham Gardens, two squash courts, a boat house with punts, grass sports pitches and more.

The College has dedicated Welfare Officers who organise events for students to relieve stress including JCR Teas, picnics, workshops, yoga, and more. There are specific officers including a disabilities officer, BAME officer, gender and sexual diversity officer and College families who are second year students in your course to help you adjust to life at Oxford. There are also College staff and peer supports who all work together for the welfare of everyone. Additionally, every Friday afternoon a huge delivery of snacks is delivered to college for students to eat and unwind at the end of the week. Each term the ’Women of the Hall’ and ‘Men of the Hall’ have big themed gatherings where people get to know each other.

• Each year the Luddington Prize of £500 is awarded to students who have achieved both a First-Class degree and won a ‘Blue’ in a sport. This has only been achieved by 14 students in the last 5 years.
• St Edmunds has one of the biggest budgets for welfare teas so there is always free food up for grabs.
• The College was the first at Oxford to be formally established.
• In the centre of the quadrangle is a medieval well, which was uncovered during a renovation during the construction of new buildings in the 20th century.

Terry Jones

Stewart Lee

Al Murray