Information for New Graduates 2024

The University requires all students to register online at the start of each academic year. Please do this before travelling to Oxford so there aren’t any delays when you arrive.

In order to register, you need to have done the following:

1. Met the conditions of your offer (academic and financial)
2. Received the University card form from your department or faculty
3. Returned your completed University card form to acreturns@admin.ox.ac.uk
4. Received your Single Sign On account details by email
5. You must register online when you have received your Single Sign On (SSO). You will only receive your SSO when you have returned your card form. 
6. Collected your Biometric Residence Permit if applicable

International Students:

You will need to upload the following documents to our Sharepoint:

Passport ID page and both sides of your BRP-Biometric Residence Permit if you have one, to our shared access site.

You need to do this before your registration appointment. You will need your Oxford SSO to log in to upload your document.

Click here to upload 

Please title your upload by surname, first name – Document (so Passport or BRP 1, BRP 2)  e.g. Smith, Bob – Passport 

Please note that we cannot register you until you have collected your BRP

EU Nationals:

If you have an online eVisa, or pre-settled/settled status then we need your immigration status share code and date of birth.  Please visit this page https://www.gov.uk/view-prove-immigration-status enter your personal details and you will see your share code.

Please email your share code and DOB to us at academic.office@some.ox.ac.uk and title your email Immigration status share code.

Registration and Enrolment is a two part process: 

Stage One: You must register online when you have received your Single Sign On (SSO). You will only receive your SSO when you have returned your card form. 

Stage Two: Booking your enrolment

1. f you are a full time graduate student, you will then need to enrol in person at Somerville College upon your arrival.  Please read the information below and in the following sections to check what you need to bring with you. Then head to the booking page in the final section (Booking Your Enrolment). 
2. If you are on a part-time or distance learning course, we will meet you online via MS Teams to complete your enrollment. We will be in touch about how to do this in mid-September

All students must bring their passport with them to their enrolment appointment (whether in person or online) We will also need to see your visa and BRP or Immigration share-code if applicable– so don’t forget to bring your documents.

• International Students: Please note that we cannot complete your enrolment until you have collected your BRP.

Once you have completed your part of your registration online, you can book an in person enrolment appointment:

New Graduate Enrolment Booking Form

If you are unable to attend the slots given or they are booked up, there will be extra slots available to book in October:  

Extra Booking Slots

Slots are available in the morning and afternoon and appointments should take up to 15 minutes. Please do not turn up for registration without an appointment or without discussing it with the Academic Office first.

You should arrive to start your course by 7 October 2024, although please note that some faculties and departments might ask you to arrive earlier than this to complete induction sessions.

For Graduates with College accommodation:

When you arrive at Somerville, you should go to the Porters’ Lodge which is just inside the main entrance on Woodstock Road. They will give your room key and some directions if you are living in college. If you have requested college accommodation, you should receive an email in August with further details. The date you will be able to move in will vary depending on your course and the type of accommodation, so read the email carefully.

They will also give you a temporary access card to use until you can pick up your university card from the academic office. Please check your pigeonhole straight away and collect any post. If you have any questions about graduate accommodation, please email graduate.accommodation@some.ox.ac.uk.

Please note that parking is limited. If you have mobility difficulties and require parking, please request this at the earliest opportunity by emailing the Lodge Manager (lodge.manager@some.ox.ac.uk). There are double yellow lines at the front of the College and parking there will be entirely at the driver’s own risk. There is Pay and Display parking on roads near the College, but this is limited. We therefore recommend parking at Pear Tree Park and Ride, which is north of Oxford. The Pear Tree Park and Ride bus stops are very close to the College’s main entrance on Woodstock Road. There is more information on the Park and Ride website. If you have any queries about parking or unloading, please email the Lodge Manager (lodge.manager@some.ox.ac.uk).

• When you arrive in the UK we strongly recommend that you set up a UK Bank account and register with the College doctor. 
• We strongly recommend that you register for a UK mobile phone number when you arrive in the UK. You may experience difficulties accessing certain 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.
• Please also note that the weather in Oxford can be very cold in winter, often not rising above freezing. You’ll need suitable footwear for cold weather and a good winter coat. 
• The University has a dedicated webpage for international students, including pre-arrival information and links to relevant University pages. 

The week beginning Sunday 6 October 2024 is Freshers’ Week.

