Guide to registration

Why you need to register

You must be registered in order to:

• Attend your course
• Release your loan from the UK Student Loans Company (SLC) or your sponsor/awarding body (where appropriate)
• Check you have been correctly entered for any examinations and assessments and gain access to your results
• Use your University email account
• Obtain your University card/keep your University card valid
• Print an enrolment certificate.
• Ensure that you are exempt from paying Council tax.

When you need to register

The University registration periods are:

• Michaelmas term: 1 September - 16:00, Friday of Week 1
• Hilary term: 2 January - 16:00, Friday of Week 1
• Trinity term: 1 April - 16:00, Friday of Week 1

How to register as a new student

You must have:

• Accepted your offer of a place
• Met the conditions of your offer (academic and financial)
• Returned your University Card Form
• Received by email your University Single Sign On IT details.

The registration process

If you are starting a new course at the University, you will be sent your IT activation code and log-in details by email once you have returned your signed Card Form. Your password and login is called your Single Sign On, which is the Oxford system for accessing a range of IT services, including Student Self Service.

Your first task using Student Self Service will be to register for the forthcoming academic year. You will be sent an email when the registration period opens. You must register before the Friday of Week 1 of term. When you login to Student Self Service you will need to check your personal, contact, academic and other information and confirm that you wish to be enrolled at the University of Oxford.

To see a series of screenshots showing the registration process, visit the Guide to Student Self Service.

On arrival in Oxford

When you arrive in Oxford you will need to go to your college (or department if you do not have a college) for the final part of your University registration to be completed and to be issued with your University card. If you are not in Oxford at anytime during the registration period you must contact your college or department to ensure that the final step of the registration process is completed for you.

If you have not registered you will be unable to access all the features in Student Self Service. Once your registration has been completed, your student maintenance loans and grants will be paid in accordance with your loan/grant agreement. You will also be able to log back into Student Self Service to print your enrolment certificate as proof of student status. 

Maintaining your record

It is your responsibility to update your personal information and contact details throughout your studies at the University of Oxford using Student Self Service. You will be able to update these details at any time throughout the year. This is a legal requirement for international students holding a visa to study in the UK.

You must register once a year, at the anniversary term in which you started your current course. As a continuing student for Year 2 and beyond, you will be sent an email reminding you to complete your own registration using Student Self Service when the registration period opens. You do not need your college or department to complete the final step for you.

How to register as a continuing student

You will be prevented from registering if:

• It is not the anniversary term of the start of your current course, for example, if you are a Hilary term starter and you are trying to register during the Michaelmas term registration period. You will be able to access all the pages of Student Self Service, but you will need to log back in and register at the start of your registration term
• You are returning from a suspension and the central office is unaware of your return date, or there is a hold against your record
• You are not required to register if you are beginning a period of suspension.

The registration process

Login to Student Self Service using your Oxford Single Sign On. You will need to check your personal, contact, academic and other information and confirm that you wish to be enrolled at the University of Oxford.

You are now registered and have been enrolled for your next year of study. Student maintenance loans and grants (where applicable) will be paid directly in to your bank account following the first day of term for your course (allow three to five working days). You are now able to print your enrolment certificate as proof of student status. Please allow 15 minutes for the system to update following your self registration.

It is your responsibility to update your personal information and contact details throughout your studies at the University of Oxford using Student Self Service. You will be able to update these details at any time throughout the year. This is a legal requirement for international students holding a visa to study in the UK.

Having problems?

If you encounter problems contact Student Information.

Frequently asked questions

I am a new student, why have I not been sent my Single Sign On details from IT Services?

• You need to have returned your signed Card Form before you are emailed your login details. There is usually a delay of up to seven days between the Card Office receiving your Card Form and you getting the email with your login details.
• Check your junk email folder just in case.
• Is your email address still valid? If you have changed your email address from the one supplied for admission please contact your college, department or Student Information to amend the email address we hold for you.
• If you have done all this, then contact Student Information.

Why can I not log-in to Student Self Service to register?

• Check that you are trying to log-in from the Oxford Students website link to Student Self Service.
• Check that the registration period is open.
• Are you a current student with any holds on your record? If so, contact your department.
• Are you a current student on suspension? Then your college must re-enrol you.

What do I do if I cannot remember my password or log-in details?

• If you are new student, contact IT Services using the request form.
• If you are a continuing student, you may remember your username but not your password. You can reset your password online.

Why is my year of programme showing as year 4 but I am in my 5th year of study? 

This item refers to your year of fee liability rather than the course duration. 
Also note for new students it will show as year 1, if you are on a 3-year programme as it does not refer to the total course length. 

My name appears incorrectly, or I want to amend my title as shown. 

If your name appears incorrectly please contact your college (or your department, if you do not have a college) and ask them if it is possible to arrange for this to be corrected.  You may need to show them official evidence of how the name should appear (e.g. a scan of your passport). Your college (or department) will also be able to arrange any required title updates for you. You can find more information on the University page for Name Changes.

I am a continuing student on a study abroad year, do I still need to register?

• Yes, undergraduates on compulsory year abroad must register.
• Those on an inbuilt optional year abroad should ask their college to be suspended.
• If you are on an optional year abroad (for example, Erasmus) you need to register. Ask your college if you are unsure.
• If you are a graduate student researching abroad your mode of study should be Oxford based not Year Abroad.