Lady Margaret Hall

The college is a vibrant, interdisciplinary academic community in a beautiful 12-acre site bordered by the University Parks and the River Cherwell (it has punts on site). LMH has an emphasis on student support and promoting wellbeing; the college aspires to provide an inclusive experience to students from diverse backgrounds and from across the world.

In addition to academic seminars, students’ experience is enriched by a programme of events involving a diverse group of interesting and high profile people from public life and the media (some of whom are ‘Visiting Fellows’). Further details about events can be found on the college website. As the first women’s college in Oxford, LMH is proud to continue its emphasis on equality and increasing diversity in Oxford; the college created a pioneering ‘Foundation Year’ to bring disadvantaged students to Oxford as undergraduates, which has been adopted by the University. 

LMH admits students across a range of subjects, and aims to integrate graduate and undergraduate students, providing opportunities for mentoring and tutorial teaching for research students. The college has a particular strength in Law, with an active Law society and a strong connection with Refugee Studies (which was founded by an LMH alumna). LMH is adjacent to the Department of Education and are particularly interested in applications related to widening participation. LMH is the college associated with the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU) and also welcomes applications from students interested in broader issues of conservation and climate change.

The college has an eclectic collection of modern art, including a room of Canadian art.

LMH currently holds an NUS Green Impact ‘Beyond Gold’ Award for its efforts in promoting environmental sustainability and is the only Oxford college to achieve this level in 2022. The college is also proud to be a Fairtrade college. LMH also holds a gold Investors in People award for the LMH support staff, again the only Oxford College to have achieved this.

Accommodation and meals

Accommodation

The college accommodates its graduate students in single study bedrooms at Lady Margaret Hall’s main site in North Oxford. In recent years, LMH has offered additional off-site accommodation/housing through the college’s leased private accommodation in other areas of Oxford. The college is not able to offer accommodation for families, but those with families could apply for University accommodations.

The Clore Graduate Centre opened in 2016 and provides a number of en-suite study bedrooms for graduate students. Further accommodation is available in the college's houses near the main college site, and in other historic buildings within the grounds. All on-site accommodation is located within a couple of minutes' walk of the college library, MCR and dining hall.

The priority for the college is to house students in their first year of studies. Priority is given to those with disabilities and those from overseas. For students returning after their first year of studies, accommodation is normally only available for students active in college life who have been elected as Middle Common Room (MCR) officers. Accommodation for other returning graduates is subject to availability.

More information about accommodation at Lady Margaret Hall is available on the college website. As some of the college's accommodation is relatively new, it also had some purpose built disabled rooms. 

Catering

For ten weeks each term, breakfast, lunch and dinner are served in the college's dining hall from Monday to Friday, with brunch available on Saturday. The dining hall is closed on Sunday. All graduate residents have access to shared self-catering facilities within their accommodation buildings. Outside term time a reduced catering service is usually available. The college offers graduates some free formal dinners to ensure that everyone can have that quintessentially Oxford experience.

The cost of meals in the dining hall is not included in the accommodation charge and they are offered (at subsidised costs) on as pay-as-you-go basis using a cashless payment system.