President’s Welcome
Dear Freshers,
On behalf of everyone in the Balliol graduate community, welcome to Oxford — we're so excited to have you! If you chose Balliol as your graduate college, congratulations on your sound judgement and impeccable taste. If Balliol chose you (or fate simply intervened), we promise you’ve ended up exactly where you’re meant to be. Either way, we can't wait to welcome you to the Balliol MCR.
The Balliol MCR (‘Middle Common Room’) is our graduate community and the heart of graduate life at the College. It revolves around the beautiful Holywell Manor, as well as the nearby Master’s Field accommodation complex. While Balliol has a well-earned reputation for academic excellence, we’re equally proud of having one of (if not) Oxford’s most sociable graduate communities. Bringing together students from an extraordinary range of disciplines, cultures, and backgrounds, the MCR is one of the most vibrant graduate centres in Oxford. From MPhils to DPhils, undergrad finalists and Balliol alumni who couldn’t quite bring themselves to leave, to the wonderfully eclectic cohort of new students arriving from across the globe, our community is a testament to Balliol’s enduring appeal. Whatever your journey looks like, the Balliol MCR will be a defining part of your Oxford experience — and we encourage you to make the most of everything it has to offer.
We all know that moving to a new college, a new university, and especially a new country can be a daunting and overwhelming prospect. To help you find your feet and feel at home as soon as possible, the MCR Committee has organised a Freshers’ Week for when you arrive, starting on Friday October 2nd. The provisional timetable will be emailed out to all incoming Freshers. As you will see, it is a busy week, but I cannot encourage you enough to throw yourself in and attend as many events as possible. I promise you won’t regret it!
Of course, this e-guide can only do so much — Oxford is a delightfully quirky place, and finding your feet can take a little time. To help you settle in before you arrive, every fresher will be assigned a set of ‘college parents’: two or three current MCR students who will be in touch in early September. They're there to offer a friendly welcome, answer any questions (big or small), and help you navigate everything from squash court bookings and laundry slots, to the best pubs in Oxford.
On a personal note, I couldn't have asked for a more supportive, welcoming, immensely fun or intellectually stimulating community than the Balliol MCR during my past three years at Oxford. It has broadened my horizons in ways I never expected, introduced me to friends turned family, and truly become my home away from home in Oxford. I hope that, like me and countless members of the MCR before you, you’re excited and eager to make the most of your time here.
This is a really special place, and we can’t wait to welcome you to it.
All my best,
