The Student Room Group

Student Life at St. Benet's Hall

Can a past student of St. Benet's Hall please tell me what their student life was like given the very small number of undergrads as compared to the other colleges they may have heard of? I'm nervous about being accepted there because of the situation with the financial endowment of the school being almost non-existent along with an apparently limited scope for networking. Please advise me whether its worth it or if another uni like lse may have more to offer.
Reply 1
Probably the most noticeably different things about St Benet's are going to be that a) there is a monastic presence and b) they only teach a small number of humanities subjects (so if you don't study those subjects don't even worry about being allocated there). Other than that, my thoughts, in no particular order are:

- the male/female ratio will still be a bit unbalanced as they have only been admitting women undergrads since 2016 but they have been accepting women grads since 2014.
- yes, it is a smaller intake (same number of undergrads in total than some colleges have in one year) which some people may find claustrophobic but it does also mean you are likely to make friends across subjects and years and with graduate students whereas a history student at a large college (for example) may mainly end up with friends from their year and subject.
- there are tonnes of opportunities to socialise/network/participate in activities at a university level. Tons. I can't even describe how big the uni freshers fair is but some people manage to barely do anything in their colleges at all.
- you are likely to have some teaching at other colleges plus university lectures.
- St. Benet's will have some student activities despite being small - I know they were pretty good at rowing when I was at Oxford many moons ago.
- the impact of less money is likely to be most felt in whether you have to a private rental in your 2nd year (and, note students at some colleges have to do this too), cost of food and number of grants for travel/books that are available - you would have to look into St Benet's in more detail to see if any of those are affected. It won't affect the standard of your degree and you will have full access to the Bodleian (which renders the need for any college library largely pointless - except for convenience and often longer loan terms).

So, in summary, it is different and it may not be what you imagined from Oxford but it is not worthless and you definitely shouldn't write any of the PPH's off without visiting and speaking to current students.
Original post by kptewari
Can a past student of St. Benet's Hall please tell me what their student life was like given the very small number of undergrads as compared to the other colleges they may have heard of? I'm nervous about being accepted there because of the situation with the financial endowment of the school being almost non-existent along with an apparently limited scope for networking. Please advise me whether its worth it or if another uni like lse may have more to offer.


I was allocated there too! :biggrin: (idk if I have an interview yet though)
Original post by kptewari
Can a past student of St. Benet's Hall please tell me what their student life was like given the very small number of undergrads as compared to the other colleges they may have heard of? I'm nervous about being accepted there because of the situation with the financial endowment of the school being almost non-existent along with an apparently limited scope for networking. Please advise me whether its worth it or if another uni like lse may have more to offer.


Hi.
I'm actually a current student at Benet's, and I did an open application but was allocated to the Hall.

Life is Peng. Honestly, I love that you get to know people across the different year groups, and form friendships with diverse people. I know all 80 members of the Hall, unlike people at other colleges who only get to know their staircase.

Financially, the university will provide support. Oxford university is oxford university no matter which college you go to. You will still win cash prizes for doing well in your exams, you will still be given financial aid if you need it.
The bursar here knows us all personally, so it is easier to talk to him about any issues we have.
You do have to live out in your second year though, which many colleges do though. It is rare that you get to live in all throughout your degree, and to be honest, people do like to have the 'proper student experience'.

Networking is actually probs better here than elsewhere. What are the chances that you can sit and eat and chat for ours with prestigious guests at other colleges? We have a guest speaker once a week, who dines with us and delivers a speech, but then they hang around in the calefactory (our common room) for the rest of the evening to get to know the students. We also have a great personal relationship with our Alums, so networking is pretty good at Benet's.

Honestly, don't look at the college, look at the course. If your course is better elsewhere, then go for it. Don't let a college put you off of applying or accepting an offer. Oxford is the best university in the world at the moment, and your experience won't be lacking depending on the college you go to. And you can socialise with people outside of college very easily too.

We actually have a lot of links with sports, and our rowers are amazing (win blades). We pay for your cuppers fees ( fees for intercollege sports competitions) which isn't always done by other colleges.

