Are you curious about the age-old university that is All Souls College, Oxford?
From its fascinating history to the prestigious fellows honoured by it over centuries, there’s no lack of stories waiting to be explored and discovered here.
Let your curiosity take hold as we delve into one of England’s most treasured universities – from its foundations in antiquity all the way up to its current state today. these ivory walls.
History & Fellows of All Souls
All Souls, Oxford was planned, built, and chartered in the 1430s. At that time, Henry Chichele, the long-serving Archbishop of Canterbury, personally organized the project.
In 1438, All Souls received its charter from King Henry VI of England, and the college was officially established. The king also, at the invitation of the Archbishop, became one of the founders of the college.
No Undergraduate?
All Souls College has almost never admitted undergraduate students. Its members are those who have studied elsewhere for at least three years and most of whom have obtained a bachelor’s degree before coming here. As part of Oxford University, a distinctive feature of All Souls is that all members automatically become Fellows of the college, meaning they are part of the college’s teaching staff.
Admission
Once admitted, scholars engage in research or teaching activities at the college to earn higher degrees in theology, law (including secular and ecclesiastical law), and medicine—especially in theology and law.
Although during this historical period, the college did not produce scholars who were all learned, pragmatic, devout, and amiable as Chichele had hoped, it did cultivate a number of outstanding individuals, including Christopher Wren, William Blackstone, William Gladstone, Lord Curzon, and Lawrence of Arabia.
Examination/Prize Fellows
What is often talked about about All Souls is the college’s annual “Examination Fellows” selection test!
It brings fresh blood into the college by selecting the most academically gifted students at Oxford, also known as “Prize Fellows.”
Once you “win,” you don’t have to worry about your accommodation, salaries and living for the following seven years!
All Souls Library
It has 185,000 collections, a third of which were published before 1800. They are rich in works on law and history (especially military history).
Special Ceremony: Every hundred years, usually on January 14th, all the members will carry burning torches, chanting the “Mallard Song,” led by the “Lord of the Mallard” seated in a chair.
As they walk around the college in search of the legendary giant mallard that supposedly flew out from the foundations of the college buildings at its founding.
During the “hunt,” one person carries a wooden stick with a duck attached to it, walking in front of the “Lord of the Mallard.”
(In the past, the stick bore a live duck, later replaced by a dead duck (1901) or a wooden duck (2001). The most recent event was in 2001, so the next will be in 2101!)
All Souls Open Day
For those not members of the college, if you visit during open hours from 2 to 4 p.m. on workdays, you can boldly enter for a visit—show your Bod Card to the Porter.
For external visitors, it’s said that small groups of fewer than 6 people are also free.
The World's Hardest Examination
The selection test began in 1878 and was opened to women in 1979; it has been dubbed “the hardest exam in the world.”
Traditionally, two scholars are elected each year, although there have been years when only one was chosen. It is rare that no candidates are selected.
Fellows' benefits:
Candidates who meet the assessment criteria and are successfully elected will serve for seven years in the college.
They enjoy a variety of very high benefits, including an annual salary and free college accommodation. After the first two years, they may choose to continue academic research or work in other fields.
Requirements:
Students pursuing a Master’s degree or higher at Oxford University, and typically, no more than ten terms (about three years) after undergraduate graduation.
Exam Schedule:
Date: End of September or the beginning of October(over two days with two three-hour papers each day)
Content: Two papers on the subject chosen by the student, including classics, English literature, history, law, philosophy, and politics. Two other exams are on general topics, with three questions offered for the candidate to choose from.
Post-Doctoral Research Fellows
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Senior Research Fellows
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Visiting Fellows
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University Academics
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Extraordinary Research Fellowships
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Bonus: Student Accomodation in Oxford
Hot Picks by Students: Student Castle Oxford, Dorset House, iQ Alice House, Beech House, West Way Square
FAQ
All Souls College, Oxford, is known for its highly competitive admission process. It is considered one of the most challenging colleges to gain entry into. Prospective students typically need to excel in their academic fields, particularly in humanities and social sciences, to have a chance at admission.
All Souls College, Oxford, has a prestigious list of alumni, including T.S. Eliot, Christopher Hitchens, and John Redwood, among others. Many notable individuals from various fields, including literature, politics, and academia, have graduated from the college.
All Souls College is unique in that it has a very small student body. Typically, it admits around 2-3 new graduate students each year for research fellowships, and there are also around 70-80 visiting fellows. The college is known for its small and selective community.
The hardest exam in the world, often considered one of the most challenging academic assessments, is the All Souls Prize Fellowship examination. This examination selects new research fellows at All Souls College, Oxford. It consists of a series of essay questions on various subjects, and only a few candidates are awarded the prestigious fellowship.
All Souls College primarily focuses on research and does not offer undergraduate or taught postgraduate courses. Instead, it provides opportunities for postgraduate research fellowships, where scholars conduct independent research in various fields, including humanities, social sciences, and more. These research fellowships are highly competitive and prestigious.
