Why Teddy Hall?

Why Apply to Teddy Hall: A Student’s View

Applying to Oxford this year? Meet Claire, Tehillah and Will, three Teddy Hall students, who talk about what it is like to live and study at one of the friendliest and most welcoming colleges at the University of Oxford.

Watch the video

Student Life at Teddy Hall

Teddy Hall is one of the most central colleges in Oxford. Tucked away on Queen’s Lane, it is just off Oxford’s main High Street. This means that whilst the site itself is quite private and peaceful, you are a stone’s throw from the city’s shops, bars and cafes. Our central location is immensely convenient – the Bodleian library is a picturesque five minute walk away, and the science area can be reached in under ten minutes, as can the Iffley Sports Centre, University Parks, and the majority of University departments. The Examination Schools are also just across the road, giving Teddy Hall students that bit longer in bed before lectures and exams! Buses for London, the airports, and wider city depart from right outside the College on the High Street.

We also have student living and accommodation across the city – with annexes in East Oxford near many of the clubs, pubs and shops popular with students.

Looking towards Queen's Lane through the main doorway into St Edmund Hall

Follow undergraduates Ellis and Verity around St Edmund Hall, affectionately known as Teddy Hall, for a first-hand glimpse of what makes Teddy Hall a brilliant place to live and study!

Tour of Teddy Hall 2023

Tour of Teddy Hall 2023

St Edmund Hall is committed to being recognised as one of the greenest and most environmentally sustainable colleges in Oxford. Our Sustainability Sub-Committee has been working with our 900 students and staff to greatly reduce our impact on the natural environment, manage resources that we impact in a sustainable way, and conserve and enhance biodiversity across all our sites. Much progress has been made already, including implementation of Eco temperature-controlled heating, motion-activated LED lighting and heat recovery from waste-water systems, with many more initiatives planned and in progress.

Sustainability at St Edmund Hall

We have a strong track record of academic success in terms of degree results, but also of securing further learning opportunities for our students through our exchange partnership with Lingnan University, China and as hosts of programmes and events including the Centre for the Creative Brain, Access Hall Areas, and the Geddes Lecture.

Many of our academics are actively pursuing world-leading research, which opens up some fantastic opportunities for our students to understand cutting edge ideas, concepts, and phenomena. Current expertise range from the biogeography of islands, to the neurobiology of memory, and the development of superior rechargeable batteries. Here at Teddy Hall we are as keen for you to succeed as you are and will endeavour to support you in every way possible so that you can achieve academically and personally.

Find out about our experts in your subject

Financial Support

We offer a wide range of prizes and scholarships to our students, ranging from travel and volunteering bursaries to academic scholarships. Examples include the Matt Greenwood Travel Scholarship, the College Scholarship for academic performance, Choral Scholarships, and the George Barner Prize for Contribution to Theatre. Every Teddy Hall student can apply for a generous College Grant of £300-£350 each year to help with academic expenses, such as dissertation printing or personal research equipment.

We are also proud to be able to offer Masterclass Awards of up to £1000 per year to support development in extra-curricular activities. These awards can be used to fund advanced coaching or tuition, and have been used in wide variety of ways from saxophone lessons, to cricket coaching, to a wilderness medicine course. This award, unique to Teddy Hall, allows us to offer unrivalled support to those wishing to learn more and excel further in an extra-curricular activity.

The Financial Assistance Fund is also available to any student who may need it during their time here, whether your laptop breaks in the middle of term or your family experiences an unexpected loss of income, the Hall aims to help any student experiencing financial difficulties.

Find out more about funding at St Edmund Hall

Students sitting on a bench in the Broadbent Garden behind the College Library

Library

Our College Library is housed in the impressive surroundings of the converted medieval church of St Peter in the East, complete with stained glass windows and a winding tower full of books. We are one of only two colleges to have our library in a converted church building. Students are able to work in this light, airy, and atmospheric space 24/7 and generous book borrowing terms are offered. The library holds approximately 40,000 titles, including multiple copies of key textbooks for all of our undergraduate and postgraduate courses. The librarians’ record for acquiring a new book needed by a student is a mere 38 minutes!

