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. |
Sources: University of Oxford Glossary, Oxford College Archives Glossary, Lincoln College Oxford Terminology, Corpus Christi JCR Oxford Jargon
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