As for the monastic community, there is a chapel at every college. We have one of the shortest graces in Oxford. The monastic community is literally 3 monks. And it doesn't have a bearing on you getting into a relationship or your life in general. They are just fun people who are a chaplain, a librarian and a student. There is no enforcement of religion in our lives except they like to say grace (which is the case with most colleges). People treat us having a couple of monks like it is exotic, but they are really just a small support network. I'm yet to meet a person that dislikes them.

Because of our size, people don't always know much about us, but if they do know Benet's, they know it for the termly free party we host, with unlimited booze and food (perk of us being small) which people always want to be invited to if they aren't at Benet's.


If you have any questions, do let me know. If they are subject specific, I can help you get in contact with a current student:smile:
Original post by Kiki09
Probably the most noticeably different things about St Benet's are going to be that a) there is a monastic presence and b) they only teach a small number of humanities subjects (so if you don't study those subjects don't even worry about being allocated there). Other than that, my thoughts, in no particular order are:

- the male/female ratio will still be a bit unbalanced as they have only been admitting women undergrads since 2016 but they have been accepting women grads since 2014.
- yes, it is a smaller intake (same number of undergrads in total than some colleges have in one year) which some people may find claustrophobic but it does also mean you are likely to make friends across subjects and years and with graduate students whereas a history student at a large college (for example) may mainly end up with friends from their year and subject.
- there are tonnes of opportunities to socialise/network/participate in activities at a university level. Tons. I can't even describe how big the uni freshers fair is but some people manage to barely do anything in their colleges at all.
- you are likely to have some teaching at other colleges plus university lectures.
- St. Benet's will have some student activities despite being small - I know they were pretty good at rowing when I was at Oxford many moons ago.
- the impact of less money is likely to be most felt in whether you have to a private rental in your 2nd year (and, note students at some colleges have to do this too), cost of food and number of grants for travel/books that are available - you would have to look into St Benet's in more detail to see if any of those are affected. It won't affect the standard of your degree and you will have full access to the Bodleian (which renders the need for any college library largely pointless - except for convenience and often longer loan terms).

So, in summary, it is different and it may not be what you imagined from Oxford but it is not worthless and you definitely shouldn't write any of the PPH's off without visiting and speaking to current students.


The male to female ratio is sorted this year. We are 100% coed next year
Reply 5
Original post by BeatrixLS
I was allocated there too! :biggrin: (idk if I have an interview yet though)


Idk as yet eitherr!! The suspense is killing mee :frown: Wish you all the best :wink:
Good luck to you too!! Which course did you apply for? :smile: :smile:
When do interview invites tend to come through?
Original post by finallenfa
When do interview invites tend to come through?


When people stop asking
Original post by PhilandTheo
When people stop asking


You're cool
Original post by HarryScotchy
Hi there I been invited to interview here. I am very pleased with this but I am a bit apprehensive because I didn't apply here or to any college that was like this - also, what's social life like there - do you know lots of people from other colleges etc. because it's very small and limited (in the nicest way possible) Any info would be great.


If you look on youtube, on their facebook page and website there is plenty of evidence that the social life is good - you've posted in several threads about this - accept it. It isnt whether they have Entz or not - its the people that you will meet there that will make it fun. Time to just accept and move on to preparing.
fair point and very true as well- i have gone a bit overboard. Time to prepare.
Original post by Hugh's Swan
If you look on youtube, on their facebook page and website there is plenty of evidence that the social life is good - you've posted in several threads about this - accept it. It isnt whether they have Entz or not - its the people that you will meet there that will make it fun. Time to just accept and move on to preparing.
Original post by Robb Boratheon
The male to female ratio is sorted this year. We are 100% coed next year


I interviewed at Benet's last year and am returning for the old second time lucky classic this year - are you helping with interviews this year / did you help last year? Jw if I met you ahaha
Original post by HarryScotchy
fair point and very true as well- i have gone a bit overboard. Time to prepare.


Also mate just don't think about it and you'll love it when you get there - as I said in the other thread I totally understand how you feel given I was literally the exact same but I guarantee you will leave Benet's praying for an offer, just like every interviewee at all colleges do :smile:

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