What You Didn’t Know About Oxford University

Crazy Secrets! 101 Bell Chimes a Day and Exams in Academic Robes?!

Oxford Exams Are Full of Ritual! Students Must Wear ”Magic Robes“ to Take Tests!

Exams Require Wearing “Sub Fusc”  the Formal Academic Dress!

Oxford students must wear a highly ceremonial exam outfit when sitting their exams.

including: 

  • A black gown

  • A white shirt (with a black bow tie for men, or a black ribbon for women)

  • Black or dark trousers / skirt

  • Black shoes

Wearing different flower colors shows your exam progress!

🌼 White carnation → For your first exam

(Symbolizing purity… you haven’t been destroyed by exams yet.)

🌸 Pink carnation → For exams in the middle
(Your soul is slowly withering.)

🌹 Red carnation → For your final exam
(You’re finally free. Straight to the ICU.)

At the Bodleian Library, books are never loaned out, not even to the king!

You have to take an oath… just to enter the library?!

Before you’re allowed to even open a book at the Bodleian Library, you must first recite the Reader’s Oath:

“I hereby undertake not to remove, mark, deface, or in any way damage any item from the library’s collections.”

This centuries old tradition dates back to the 17th century and yes, even Oxford students must obey it.
Even if you’re a Nobel Prize winner, the rules still apply.

📚 These books? Untouchable.  

Step into the Bodleian Old Library, one of the oldest academic libraries in the world, and you’ll be overwhelmed by the sheer number of books including an underground archive that holds even more than what’s above ground.

But here’s the catch:
None of them can be borrowed.
Ever.

Even King Charles I once tried to borrow a book and was politely but firmly denied.
Why?
Simple: Rules are rules. No exceptions.
(King Charles, probably: “What kind of academic dictatorship is this?!” 😅)

Oxford Time Is Wild! The Whole UK Is On Time, Except This University That’s Always 5 Minutes Late! 😂

Oxford once ran on its own time, literally. “Oxford Time” was based on the position of the sun, making it about 5 minutes behind Greenwich Mean Time.

Even though the rest of the UK eventually standardized its clocks, Oxford simply refused to change.
Because, of course… Oxford does things its own way. 😂

🔔 9:05 PM? Time to Ring the Bell 101 Times!

At Christ Church College, a very special tradition lives on:
Every evening at 9:05 PM, the Great Tom Bell rings 101 times, not on the hour, but fashionably late.

This ritual began in 1663, when the then dean John Fell decreed that the bell should chime once for each of the college’s original 101 students.

Today, the tradition continues and every night at 9:05,
Oxford echoes with the sound of history.

Valour UK Summer Study Tour

Join us and soak up the awesome, quirky side of Oxford culture!

🌟Top 5 Highlights of the Study Tour🌟

1️⃣ Official Oxford & Cambridge Open Days

  • Explore the campuses, including libraries, lecture halls, and dormitories.

  • Attend university experience seminars with a variety of course options.

  • Have face to face meetings with university admissions teams to fully understand application requirements and insider tips.

  • Experience firsthand the school atmosphere, teaching styles, and campus life in the most authentic way.

2️⃣ Expert Study Abroad Consultants Throughout the Trip

Led by professional consultants with 8 years of UK study experience and over 10 years of international education expertise, providing full support and instant answers to all your overseas study questions!

Our consultants are well versed in British culture and the intricacies of university applications abroad, making this an invaluable opportunity for students aiming for top UK universities.

3️⃣ Visits to Top 10 UK Universities Insights from Local Students on Their Application Experiences

Tour the UK’s top 10 universities:
Oxford, Bristol, Bath, Warwick, Cambridge, UCL, Imperial, LSE, King’s College London, and UAL.

Local Students Share the Ultimate Application Tips ✏️

  • How to write a Personal Statement that really stands out?

  • What competitions or extracurricular activities do admissions officers actually want to see?

Get the inside scoop straight from students at top universities!

4️⃣ Experience a Prestigious Private Boarding School

Bede’s Summer School offers a wide variety of courses, including equestrian lessons, La Liga football classes, zoo management, and more all in a full English speaking environment that helps students explore their interests!

With students from over 50 countries, the school provides a truly international setting, enhancing English communication skills and teamwork.

For more details, feel free to contact a Valour representative.

5️⃣ Explore Famous Attractions and British Charm

Visit must see landmarks like Buckingham Palace and Big Ben,
plus hidden gems known only to locals, such as Shakespeare’s hometown Stratford-upon-Avon and the picturesque Cotswolds.

 

Contact us