In certain
universities
A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. ''University'' is derived from the Latin phrase ''universitas magistrorum et scholarium'', which ...
(including some
colleges
A college (Latin: ''collegium'') is an educational institution or a University system, constituent part of one. A college may be a academic degree, degree-awarding Tertiary education, tertiary educational institution, a part of a coll ...
of
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a collegiate research university in Oxford, England. There is evidence of teaching as early as 1096, making it the oldest university in the English-speaking world and the world's second-oldest university in contin ...
and the
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh ( sco, University o Edinburgh, gd, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted a royal charter by King James VI in 15 ...
), a servitor was an
undergraduate
Undergraduate education is education conducted after secondary education and before postgraduate education. It typically includes all postsecondary programs up to the level of a bachelor's degree. For example, in the United States, an entry-le ...
student who received free accommodation (and some free meals), and was exempted from paying fees for lectures. The term is still used at the University of Edinburgh, where it refers to the staff who are responsible for security, mail and reception (similar to
porters at other universities) and are also on duty at formal occasions, when their functions include carrying the mace and ushering.
At Oxford, servitors were originally expected to act as servants to the
fellows Fellows may refer to Fellow, in plural form.
Fellows or Fellowes may also refer to:
Places
* Fellows, California, USA
* Fellows, Wisconsin, ghost town, USA
Other uses
* Fellows Auctioneers, established in 1876.
*Fellowes, Inc., manufacturer of wo ...
of their college. By 1852 this requirement had largely fallen into disuse, and the term had been replaced (often by
clerk
A clerk is a white-collar worker who conducts general office tasks, or a worker who performs similar sales-related tasks in a retail environment. The responsibilities of clerical workers commonly include record keeping, filing, staffing service ...
or Bible-clerk) at most colleges. The last recorded use of the term in Oxford was in 1867 (at
Christ Church; the following year the same people were called
exhibitioners).
[''servitor'' The Oxford English Dictionary. 2nd ed. 1989. OED Online. Oxford University Press. 4 Apr. 200]
Date of access 15 Oct 2006.
See also
*
Sizar (
University of Cambridge
, mottoeng = Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts.
Non literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge.
, established =
, other_name = The Chancellor, Masters and Schola ...
)
*
Batteler
References
History of education in the United Kingdom
{{UK-edu-stub