St Hugh’s spacious but unglamorous juxtaposition of redbrick, Edwardian, art deco and brutal 60s buildings are a mile from Carfax, protecting it from the tourist hordes. The College was founded almost by accident by Elizabeth Wordsworth for women’s education. It’s known for its unstuffy, creative vibe. Having survived for a century without them, St Hugh’s started enrolling men in 1986. This apparently resulted in an increase of rugby songs and associated lewdness in the bar – though as often as not, it’s the women’s football team to blame – and the College is welcoming with a tight-knit community atmosphere. Hugh’s students plague almost every activity at a University level.
| Sex ratio (M:F): 53:47 |
Founded: 1886 |
| Full-time u’grads: 387 |
Part-time: n/a |
| Postgrads: 248 |
Mature: n/a |
State:private school: 48:52
|
International: n/a |
| Academic ranking: 10 |
Disabled: n/a |
Bar: Wordsworth Room and Lee House (for functions); Morden Hall theatre, lots of musicals; frequent popular bops in JCR; opera and jazz trips. Two libraries (88,503 books – good on suffragette movement); four computer rooms (20 workstations), 24-hr access. Sporadic Hugh’s News and excellent College newsletter; charitable JCR with strong environmental concerns; interdenominational chapel. Fairly sporty; two basketball courts, lawns for croquet, tennis and frisbee; other facilities shared with Wadham 800m away. All can live in, 40% en suite rooms; cafe for snacks and surfing (the net variety); weekly formal meal in dining hall. Welfare, International, Ethnic, Women’s and Disability Officers; visiting doctor, nurse. Access fund varies between £100-500 a pop. Alternative prospectus online.
FAMOUS ALUMNI
Baroness Barbara Castle (late Lab MP); Emily Davison (suffragette martyr); Ruth Lawrence (mathematical prodigy); Mary Renault (historical novelist); Aung San Suu Kyi (Burmese Nobel Peace Prize winner); Joanna Trollope (Aga saga writer).