First Men of Mary's

St Mary’s College was founded in 1899, first at The Women’s Hostel and then gaining college status in 1920. 

It was the last single sex college to go mixed, admitting the first undergraduate male freshers in 2005. 92 men entered St Mary's College that year, constituting around 40% of the intake. 

Jenny Hobbs

While not everyone supported the change, it was clear that the college understood the value of a more inclusive community.

At the time, the then college principal, Jenny Hobbs, said: " We are preparing to become a distinctive college for women and men. We are proud of the diversity of our students and strive to inspire all who enter with a belief in achieving their own potential, not only in the world of academia but in many walks of life."

Stories from the Men

The academic year 2025/26 marks 20 years since St Mary’s officially became a mixed College. Some of those ‘first men of Mary’s’ have kindly shared their memories with us to mark the 20-year anniversary.

There is also a section dedicated to the First Men of Mary’s in the 125^th Anniversary brochure (page 7)

125th Anniversary Brochure

Mary's Roots

Mary’s remains proud of its roots as pioneers in the education of women and retains elements such as the Boughton wing (named after former Vice Principal Gillian Boughton), as a single-sex residential location. Its pioneering spirit lives on in work on increasing diversity, with students from a wide range of countries and with bursaries and scholarships to support students to benefit from Mary’s community regardless of financial constraints.