King's Scholar

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A King's Scholar is a scholar of Eton College, who has passed the King's Scholarship Examinations and is therefore admitted into a house, College, which is the oldest Eton house and comprised solely of King's Scholars. There are, at any one time, around 70 King's Scholars, and they are distinguished by the black gown which they wear.

In the past this gown has been the basis of the nickname "Tugs" (said to be from the Latin "gens togata", i.e. "toga'd race"), although this particular slice of Eton argot has all but faded away in recent years.

As there are 70 King's Scholars, and they are in College for 5 years, approx. 14 are admitted per year (a Block in Eton argot), and share every aspect of school life with the Oppidans (or Etonians who have entered Eton via Common Entrance), including lessons and school sport. They also have the privileged position of eating all their meals in College Hall, the old central hub of the school which has seen many distinguished diners in its long history including Elizabeth I. One other difference is that Collegers usually play the wall game in the winter term for the full 5 years, while Oppidans tend only to play it in their last year.

They also live in the central area of the school in School Yard, the fulcrum around which the school revolves, where both Eton College Chapel and Lupton's Tower are situated. The boarding houses in which Collegers live are known as New Buildings and Chamber. Chamber, the older section, includes rooms which look out onto School Yard, while New Buildings is on the reverse side and contains the majority of the boys' living spaces.

King's Scholars have KS attached to their names in the school lists. Oppidans who have distinguished themselves academically are called Oppidan Scholars - they receive no financial benefit, but have OS attached to their surnames in the school lists.