Much of our understanding of student life outside the lecture theatre comes from archive material created by the students themselves. We have lots of photograph albums which have been donated to us from alumni and both Colleges have their own student magazines.

Bedford College student magazine June 1938

The cartoon above depicts an impression of the three years of undergraduate study from a 1938 student magazine - has much changed for today's students?

BC PH/7/9 Boating trip from student album

Boating trips were popular with students from both Colleges. Students rowed competitively, but it was also a leisure activity for a day out with a picnic.

RHC PH/285/4/162

These two photographs come from an album donated by Margaret Yates, a student at Royal Holloway College in the 1920s, and show two of her fellow students clambering over the Founder's roof - not an advisable pastime!

Next - Discos and balls