3. Furnishing. It is necessary for every student in College to provide himself with table-linen and table-ware, bed linen, &c. For instance, one College suggests, ‘2 pair sheets, 3 pillow-cases, 3 table-cloths, 6 towels, toilet-covers, glass-cloths, dusters, set of china (½ doz.); 6 each of small knives, large knives, teaspoons, dessert-spoons, table-spoons, small forks, large forks, tumblers, ... cruet-stands, salt-cellars and spoons.’ Kettle, coffee and teapots are also needed. These items may involve from £7 up, according to the taste of the individual. Frequently some of them may be purchased from the scout.
The incoming tenant often finds it necessary to purchase or rent several additions to the furniture which he finds in his rooms (see Furniture, infra), and often has to see to numerous repairs—for the furniture is handed on ‘from generation to generation’.
4. Tuition. Under ordinary circumstances undergraduates pay the regular tuition specified in the following Table, averaging £8 per Term. Research students are in some cases released from a part of this tuition, but may have to pay for other tuition (special).
5. Room-rent. Rhodes Scholars will spend their first two years at least in College. (For rental rates, see [Table, p. 105].) On an average, rooms in College cost less rental than ‘licensed lodgings’. (See [p. 66].)
6. Furniture—Rental or Purchase. It is the custom in Oxford for the out-going tenant to leave most of his furniture for sale to the incoming tenant. The College has an assessor who ‘values’ the furniture each time the room changes occupants. Some Colleges act merely as ‘sales agents’, the purchase money passing from new to old occupant through the College offices. In many cases the College owns the furniture and rents it to the student. Where rental is allowed the cost comes to about fifteen per cent. of the valuation of the furniture, per year; that is, about five per cent. is charged for use of the furniture, and ‘depreciation’ is charged at the rate of from five per cent. to ten per cent. per year.
7. Battels. The term ‘battels’ is used in two senses. In its larger sense it is applied to the Terminal bill which is sent three times per year by the College to each of its students. In this sense it embraces all items of current account between College and student (including University Quarterly dues); College dues; tuition; College (amalgamated) clubs[68]; room-rent; furniture-rent; ‘establishment charges’ (i. e. cost of maintaining College plant, &c.); meals; groceries; coal; lights; laundry; messenger and gate-bills; fines; and all extra charges (percentages, breakage bills, special fees, &c.).
In its restricted sense ‘battels’ means a weekly statement which covers dinners in hall—all meals; groceries and supplies for breakfasts, luncheons, teas and coffee from kitchen, buttery, and common-room; coal and faggots; messenger and gate fees (i. e. items of consumption and of special service).
These statements are sent out each week—dinners in hall average 12s.-14s. per week. In Winter Terms coal and faggots average about 4s. per week (less in Summer Term). The other items are entirely at disposal of the individual.
It is possible to keep these weekly bills as low as £1 5s., but this is far below the average. From £12 to £20[69] per Term is a fair estimate, with moderate living, for these items.