Accommodation, Food, IT, Domestic Information and Student Deals

This page is for graduate Freshers | Back to graduate Freshers home page

Accommodation for full-time students 

If you have been offered College accommodation, you will hear directly from the Domestic Manager by the end of August about specific room allocation and any requests or offers of accommodation you have made or received if you are studying as a full-time student (part-time students are not eligible for College accommodation). For all other information about accommodation, including bedding, kitchen equipment, electrical equipment, televisions, maintenance, alterations and damage, laundry, and vacation store rooms, please see the graduate accommodation page.

Food

Eating in Hall — A buffet-style lunch and dinner are served in Balliol Hall, at the Broad Street site, seven days a week during term time and breakfast is available during the week. Once you have completed your University Registration and have your SSO, you can register online for a pre-paid meal deal (cheapest option) or you can put money on your University Card (using the Balliol payment site) and pay for meals in Hall as you go. For more information, including the daily menu in Hall and information about special dietary requirements and also entertaining guests, see the food page and also p 5961 of the College Handbook.

Hall is open to students for meals from Monday 0th week (8 January — Hilary Term 2024) until Sunday 9th week (17 March — Hilary Term 2024).

Tuesday Hall’ — On Tuesdays in term time there is an occasion called ‘Tuesday Hall’. These dinners aim to combine the formal and the informal, so a three-course dinner and coffee are served but gowns are not worn. Wine must be purchased from the Buttery. Students are also welcome to bring guests. Bookings for these dinners are made available online at the start of each term via https://​food​.bal​li​ol​.ox​.ac​.uk/ . You will need to make sure you have sufficient funds on your University card to cover the number of meals booked.

Buttery Bar — the Buttery bar is next to the Hall steps. Opening times for students during term time are usually weekdays, 12.00 to 8.00pm (with alcohol available 12.301.45pm and 5.008.00pm), Saturdays, 10.00am to 5.00pm (with alcohol served 12.301.45pm). In vacations, see the visitor information web page for details.

Holywell Manor (The Lodge Shop (Arkright’s) and the Megaron Bar) — these are for use by MCR members and further information, along with the Holywell Manor map and descriptions of other social and study spaces can be found on the MCR website.

JCR Pantry and Lindsay Bar — these are run by the Balliol JCR students, for JCR members.

IT and internet access

Please see the following ICT web pages:

  • Single Sign-On account and email: You will need to have set up your SSO account in order to set up internet access and to access many systems, including the Balliol College Intranet and your email account, explained here.
  • Internet access: How to set up wired access (in College) or wireless access (elsewhere). To use University systems, you will need a remote access password: you are advised to sign up to Eduroam before arrival if you can.
  • Printers at Broad Street site and at Holywell Manor: details here about charges and your printing account. To find the printer at the Broad Street site, go into Staircase 3 (III) located in the front quad, follow the stairs down, go through the white door on your left, then follow round to the left. The computing suite will be in front of you with a green door and a ‘Beware Step’ sign on it. The printer at Holywell Manor is in the postroom.
  • Computing Rules: Please familiarise yourself with these. Breaches of rules will result in disciplinary action. Note especially:
    • It is mandatory to install a virus checker and keep it up to date automatically (a free virus checker is available from the UniversitySSO required); this includes Apple Mac operating systems.
    • It is mandatory to keep your operating system up to date with security patches and all high-priority updates.
    • Peer-to-peer programs are forbidden: see the list or programs, and other forbidden activities.

See also the University Guide to IT for new students.

Bicycles

Students keeping bicycles at the Graduate Centre must register them at Holywell Manor Lodge. At the Master’s Field there are bicycle rings for parking outside (inside the secure site) and there is also a large indoor bicycle store in the basement of Block D3. Spaces in this store are held by ballot, which is organised by the MCR.

Many students find it advisable to take out insurance on their bicycles. Please see also this information on cycle security and the rules about bicycles in the College Handbook.

Dress code

Sub fusc: in normal circumstances, for the Matriculation ceremony (your formal admission to the University), for University Examinations and other formal events, the required dress is sub fusc, as explained on the Matriculation page.

Formal dress: student gowns are not worn for dinner at Balliol, but there is a served dinner in Hall each Tuesday during term, and there are other occasions when you will wish to dress smartly (e.g. suit/jacket and tie/dress, but not black tie). 

Fire safety

Please read the fire instructions posted in each room. See also the information about fire safety in the College Handbook.

Music Rooms

There is a Music Room at the Broad Street site in which instruments are routinely stored and entry to which is controlled first by virtue of joining the Balliol Musical Society and second by signing out the key to the room. Holywell Manor has its own music facility: see the Holywell Manor guide on the MCR website. You are advised to insure your instruments. 

Gym

There are multi-gyms at Broad Street and at Holywell Manor. All students wishing to use the gyms must pay a £10 per term membership fee; they may sign up yearly or by term; the MCR and JCR Sports Reps will pass names to the Bursary for payment following the induction session. Students must also attend an induction session for each gym they intend to use before using the gyms for the first time; the inductions are usually held in Michaelmas Term at the end of Freshers’ Week. To use the Holywell Manor gym, you need to book the gym online [SSO required].

Laundry

There are laundry rooms with washing machines, dryers, irons and ironing boards in Holywell Manor, the Master’s Field and Jowett Walk. An online booking system [SSO required] is available for Master’s Field and Jowett Walk. For Holywall Manor, a manual booking system operates for hourly slots. Sign-up sheets can be found outside the Lodge in Holywell Manor. A slot lasts two hours. Further information can be found in the College Handbook.

Student deals from external suppliers

Byke Ltd — a student-run business operating out of eight Oxford colleges but open to all students offering rental bikes and bikes for sale.