Library

College Bar

The Teddy Hall bar is cosy and inviting – just like the rest of the College. A wide range of drinks (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic) are served at low student-friendly prices, including our own signature cocktail. It is often used as a place for students to meet- whether that’s for Creative Writing Society or sports drinks. Our darts teams also play matches in front of a packed bar!

Junior Common Room (JCR)

This space is just for our undergraduates, and you’ll never find it empty on a term-time evening. As well as having games consoles it has a huge TV that students crowd around to watch everything from the World Cup to Love Island. The final of the Great British Bake Off and the Superbowl have seen over 150 students pile in to the JCR to watch together. The JCR also houses a free 24-hour tea, coffee, and hot chocolate machine, runs weekly ‘JCR Teas’ of free food, and offers games including pool and table football.

Get to know our students!

There are lots of myths and misinformation out there about applying to Oxford. To help combat this, we have put together this page with the students at Teddy Hall, to give you a better idea what life here is really like.

Where did you start your journey to Oxford?

Brittany headshot

Brittany

I’m Brittany and I’m a 2nd year Engineer from Devon. I went to a state school and only really applied to Oxford out of a ‘why not?’ attitude- I had 5 options, so even if Oxford was a long-shot, there were always other options to fall back on.

Ellie headshot

Ellie

I’m from Liverpool and went to a small comprehensive school which didn’t really send many students to university. I was the first student to get an Oxbridge offer in at least five years there, so we were all kind of shocked when it happened!

Ellis headshot

Ellis

Hi! My name is Ellis and I come from a town not too far from Newcastle where I went to a standard state high school and then sixth form. Being the first person in my family to get into any university, I understand how hard it can be applying without much knowledge (especially applying to Oxford!).

Why did you decide to apply to St Edmund Hall?

What is your favourite thing about it now you’re here?

Brittany headshot

Brittany

Long story short, I didn’t choose to apply to Teddy Hall, but now I genuinely cannot imagine going anywhere else. The thought of it actually frightens me. Teddy is a place where everyone knows everyone, in the best way- more like a family than a college- and it is the best place if you’re looking for a good time while studying your degree.

Ruchita headshot

Ruchita

I was really excited to interview at Teddy since I had looked up my tutors beforehand and was in awe of the work they had done and their specialisms. My tutors so far have been incredibly supportive and understanding whilst also challenging me and getting me out of my comfort zone. I also love the fact that Teddy is right in the heart of the city centre, on the High Street, where you have everything you need only a 5-10 minute walk away- including my lectures right across the street!

Brittany headshot

Brittany

Long story short, I didn’t choose to apply to Teddy Hall, but now I genuinely cannot imagine going anywhere else. The thought of it actually frightens me. Teddy is a place where everyone knows everyone, in the best way- more like a family than a college- and it is the best place if you’re looking for a good time while studying your degree.

Ruchita headshot

Ruchita

I was really excited to interview at Teddy since I had looked up my tutors beforehand and was in awe of the work they had done and their specialisms. My tutors so far have been incredibly supportive and understanding whilst also challenging me and getting me out of my comfort zone. I also love the fact that Teddy is right in the heart of the city centre, on the High Street, where you have everything you need only a 5-10 minute walk away- including my lectures right across the street!

What was the biggest misconception you had about studying at Oxford before you came?

Jeevika Bali

Jeevi

I thought that I wouldn’t fit in, being a woman of colour from the Midlands. However, you will find people that are like you, or those who can validate your experiences. For example, regular socials with BAME students through Teddy Hall’s BAME society introduced me to friends outside my subject and in different years. Wherever you choose to study, you will come across so many people from all walks of life, and Oxford is no different. However, there is support available through joining different societies at a University level, and getting to know people as you settle in!

