Student conduct
Students are subject to the University’s conduct regulations under Statue XI, including the University Code of Discipline. The Proctors' role includes acting as the officers who ensure that disciplinary procedures are enforced. Doing so includes taking steps to:
- enforce, and prevent any breach of, Statute XI;
- investigate any complaint that a student member has committed a breach;
- identify the person responsible for any such breach.
Part of the Proctors' role is to investigate possible student breaches of University disciplinary codes and. Reports may be brought by students, staff or members of the public.
The University Student Handbook is a good general resource for more information about the process and for links to the relevant statutes and regulations.
Please note: The colleges and University are separate entities and have separate codes of discipline and contractual and non-contractual relationships with students. Therefore, all enquiries about college disciplinary rules and processes should be addressed to your college.
No contact arrangements
The University aims to provide a safe environment in which students can focus on and pursue their education. As part of this, the University recognises that there will be circumstances when it is desirable to put in place arrangements to limit the contact between students who are in dispute while allowing them to continue their academic studies.
Please view the non-academic misconduct procedure for information on the provision of No Contact Arrangements.
University conduct regulations
The University regulations covering student conduct are defined in Statute XI on University Discipline and come from the following sources:
- the Code of Discipline in Statute XI;
- non-academic and academic disciplinary procedures;
- the Proctors, as the University’s disciplinary officers, including emergency regulations for student conduct, published in the University Gazette, notified to you by your college and remaining in force for a set period;
- the Rules Committee (six Congregation members and six student members who meet annually to review and issue conduct regulations);
- the Curators of the University Libraries; the IT Committee;
- local rules on access and use, made and published by people or bodies responsible for managing University land and buildings, or operating University services and facilities.
Whether you are a taught-course or a research student, it is your responsibility to consult and be familiar with the Statutes, Regulations, and procedures which include rules on non-academic behaviour and academic conduct (including the general regulations and the specific regulations for your course set out in the Examination Regulations, and subsequent formal amendments published in the Gazette). You should also read information brought to your attention by the University, departments and faculties (e.g. in the Student Handbook, course handbooks or on departmental websites). Students who intentionally or recklessly breach regulations, or incite or conspire with others to do so, may face disciplinary action.
General Conduct
Statute XI on University discipline contains a Code of Discipline applying to all University members and to students who have a contract with the University who are not formally University members. It sets out the actions and behaviours that are unacceptable in the University context.
The behaviours which are prohibited by Statute XI include:
Academic misconduct (including plagiarism). Appendix A to the Academic Disciplinary Procedures provides a summary of the provisions of the Code of Discipline with examples of relevant behaviour and possible penalties.
Non-academic misconduct (including disruption to University activities, damaging University or college property, forging University documents, engaging in violent or offensive behaviour or language, harassment, sexual misconduct and the possession or distribution of drugs). Appendix A to the Disciplinary Procedure for Non-Academic Misconduct provides a summary of the provisions of the Code of Discipline with examples of relevant behaviour and possible penalties.
Complaints of student misconduct should usually be made within six months of the conduct complained about.
Meetings and events
Students who are organising meetings or events should follow the guidance on meetings and events, and notify the Proctors.
Regulations of the Rules Committee
Rules Committee regulations, reviewed annually, concern student members’ conduct specifically.
The current regulations set out rules covering:
- Clubs, societies and publications
- Defacement of property and unauthorised advertisements
- Behaviour after examinations (supplemented by the Code of Conduct)
- Overseas activities
- Rowing on the river
Local Rules
Those responsible for managing University land and buildings, or operating University services and facilities, are empowered to draw up and publish local rules governing access and use.
Students using buildings, property or services are advised to familiarise themselves with any published rules, for example as displayed on noticeboards in or at the entrance to buildings or property or on the service’s website. Failing to abide by these rules may lead to a temporary or permanent ban. An allegation of a breach of local rules may be referred to the Proctors for investigation as a possible disciplinary offence under Statute XI.
Students on professional courses
Students studying for awards that are also professional qualifications may also be expected to observe specific codes of conduct drawn up by the relevant regulatory body or the University in consultation with the external bodies concerned; your department will provide details where appropriate.
University discipline: the procedures
Non-academic misconduct
Please view the University Student Disciplinary Procedure: Non-Academic Misconduct for more detailed information. This procedure applies to reports of breaches of the Code of Discipline made on or after 1 September 2025. (For reports made before 1 September 2025, please refer to the prior University Student Disciplinary Procedure.)
The University is committed to providing a safe, supportive environment for all students, and there are a number of services available to students to provide support to them during their studies at the University. The Oxford student site offers a comprehensive overview of the welfare services and resources available to students, including a Single Comprehensive Source of Information on preventing and responding to harassment and sexual misconduct. Links have been provided under the "related documents" section of this page.
Please note: complaints about supervision, teaching or other University services should be pursued under the University Student Complaints Procedure, whilst complaint about misconduct by staff should be pursued under the Harassment Policy or, in other cases, made to the relevant Head of Department.
Academic misconduct
Please view the University Academic Disciplinary Procedure for more detailed information. This procedure applies to reports of breaches of the Code of Discipline set out in Statute XI made on or after 1 September 2025.
Procedure for the investigation of plagiarism can be found at Annex C of the Examinations and Assessment Framework. Referrals to the Proctors must be submitted using the plagiarism referral form.
For all other conduct please email [email protected] to seek advice.
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