This page is for graduate Freshers | Back to graduate Freshers home page
Please take note of the College events listed on this page. There will be more details of events provided by the MCR, and a fuller timetable of events, available in September.
You will also have a number of other timetables for faculty/department inductions which you need to check carefully (these are likely to be emailed to you separately by your department), as well as inductions for libraries. This outline schedule shows how Freshers’ Week is split between colleges and departments.
Balliol Graduate Freshers’ Week: 2–11 October
Balliol Graduate Freshers’ Week 2026 runs from Friday 2 October to Sunday 11 October. The timetable includes a number of mandatory events, as well as academic and social ones. Balliol has many sports, clubs and societies, who are keen for Freshers to join in and will be running events during the week.
Oxford SU Freshers’ Fair: 7–8 October
Oxford SU (Oxford Student Union) will run a Freshers’ Fair on Wednesday 7 and Thursday 8 October. See the Oxford SU Freshers Fair web page for details, including college time slots. The allocated slot for Balliol’s graduate students is Thursday 8 October 11.00am — 12 noon.
Balliol College Advisers’ Welcome Tea: 7 October
You will be receiving information about your College Adviser, by email, week commencing 5 October and then have the opportunity to meet them on Wednesday 7 October, in Hall (Broad Street site), at 4.30pm, tea & coffee provided.
Balliol Graduate Freshers’ Dinner: 9 October
All Graduate Freshers are required to attend the Freshers’ Dinner on Friday, 9 October. If you are a Balliol returner, attendance is not compulsory but you are warmly encouraged to attend.
Pre-dinner drinks in the SCR Lounge and Dining Room will begin at 7.00pm, followed by dinner in Hall at 7.45pm. Dietary information submitted on the online Freshers’ Form will be used to inform the College kitchens. Dress code is smart (i.e. suits/dresses, but not black tie), and no academic gowns are worn.
Balliol Graduate Freshers Dinner 2026 table plan — available 8 October.
University Matriculation and Balliol Freshers’ photograph: 17 October
Matriculation: The Matriculation ceremony is the formal admission to the University, and attendance at this ceremony is compulsory if you have not already matriculated at Oxford. The Dean will present Fresher undergraduates and graduates for Matriculation on the first Saturday of Michaelmas Term, 17 October 2026.
Students are required to assemble in Hall (Broad Street site) at 8.15am promptly and must be wearing academic dress, known as sub fusc (see below). New Oxford graduate students are required to wear the Oxford graduate gown. Students who have graduate degrees from another university may wear the gown belonging to that university. They should bear in mind, however, that they will in due course be required to wear the Oxford graduate gown.
NB If you are a returning student and have already matriculated (e.g. as an undergraduate or a PGT student) then you cannot matriculate for a second time.
Freshers’ photograph: After the Matriculation ceremony all Freshers (new students and returners) will assemble at Balliol for the annual ‘Freshers’ Photograph’ which consists of a compulsory group photograph and optional individual photographs follow. An informal Freshers’ brunch is also provided. More information will be emailed out at the beginning of Freshers’ week.
Sub fusc: please refer to the description below and for further, more detailed, information see the University information here.
You are required to wear your preference from the following as sub fusc:
1. one of:
- dark suit with dark socks, or
- dark skirt with black tights or stockings, or
- dark trousers with dark socks or dark hosiery
‘Dark’ in this context means dark grey, dark blue or black. Clothing must be plain; pinstripes and similar patterns are not permitted
Socks, tights and stockings must be worn and must cover the ankle entirely. There should be no gap between the bottom of the trouser leg or skirt and the top of the socks or stockings.
2. dark jacket, if required — worn underneath the gown
3. black shoes
4. plain white collared shirt or blouse with sleeves
5. white bow tie, black bow tie, black full-length tie, or black ribbon.
PLUS:
1. the appropriate academic gown (see Academic Gowns for Students)
2. mortar board or soft cap
It is possible to buy the headwear, tie and gown on arrival at Oxford, and these can also be hired or bought from various outfitters in Oxford. The following retailers offer deals for new students: