Membership & Charges
Once you become a member of Common Room, you will be able to:
- Use college facilities like the library, punts and sporting facilities;
- Join College clubs and societies;
- Dine in College and book Formal and Guest Night Dinners;
- And more….
Types of membership
Graduate students and all categories of Fellow are automatically members of the Common Room.
Partners and spouses can apply to become associate members of the Common Room. Membership entitles them to a college swipe-card that they can use to access the laundry and library and charge items to their college account (also known as battels). It also allows them to join college clubs and societies and dine in the Hall.
This scheme invites applications from researchers who are employed by the University of Oxford and are engaged in substantial research, for instance, those at post-doctoral or more senior levels without a college attachment. Applications are considered twice each term. Upcoming deadlines are as set out below. All proposals must include a supporting statement from the applicant’s Head of Department.
Application Windows
Michaelmas term 2025 26 September 2025 31 October 2025
Hilary term 2026 2 January 2026 6 February 2026
Trinity term 2026 10 April 2026 15 May 2026
- Student Alumni Membership of Common Room
Former students of the College are eligible for membership if they have successfully completed a qualification or were fully enrolled for a minimum of two continuous years. Please see the application form and rules and details of membership below.
- Fellow Alumni Membership of Common Room
Fellows should apply for this membership upon two consecutive years in a Fellowship role. Please see the application form below for further particulars.
Membership of Common Room should bring some benefit to the life of the College and is normally offered only to people with permanent posts or occupations in or near Oxford (internal or external to the University). Candidates may live in Oxford or elsewhere. Applicants for Ordinary Membership of Common Room will need to provide the details of a Proposer and Seconder. Both of these individuals must be members of Wolfson, and at least one of these individuals must be a Wolfson Governing Body Fellow. Please see the application form above for further particulars.
This status is to enable invited academics and comparable creative persons to carry out research in Oxford for any period of time from a single term up to two years.
Visiting Scholars are elected by the Fellowships and Membership Committee twice each term (weeks ‘0′ and ‘5′ in the University Term). Candidates must be proposed and seconded by two current College members, one of whom should be a Governing Body Fellow who knows the candidate personally or is familiar with their academic work.
Prospective visitors may come for any length of time from a single term to two years. There is a termly charge of £300.00 (which includes membership of common room) for Michaelmas and Hilary terms, and £400.00 for Trinity term. The Trinity term payment includes the Summer vacation.
Fees will not be pro-rated for those wishing to leave part-way through a term.
Application Windows
Michaelmas term 2026 membership start date:
Deadline for application: 18th September 2026
Hilary term 2027 membership start date:
Deadline for application: 29th October 2026 (late applications maybe accepted until 18th December 2026)
Trinity term 2027 membership start date:
Deadline for application: 5th February 2027 (late applications maybe accepted until 2nd April 2027)
After the successful completion of the probation period, employees of Wolfson College are eligible to apply for membership of the Common Room for the duration of their appointment.
Charges
| Student | N/A | N/A | Spouse/Partner | Pay termly | £21.00 inc VAT |
| Fellows | Pay yearly | £63.00 inc VAT | Spouse/Partner | Pay yearly | £63.00 inc VAT |
| Staff | Pay termly | £21.00 inc VAT | Spouse/Partner | Pay termly | £21.00 inc VAT |
| Research Membership of Common Room | Pay yearly | £123.00 inc VAT | Spouse/Partner | Pay yearly | £123.00 inc VAT |
| Common Room Membership | Pay yearly | £123.00 inc VAT | Spouse/Partner | Pay yearly | £123.00 inc VAT |
| Visiting Scholar | Pay termly | £300.00 inc VAT (Michaelmas / Hilary terms) £400.00 incl. VAT (Trinity term incl. summer vacation) | Spouse/Partner | Pay termly | £41.00 inc VAT |
