Student news

Term dates, and in-person teaching

Hilary term dates will remain as they are at present. For some taught courses, in-person teaching will begin from your existing start date. This particularly applies to those courses with practical elements or early assessments; those with students on placements; and non-residential part time courses. For most other taught courses, formal in-person teaching will start from Monday 25 January (2^nd week).

What is SAD?

Symptoms of SAD can include:

• a persistent low mood
• a loss of pleasure or interest in normal everyday activities
• irritability
• feelings of despair, guilt and worthlessness
• feeling lethargic (lacking in energy) and sleepy during the day
• sleeping for longer than normal and finding it hard to get up in the morning
• craving carbohydrates and gaining weight

For some people, these symptoms can be severe and have a significant impact on their day-to-day activities.

Catherine Dixon is a second year undergraduate student studying Music at Merton. Catherine has a chronic illness which can make studying, and life in general, very difficult. A chronic illness is a condition that lasts a year or more and requires ongoing medical attention or limits daily life, often both.

Catherine, who suffers from lupus, autoimmune pancreatitis and diabetes insipidus shares her story of applying to and studying at Oxford with a chronic illness.

"Hey! My name’s Guy Dabby-Joory, and I’m a second year PPE student at Worcester and I’ve been President of Oxford JSoc (Jewish Society) for Michaelmas Term 2020. I’m also my JCR’s Academic Affairs and Careers Rep, Volunteer Training and Recruitment Rep at Turl Street Homeless Action, and Features Editor at The Flete.

Current Surveys

There are two surveys taking place this term for students, giving you an opportunity to share your views about studying here:

Michaelmas term teaching and learning survey for taught students

Overview

The University is implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all Oxford Single Sign-On (SSO) users across the University.

This is being rolled out in stages, alphabetically by surname, commencing January 2021.

This means you will be asked to verify your SSO account using a second factor, such as a text message, code from an app on your mobile phone or via a telephone call.

Colleges are now arranging Christmas Travel Tests ahead of the Student Travel Window from 3-9 December. You will be asked to take two tests in your college, three days apart before you leave Oxford. In most cases you will need to book via the Testing for COVID-19 Early Alert Service and should leave Oxford as soon as possible after your second negative test.

"Oxford First-Gen Society is a supportive and active community for students who are the first generation in their family to attend university.

First-gen students are often the target of access programmes to help them gain a place at university; our society aims to ensure these students have equal opportunities, support, and necessary guidance once they arrive here at Oxford.

Read the full article on the Oxford University news page.

A new University signposting service has been set up to operate on a short-term basis to direct full-time, graduate students to potential sources of accommodation in Oxford. This involves the colleges, the University’s Graduate Accommodation Office and the private sector.

If you require assistance in finding accommodation, please email [email protected].