Information for New Graduates 2025

Please make sure you have completed the following:

1. Returned your completed University card form to acreturns@admin.ox.ac.uk You will have received the University card form from your department or faculty.
2. Received your Single Sign On account details by email
3. Completed your registration online. Registration opens 1 September 2025
4. Completed essential forms and online training at the New Graduate Students 2025 – Forms to complete webpage

Registration opens 1 September 2025.

1. You must register online when you have received your Single Sign On (SSO). This will come via email from IT Services so please also check your junk mail folder. You will only receive your SSO when you have returned your card form. This process can take a little while so do send your card form back as early as possible. 
2. You will then need to enrol in person at Somerville College on your arrival. Please head to the “Enrolment and Arrival” section below to find out what you need to do and what you need to bring with you. 
3.  

International Students (including EU):

Before you arrive at Somerville to enrol, please upload the following document/s to our secure SharePoint site

You can only access this SharePoint site once you have received your SSO.

1.  Please upload your passport ID page to our secure SharePoint site. Please title your upload in the following format: surname, first name – Document e.g. Smith, Bob – Passport .
2. Your immigration share code: 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 academic.office@some.ox.ac.uk and title your email Immigration status share code.

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 enrolment. Then head to the booking page in the final section (Booking Your Enrolment). 

All students: We will need to see your ID (passport or driving license for UK students) at enrolment (whether in person or online) We will also need to see your visa vignette and Immigration share-code if applicable – so don’t forget to bring your documents.

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

Full Time Graduates:

New Graduate Enrolment Booking Form – In person appointments

There are extra slots available to book for late September and early October:  

New Graduate Enrolment Booking Form – Extra In person appointments

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

Part Time Graduates:

If you are a part-time student you can book an online appointment to meet via MS Teams to complete your enrolment. Once you have booked an enrolment appointment you will receive an email with the date, time and a link to join the meeting via MS Teams.

Part-time Graduate Enrolment Booking Form – Online Appointments

You should arrive to start your course by 6 October 2025, 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 there is no parking on College grounds. 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 and wet 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 5 October 2025 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 College induction sessions on Wednesday 8 October and the afternoon of Friday 10 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 6 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: 2025 Freshers’ Dinner Booking Form. The deadline for booking is 12pm on Friday 26 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 2025 ceremony will take place on Saturday 18 October 2025. You will be sent further information about how to prepare for Matriculation in September 2025.

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 academic.office@some.ox.ac.uk if you are unable to attend on 18 October 2025.

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.

Upon your arrival in College you’ll be able to access the Somerville College WiFI using your SSO and scanning the QR code that will be available around the College. You can also visit https://it.some.ox.ac.uk/getting-connected/ for more information.

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 would like to get involved, we will provide a sign up form in mid-September.