Your first few weeks
This page contains information on how to settle in and find your way around Oxford during the first few weeks of term.
1. Term dates and Freshers' week
You will be sent the date and time on which you should arrive and a timetable of events for Freshers' week (0th week; the week before term begins). This week includes orientation activities for new Oxford students including the annual Freshers' Fair, introductions, registration, tours, and social events.
Teaching at Oxford generally operates within three main terms, known as Michaelmas, Hilary and Trinity. The start and end dates for each of these terms are available to view online. Pre-sessional courses, freshers' events, teaching and examinations may take place outside of term dates. Check with your college or department before making travel plans.
2. Arriving at Oxford
Oxford is approximately 60 miles (90 kms) northwest of London with excellent road and national rail links. Regular coach services connect Oxford with the capital and also with Heathrow, Gatwick and Luton airports. Oxford is fairly compact and the city centre can easily be covered on foot or by bicycle, with local bus services available to reach the more outlying areas. Bringing your own car to Oxford can be very difficult as the traffic is often congested and parking is not available within colleges or halls and is limited throughout the city centre. Maps and directions on the best routes to and around Oxford are available from the University website.
An Access Guide is available containing information on University Departments, Libraries, Colleges and Museums around the Collegiate University, as well as contact details of people who can help you with any access needs. It also contains some useful mapping features to help you navigate between buildings and experience all that the University of Oxford has to offer.
3. Arriving as an international student
The Student Information and Advisory Service run a Meet and Greet service from Heathrow Airport to help students arriving at the start of the academic year to find their way to Oxford and their College. Undergraduate and graduate Orientation Programmes for international students are also available, which are designed to help you settle into the University, and to give you assistance and advice about various practical aspects of living and studying in the UK and Oxford. Students from some countries may have to have their passport scanned or register with the police after they arrive. See the visa and immigration section for more details.
4. Council tax exemption and bank accounts
Once you have completed your University registration, an Enrolment Certificate will be available from Student Self Service to download and print confirming your enrolled status at the University of Oxford for the current academic year. This certificate may be used by students living outside of college or hall accommodation to claim for council tax exemption and also as supporting documentation to open a bank account.
5. Health and welfare
There are a number of services available to provide support during your time at Oxford. Advice and help is available from your college/PPH, your department or faculty, central University services, fellow students, and the Oxford University Student Union (OUSU). Full details will be provided to you by your college/PPH when you first arrive, or are available from the Health and Welfare section of the Student Gateway.
6. Clubs and societies
A large range of events are available for new students to ensure you settle in to life at Oxford as easily as possible. Your college will provide you with further information and a timetable for events they are running. The annual Freshers' Fair held at the start of Michaelmas term is also an ideal opportunity to find out more about the clubs and societies available.
The Oxford University Newcomers' Club aims to help newly-arrived wives, husbands or partners of visiting scholars, of graduate students and of newly appointed academic members of the University to settle in and to give them the opportunity to meet people in Oxford. Membership is free, and each term the club organises a programme of events, including coffee mornings, tours of Oxford colleges, visits to museums, and coach trips to places of interest in the surrounding area.
7. University Card
University Cards are issued to students by their college or department in the case of non-matriculated course students on arrival in Oxford once registration has been completed. The card provides you with access to facilities and services such as libraries, computing services and the Language Teaching Centre. In some colleges and departments you will also need it as a payment card or to enter buildings, which have swipe-card access control. The University Card also acts as a form of identity whenever you are on college or University premises. Graduate research students should note that their University Card is valid for 6 months beyond the date when their thesis is due for submission, so as to allow time for their oral examination. Please look after this card carefully as you will be charged a fee for a replacement.
8. Matriculation and sub fusc
Matriculation is the ceremony that marks your formal admission to the University. Attendance is compulsory (unless you are entitled to incorporate). There are students who do not matriculate but nevertheless study in the University. Your College/PPH or department will advise if this is the case. Matriculation ceremonies are held at the beginning and end of each Michaelmas Term and at the end of each Hilary and Trinity Term. If you are unable to matriculate on the Saturday for reasons of religion or belief, you will be able to matriculate at a ceremony on the Thursday at the end of term.
The required dress for matriculation is known as sub fusc. You should wear the appropriate gown (your college can advise), a mortar board or soft-cap, and your preferred items from the following list:
1. One of
- Dark suit with dark socks, or
- Dark skirt with black tights or stockings, or
- Dark trousers with dark socks
2. Dark coat if required
3. Black shoes
4. Plain white collared shirt or blouse
5. White bow tie, black bow tie, black full-length tie, or black ribbon.
Candidates serving in H.M. Forces are permitted to wear uniform together with a gown.
9. Oxford glossary of terms
An Oxford glossary is available explaining words and terms that are unique to Oxford and may seem confusing at first.
10. Starting to study
In some cases you may be set work in 0th week and you will need to organise your time to prepare your first assignment(s). If you are provided with a reading list, you may need to consult more than one library to find all of your key texts. During Freshers Week you will have tours of the libraries, including sessions on how to use the computer-based catalogues. There are three sorts of libraries in Oxford, college libraries, subject-based departmental or faculty libraries, the Bodleian central library. Many journals are now available on-line too. The Academic Guidance section of the Student Gateway provides further details on undergraduate and graduate course information and an introduction to the range of learning resources available.
11. Working whilst studying and future employment
An Oxford education provides a fantastic platform for the future. Our students go on to achieve outstanding things in all walks of life, all over the world. Employers value very highly the analytical skills, sound judgment and capacity for original thinking that are honed here at the University. The Careers Service provides all students with a range of high-value career-focused services, programmes and activities with the aim of bringing recruiters and job-seekers together.
CareerConnect, the login section of the Careers Service website, lists hundreds of vacancies for volunteering, work experience, internships and graduate opportunities. You can complete your profile to receive targeted emails about jobs, events and employers. Many Oxford students undertake short-term work experience placements during their long vacations to try out different careers and gain valuable skills and experience.
