Cost of Oxford Uni Education?

[Taylor94]

I'm not sure if this is in the correct thread so admin feel free to move accordingly.

I'm wondering as to how much a Oxford education was cost in the early 1700s.
I have a younger brother to my ancestor who was sent there and after became a rector.

His alumni record is
'Henry Dudley, son of Richard Dudley of Odstone, Leicestershire, Gentleman. Christ Church, Matric. 19 March 1701-02 aged 16. B.A 1705. Rector of Hope Mansell, Herefordshire'

Henry's older brother Richard, doesn't seem to have gone to university or any other children but being the oldest son I suppose he inherited a little of his fathers lands, although this isn't exactly specified in Richard Sr's will in 1710. Richard Jr did inherit 50+ acres from his maternal grandfather George Bent, so he seems to have been set from a young age.
I have read that younger sons of wealthy families were sent for the clergy so maybe this is a similar situation?

Was an education paid for or was a donation made in order to get accepted?
I think the average yearly wage of a labourer in the 1700s was between £5-£10?
Considering the Dudleys were styled Gentlemen and Esquires for past and post generations, money wouldnt be too hard to come by.

Any help appreciated.

[carom]

Have you tried contacting the archivist at Christ Church?


www.chch.ox.ac.uk/library-and-archives/contacting-archivist

[pinefamily]

The Christ Church Archives are very helpful. They kindly supplied information about my ancestors who leased land from their institution.

[Taylor94]

Thank you for your replies.
I shall contact them to see if they have anything more to add other than the alumni record.

[pharmaT]

Slightly earlier but my daughter's 10x grt grandfather was accepted to an Oxford College as a servitor in 1669. This meant he got his tuition in return for being a servant for the college.  I haven't yet discovered details of his duties though.

[Taylor94]

Got a very quick reply from the Archivist.
It appears Henry Dudley entered Christ church, March 1702 as a commoner (Meaning he was an ordinary fee paying undergraduate) and was tutored by John Freind who was a medic and professor of chemistry, and physician to the Royal family. Took his BA in 1705 and appears to have stayed on as a graduate working his way towards his MA but left here towards the end of 1708 before he achieved that degree.
I shall enquire to how much that would roughly cost, maybe they have some clue of pricing in the archives.

[pinefamily]

I've never understood the term "commoner" in this context; is it the same as pleb that is used in some instances?
Perhaps you could ask that as well.

[Chris Doran]

I don't know whether this applied to Oxford or Cambridge or both, but I read somewhere that course fees and exam fees were separate, so you could attend the course but not sit the exam. If you couldn't afford the exam fee, you didn't get a degree, but could put "Sir" (including the quotes, and nothing to do with knighthood) in front of your name. Several early rectors at a local church are listed that way. Whilst it doesn't appear to have applied to Henry, it would be interesting to know the fee breakdown.

[pharmaT]

I don't know whether this applied to Oxford or Cambridge or both, but I read somewhere that course fees and exam fees were separate, so you could attend the course but not sit the exam. If you couldn't afford the exam fee, you didn't get a degree, but could put "Sir" (including the quotes, and nothing to do with knighthood) in front of your name. Several early rectors at a local church are listed that way. Whilst it doesn't appear to have applied to Henry, it would be interesting to know the fee breakdown.

Even today, at non-Oxbridge Universities you have to pay a separate fee to graduate.  This applies even if graduating in-absentia.  The "Sir" bit doesn't apply though if you pass everything but fail to graduate.