Brasenose College

15/05/2026

Next week, John Bowers KC will host his final in-person Principal’s Conversation! Over his time as Principal, John has led nearly 70 ‘conversations’ with guests as varied as Michael Palin, Jeremy Paxman, Jessie Childs, Antonia Romeo and more. He’s hosted politicians, film directors, historians, medics, writers, and plenty of Brasenose members, past and present. These talks have enriched the cultural life of Brasenose, and allowed College members and staff to ask questions of those they might not otherwise have met. Brasenose Alumni Society President Jane Johnson will talk with John about his legal career and his tenure as Principal. Join us on Wednesday 20 May, 5.30pm in College (will also be live-streamed and recorded). https://www.bnc.ox.ac.uk/event/special-principals-conversation-john-bowers-kc/

14/05/2026

It's Ascension Day! One of the longstanding traditions is 'The Beating of the Bounds', with Processions from the University Church and St Michael at the North Gate coming through College to strike and mark the boundary stones within Brasenose. Read more about the history of Ascension Day at BNC here: https://brasenosecollegelibrary.wordpress.com/
Brasenose College Library

14/05/2026

The Brasenose Alumni Summer Party will be held in the Great Hall at St Bartholomew's Hospital on Tuesday 30 June 2026 | 6:30pm - 8:30pm.

Join the Brasenose community at the biggest alumni event of the year, as we express our gratitude and say our goodbyes to outgoing Principal John Bowers KC.

There is still time to book, but tickets are selling fast so early booking is strongly recommended to avoid disappointment. Click the video link to catch a glimpse of the remarkable Hogarth paintings on the staircase of our venue (video courtesy of Will Palin (English 1990) and St Bart's Heritage Trust).

BNC alumni have been sent their invitations by email. We can't wait to see you there!

Enjoy the videos and music that you love, upload original content and share it all with friends, family and the world on YouTube.

12/05/2026

There's still time to book for the Principal's Conversation with Andrew O'Hagen - tomorrow in College (Wed 13 May) at 17:30-19:00. This event will also be live streamed and recorded. More details here:

Andrew O’Hagan is one of his generation’s most exciting and most serious chroniclers of contemporary Britain. Andrew O’Hagan is one of his generation’s most exciting and most serious chroniclers of contemporary Britain. He has three times been nominated for the Booker Prize. He was voted one...

06/05/2026

Very best of luck to members of BNC taking part in the Cuppers Finals on Saturday 9th May, as part of the 'Turl St' team, a combination of Jesus, Lincoln, Brasenose, Regent’s Park and Exeter Colleges! https://www.ourfc.org/post/cuppers-finals-day-2026

OURFC Blues Brasenose JCR

Cuppers Finals Day returns as the showpiece of Oxford college rugby, with four standout fixtures promising a high-quality end to the season’s competition. With college pride, silverware, and bragging rights all on the line, the stage is set at Iffley Road for a memorable day on

Saturday 9th of May.
Iffley Road, Rugby Ground

4pm, Women*s Cup: Worcester College, Oxford, Pembroke College, Oxford, St Peter's College, Oxford and Somerville College v Jesus College, Oxford - Alumni, Lincoln College Oxford, Brasenose College, Regent's Park College, Oxford and Exeter College, Oxford

Full Cuppers Finals Preview:
https://www.ourfc.org/post/cuppers-finals-day-2026

30/04/2026

Join John Bowers KC for a Principal's Conversation with Andrew O’Hagan to talk about his life and work. Andrew O’Hagan has been nominated for the Booker Prize, was voted one of Granta’s Best of Young British Novelists in 2003, and he won the E. M. Forster Prize from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He is Editor-at-Large of the London Review of Books and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. His most recent novel is Caledonian Road (2024) published by Faber & Faber. His previous novel Mayflies (2020) won the Christopher Isherwood Prize, and was adapted into a two-part BBC television drama of the same name.

This event is in College on Wed 13 May 17:30-19:00 and will also be live streamed and recorded. https://www.bnc.ox.ac.uk/alumni-event-listing/

21/04/2026

The Hall at BNC has a fascinating history - read all about it in the latest Brasenose College Archives blog right here:

The College Hall was first built in the early 16th century, on the south side of Brasenose’s front quadrangle, known as Old Quad. Since then, College members have dined in much the same Hall! This …

16/04/2026

Don't miss this year’s Brasenose summer party at St Bartholomew’s Great Hall. It will be an unforgettable evening a spectacular London setting!

Tuesday 30th June 2026, 6:30-8:30pm, St Barts Great Hall, London.

BNC alumni: your invitation is now in your inbox.

Will Palin (English, 1990) gives us a short sneak peek of this year's venue.

10/04/2026

Congratulations to BNC DPhil student Aditi Upmanyu, whose story 'Bua' has been shortlisted for the Oxford-BNU Creative Writing Award 2026. Best of luck Aditi! 🤩

The Oxford–BNU Creative Writing Award, organised by OPGDI and supported by TORCH, continues to highlight exceptional emerging literary talent from across the University. The 2026 shortlist reflects a remarkable breadth of styles and imagination, showcasing the strength and reach of interdisciplina...

08/04/2026

Tickets are now open for this year’s Brasenose Alumni Summer Party in one of London’s most remarkable historic settings....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qW4j0E2OiIU

Tuesday 30 June 2026 | 6:30pm - 8:30pm.

BNC alumni: your invitation is now in your inbox.

Will Palin (English, 1990) gives us a short sneak peek of this year's venue.

07/04/2026

Congratulations to comedy sketch group The Tiny Umbrellas, including BNC alumni Chess Nightingale and Kian Moghaddas, on winning the Hen & Chickens Theatre Choice Award at SketchFest! 👏🤩👍

The inaugural SketchFest awards saw trophies handed to Will & Noah, The Supermalts, The Tiny Umbrellas, Forced Rhubarb and Justin Edwards.