Four Weird Oxford University Exam Traditions You Won't Have Heard Of

By Alexandra Jane

In the weird and wonderful world of Oxford, exams are an established part of city life. Seeing students stroll down the street in flowing black cloaks, wearing white bowties and flowers pinned to their shirts is far from an unusual sight. But, compared to almost any other university, Oxford's exam season can look a little odd. So, what exactly are the traditions that make up this odd turn-out for exams?

Wearing white tie to exams

Oxford finals are sat in a strange mixture of garment, more akin to white tie (for the boys at least) than any other dress code. The outfit, termed "sub fusc" (for reasons students are oblivious to) consists of a white shirt, black suit trousers/ skirt, and the black commoners gown. If you’re super brainy you’ll don the more fancy scholars gown, and then you really can pretend you are at Hogwarts. On top of this, you require a white bowtie or black ribbon.

Although the traditional outfits were different for men and women, rules dictating gender-specific outfits were scrapped a few years ago (although the vote was in favour of sub fusc as a whole), so now everyone can enjoy those bowties.

The final accessory is a mortarboard. This must be carried into every exam (and must also be carried into matriculation at the start of an Oxford student’s academic career), but you must not in any circumstances put it on. Placing the mortarboard on your head can (apparently) get you a hefty fine and is not good form until you’ve actually passed the degree.

Colour-coded flowers

A less fussy and non-obligatory tradition than sub fusc (which everyone nevertheless follows religiously) is the wearing of carnations for exams. For your first exam, you wear a white carnation (usually pinned to your gown), while pink carnations feature in interim exams, and the much-loved red carnation signals freedom when you proudly pin it to your lapel for the final exam.

These flowers are typically purchased from a quaint flower shop in the Oxford covered market, and are bought for the student undergoing exams by their college "children".

No, we're not saying Oxford students all have kids. Oxford "families" are an extensive and successful way of linking the years and providing support to new students. Each student gains two "parents" from the year above (and with this comes four grandparents in the year above that), and a sibling. You get "married" in first year and apply for children. Whilst you buy your kids their carnations in first year, they’re responsible for kitting you out when your finals come round. 

When and where?

Finals are sat in Trinity term – or, to the rest of the population, the third (summer) term of the year. The other two terms are known as Michaelmas and, for reasons none of the students are quite sure of, the term between is called Hilary. This is at odds with Cambridge terms, which are known as Michaelmas, Lent and Easter.

The other type of exam every Oxford student is familiar with is called Collections – practice exams sat at the beginning of every single term. These are less formal, and don’t require sub fusc, carnations, or the final tradition: trashing.

Trashing

Whilst the local council may not be so happy about it, Oxford students are big fans of a not-so-ancient tradition known as trashing. This concludes exams, and can include everything from glitter and prosecco, to custard and foam. The student who has finished their exams leaves the exam halls through a special back entrance (along with the rest of their cohort), running into the arms of their friends who promptly cover them (and remember they’re in Sub Fusc) in prosecco and various other substances by way of celebration.

You can tell which students have finished by the infamous red carnations. Whilst food-stuffs were banned several years ago, and there are authorities to check this is enforced, some do slip through the net.

Nevertheless, it’s a touching – if messy – tradition. Some students like to complete the tradition by subsequently jumping in the river (though this is also banned, and the uni are getting better at enforcing this one). It paints a lovely picture; some of Britain’s best young brains covered in foam, chugging alcohol and drenched in river sludge.  

Alexandra Jane is a writer and editor for Inspiring Interns, a graduate recruitment agency. Check out their website to see which internships and graduate jobs are currently available, as well as their graduate jobs Manchester page for further opportunities.

(Lead image: Mike Knell (Flickr))