Oliver

Oliver is a third-year student reading Classical Archaeology and Ancient History. Funding from the Student Opportunity Fund enabled him to fully participate in College life.

I was first drawn to Magdalen by its beautiful surroundings. Back home in Newcastle, my house overlooks a stretch of moorlands where animals often wander, so having nature so close by here feels like home.

My passion for my subject was sparked by one of my Ancient History tutors at school, whose enthusiasm for the field was truly infectious. They not only supported my Oxford application but also encouraged open, thought-provoking debates in class, and I really enjoyed the process of dissecting counterarguments and my own reasoning.

This year, I am working on a site report on Birdoswald Roman Fort, along Hadrian’s Wall. The site is stunning: much of the Fort is well-preserved, including the granaries with their buttressing that remain intact. The site is situated in Cumbria, near the border, on a high elevation with a sheer drop of about thirty or forty metres to the south. Looking north, the landscape opens out into undulating hills leading towards the pine forests of southern Scotland, with a small river winding around the base of the wall. It is both a beautiful and an isolated place, and I find it fascinating to imagine what life might have been like for the Roman soldiers stationed there. The garrison was likely composed of Dacian auxiliaries, serving in one of the most remote parts of the Roman Empire, practically on the edge of Scotland.

In my spare time, I play for the College rugby team and football team, as well as serving on the committee of the football team. It has been lovely to see friendships forming on the football field and continuing beyond it. This year the Student Opportunity Fund generously provided us with new equipment and kit, and we are all excited to see how this season’s inter-college competition unfolds. Both the rugby and football teams have fantastic team spirits. I applied to the Student Opportunity Fund to ease the financial stress I was experiencing.

I had not realised how much mental space this was taking up and how draining that could be, but with this support, I have felt like I have more free time and energy, and I have been able to enjoy spending more time with friends. The most recent Trinity was one of the best periods I have had in Oxford – the funding has genuinely improved my experience here. As a recipient of support from alumni, I would like to thank everyone who has made this possible. I can speak not only from my own experience but also on behalf of many of my friends who have benefitted from the Student Support Fund – your generosity has helped us find our footing at Oxford and make Magdalen feel even more like home.

The difference you make is deeply personal: it transforms individual lives and stories. Oxford has many grand facilities, but what truly shapes the communities are opportunities like this, which allow students like me – and many others I know – to make the most of our time here.