Know Before You Go: Essential Information For All New Students

The Student Handbooks contain rules, procedures and policies for all students. Undergraduate and Graduate handbooks are found on the College Policies webpage (scroll to the end) along with our other College Policies.

We suggest you bookmark this page so you can easily access the relevant handbook, as you will need to refer to it throughout your degree. If any updates are made these will be notified to you by email.

You can find more information the rules and regulations at Oxford University, which also apply to you, in the University Handbook.

There’s also the Somerville JCR Surviving Handbook 2026 which contains very useful information from a student perspective on settling into life at Somerville.

Tutorials will likely be very different to the teaching you’re used to and you will meet regularly with your tutors. Download and read the following documents to help you understand this essential part of your degree.  

• UNDERGRADUATES: WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM YOUR TUTORS AND WHAT THEY EXPECT FROM YOU
• New Undergraduates – Preparing for study

All graduates are assigned a College Advisor who will offer support throughout their course. Download and read the College Advisor guidance to learn more about what the role entails.

• GRADUATES: YOUR COLLEGE ADVISOR

Student health and wellbeing is a top priority at Somerville. On our Health and Wellbeing page you can find out more about our welfare team as well as the different resources there are available to make you feel supported throughout your time here.

Please watch this video from our Student Welfare Lead, Jo Ockwell, and other key welfare  staff to show how we can support you. 

To protect yourself and those around you, the University strongly recommends before arriving at Oxford that you receive the MenACWY  vaccination for meningitis if you are under 25 years old, and two doses of MMR  for measles, mumps and rubella.  

The NHS is also offering free MenB vaccinations for all students starting university this year. You will need two doses of the MenB vaccine, at least 28 days apart, so it is recommended you arrange your first vaccination appointment as soon as possible.  

You should also check that your vaccinations for tetanus, diphtheria and polio, and human papillomavirus (HPV) are up to date.  Where possible, international students should receive immunisations in their home country, including the first dose of the MenB vaccination if available.   

Please take the time to review the information about recommended vaccinations available on the University’s website, as well as advice about registering with a GP once you arrive at Oxford.  

Please read the following information from the College Doctor about the vaccines they advise all students to have before they arrive to study:

• Recommended Vaccines For New Students

We recommend registering with the College Doctor (The Observatory Medical Practice) as soon as you arrive. Here is a video where you can meet the College Doctors.

Please download and read the following document from the College Doctor, which includes a link for online registration:

WELCOME AND REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Please download and read this document to find out more about accessing healthcare and requesting prescriptions when registered with the College Doctor. 

Please read the following information from the College Doctor about the vaccines they advise all students to have before they arrive to study:

• Recommended Vaccines For New Students

Somerville also has it’s own College Nurse , Jenny, who is based on site. Please download and read the letter below from Jenny, which describes the full range of healthcare services she is able to help with and advise on

LETTER FROM JENNY FITZGERALD, COLLEGE NURSE, TO ALL NEW STUDENTS

If you have an allergy that means you may need to use an EpiPen, please could you check that your EpiPens are in date. It is important that you remember to bring your EpiPens with you when you come to Somerville. It can also be helpful to let the Student Welfare Lead, Jo Ockwell (jo.ockwell@some.ox.ac.uk) know about your allergy so that she can ensure the college first-aiders are aware, in case of an emergency.

After reading the information above, we strongly recommend that you register for a UK mobile phone number when you arrive in the UK. You will not be able to access online services or be able to call or receive messages from healthcare services if you do not have a UK mobile phone number. We advise all international students to use a UK mobile whilst studying in the UK so that they do not encounter such difficulties.

The University offers guidance on accessing healthcare for international students on this webpage. You should also visit this webpage on the UK Government website which explains how to pay for UK healthcare as part of your visa application. 

The JCR (Junior Common Room) is a big part of undergraduate life and can refer to the following 3 things:

• The name for the undergraduate student body at College. All undergraduates are automatically made members of the JCR. 
• The JCR Committee (sometimes colloquially referred to as the JCR) are elected student representatives who advocate for student interests in College. They also organise social events.
•  The Junior Common Room room is actually a physical room where students can hang out.

You will meet members of the JCR Freshers Committee when you arrive and during induction week. There is a welcome video from our current JCR President, Anish Vedantham for you to watch, and here is the Somerville JCR Surviving Oxford Handbook 2026 – well worth a read!

You can follow the JCR on Instagram 

The MCR (Middle Common Common) is a community of postgraduates and also can refer to the following 3 things:

• The name for the postgraduate student body at College. All postgraduates are automatically made members of the MCR. 
• The MCR Committee (sometimes colloquially referred to as the MCR) are elected student representatives who advocate for student interests in College. They also organise social events
• The Middle Common Room room is actually a physical room where students can hang out.  

You will meet members of the MCR Committee during induction week. 

Somerville College Library has provided a helpful guide to using libraries in Oxford, please download it here:

A Quick Introduction to Somerville Library

Oxford Academic dress is not only part of the Oxford tradition, it is also compulsory at points in your academic career. The first time you will need to wear it will be at your Matriculation (swearing in ceremony) and you will need to wear it to your exams. Dress varies between graduates and undergraduates and between degree classes.  

Somerville does not require students to wear gowns to formal dinners, but you may be asked to if you visit other colleges. 

We will provide more information about what you need to wear to your Matriculation shortly.

Oxford SU represents all Oxford students and provides information, runs clubs and societies and advocates for student welfare. You can find out more about getting involved on their website and at your freshers fair. Oxford SU Advice offers free, confidential and independent information advice and guidance on navigating collegiate university, CCAT and OIA processes. They have a wide range of online resources available on their website and if you need further support you can get in touch with them via their Online Form.