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Visiting student at Oxford St. Peter’s vs St Edmunds Hall?

Hi I am a US student accepted as a visiting student into both schools fall 2025. Does anyone have any thoughts/experiences of one vs the other? School vibe, accommodation, dining, clubs etc. Trying to make a decision, thanks!

Reply 1

thegeek888

Original post by Anonymous

@Stiffy Byng has a daughter at St. Peter's College, Oxford and she's a 1st year studying Law!!! 🙂

Reply 2

Stiffy Byng

My daughter is currently at St Peter's. The two colleges are similar in that each is small and neither is on the tourist trail. They have a friendly rivalry.

Teddy Hall has prettier buildings than Peter's. Each college is well located. At Teddy Hall, you are near the Exam Schools, Radcliffe Square, the Covered Market, bus stops, and right next to the Queen's Lane Coffee House. At Peter's you are close to the railway and bus stations, Gloucester Green, the Taylorian and the Ashmolean, and right next to the Arts Cafe.

Teddy Hall is traditionally quite sporty. Peter's has the best college bar in Oxford.

My daughter finds Peter's to be supportive, sociable, studious, and fun. The rooms vary, the food is OK. Formal Hall sells out quickly. The vibe is positive.

A friend's daughter enjoyed Teddy Hall a few years ago. Another friend did his BCL there but is really a Cantab (Trinity Hall), and he rarely talks of his Oxford college.

Reply 3

Anonymous #2

Also have child undergrad at SPC. Was initially disappointed with the allocation (wanted picturesque vibe) but has had the very best time imaginable ! Music is a big strength, which is important to him, but above all it’s the fellow undergrads he’s met: really bright, original minds and huge sense of fun. Teddy Hall may well offer the same though. There are a large number of visiting students at SPC and staff know the system and welcome them. May also be true of Teddy Hall. SPC has much nicer dining hall and in general not without charm, but Teddy Hall has some genuinely gorgeous buildings.
Visiting students at SPC live in modern and pleasant annexes 5 mins walk away, and pretty central for the city. Might be worth checking for Teddy Hall as other colleges house students some distance out.

Reply 4

BetaVersion2.9

Teddy Hall has a church (now their library) and a graveyard within the college grounds.

Reply 5

Stiffy Byng

St Peter's chapel used to be a parish church, and is disproportionately large. The college's Hall once belonged to New Inn Hall, SPC's ancestor, and is attractive, although not large. It may be a reflection of the college ethos that Peter's could fill its hall twice over every night. At my college (Wadham), the number of students dining in the large and beautiful hall is often fewer than the number of Dons and guests on high table, but Wadham is not a happy place at present.

The rooms in the SPC annexe are large and have en suite shower rooms.

Teddy Hall has a pretty front quad. It's a college of great charm.

I am sure that you will like whichever college you choose.

Reply 6

Anonymous #1

Thank you so much for your responses! Any differences academically? Can one ask who the tutor is before committing? Also, I am sure it depends on the student, but do visiting students tend to stick to other visiting students or are they welcomed by Oxford students? Thank you for your insights

Reply 7

xyz1234567

As a visiting student you may not be taught by the main college tutor. It depends on the scheme you are on, but a lot of visiting schemes organise tuition separately from college allocations.

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