Exams: Celebrate Smart - make memories, not a mess

'Trashing' isn't an Oxford tradition. Throwing, pouring or spraying materials as part of exam celebrations, is anti-social behaviour. Whatever you use, someone still has to clear it up. Littering is illegal, and celebrations involving this can incur a £150 fine. Proctors' Officers and the University's Security Services will be around the city and can confiscate items used as part of celebrations with the intent to litter, as well as issue fines. Instead of wasting food or other materials, you could donate them to those most in need in our community, through food banks or local charities. 

If you're celebrating outside, in Oxford's green spaces, make sure to clear up after yourselves. Broken glass and discarded BBQs kill and injure animals every year. Help play your part so everyone in our community can enjoy Oxford's shared spaces, with no mess left behind. Wasted materials, particularly plastic, are harmful to animal life, and materials used in this way can find their way into local waterways. There's no such thing as 'eco-trashing': whatever you use still leaves an impact.

Look out for yourself and your friends so everyone has a good time and celebrates safely. Always stay together and check in with each other. Remember to avoid areas near water, particularly if alcohol is involved. Entering open water can be extremely dangerous and result in serious injury.

Keep noise to an absolute minimum in and around exam venues. Please don't congregate around the Exam Schools or other exam areas. Be respectful by leaving your own exams quietly so that you don't disrupt others who are still in theirs. Remember that exams take place in colleges and departments as well as in University venues. 

3.1 Student members must familiarise themselves with the Proctors’ guidance on Statute XI published on the Proctors’ Office website.  

3.2 (1) No student member, other than a candidate presenting himself or herself for examination, shall, at any time between the hours of 12.15 and 1pm or 5.15 and 6pm, or between 15 minutes before and 30 minutes after the scheduled time for the completion of a Public Examination of the University for ten or more candidates, in the company of one or more other persons either:  

(a) gather without the prior permission of the Proctors in a public thoroughfare within 300 metres of any place where such an examination is being, or has just been, held; or  

(b) having gathered in a public thoroughfare within one mile of any such place, fail to disperse after having been requested to do so by one or more of the Proctors, the Marshal, or their staff.

(2) For the purpose of this regulation, persons shall be regarded as having gathered if they assemble, or form part of an assembly, in such a way as to cause, or to be likely to cause, obstruction of a public thoroughfare.  

3.3 (1) No student member shall, in any place or thoroughfare to which members of the general public have access within six miles of Carfax, throw, pour, spray, apply or use anything or substance in a way which is intended, or is likely, (a) to cause injury to any person, or (b) to cause damage to, or defacement or destruction of, any property, or (c) to cause litter.  

(2) No student member shall be in possession of anything or substance with intention to commit an offence under regulation 3.3 (1) above. 

We hope that students will choose not to take part in antisocial behaviour by littering after their exams, as this will eliminate the need to issue fines. However, in light of the impact of irresponsible celebrations on other students, the local community and environment, the University will issue fines for breaches of the University’s statutes on Behaviour after Examinations, as it has in previous years. 

Proctors' Office staff will issue immediate fines to any student found engaging in behaviour that contravenes the University’s statutes. Non-payment of fines will result in further disciplinary action under the University Code of Discipline.  

Fines are imposed for a breach of the University Code of Discipline. They are a reasonable and proportionate penalty for a student whose actions and behaviour are contrary to what is expected of them. Fines can be appealed to the Student Disciplinary Panel where they will take into account the students’ own actions in committing this breach.