Commoner (academia)

Not to be confused with Commoner.

A commoner is a student at certain universities in the British Isles who pay for their own tuition and commons.[1]

Commoners in Cambridge

Commoners were also known as pensioners at the University of Cambridge. Pensioners paid for their own tuition and commons.

A fellow‑commoner was a rank of student above pensioners but below noblemen. They paid double the tuition and enjoyed more privileges than pensioners, such as commoning with Fellows. As fellow‑commoners had considerable wealth, they were ineligible for scholarships and paid fellowships at some colleges.[2] Fellow‑commoners who wore a hat instead of a velvet cap were known as hat fellow‑commoners. They were often sons of nobility but not the eldest, who enjoyed the rank of "noblemen".[3] Today, a fellow‑commoner at Cambridge is one who enjoys access to the Senior Common Room without a Fellowship.[1]

Commoners in Dublin

The majority of junior members of Trinity College, Dublin are Commoners (or Pensioners)who must pay for Commons and Tuition as distinct from Scholars and Sizars who both receive free Commons and, in the case of Scholars, free tuition.

Formerly, there were also fellow-commoners (Socii Comitates) who paid twice the normal fees but could incept for their degree a year earlier, dined at the High Table and wore velvet collars and sleeves. Above these, were Noblemen (nobles and fili nobilium) who paid four times tuition and were entitled to myriad privileges, including gold and silver tassels on their gowns.[4]

Commoners in Oxford

At the University of Oxford, a commoner is a student without a scholarship or exhibition.[5]

A gentleman‑commoner at the University of Oxford, equivalent to Cambridge's fellow‑commoner, were a rank of student above commoners but below noblemen. According to Merriam-Webster, the first known usage of gentleman‑commoner was in 1687.[6]

See also

Look up commoner, fellow-commoner, or pensioner in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Walker, R.D.H. (1997). "Glossary of Cambridge jargon". Retrieved 18 April 2013.
  2. ↑ Bristed, p.133
  3. ↑ Bristed, p.17
  4. ↑ Alumni Dublinenses, Dublin, Alex. Thom & Co. Ltd., 2 Crown Street, 1935
  5. ↑ "Oxford Glossary". University of Oxford. 2012. Retrieved 18 April 2013.
  6. ↑ "gentleman-commoner". Merriam-Webster Online. Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 18 April 2013.

References