Oriel

The college works to help its students achieve the highest academic standards, as a crucial preparation for their future lives and careers; and it looks for candidates with such aspirations. Oriel is known for its strong academic ethos and its friendly and welcoming atmosphere. There is a strong sense of community, and most people know each other, even if they are in different years or studying different subjects.

The main entrance is in Oriel Square, at the end of King Edward Street, close to the town centre; shops, University departments and libraries are only a short walk or bicycle ride away. The college is also very close to the beautiful green space of the Meadows.

All students can live in college for the duration of their course; most undergraduates (and all first-years) live on the main site. Rooms are graded for cost according to size and facilities. Many rooms on the main site have their own bathroom, or share it with one other room. All rooms have internet points and most rooms have telephones. Less than a mile away is the graduate housing annexe, James Mellon Hall, a new building where all rooms have their own bathroom.

Three cooked meals are served in the dining hall every day except at weekends. Evening meals at Oriel are extremely popular, social occasions. For students who want to cook for themselves, there are kitchens on the main site and at James Mellon Hall.

Oriel has an impressive library of more than 100,000 volumes, open 24 hours a day, and exceptionally well funded for the purchase of new books. It is wifi equipped, and there are two computer rooms with desktop PCs and printers.

Undergraduates have their own common room, shop, TV room and an annexe which can be used for meetings or parties. The college bar is the venue for discos, band gigs and karaoke nights. There is a music practice room, and pianists may also use the grand piano in the library. A modern lecture theatre is available for drama productions and rehearsals.

Oriel has its own sports ground, with facilities for all major sports. There is a gymnasium and squash court at James Mellon Hall, and a smaller gymnasium on the main site. The college has its own well-equipped boathouse.

Oriel has a lively and active student body. The drama society’s annual highlight is a play staged outdoors in front quad. Oriel has a very good mixed chapel choir, for which several choral scholarships are available, and an active music society. Among other flourishing clubs are the film society and the Ralegh (arts/literature) society.

The college has teams for badminton, basketball, cricket, darts, football, modern pentathlon, netball, rowing, rugby, squash and waterpolo. The emphasis is very much on enthusiasm, giving the opportunity for everyone to take part, whatever their level of skill.