Just to clarify some of the terminology, the MCR (Middle Common Room) serves as the focal point for all graduate activity in college. The name itself serves a dual role: the MCR refers to both the graduate student body and the actual rooms occupied by the society within college. The MCR is governed by a committee of students elected by the graduates in January of each year. The MCR Exec takes care of the day-to-day running of the MCR; provides welfare support and represents graduates at both a college and university level with a strong commitment to improve services for graduates. Most importantly the Exec is responsible for your busy social life during term and organise a wide spectrum of social, sporting and intellectual activities.

The graduate community, here at Exeter, consists of a wide range of nationalities, subject areas and people from all walks of life. As a result, we hold a variety of events, (some of which are more traditional than others!) such as whisky tasting, wine tasting, games evenings, themed bops (check out the photos from our couples/Valentine's bop), film nights, trips to Cambridge, and music and sports events. We also draw on the strengths from our wide variety of nationalities by celebrating national holidays, such as Burns' Night and Thanksgiving dinners. We are fortunate to have a wide range of speakers come to Exeter. These have included Alan Rusbridger (editor of 'The Guardian'), Philip Pullman, AS Byatt, distinguished author and former winner of the Booker Prize, Baroness Helena Kennedy QC, (a leading human rights barrister) and Prof Parveen Kumar CBE, chair of the Medicines Commission.

If anybody has any questions or queries about applying to Exeter, please feel free to contact me at maria.sciara@exeter.ox.ac.uk. We would be more than happy to answer any queries you have regarding life as a postgraduate at Exeter and/or to show any of you around the college so that you can meet our fantastic students and get a feel for the MCR.

Maria Sciara
MCR President 2006
D.Phil Politics