Activities & Sports

Fresher's Fair

A much larger version of the Purple Key Fair which usually occurs on Thursday morning in 0th Week at the Examination Schools on High Street. When asked for your college, list 'Exeter', and when asked for your email, give them your new Oxford address. We strongly encourage students to attend, as it is an easy way to sign up for mailing lists and meet other students outside of WEPO. At Oxford, you don't have to formally join a club to enjoy its events. Students in the past have gone to French Club's wine and cheese nights, clay pigeon shooting outings, and philosophy society debates without committing to or paying for the clubs. This is also the place to sign up for University sports if you have not already reached out to a captain.

Music

Sign up for groups at Freshers' Fair. The variety ranges from huge classical choirs and orchestras, pop and a cappella choirs, chamber groups, to college chapel choirs. Smaller groups are as good a bonding experience as a sports team. Levels range from virtually professional to just for fun, so find whatever works for you. Exeter has the Turl Street Choir and Orchestra (sporadically active) and a fairly intense chapel choir that past WEPO students have joined. There is a piano practice room in Exeter- sign up for times in the Porter's Lodge. The Chapel also has a very nice baby grand that's available for student use; check to make sure the space isn't in use, first, as there are services and music rehearsals throughout the week (it's usually wise to also check with the Chaplain first). There's an upright piano in the dining room at 145 Banbury, which gets well used. Many auditions, especially for instrumental ensembles, take place very early in term- either during 0th or 1st week- keep this in mind when signing up at the Freshers' Fair!

The Oxford Union

Known simply as 'the Union', the Oxford Union Society is the world's most famous debating society. It's a combination of a social club and a forum for aspiring British politicians and broadcasters to hone their craft. The Union holds weekly debates, sponsors social events, and brings prominent guest speakers- sometimes including heads of state and Nobel Prize winners- to Oxford. The debates include student debaters and guests from the world of politics and the media. Student debaters open the debate by laying out the case for each side, and the guest debaters follow. Then there will be a floor debate, when anyone in the room may speak when called upon for a minute. Debates are normally held during weeks 1-8 of each term on Thursday evenings. Other speakers come almost every day.

Members can borrow books from the Union library. All major magazines and newspapers are available in the library. The Goodman Library has an exceptional collection of academic, political, philosophical, and scientific periodicals. The Union offers free wireless internet access and is available all day, every day. The Union has two full-sized snooker tables and a large wide-screen TV. The Gladstone and Morris Rooms are ideal places to relax, read, or work. These rooms are regularly used for meetings, exhibitions, and social events by many of Oxford's smaller student societies.

You can get a one-year short-term Union membership upon your arrival. Memberships costs about £314.95 for all three terms. You can submit this receipt, along with membership for any other society, as a part of your cultural subsidy.

Athletic Facilities

The official University facilities are on Iffley Road (of Magdalen Bridge, bear right after the roundabout). There is a fee of £7.50 per term if you elect to join the Iffley Road Sports Centre through Exeter. You can submit this receipt for reimbursement as a part of your subsidy allocation if you wish, along with memberships at any other private gym in Oxford.

Exeter has private sports grounds (including tennis and squash courts). You must pick up the key from the Porter's Lodge at Exeter. Alternatively, there are various local gyms, including facilities in the city centre and Summertown. The Ferry Leisure Centre is conveniently located off Marston Ferry Road (2-minute walk from EWH). The Ferry Leisure membership will give you access to all affiliated gyms in the Oxford area, as well as the Oxford Ice Rink. There is also a Buzz Gym or Pure Gym in the city centre. These are all more expensive than the University gym, but you may find the locations more convenient.

Sports at Exeter

Sign your name on the sheets posted in the Porter's lodge during 0th week. Sports teams will likely have at least one black-tie dinner during the year (expensive, but fun). There are drinks evenings at the start of first term where you will meet most of the College sports captains and be encouraged to join everything. College sports tend to take a 'have fun and participate' attitude. As such, athletics (with the exception of the top boats on the crew team) can be more about socialization than about playing, and it is a great way to meet and befriend Exeter students. There is usually a tournament in each sport between all of the colleges called 'Cuppers'.

University 'Blues' Sports

University 'Blues' sports at Oxford are a mixed bag. Some clubs will be just as (if not more) competitive than Williams varsity sports (eg. rugby, rowing), but others are much less so. Regardless of the level of play within each club, the level of commitment required to participate in these sports is much lower than it would be in a DIII team. These clubs are independent of university funding and are voluntary, so as long as you pay the club fees, you can participate in practice and at least a couple of competitions. 

While it is true that as a visiting student you may not directly score against the Cambridge Blues team in a varsity match, this does not preclude you from competing for Oxford's Varsity seconds/reserves. The seconds varsity matches are often just as exciting as the Blues varsity match, and in some sports, the actual competition is mixed while scores are maintained separately. Short of competing for the first string, you can participate to any other extent you are willing and able in your time at Oxford. There are more costs depending on which competitions you elect to do and what equipment or clothing you might need to compete, but these can be put towards/partly claimed against your subsidy and are usually reasonable. This is also a great way to meet students from colleges other than Exeter.

Punting

A quintessential Oxford experience- to be done along the River Isis (which is part of the River Thames that flows through Oxford) or the River Cherwell. Similar to a gondola ride, punting involves moving a wood boat by thrusting a pole into the muddy base of the river. You can join the Exeter punting society for £12 and receive unlimited use of the College punt. Just sign up at the Porter's lodge in advance of the day and time you wish to punt.

Punt from the Magdalen Bridge Boat House on the High Street in the City Centre (punting boats take up to 5 people and cost between £16-20 per hour) or Cherwell Boathouse on 50 Bardwell Road, Summertown. You can punt from either location to the Victoria Arms pub in Old Marston if you're looking for an easily-accessible country pub (the Cherwell Boathouse is closer!).

Religious Life

Oxford has a vibrant religious life, and the number of students makes it much easier to find specific religious niches than at Williams. Most groups will have a booth at the Fresher's Fair. Look outside student groups too- the city has synagogues, mosques, and churches of many denominations that are not specifically affiliated with the University. If you can't find what you're looking for, ask around. The Junior Dean's office at Exeter and the Chaplain have most local information.

The Exeter chapel holds services most days of the week. Sunday Night Evensong at 6:00pm, held every week during term, is worth attending once even if you have no interest in the religious aspects of the service, as the choir is very well regarded in Oxford. The Christmas Carol Service near the end of Michaelmas is especially popular. You can pick up a Chapel Term Card to see a full schedule, or visit the College website here.