During this week, you will be required to attend induction sessions both at Somerville and at your department or faculty. It is essential for your safety and your ability to use the facilities and services on offer here that you attend induction sessions. There will be induction sessions on Wednesday 9 October and the afternoon of Friday 11 October. We will give you a copy of the induction timetable as part of your registration on arrival.

• There will also be the opportunity to attend optional events organised by the MCR and Oxford SU.

Please note, the MCR will be serving non alcoholic and alcoholic drinks at their events. 

The Principal will host a welcome dinner in the Dining Hall for all new graduate students on Monday 7 October. There is a reception before the dinner where both non alcoholic and alcoholic drinks will be on offer. 

Please take a look at the menu here.

This is a formal occasion so you will be expected to dress smartly although gowns will not be worn (gowns almost never feature at dinners in Somerville). To book a place at the dinner, fill in this form: 2024 Freshers’ Dinner Booking Form. The deadline for booking noon on Friday 27 September. 

Please note that there is no charge for this dinner. 

Matriculation is the ceremony by which you officially become a member of the University of Oxford. All new students must attend Matriculation. 

The 2024 ceremony will take place on Saturday 19 October 2024. You will be sent further information about how to prepare for Matriculation in September 2024.

If your course starts later in the year and you are required to attend a Matriculation in person, you will do so at a later ceremony. Please email the Academic Office if you are unable to attend on 19 October 2024.

You DO NOT need to attend Matriculation if:

1. You have previously Matriculated at Oxford.
2. You hold a degree from the University of Cambridge or Trinity College Dublin. You might be able to Incorporate your degree instead of Matriculating. Please email academic.office@some.ox.ac.uk if you would like to Incorporate instead of Matriculate. Please note that the University charges a fee for Incorporation.
3. You are studying the MSc in Sleep Medicine.
4. There is a very good reason why you cannot attend on this date. If you are unavailable, please let the Academic Office know immediately. Please note that you will be required to Matriculate at a later date.

The dress code for matriculation is full academic dress.

First Year Photograph:

Traditionally, the College’s graduate freshers’ photograph is taken before the Matriculation ceremony. Even if you will not be Matriculating, please attend the photograph as it will be a record of your year group. Copies of the photograph will be available to you and your family to purchase later in term. You will be sent further information about this during Freshers’ Week.

Once you have completed the online registration you will be sent an email from Somerville’s IT department with information on how to connect to the Somerville WiFi once you arrive. 

The Middle Common Room (MCR) Committee are pleased to welcome all new graduates to Somerville College and to introduce their buddy scheme. Somerville graduate students will be meeting up with new graduate students to help guide them through the first weeks of life at Somerville. This is a great opportunity to meet new friends and get involved in the social side of life at Oxford. 

If you are interested and would like to get involved please complete this form

Starting at University can be challenging in many ways. Should you need advice or support, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our Student Welfare Team

Jo Ockwell – Student Welfare Lead. Jo’s Office is in House 4 and you can drop in to see her in person on Mondays – Thursdays or email her at welfare.lead@some.ox.ac.uk

Jenny Fitzgerald – College Nurse. The Nurse’s office is located in Darbishire 16, with a waiting room outside. You can email Jenny at pml.somervillenurse@nhs.net or call her on 01865 270608. Her clinic hours are Monday – Friday 9:00 – 3:30.

Jisoo, Tasmin and Chibuzor – Student Welfare Advisors. For out of hours welfare support phone 07805 784964 or non urgent support email student.welfare.advisors@some.ox.ac.uk

The Academic Office is in House 8 on the first floor of House building.  We can help with matters such as lost Bod Cards, exam and collection queries, awards and grants queries, and other general admin questions. If you have difficulty accessing House 8 you can make an appointment by contacting us at academic.office@some.ox.ac.uk. 

The Academic Office is open on weekdays, 09:00-12:00 and 14:00-17:00.

Further information on the Academic Office, who to contact and their contact details can be found on the Somerville website.

The Treasury is in House 10 on the first floor. It is open on weekdays, 09:00-12:00 and 14:00-16:00. The Treasury can provide advice on battels and funding applications, and can take in person credit card payments. 

Email: treasury@some.ox.ac.uk  

Hostel 3
Email: accommodation.desk@some.ox.ac.uk, Tel: 01865 270623

Email: principals.office@some.ox.ac.uk, 

Email: lodge.desk@some.ox.ac.uk

Tel: 01865 270600

Email: ict.desk@some.ox.ac.uk

Tel: 01865 270597

Email: catering@some.ox.ac.uk