Balliol College, University of Oxford

Balliol College buildings at night under a bright moon with a visible moon dog in the sky.

Photographer Stuart Bebb captured this stunning moon dog shining over Balliol. A moon dog (or paraselene) appears when bright moonlight passes through cirrostratus clouds filled with hexagonal ice crystals, creating glowing spots of light on one or both sides of the Moon.

A new statue of Dervorguilla, the founder of @ballioloxford.bsky.social has been erected in Oxford by the marvellous sculptor Alex Wenham. Some of John Milnes' evocative photos of the process of creating it are here: theoxfordsausage.com/a-new-public...

Statue of Dervorguilla of Galloway

A new statue of Balliol’s co-founder and first benefactor, Dervorguilla of Galloway, now stands at Master's Field! Warm thanks to Jim Rogers (Balliol 1964) for making this commission possible, and to Alex Wenham for his creativity and vision.
www.balliol.ox.ac.uk/news/2025/se...

Professor Matthew Langton (left) and Professor Adrian Kelly (right)

Matthew Langton and Adrian Kelly have been awarded the title of Professor in this year's Recognition of Distinction initiative by the University of Oxford. Congratulations to our two new professors!
www.balliol.ox.ac.uk/news/2025/se...

Conor Muller in Cornwall

Balliol graduate student Conor Muller is cycling across the UK in memory of his mum, raising funds to support charities Solace and The Brain Tumour Charity
www.balliol.ox.ac.uk/news/2025/au...

Professor Sir Charles Godfray

Professor Sir Charles Godfray (Director of the Oxford Martin School, Professorial Fellow) discusses his career and the future of food in a rapidly changing climate.
www.ox.ac.uk/climate-and-...

Photo of Balliol's Front Quad

Good luck to everyone receiving their A-Level results today! If you are #GoingToOxford and joining Balliol – many congratulations and we look forward to seeing you this autumn.

Portrait of Dame Stephanie Shirley

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Dame Stephanie ‘Steve’ Shirley - entrepreneur, philanthropist & Foundation Fellow of Balliol. From refugee to entrepreneur to philanthropist, she lived ‘a life worth saving,’ and her generosity to the College leaves an enduring legacy.
tinyurl.com/4hjxspv4

Dame Stephanie 'Steve' Shirley, technology pioneer, dies aged 91 She founded the software company Freelance Programmers in 1962, which almost exclusively hired women, and in later life donated almost £70m of her fortune.

I only met Dame Stephanie “Steve” Shirley twice and both times she was talking about her life story which is among the most impressive I know.

The world is poorer without her.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Three Balliol members have been elected as Fellows of the British Academy this year. Congratulations to Prof Nick Couldry (Balliol 1977), Prof Tomila Lankina (Balliol 1998), and Richard Ovenden (Professorial Fellow) on their election!
www.balliol.ox.ac.uk/news/2025/ju...

The continued support of Old Members and friends is crucial to ensuring that current and future Balliol students can thrive, no matter the challenges they face. Make your gift today to support students when they need it most: give.balliol.ox.ac.uk/p/areaofgreatestneed/pledge/

Whether it’s keeping our doors open to bright young minds, helping students thrive no matter their circumstances, providing sanctuary to students fleeing crisis, protecting the excellence of the tutorial system, and so much more, your generosity supports so many students in so many ways. Thank you.

Thanks to the support of Old Members and friends, Balliol students can learn, grow and flourish in a vibrant, creative, intellectually curious community. Everyone who shared their story this week has highlighted the difference your support makes to them. We are all so grateful.

Give today to protect the excellence of the tutorial system for future generations of students: give.balliol.ox.ac.uk/p/areaofgreatestneed/pledge/
Thank you for sustaining a stimulating academic environment that offers students the best education and prepares them to leave their mark on the world.

Your support has made ECFs like Linda a vital part of Balliol’s academic community. They provide dynamic tutorials, conduct cutting-edge research and equip students for the future. ECFs have expanded teaching by 30% and contribute immeasurably to Balliol’s intellectual life.

Tutorials are the cornerstone of an Oxford education, and the generosity of Old Members and friends for Balliol’s Early Career Fellowship (ECF) programme attracts outstanding academics at the beginning of their careers to the College to enrich tutorial teaching at Balliol.

Balliol has a proud history of offering sanctuary and the support of Old Members and friends makes this possible. Thank you to everyone who has become part of this tradition and given students seeking sanctuary a chance to continue their education.

Consider supporting students fleeing crisis to continue their educational journey and play their part in shaping the future: give.balliol.ox.ac.uk/p/sanctuary-fund/pledge/. Partnerships with other University funds doubles every gift to the Balliol Sanctuary Fund, giving them twice the impact.

Your generosity gives students comprehensive support tailored to their circumstances enabling them to settle at Balliol and immerse themselves in their passion for their studies. Learn more about how your gifts support students seeking sanctuary at Balliol alumniweb.ox.ac.uk/balliol/sanctuary

The amazing support of Old Members and friends for the Balliol Sanctuary Fund provides scholarships to students from across the world fleeing crisis. Your support covers their tuition, living and accommodation costs, giving bright students a safe home to continue their education.

Thank you to everyone whose generosity helps students to study what they love, fulfil their ambitions, and get the most out of their time at Balliol. To support students when they need it most and give them the opportunity to thrive: give.balliol.ox.ac.uk/p/balliolstudentsupport/pledge/

The support of Old Members and friends empowered Charles to focus on his studies, conduct key research for his thesis, and lay a path for his future, without the burden of financial pressure. Read more about the difference you make to students like Charles alumniweb.ox.ac.uk/balliol/impact

Financial pressures have a huge impact on students, but thanks to the generosity of Old Members and friends, Balliol students can overcome these challenges. Today we’re highlighting stories from students who have flourished and achieved at Balliol with the help of your support.

Consider supporting outreach to help bright young minds to realise their potential: give.balliol.ox.ac.uk/p/outreach/pledge/
We are incredibly grateful to the Old Members and friends whose generosity keeps Balliol’s doors open to these most promising school pupils. Thank you.

Outreach is one of many areas of Balliol life supported by Old Members and friends. Thanks to you, students like Bella are supported at all stages of their journey to Balliol. Read Bella’s story and more from students like her in this year’s Floreat Domus heyzine.com/flip-book/floreat-domus-2025

This week, we’ll be celebrating the difference the generosity of Old Members and friends makes to so many students. Each day, we’ll hear about the incredible impact of this support straight from people whose lives it has changed.

📯 A rare postal delivery from across a continent brings
- the annual update from Balliol. 🎓
@ballioloxford.bsky.social 📯 And I'm on page 21 😎 #Oxford

Image showing the schedule of the two Open Days

Today and tomorrow's schedule:

Image of the front entrance of Balliol College

Image of balloons and bunting in Balliol colours in the Front Quad

We're excited to meet prospective students today! Come by the Old Common Room to:
* learn about the admissions process
* connect with current students and staff
* get a feel for student life at Balliol

Thinking about Oxford? Discover what makes Balliol College a unique place to study. Join us for this year’s #OxOpenDays on 2 & 3 July. Further info: www.balliol.ox.ac.uk/admissions/s...