Guide

Oxbridge Glossary

Tue 18 Mar 2025 • 7 min read

Discover Oxford and Cambridge’s unique terminology with our comprehensive glossary. Learn key university terms, from “Matriculation” to “May Ball” and more!

Oxbridge Interview Preparation

Contents

Cambridge Glossary
Oxford Glossary
Speak to an Expert

Swipe / Drag Scroll / Drag

Oxford and Cambridge have their own unique jargon, reflecting centuries of tradition. If you feel lost and/or confused, don’t worry – we’ve got you covered! This glossary provides a complete guide to key terms used at both universities.

Cambridge University Glossary

Term	Definition
Bedder	A member of college staff responsible for cleaning and maintaining student rooms and communal areas. Equivalent to a “Scout” at Oxford.
Blue	A prestigious sporting award given to athletes who compete at the university level in the annual Varsity Matches against Oxford.
Bop	A themed college party, usually organised by the Junior Common Room (JCR).
Buttery	The college cafeteria where students can purchase meals and refreshments.
Caius	Pronounced “keys,” it refers to Gonville and Caius College.
Class List	A public listing of students’ exam results, traditionally displayed outside the Senate House.
Combinations Room	A common room for students or fellows within a college. The Junior Combination Room (JCR) represents undergraduates, the Middle Combination Room (MCR) represents postgraduates, and the Senior Combination Room (SCR) is for fellows.
Director of Studies (DoS)	A Fellow of the college responsible for overseeing a student’s academic progress and arranging supervisions.
Don	A university academic, often a Fellow of a college.
Formal Hall	A formal, sit-down dinner in college where students wear gowns. Often features multiple courses and a high table for fellows.
Gyp Room	A small kitchenette in college accommodation, used by students to prepare light meals and snacks.
May Ball	A lavish, all-night college ball held during May Week, featuring entertainment, dining, and dancing.
May Week	Celebratory events held in June, after exams, despite its name. It includes May Balls, garden parties, and punting.
Matriculation	The formal admission ceremony where students officially join the University.
Michaelmas, Lent, and Easter Terms	The three academic terms at Cambridge. Michaelmas (Autumn), Lent (Spring), and Easter (Summer).
NatSci	Short for “Natural Sciences,” a broad and flexible degree program in science at Cambridge.
Pidge (Pigeonhole)	A student’s or fellow’s personal mailbox, typically found in the college Porter’s Lodge.
Plodge (Porter’s Lodge)	The reception and security office at each college, where Porters are stationed.
Porter	A staff member responsible for security, handling student queries, and managing access to the college.
Proctor	A university officer responsible for maintaining discipline and overseeing student affairs.
Punt	A flat-bottomed boat used on the River Cam for leisure or transport, propelled by a long pole.
Rustication	The temporary suspension of a student from the University, usually for academic or disciplinary reasons.
Senior Tutor	The academic responsible for overseeing the educational provision and welfare of students in a college.
Sesquicentennial Club	A club for individuals who have received degrees from both Oxford and Cambridge.
Squash	A Freshers’ Week event where clubs, societies, and sports teams introduce themselves to new students.
Supervisor	A university academic or researcher who teaches students in small groups, a teaching style unique to Cambridge.
Supervision	The primary method of undergraduate teaching at Cambridge, involving small-group discussions or one-on-one tutorials.
Tompkins Table	An annual ranking of Cambridge colleges based on undergraduate academic performance.
Tripos	The term for an undergraduate degree at Cambridge, typically completed in two or three parts (e.g., Part IA, IB, II).
UL (University Library)	Cambridge’s main research library and one of the UK’s legal deposit libraries, holding over 8 million books.
Varsity	A term referring to Cambridge and Oxford together, often used in reference to competitions (e.g., the Varsity Match in sports).
Wrangler	A student who earns first-class honours in the final year of the Mathematics Tripos. The “Senior Wrangler” is the student with the highest marks.

Sources: University of Cambridge Official Glossary , Cambridge Students’ Union Terminology , Cambridge College Jargon Guides, Corpus Christi JCR Cambridge Jargon

Oxford University Glossary

Term	Definition
Aegrotat	An exam pass granted on medical grounds.
AHRC	Arts and Humanities Research Council, one of the UK’s seven Research Councils.
Ashmolean	The University’s museum of art and archaeology, founded by Elias Ashmole in 1683. It is the oldest museum in the UK.
Assessor	An official responsible for student welfare and financial matters within the University.
Battels	Charges made to a member of a college (student or Fellow) for accommodation, meals, etc.
BBSRC	Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council, one of the UK’s seven Research Councils.
Bedel	Ceremonial official attending the Vice-Chancellor at events such as degree ceremonies and Encaenia, and at meetings of Congregation and Convocation. There are four Bedels: of Divinity, Law, Medicine, and Arts.
Blue	The highest sporting achievement at Oxford and Cambridge, awarded only to members who have competed in the annual Varsity Match.
Bodleian Library	Also known as ‘the Bod’; named after Sir Thomas Bodley, it is the University’s main research library and the second-largest library in the UK after the British Library. Together with its dependent libraries, it holds more than 11 million printed items.
Bursar	A senior officer in a college responsible for financial and administrative matters.
Collections	College examinations taken at the start of each term to assess students’ progress.
Congregation	The sovereign governing body of the University, comprising over 5,000 members, including all university academic staff as well as other senior university staff and members of college governing bodies. Its powers include amending the university’s statutes and regulations, conferring degrees, electing various university officers, and approving the appointment of the Vice-Chancellor.
Encaenia	The annual ceremony at which the University awards honorary degrees and commemorates its benefactors.
Fellow	A senior member of a college, typically involved in teaching and research.
Gaudy	A college reunion dinner or celebration, often held annually.
Governing Body	The group of Fellows responsible for the governance of a college.
Hall	The main dining area in a college where meals are served.
Junior Common Room (JCR)	The body representing undergraduate students in a college, also refers to the physical common room for undergraduates.
Matriculation	The formal process of becoming a member of the University, involving a ceremony in which new students are officially enrolled.
Pidge	Abbreviation for pigeonhole; refers to the mailboxes used by students and staff within colleges.
Proctor	University officers responsible for enforcing University statutes and regulations, particularly concerning student discipline and examinations.
Scout	A member of college staff responsible for cleaning and maintaining student rooms; equivalent to a ‘bedder’ at Cambridge.
Senior Common Room (SCR)	The body representing the Fellows and senior members of a college, also refers to the physical common room for these members.
Sub fusc	The formal academic dress worn by students and staff on certain occasions, including examinations and matriculation.
Tutorial	A method of teaching in Oxford where a tutor teaches an individual student or a very small group.
Vice-Chancellor	The chief executive officer of the University.