Latest news for students

The Symposium brings together United Kingdom and international theorists and researchers to highlight current work on disability in society in the areas of theory, disability law, assistive technology, and medical research. 

Oxford DERN is a collaboration between the Oxford Disability Service, The Disabled Students Campaign of the Oxford Student Union, and a variety of Oxford University’s academic departments.

For more information about the programme or how to register, please visit the Oxford DERN Symposium's website. 

This year's categories are:

• Use of WebLearn to support a course or programme of study
• Student IT Innovation
• Conference Poster
• Digital Images and Photography
• Data Visualisation and Research Infographic
• Use of apps and mobile technology

This is your opportunity to get your creativity recognised. Winners will receive a prize at the red-carpet awards ceremony in June, and be profiled on IT Services and other University websites and interviewed by the University podcasting team. Deadline for applications, mid-day 17 May 2013. Visit the OxTALENT Awards webpage.

The team is inviting would-be contestants to email mastermind@bbc.co.uk, mentioning 'Oxford' in the subject line. A member of the production team will reply with more information. Auditions consist of an informal chat about potential specialist subjects and a quick general knowledge test. Further information is also available from the Mastermind 2013 poster (1,053kb).

Mastermind has been running on the BBC since 1972. The programme involves four contestants braving the black chair as they answer questions on their specialist subjects and test their general knowledge. The question master is John Humphrys, presenter of Radio Four’s Today programme. Last year Oxford student Charlotte Mason, who is studying Physics at Merton, was on the show, and answered questions on the Gemini Space Programme.

You will be able to work full-time under this scheme. As part of the scheme you will also continue to be sponsored by the University during the 12 months, or until you apply for another visa, and you will need to report to us at regular intervals by email to confirm you continue to require our sponsorship.

If you wish to apply, the University must issue you with a new CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) number with an ‘anticipated end date’ and you must apply for a visa extension before this date i.e. before you complete your DPhil. As each student will have different circumstances and a different time schedule you should read the instructions on the website carefully and take special note of the timeframes involved. For further information see the Student Gateway Visa and Immigration pages.

• Submissions for information about preparing taught submissions (extended essays, project work, dissertations).
• Exam Guidance for details on sitting exams and what is and is not allowed in an examination.

The following are available:

• The Cornwall Branch has established a Bursary Fund to assist undergraduates who are in their second year with bursaries of £250, or more in exceptional circumstances, to carry out worthwhile projects during the long vacation in 2013.
• The Dorset branch is offering one travel bursary of £350 to a deserving Dorset based undergraduate in connection with a 2013 Summer Vacation project.
• The Hertfordshire Branch has one or more bursaries of up to £300 to provide part funding for projects involving travel, either overseas or in the UK.
• The East Kent branch wishes to make several grants of up to £750 to deserving students from East Kent to assist in summer activities relevant to their degree courses.
• The West Sussex branch is offering a bursary to students of up to £300 for a worthwhile summer project connected with their degree course.

For more information on the awards above visit the Alumni website.

Oxford student, Fay Niker, was named as a highly commended entrant in the 2012 Undergraduate Awards. The awards represent a range of academic disciplines, and receive backing from government and corporate partners, including Google, KPMG and Digicel.

In November of this year, the nominees for the 2013 Undergraduate Awards will be invited to Dublin to attend the UA Summit – a three-day pop-up incubation centre comprised of networking events, fireside chats and hands-on workshops. Coined as “a Davos for students”, the unique student conference provides a collision point for the brightest undergraduate minds, leading researchers and entrepreneurs to collaborate, share ideas and build relationships. The winning students will be awarded by the patron of the awards programme, President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins, at the Undergraduate Awards Ceremony, which will form part of the UA Summit. Interested students can register or submit their coursework on the Undergraduate Awards website before Friday 24 May 2013.

The victims have all been young males of student age and appearance who have been walking alone between 7pm and the early hours of the morning. Some of the victims have been followed from the O2 and the Regal.

The Crime Prevention Advisor offers the following advice:

• If possible walk home in a group, not on your own. If someone tries to take something from you by force, it may be best to give it to them, this way it will avoid you getting injured.
• If someone tries to follow you make for a public place, such as a shop or a restaurant or walk towards other people. Shout out to others that the person is following you and you want someone to call the police. Make lots of noise and use your personal alarm to shock the person and use this opportunity to make good your escape. If you need to use your mobile phone on route go into a shop or stand with your back to a shop window and constantly survey the area around you. Keep the conversation short and to the point and try not to be too obvious doing it.
• Walk with confidence and look as though you’re on a mission. Keep your head up and whilst you should look ahead to avoid unnecessary confrontations, such as a group of young men ahead of you, you should also be aware of everything around you. Whenever possible use well lit and busy streets and definitely avoid alleyways, wasteland and other quiet short cuts.

If you have any information relating to these crimes, please call Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111 or call Thames Valley Police on 101 for non emergency reporting.

• MenPF-1. A new vaccine against meningococcal disease: Participants aged 18 to 50 yrs old and in good health are invited to take part in a clinical study of a new vaccine for preventing meningitis. Compensation will be provided for your time, inconvenience and travel over the study period.
• Evaluating the immune response to two different meningitis vaccines: Healthy volunteers aged 30-70 years are needed for a study of different vaccines designed to offer broader protection against meningitis. The study aims to understand the way vaccines work on the immune system, which could in turn help the development of other vaccines and the prevention of diseases such as meningitis.

If you would like to find out more on either study visit the Oxford Vaccine Group website, call 01865 857420 or e-mail info@ovg.ox.ac.uk.

Endorsed students are able to apply for a visa for one year to develop their business idea. If the University then confirms adequate progress they can apply for one further year, following which to remain in the UK they would need to qualify for the main Entrepreneur route, or enter Tier 2 employment. Additional employment is allowed for up to 20 hours a week to supplement income whilst the business is in development. The applicant’s dependent partner and children can stay in the UK with them.

Applicants must apply through Career Connect (search for vacancy 47367). The endorsement is a competitive process and applicants will be required to show evidence that they have a genuine, credible and innovative business idea. For information on the Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) visa and eligibility please visit the UKBA website.

Candidates with alternative exam arrangements

The deadline for applying for exam adjustments is the Friday of 4th week of the term before the exam takes place. Therefore, if you have exams in Hilary Term, applications should be in by Friday 02 November.  Timetables are published on the Student Gateway, at the latest, five weeks before the date of the first exam with an individual timetable following after (no later than 2 weeks before the first date of the exam). Please check your individual timetable and if alternative arrangements put in place for you are missing email exam.arrangements@admin.ox.ac.uk.