It’s that time of year again. Ball season at the University of Edinburgh means students dressing to the nines and scrambling to purchase sought-after tickets, preparing excitedly for a night to remember. Swarms of black-tie clad partygoers can be spotted around the streets of Edinburgh during these spring evenings. If you’re a student of the University it’s more than likely you’ll know someone who has attended a ball (or perhaps even several) this year. Whether you’re studying law, chemistry or even if you’re a member of the Feminist Society, there appears to be a ball for every academic and extracurricular persuasion. But the plethora of options doesn’t necessarily translate to accessibility for every student.
Formal dances are a longstanding tradition at many universities across the UK, particularly among those with a more elitist reputation. Cambridge’s May Balls, which celebrate the end of exam season, are notoriously extravagant and exclusive events. Trinity College has been hosting a May Ball since 1866, and well over a century later no expense is spared – the 2015 May Ball cost a shocking £285,000, as discovered by Varsity student newspaper. Predictably, the ball’s ticket prices reflect its steep budget, typically reaching over £200 a head.
While the University of Edinburgh’s formal dances may not be quite as costly, this hasn’t curbed discussion around their financial accessibility. Ticket prices can reach almost £100 for some of the most popular society balls such as the Law Ball, which will often include a sit-down dinner and complimentary drink as well as the dance itself. For some, the standard ticket price of around £50-80 is but a minor dent to the wallet, but for the many students at Edinburgh who are relying on loans or part time jobs to fund their degree, splurging on an event ticket is hardly a casual decision.
Speaking to two students of the University, both felt that the price of these events had prevented people from attending. “They’re so expensive,” one student studying Economics remarked, adding that she had chosen not to attend the Econ Ball due to ticket prices. “It was around £60 for a ticket, and we all agreed that just wasn’t within our budgets…the price was the only thing that stopped us from going.” For many, this cost issue means missing out on opportunities to bond with coursemates or feeling excluded from core society events.
Unfortunately, the expenses don’t end with event entry – the next financial hurdle to jump is that of the essential black tie outfit. The vast majority of these events have a formal or black tie dress code, which for some means the added burden of purchasing a new outfit. Another student, who attended the Geoscience Ball, commented: “There’s a social stigma around outfit repeating…I think everyone I knew bought a new dress for (the ball) – you could definitely see that people had spent some money.” With pressure not only to fork out for the event ticket but also to be well dressed, it is perhaps not surprising that balls have come to represent a financial divide for some students.
Some societies have made attempts to rectify the accessibility issue and open formal events up to a wider range of students. The 93% Club Edinburgh, which advocates for equality between state and privately educated students, hosted their “AccessiBall” for the first time in April 2024. The aim of the event was to replicate the university ball experience without the same financial demand – tickets were only £10 for club members and £12 for non-members. The event was a huge success and is being held again this year, displaying a clear demand for a cheaper alternative to similar society balls.
Other societies offer different ticket tiers as a solution to the cost issue, making it possible to opt out of a sit-down dinner and join for the dancing, or even only to purchase tickets for the afterparty. These options improve accessibility, but still mean that students have to miss out on certain parts of the night if they can’t afford the full ticket price.
“Balls are part of uni life, but it contradicts the typical idea of student life because students just can’t afford those prices.” Both students interviewed agreed that they enjoy the tradition of balls and wanted them to continue, but it’s clear these events are not without their issues. Edinburgh University already faces criticism over its socioeconomic divide, with over 40 per cent of students accepted from UK institutions being privately educated. To some, a ball may seem a trivial party not worth dwelling on to this extent, but any tradition which perpetuates exclusion contributes to this divide and should not be overlooked or underestimated at the University.
Photo by Alexander Naglestad on Unsplash