The college traces its descent from the "Scholares Non Ascripti", or Delegacy for Unattached Students, founded by Statute on 11 June 1868. Created in response to the recommendation of a Royal Commission in 1852, this was established as part of an expansion of the university so that male students would be able to gain an Oxford education without the costs of college membership. The college therefore celebrated its 150th anniversary in the academic year 2018–2019, coinciding with the 2018 Ball 'Continuum'. The College itself celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2012.