Saturday 16th May 2026

News

Think tank publishes report calling for centralised Oxbridge admissions

The Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) has published a new report advocating for centralised admissions procedures for applications to the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge, arguing that the current collegiate system increases the opacity and complexity for applicants and their teachers.

St Catz reopens dining hall following RAAC renovations

St Catherine’s College has reopened its dining hall, following more than two years of disruption caused by the discovery of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) in parts of its estate.

Violent clash outside Oxford Union during visit of Sudanese prime minister

A violent altercation broke out between the entourage of Prime Minister Kamil Idris of Sudan and protesters during Idris’ visit to the Oxford Union on Wednesday, 13th May. The incident occurred as Idris was exiting the Union after participating in a speaker event.

Oxford and UN launch peace and security fellowship

The University of Oxford and the United Nations have launched a new Peace and Security Fellowship.

DRINK: Sip

Sip 102 Walton Street (01865) 311322 Going to Sip is a bit like being a child at a grown-up, middleclass dinner party. It’s...

EAT: Baby Bar

Baby Bar 30 Walton St (01865) 515910 Baby Bar is one of those amazing places where you arrange to meet a friend for coffee...

Come out on top

If you read last week’s article, those glorious hats should now be adorning your rain-drenched hair. Do not think, however, that just because it...

Into the Minds of Serial Killers

It’s an age old question: what influences a person’s character? Is it nature or nurture? In a new book released this week Helen Morrison,...

Greed, Cuban style

As we belt down the autopista from Jose Marti airport towards Havana centre, crammed into our Soviet-built red taxi, this long hidden corner of...

Bored this Trinity? Try… Port Meadow

Summer is here (finally). Time to join every other Oxford student in the University Parks. For those of you who enjoy spending your afternoon...

Private Eye for the Satire Guy

Private Eye raises hell. Always has done – it’s been sued more times than anyone can count and provides much weekly amusement, from titters...

Basic Instincts

Phobias are, by definition, irrational fears, though it would seem that some are more irrational than others. A fear of heights on the top...

The Pride of Britain?

There are very few things that are seriously wrong with Britain at the moment. OK, so the weather might be crap, the food nowhere...

Chatting up: Jonathon Gornall

How did you get into journalism? Slogged my way through local papers from the age of 21, sleeping with anybody who could help me...

On the lookout for the genuine article

The difficulty in verbalising emotion, that holy grail of lovers romantic and refined, to enunciate a feeling so acutely felt, is evidenced both in...

Conversations After a Burial

If asked to name a play by Yasmina Reza, surely every avid theatregoer would suggest Art, the play that achieved global success in the...

Alice

If the idea of an actor dressed in a tailcoat covered in Jammy Dodgers intrigues you, then you should go and see Alice. A...

An Ideal Husband

Take one perennial play of the English tradition, stage it in the beautiful surroundings of the oldest college in Oxford, and watch the magic...

Morning after the Boogie Night before

There’s no doubt about it; John Holmes was big. He made over 2,000 films during his career and, aided in no small way by...

Van Helsing

Never is a cinematic experience more depressing than when the mobile phone advert at the beginning of the film is the best thing about...

Wondrous Oblivion

Paul Morrison’s first film, 1999’s Solomon and Gaenor, was a tragedy about an Orthodox Jew’s illicit affair with a miner’s daughter in the impoverished...

Pope of Mope Returns

Morrissey, ex-frontman of The Smiths, returns for his first album in seven years with impeccable timing – all the hottest new bands express their...

Live: Supergrass

Despite this being their first home-coming gig for some time, it was a pretty unhyped event. Inside the venue, there were true Supergrass fans...

White Light Motorcade: Thank you, Goodnight

While it’s one thing to have influences in the music industry, it is quite another to wear them as proudly as White Light Motorcade...

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