Anna's headshot

Anna

That I wouldn’t have a social life, or that I was sacrificing the ‘normal university experience’. It’s taken me a while to get the balance between work and socialising right because there’s a lot you can do, both at college and within the University as a whole. I tried out a lot of different things in first year and found out what I enjoy doing. I expected everyone to work hard, but I was very glad to find out that people make time for plenty of social stuff too.  Like every other university in the country we still spend lots of our time clubbing, pubbing or chilling as well!

Fred Tyrrell

Fred

That it would be impossible to keep up – I was really worried I’d be the worst student in my whole year, but while the course is obviously tough, this has definitely not been the case. The tutorial system in particular really helps you keep up with the course, and not get left behind.

What would you tell your 17-year-old self about applying to and studying at St Edmund Hall now?

Ellie headshot

Ellie

Not to worry, and to take everything in your stride. I was incredibly nervous about moving away from home, about applying to such a prestigious university, and the idea of being in a new place where I would potentially stick out because of where I am from! But if anything, I have found that I have really settled myself in Oxford. I would tell myself to have confidence and believe in myself and my ability to adapt and make the most of it. It has been really fun, academically inspiring, and so worthwhile.

Anna's headshot

Anna

Don’t stress unnecessarily about applying to Oxford. Focus on what you can control – by learning as much as you can about your subject.

William Lambern headshot

William

Go for it, there can be no regrets if you tried. Yes it will be intense (it must be as the terms are so short!) but it’s definitely manageable. Being taught by world-leading academics and given access to the Bodleian Libraries is a once in a lifetime opportunity, why give up without trying? Just applying to Oxford is an achievement. Regardless of whether you get in or not, even considering Oxford demonstrates your enthusiasm and love for your subject and that can take you anywhere.

Ellie headshot

Ellie

Not to worry, and to take everything in your stride. I was incredibly nervous about moving away from home, about applying to such a prestigious university, and the idea of being in a new place where I would potentially stick out because of where I am from! But if anything, I have found that I have really settled myself in Oxford. I would tell myself to have confidence and believe in myself and my ability to adapt and make the most of it. It has been really fun, academically inspiring, and so worthwhile.

Anna's headshot

Anna

Don’t stress unnecessarily about applying to Oxford. Focus on what you can control – by learning as much as you can about your subject.

William Lambern headshot

William

Go for it, there can be no regrets if you tried. Yes it will be intense (it must be as the terms are so short!) but it’s definitely manageable. Being taught by world-leading academics and given access to the Bodleian Libraries is a once in a lifetime opportunity, why give up without trying? Just applying to Oxford is an achievement. Regardless of whether you get in or not, even considering Oxford demonstrates your enthusiasm and love for your subject and that can take you anywhere.

Student Q&A Videos

The best way to find out what it’s like studying at Oxford is to hear from current students! This series of videos gives an insight into a wide range of subjects at Oxford, and will increase over time as we add more.

Watch the series on YouTube

College Prospectus

Our prospectus is a great place to find out everything you need to know about the college as a prospective student. It has information on accommodation, bursaries, the community, financial support, societies as well as a summary for each subject.

Download the College Prospectus

Front cover undergraduate prospectus 2021

Follow us for more!

The Hall has both college and student-run social media platforms, regularly posting about upcoming events and news. If you want to get more a taste for student life at Teddy Hall, give us a follow:

Any Questions?

Hopefully, this answers a lot of questions you might have about studying at the College, but if not then please feel free to contact our Access & Outreach Coordinator, Rebecca Smithson, or our Admissions Officer, Scarlett Nash. Alternatively, take a look at the useful links section below.

You can also find out about outreach events across the University on the Outreach Events page.

Where Next?

How do I apply?

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Visit Us - Undergraduates

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Clubs and Societies

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