Guidance for disabled visitors

Oxford is not a campus university, so it is not all located on one site. It is made up of many different buildings, including academic departments, colleges and halls, located around the centre of Oxford. Many University buildings (such as gardens, libraries and museums) as well as many of the colleges, are open to visitors during the day. Whether your disability is seen or unseen, we can help provide the support you need during your visit.

Getting around Oxford and University buildings

Oxford railway station has accessible toilets and lifts. Buses and tour buses stop immediately outside the station, most of which are accessible and a taxi rank is located immediately outside.

The Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel have wheelchair accessible buses with kneeling steps and ramps and which are available at Park & Ride locations. Oxford has numerous designated disabled parking bays, and wheelchairs and electric scooters can be hired from Oxfordshire County Council. Their website includes other relevant information for getting around Oxford. Disabled persons showing both parts of the Blue Badge may park for free in any on-street parking spaces, but standard charges will apply in off-street car parks.

Detailed information about access to specific buildings is available from individual colleges and departments. If you know you will be visiting a particular college or department, you are welcome to get in touch with them in advance to discuss any particular requirements and find out what may be possible. You may also like to refer to the University Access Guide for information on buildings around Oxford, and explore an interactive map of the city centre.

We are aware that Open Days can pose particular challenges for those attending with a disability and have put together some information we hope might help, in partnership with the University's Student Welfare and Support Services team.

Top tips for disabled visitors

If you’re a prospective student with a disability - or are supporting a prospective student - you may have additional questions, needs or concerns when coming to an Open Day. Here are the Disability Advisory Service's top tips for preparing for, and making the most of, your Open Day.

Familiarise yourself with what to expect

There is lots of information available about what to expect from an Open Day, including subject and college timetables, suggested itineraries and travel advice.

The Access Guide provides information about the accessibility of University and College buildings, including pictures, so you can familiarise yourself with these ahead of time. If you have reviewed the Access Guide and have additional questions then you can contact the departments and/or colleges you are planning to visit ahead of your visit. For information about getting around the city, consult the Oxford City Council guides which include information about blue-badge parking spaces.

Prioritise your day

Before you come to Oxford, think about what is most important to you to get out of an Open Day.

You may want to:

• See student accommodation, common rooms and dining areas
• Meet current students
• Speak to department staff and tutors
• Attend a taster lecture or talk
• Ask questions about disability and welfare support.

Take a look at the department and college timetables and plan your day around any talks or tours you want to attend.

We’d also recommend planning to visit the Open Day Information Centre, where you can speak to student services, including the Disability Advisory Service, about any questions you may have.

It’s a good idea to come with a list of questions prepared to ask about your course, college life (including accommodation) and student experience.

Pace yourself

Open Days can be overwhelming, and you may feel pressure to pack in as much as you can into one day.  We would advise aiming to visit your department, and just a couple of different colleges. If you have questions about disability support, the Disability Advisory Service will be here to help in the Open Day Information Centre.

When considering which colleges to visit, you may find it helpful to read information about how to choose a college. Remember that even if you specify a college on your application, this does not guarantee you will receive an offer from this college if your application is successful. Read further advice for disabled applicants.

When you’re planning your day, remember to factor in travel time - some colleges and departments are far away from each other, and getting around may take longer than you think as Oxford is busier than usual on Open Days.  Not everything has to be planned in advance, as you may find yourself being welcomed by student ambassadors to visit their college as you pass by, so ideally allow some flexibility into your schedule for these chance encounters.

Many colleges and departments will have quiet spaces available for visitors on the day, and you can make use of the many green spaces in Oxford to have a break.  Some colleges are open later in the afternoon, which is usually a quieter time to visit.

Follow up after your visit

You may still have questions after your visit, or you might not have been able to visit everywhere you planned to. That’s okay - there are lots of ways to find information online after the Open Days.

• Each college has its own website with information about accommodation, student life, and welfare support. Many colleges also publish an ‘alternative prospectus’ written by their students.
• For queries about disability support, visit the Disability Advisory Service pages.
• Visit the undergraduate course pages for information about courses.
• Submit your own questions via our Ask a question portal.

You also are welcome to visit Oxford at another time. Most colleges are open throughout the year for potential applicants to visit, and some departments run events at different points in the year. Read more about planning an independent visit.