Balliol College, Oxford

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	Balliol College
	Established:	1263
	University:	University of Oxford
	Address:	Broad St, Oxford, OX1 3BJ, UK
	Telephone:	+44 1865 277777
	Website:	www.balliol.ox.ac.uk
	Student Union/JCR website:	www.ballioljcr.org
	Admittance:	Men and women

Location

Balliol is among Oxford's oldest colleges, and has a central position as a result. The lodge is found on Broad St, close to St Giles and Cornmarket.

Accommodation

There are three price-bands, and you get to tell college which band you'd prefer to fit in. That said, nobody ever has to leave Balliol because they can't afford to stay – there's a very generous hardship fund, and the Dean [who is also the Financial Aid Officer] is ace.

The bands are currently:

• £767/term – £860/term
• £860/term – £975/term
• £975/term – £1232/term

Price varies with the size and location of the room. The £767 room is perfectly comfortable, however. The most expensive rooms have ensuite bathrooms and that sort of thing, but you don't need that stuff.

Balliol also owns a number of seven bedroom flats on Jowett Walk, close to the science park and social sciences library. Many of the flats are en suite, and are arranged along a corridor connected to a communal kitchen and dining/living area. These rooms are in the highest price band, with non-ensuite rooms (typically sharing a bathroom between two people) around £100 a term cheaper.

Social Spaces

Library and Computing

Library Rules

Computer Rooms

The College has a number of thriving computer rooms equipped with email terminals, scanners, DVD- and CD-writers and PC computers. The latter Windows XP computers are networked to high quality laser printers. There is no charge currently for the use of computing facilities within the College except for printing.

Welfare

Atmosphere

Facilities

Balliol's bar holds a certain degree of infamy across Oxford. Student run, prices are among the lowest to be found in any college, with additional deals such as 75p shots on "Crazy Tuesdays". Members of other colleges should sign in, but the atmosphere is generally welcoming towards students at other colleges (provided they can find their way through the college to the bar itself - something I only seem able to accomplish in the dark, when the JCR is lit up...). The bar is also notable for the murals that adorn the walls, depicting the history of the college, and making jibes about Balliol's attitude to rent (eg, "1300s - the Black Death kills half the students. College double rents in response...").

Student-eye view

Sports

Gallery