Information for New Undergraduates 2024

Please make sure you have completed the following:

1. Met the conditions of your offer (academic and financial)
2. Returned the University card form by email to academic.office@some.ox.ac.uk, this can be found, along with other essential forms on this webpage. 
3. Received your Single Sign On account details by email
4. Completed your registration online
5. Collected your Biometric Residence Permit if applicable

Registration is a two part process: 

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 enroll in person at Somerville College on your arrival. Please head to the “Arriving at Somerville” section below to find out what you need to do and what you need to bring with you. 

• Note for 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 in advance of registration.   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 (undergraduate).

Your room in college has already been allocated so there is no need to apply. Please click here to find out more about accommodation at Somerville. 

Prior to moving, you will need to complete your License to Occupy Form – this can be found, along with other essential forms on this webpage. 

UK Students: You will need to come to the Mary Somerville Room in the House building to complete the enrollment process and collect your University card. There will be current students around to help direct you. You must arrive during the times specified above.

Overseas Students: After you have picked up your room key at the Lodge, please come to the House building where members of the JCR Freshers’ Committee will bring you to the Academic Office (House 8) to register you. You must arrive during the times specified above.

All Students: We will need to see your ID (passport or driving license for UK students), as well as your visa and BRP if applicable in order to enroll you – so don’t forget to bring your documents.

• 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. 

Parking at Somerville: Parking is limited within the College. 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.

If you have any queries about parking or unloading, please email the Lodge Manager (lodge.manager@some.ox.ac.uk).

Oxford Park and Ride: We recommend parking at Pear Tree Park and Ride, which is north of Oxford. The Pear Tree Park and Ride Bus is the 300 and is run by Oxford Bus Company. Our nearest stop is the Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, which is about 120 metres from the Somerville main entrance. 

Oxford City Council have more information on car parks and parking spaces on their website. 

UK students: on arrival on Sunday 6 October, please come to the Mary Somerville Room where you will be enrolled and will collect your room key. There will also be the opportunity to talk to the Treasury and Housekeeping. Please note that UK students cannot move in earlier that 6 October 2024.

Overseas students: you will be able to collect your room key from the Lodge on arrival, just before you enroll. 

Arriving early – Overseas Students Only: If you are moving to the UK and need to arrive before Friday 4 October ( but no earlier than Saturday 28 September) please email the Academic Office and the Housekeeping Desk. Please note that you will be charged for vacation residence and there is no catering available until Sunday 6 October.

All new students and their parents/guardians are invited to a welcome tea on Sunday 6 October 2024. Refreshments will be available from 13.00 until 15.00 in the Margaret Thatcher Centre. Please feel to stop by once you have registered. There is no need to book in advance.

In some subjects, our tutors or your faculty will invite students to come up to Somerville early for a pre-sessional course to help to bridge the gap between secondary school and university. If you are attending a pre-sessional course organised by your department or faculty, you will be offered a room in Somerville. If you would like to move in for term immediately once your pre-sessional course has finished rather than go home, please email the Housekeeping Department (accommodation.desk@some.ox.ac.uk). Requests must be made well in advance of your planned arrival at Somerville. Please copy the Academic Office (academic.office@some.ox.ac.uk) into any emails so we know that you will be arriving early.

The College Parents system is organised by the JCR, and is common to many Colleges in Oxford. Your College Parent(s) will probably be in the second year of an undergraduate degree at Somerville, and one of them will be studying the same subject as you. They will be on hand to welcome you when you arrive at College, and they will help you settle into life at Oxford as part of the Somerville community. 

There will be compulsory College induction sessions on Monday 7, Tuesday 8 and Wednesday 9 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 JCR and Oxford SU.

• Please note that all College and JCR events with have non alcohol beverages on offer.

The Principal will host a welcome dinner in the Dining Hall for all new undergraduate students on Wednesday 9 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 is noon on Friday 27 September 2024. 

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. It is held in the Sheldonian Theatre and typically sees students from a number of colleges matriculating at the same time. The ceremony will take place on Saturday 19 October 2024. You will be sent further information about this during freshers’ week. You must attend this ceremony unless:

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. If there is a very good reason why you cannot attend on this date, 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 (sub fusc).

Traditionally, the College’s Freshers’ photograph is taken before the matriculation ceremony. Even if you will not be matriculating, please attend the photograph in Academic Dress 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. 

Libraries will play a big part during your time at Oxford, whether providing access to online articles on your reading list or helping you find that elusive book. The Bodleian Libraries is the library service supporting the University and can help you get the most out of your course. There are a number of short 30 minute webinars that you can join which introduce you to the Bodleian Libraries and how they can help you. This will take place via Microsoft Teams and a link will be on your induction pack when available. There is no need to register. You will get the best experience by joining via the Teams desktop app, but you can join via a browser too (Google Chrome is recommended). If you have any accessibility requirements you would like to declare, please contact usered@bodleian.ox.ac.uk.

Additionally, you can attend a tour of your subject library. Details are on our Getting Started webpage where you can also watch a brief welcome video. For details of the library/libraries for your subject area, and to watch a brief video about the subject library, visit our Libraries web page.

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.

Email: treasury@some.ox.ac.uk

Housekeeping and Accommodation

Email: accommodation.desk@some.ox.ac.uk, 

Principal’s Office
Email: principals.office@some.ox.ac.uk

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

Tel: 01865 270597

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

Tel: 01865 270600

Email: catering@some.ox.ac.uk